Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Les Reister, Tom Wellman, Jim Gillespie, Steve Ducanson, Gary Bray, Judy Sonndag and Beverly Kim on the Ridgeback Trail high above Apache Wash.
Lynn Warren
Apache Wash Trailhead is part of the northern section of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, just south of Cave Creek between Carefree Highway and Dove Valley Road. Although close to developed areas, the preserve offers a variety of scenic trails with names like Sidewinder, Ocotillo, Apache Vista, etc., which provide plenty of challenge; on December 9, eight “B” hikers completed an interesting combination of loops, including two peaks with beautiful views of Cave Creek to the north and Phoenix and the valley to the south, resulting in a total of 10 miles and an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. Because of the convenient location and a brisk pace, hikers completed a strenuous but enjoyable hike and returned to PebbleCreek just in time for a 3:00 p.m. performance of Motown Christmas Party. The club hikes five days a week all around the valley and offers interesting hikes for almost every fitness level; the next meeting is February 16. Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Front, left to right: Nancy Love (hike leader), Jeanette Wellman, Hal King, Sandy Mednick, Debbie Barbe, Linda Vaughn, Kristine Hanlon, Cathy Wills, Art Solorio, Tom Lenertz (guest); back: Lynn Warren, Bob Lenertz, Marty Gilligan (guest), Tom Wellman, Wayne McKinney, Kay Thomas and Mike McEvilly enjoying the morning sun in front of the Stone Throne; photo by Doug Jamiolkowski.
Lynn Warren
On January 5, eighteen PebbleCreek hikers and guests enjoyed a short but sunny four mile hike just south of PebbleCreek at the area adjacent to Estrella Mountain Ranch known as FINS (Fantasy Island North Singletrack), a network of trails shared by bikers and hikers. FINS is a great example of hiking/biking trails integrated into residential development which provides interesting combinations of trails, terrain and challenge (although parts of FINS may be subject to further development as witnessed by the hikers seeing lots of construction activity just south of the trails). The club hikes five days a week during the regular season (September through April) and explores new trails for the upcoming season during the summer; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Pete Williams
Fourteen hikers from the PebbleCreek Hiking Club did a six mile hike in the northern section of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve on January 10. This area of MSP has a very rare double-crested Saguaro and another Saguaro that looks like the Michelin Man from the old tire commercials. Pictured (left to right) are: Nancy Love, Art Arner, Joy Bole, Joe Clarkson (leader), Mark Gruca, Amy Volstromer, Pete Williams, Linda Schmillen, Mark Frumkin, Laurie Rosenbloom, Kristine Hanlon, Joe Volstromer, Hal King, Dave Geurden, Carol Sanders and Roger Sanders. The photographer was Doug Jamiolkowski. The club does hikes every weekday and range from four to five miles (D level), five to eight miles (C level), or 8 plus miles (B level). Meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month (September through March) at 7:00 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. For more photos and information about the club, please visit our website at pchikers.org.