“Canyon Crushers” celebrate milestones
Lynn Warren
Sixteen hikers enjoyed a scenic hike to the dam in Ford Canyon in nearby White Tank Mountain Regional Park on April 30. The hike was especially memorable as the group was treated with champagne, cheese and chocolates since Diana, Kay and Ruth were celebrating the achievement of 1,000 career miles with the club. Why “Canyon Crushers”? Well, during the previous week the three 1K ladies, as well as Judy and Mary, were part of a three-day camping adventure in the Grand Canyon at Bright Angel Campground (next to Phantom Ranch). No mules for these ladies! On the last day they hiked to the rim, 9.5 miles with an elevation gain of 4,800 ft. and finished in a spring snow squall. The outfitter was so impressed that he assigned the enviable nickname. The regular season is over but visit the club’s website at PCHIKERS.ORG for more information and pictures.
Hikers on the edge in Sedona
The Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole was created in a sudden catastrophic collapse in the early 1880s. On April 27, eleven PC hikers headed north to enjoy red rock vistas in Sedona and got a close-up view of this interesting landmark as they hiked nearly nine miles on a combination of trails below well-known Coffee Pot Rock. On the return they posed for a group photo at the sinkhole but were a little wary of getting too close to the edge since the sinkhole will almost certainly collapse more at some point, as happened in 1989. As summer temperatures envelop local trails, the hiking club frequently ventures outside the valley to experience other impressive Arizona scenery. Although the end of the regular season was May 4, a number of hardy souls will challenge the summer heat and continue hiking throughout the summer; visit the club’s website at PCHIKERS.ORG for more information and pictures.