Hike to Tom’s Thumb
Ruth Bindler
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale is the third largest city park in the United States, measuring over 30,000 acres. The 225 miles of hiking trails are well-maintained and scenic. PebbleCreek hikers enjoy many adventures in the park and among the favorite is a challenging 1800 ft elevation gain trek to Tom’s Thumb. The overlooks along the way, titled Harris Hawk Vista, Raven’s Roost, Vulture View, and Prairie Falcon Overlook hint at the diversity of wildlife visible in the park. A recent hike on a clear fall day provided spectacular views for a group of hikers. Visit our website at pchikers.org for more information on the club and its extensive calendar of hikes with diverse mileage and elevation.
Left to right: Stacey Miller, Kris Raczkiewicz, Mike Tansey, Leon Mosse, Eileen Lords-Mosse, Jan Larson, Mary Perlaki-Neely, Rowena Stephenson, Kerry Walsh, Clare Bangs, Brian Goldade, Steve McElroy, Doug Bieker, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing after a snack break along the trail in Verrado.
Hikers Close Out 2025
Lynn Warren
December 31, New Year’s Eve, was cool with threatening skies but this failed to dissuade “B” hikers from turning out for an end-of-year hike at nearby Verrado. The continuing residential development near the golf course has complicated access enjoyed by PC hikers for many years, but the club has adapted and has found alternate ways to continue hiking this convenient area. Usually “B” hikes will attract five or six hikers but on this special day, a record 14 “B” hikers showed up to complete a 7.5–mile loop around the perimeter of Verrado to close out the year. The club hikes all around the valley year-round, with occasional trips to areas outside the valley; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Hikers Visit “The Michelin Man”
Kay L. Thomas
Cave Creek Regional Park offers trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. This unique saguaro has been nicknamed The Michelin Man. Hikers pictured are Tom Wick, Mark Gruca, Carol Rice, Barbara Valencia, Dave Schuldt, Nadine Eder, Steve Duncanson, Sandy Mednick, Rueben Boorman, and Laurie Rosenbloom. Photo by Kay Thomas.
35,000 Miles of Hiking
Eileen Lords-Mosse
On Jan. 5, the top two PebbleCreek hikers achieved an astounding accomplishment. Top #1 club hiker, Lynn Warren, reached a new PC Hiking Club record of 19,000 miles while fellow top hiker #2, Clare Bangs, reached 16,000 miles. More than 30 hikers showed up at the Eagle’s Nest parking lot to congratulate these two iconic hikers and to participate in three special hikes that went out that morning. The combined miles of these two men is an amazing 35,000 miles (for those who record steps, over 87 million steps!). But as is often the case, there is more to this story. At the end of the PebbleCreek 2011-12 hiking season, a new hiker, Lynn Warren, hiked 73 hikes and logged 661 miles to be in fourth place for “Miles Hiked” that season. Two years later, at the end of the 2013-14 hiking season, new hiker, Clare Bangs, hiked 96 hikes and logged in 836 miles to be Rookie of the Year; he was in third place for “Miles Hiked” that season, while Lynn Warren was in first place with 145 hikes and 1,242 miles.
That 2013-14 hiking season was the beginning of a close friendship that has thrived over 11 years. It’s been a friendship based on these two men hiking whenever they could, hiking wherever they could, and always hiking competitively, “chasing the miles.” While Lynn and Clare were married to the trails, their wives became best friends. Clare’s wife, Vickie, and Lynn’s wife, Louise (who sadly passed recently), spent many hours wondering when their husbands were going to come off the trails and return home. In 2014-15 Clare jumped ahead of Lynn to claim the #1 Miles Hiked spot and held it for two seasons; however, Lynn regained the top spot in 2016-17. And so it has gone, and continues to go, culminating in the Jan. 5 hike where the two hikers achieved their major milestone accomplishments on the same day, and on the same hike, which happened to be led by one of the PC Hiking Club’s long-time hikers, Bill Halte, who has been a hike leader since 2004.
So, yes, 35,000 combined miles is a lot of miles, a measurement that can be compared to a variety of known distances, etc. However, its numerical value is best used to reflect the many miles that these two friends spent on the trails mentoring, guiding, and teaching new hiking club members, such as myself, how to truly enjoy hiking.