Left to right: Roger Sanders, Clare Bangs, Pete Williams, Wayne Wills, Marilyn Reynolds and Joe Clarkson toasting Pete’s accomplishment.
PC Hiker sets new record
Lynn Warren
Pete Williams, much like the Energizer Bunny, just keeps on hiking. On July 7, he reached and passed 7,000 miles, the first and only member of the hiking club to ever achieve this impressive total. On his previous hike in Sedona, Pete came within 0.1 mile but held off a couple of days until the next hike in Phoenix Sonoran Preserve for a proper celebration of the event closer to home. Since summer hikes leave Eagle’s Nest at 5:30 a.m., it did not take Pete very long to cover the final 0.1 mile so it was a little early for a normal champagne celebration; instead, the hikers toasted with, what else, orange juice (and a little champagne of course—mimosas). Pete has a passion for hiking and has been hiking and accumulating miles with the club since 2006 when membership was small and has contributed to the club in many ways, currently serving as President of a club with approximately 160 members; he also serves as “C” Hike Coordinator, keeper of the trail databases and enthusiastic researcher of new trails. A simple calculation shows that Pete has averaged 700 miles a year sustained over 10 years and is currently averaging closer to 1,000 miles a year since the club offers hikes five days a week now versus just a couple in the early years. The club enjoys interesting and adventurous hikes all around the valley, as well as overnight trips to more distant areas. The club meets in the Tuscany Ballroom on the third Thursday throughout the regular hiking season and challenges the summer heat to find new trails for the next season; visit the club’s website at pchikers.org for more information and pictures.
A great hike in Sedona
Pete Williams
On the Fourth of July, six members of the PebbleCreek Hiking Club went up to Sedona and hiked the Airport Loop. This is a very scenic hike around the airport that gives one views of many of the named rock formations in Red Rock Country. And it was a perfect day to hike with the temperatures in the 80s. Pictured (left to right) are Lynn Warren (photographer), Pete Williams (hike leader), Clare Bangs, Marilyn Reynolds, Wayne Wills and Bill Halte. During the summer the club does exploratory hikes on trails that the club has not hiked before. The best hikes are then added to our pool of possible hikes. The regular hiking season begins on the Monday after our September club meeting (September 15 this year). For more photos and information about the club please visit our website at pchikers.org.
PebbleCreek Hikers explore new trails nearby
Pete Williams
Four members of the PebbleCreek Hiking Club braved the summer heat to do a hike in nearby Verrado on June 14. They were checking out a new four to five mile (D level) route for use during the regular hiking season. Pictured (left to right) are Wayne Wills, Joe Clarkson and Dennis Zigmunt. Doug Jamiolkowski took the photograph. Each summer the club checks out new routes to keep the hiking schedule interesting for returning club members. During the regular season of late September to early May, the club does hikes Monday through Friday at three levels – about four miles (D level), five to eight miles (C) and nine plus miles (B). For more information about the club and great photos from our hikes, check us out at pchikers.org.
Left to right: Pete Williams, Wayne Wills, Marilyn Reynolds and Lynn Warren (photographer) on the high point of East Wing in Peoria.
PC Hikers sizzle in Peoria
Lynn Warren
On June 20, one of the hottest days of the year when the overnight low was 92 and the temperature eventually soared to 116 degrees, four PC hikers braved the summer heat and enjoyed a 7.1 mile urban hike in the Calderwood and East Wing parks in nearby Peoria. The two parks are conveniently located in the midst of upscale residential areas and provide short but scenic and challenging trails with significant elevation gain. How can hikers tolerate such conditions? Well, the diehard summer hikers are hardy, but not foolhardy, since they get an early start (5:30 a.m.), are well equipped with water, electrolytes and sunscreen and complete their hikes within five hours, long before temperatures peak (although 107 degrees is still hot). The club hikes five days a week during the regular season (September through April) and explores new trails, with an occasional adventure, during the summer; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.