Front: Mary Hill, Doug Bieker, Kris Raczkiewicz. Back: Clare Bangs, Kay Thomas, Ann Rohlman, Kerry Walsh, Nadine Eder, Tom Wellman, Diana Bedwell, Sandy Mednick, Laurie Rosenbloom, Ron Hoffman, Barb Kripps, Nancy Love. (Photo by Dana Thomas)
From Detroit to the Desert
Ann Rohlman
Nadine Eder and her husband Jeff moved to PebbleCreek after owning a condo in the Fountain Hills area for several years. Eluding the winters in Detroit was the primary motivation for their initial move. They then moved to PebbleCreek because of the many activities and clubs available to residents. Joining the Hiking Club in 2013, Nadine was at first a reluctant hiker. But the camaraderie, allure of the desert, and the ability to see different parts of the state enticed her to become a committed hiker. After 11 years, on April 12, 2024, Nadine achieved 4,000 miles hiking with the club. How did she do it? When asked, she replied, “Just keep getting up early.” Fifteen hikers joined in the celebration of her big day by hiking 6.5 miles on the Cairn Canyon Loop In Estrella Mountain Foothills where trails can be accessed from the parking lot at Estrella Foothills High School.
Join us for hikes at various levels of distance, elevation, and speed. A newly instituted EZ hike level offers local hikes of up to three miles. See the website pchikers.org to view the many hikes offered year round.
Left to right: Atsuko Arner, Art Arner, Susie Nordenger, Dennis Zigmunt (leader), Diane Chrusciel, Joe Clarkson, Linda Schmillen, John Chrusciel, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing near a colorful cluster of brittlebush after a snack break at Ramada #4 in the White Tanks.
Hikers Enjoy White Tanks Wildflowers
Lynn Warren
Although it was not exactly a super bloom season, spring rain encouraged many wildflowers to provide some outstanding blooms. On March 22, nine hikers enjoyed an easy but scenic 4-mile “D” hike along the Mule Deer trail from the Library to Ramada #4 in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, just a short distance northwest of PebbleCreek. A few poppies and other wildflowers made an appearance, but most of the impressive color was provided by brittlebush along the trail. Join the club and you too can enjoy the Arizona outdoors with a fun group of people. Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Pictured are Mary Hill, Nancy Love, Sandy Mednick, Ann Rohlman, Kay Thomas, Diana Bedwell, Jan Sherwood, and Barb Kripps. (Photo by Dana Thomas)
Hiking San Tan Mountain Regional Park
Jan Sherwood
Several hikers recently visited the San Tan Mountain Regional Park. While San Tan Park is one of the Maricopa County Parks, it is in Queen Creek, a distance from PebbleCreek. The park is worthy of a visit though as it consists of 10,000 acres, with elevations of 1400 to 2500 feet. Vegetation ranges from creosote bushes to dense saguaro forest. Hiking among the saguaro forest always raises many cacti questions. Three days after this hike, members participated in a hike on the ‘Life Cycle of the Saguaro’ in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve led by one of the 700+ volunteers of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. The group learned that the saguaro only grows in the Sonoran Desert, they can live up to 200 years, the holes that birds live in form a callus (a saguaro boot), and in years with little water, the arms of the saguaro tend to turn downward. From January through April the conservancy offers short, guided hikes on topics on flora, fauna, and geology of the desert.
In the San Tan Park, the group stands in front of a rare, crested saguaro—although there are many theories, little is known about the cause of this unusual formation. Visit pchikers.org to learn more about the wide variety of hikes—short and long, close and further distances—sponsored by the PC Hikers.
Left to right: Dave Shultz, Lynn Warren (photographer), Chris Pelikan, and Dennis Zigmunt pausing for a quick photo with the Arizona State Flower in the background.
Hikers Discover Saguaros in Bloom
Lynn Warren
Although the club has traditionally offered hikes at the “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D” levels, in 2024 the club recognized the need for an easier level with shorter distance and minimal elevation gain that would appeal to hikers just wanting to get a little exercise in the Arizona out-of-doors, or to hikers going through some type of rehabilitation while regaining the stamina required for higher levels of hikes. On April 29, four hikers completed a 2.7-mile “EZ” hike in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, at 30,000 acres the largest of the county parks, and very convenient to PebbleCreek. In addition to the normal scenery along the trails, the hikers were rewarded with views of several saguaros in full bloom; by late May-June, the blooms should be replaced by tasty red fruit, loved by Native Americans and white-wing doves who visit this area for this seasonal treat.
Why not join the hiking club and you, too, can enjoy interesting and scenic areas like this with a great group of people; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.