Left to right: Doug Bieker, Kris Raczkiewicz, Kerry Walsh, Clare Bangs, and Lynn Warren pausing along the trail to the Waterfall in White Tank Mountain Regional Park, with the rocky terrain around the Waterfall in the background.
Hikers Visit White Tanks Waterfall
Lynn Warren
“B” hikers normally choose longer, more challenging hikes but on July 30, in deference to summer conditions, chose to conduct an easy, flat 7-mile hike from the White Tanks library to the popular Waterfall. Of course, unless you go immediately after rain, the waterfall is dry, as it was for this hike. The hike was a loop and the group stopped at the windmill oasis for a short break before completing the return to the library. The club hikes all around the valley and offers hikes for most levels of fitness; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Clare Bangs, Ed Bobigian, Tom O’Reilly, Doug Bieker, and Stacey Miller pausing along the Butterfield Trail in Estrella Mountain Regional Park.
Hikers Complete a Humid Hike
Lynn Warren
People living in other parts of the country think of the Phoenix area as having “dry heat” but don’t realize that it can be uncomfortably humid in summer during the monsoon season. When our humidity, which might be considered low compared to other areas of the country, is combined with our much higher temperatures, the combination creates conditions that can be quite uncomfortable. On Aug. 30, six PC hikers completed an 8.5 mile hike with 850 feet of elevation gain on a slightly cooler but very humid morning in Estrella Mountain Regional Park. The group did find some shade along the Butterfield Trail (same name as the famous stageline from the 1800s) and enjoyed a short snack break before continuing the return to the trailhead. The club hikes all around the valley, including summer; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Kris Raczkiewicz, Rob Gold, Joyce Raidle, Clare Bangs, and Bill Halte pausing after an early-morning snack break at Mountain Pass in Estrella Mountain Regional Park.
Hikers Relax on Mountain Pass
Lynn Warren
Because of its proximity to PebbleCreek, Estrella Mountain Regional Park has been a frequent destination for PC hikers during the challenging summer heat. On Aug. 4, six PC hikers completed an 8-mile scenic loop on yet another hot morning. The park provides many different trails, including a collection of competitive track trails popular with both bikers and hikers. For this hike, the group combined trails to create a shorter loop, more appropriate for summer conditions. As usual for summer hiking, the group left Eagle’s Nest at 5:30 a.m. and was on the trail by 6 a.m.; the group paused at the saddle on Mountain Pass, the high point for the hike, for a snack break and group photo. The club hikes all around the valley, including summer; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Hiking in Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Lynn Warren
The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve is comprised of three trailhead locations and one is just southwest of Cave Creek; in late August, four “D” hikers enjoyed a short, relatively flat hike that began at the Apache Wash trailhead. Although wildflowers have been scarce this summer, since this was in the heart of monsoon season, monsoon rain treated the hikers to a lovely bloom of Desert Senna. The club hikes all around the valley and offers hikes for all levels of fitness; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.