Linda and fellow hikers pause for a short celebration and group photo in the White Tanks before departing for Ford Canyon Dam along a trail highlighted by brittlebush in bloom.
Lynn Warren (photographer, left) and Dave “Ausy” Ausman demonstrate social distancing while pausing for a photo with impressive Eagletail Peak in the background.
PC Hiker Celebrates Milestone
Lynn Warren
Linda Schmillen has been hiking with the PebbleCreek Hiking Club since 2016 and on March 7, reached the important milestone of 1,000 miles. Before splitting into smaller groups and departing for Ford Canyon Dam, a large group of “B” and “C” hikers joined Linda in the White Tanks on a sunny Saturday morning to celebrate this significant event with the usual toasts of champagne, orange juice, and homemade cookies. Little did the hikers know that just one week later all club sanctioned hikes would be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, which eventually shut down and likely forever altered our normal way of life. The regular hiking season is over, but hopefully the pandemic curves will flatten enough to allow the club to conduct summer exploratory hikes. Visit the club’s website at pchikers.org for updates and pictures.
Hikers Practice Social Distancing
Lynn Warren
How many people were familiar with the term “social distancing” before mid-March? It has become de rigueur for most activities, including hiking, one of the few recreational activities permitted during the coronavirus pandemic. All club sanctioned hikes were cancelled by March 16, so the only PebbleCreek hikes are conducted by small private groups. Lynn and Ausy, two “B” hikers, suddenly became “CV” (coronavirus) hikers. Being hikers with experience to handle most terrain and trails, they could, as Ausy likes to say, “take the trail less travelled,” so that social distancing would be a non-issue. Since the March shutdown, they have covered well over 100 miles and, on April 6, they enjoyed a very scenic eight-mile hike in the Eagletail Mountains, the impressive range visible west of Tonopah. It was a clear, sunny day and the entire hike was highlighted by blooming brittlebush, hedgehogs, globe mallow, and various other wildflowers. Although private hikes are fun, hopefully the virus will soon be under control and official club hikes can be restarted for summer exploration.