Left to right: Eileen Lords-Mosse, Dennis Zigmunt, Kris Raczkiewicz, Wayne Wills, Leon Mosse, and Barb Kripps pausing in Estrella Mountain Regional Park to celebrate an important milestone. (Photo by Kay Thomas)
Hikers Celebrate an Important Milestone
Kris Raczkiewicz
Healthy competition and friendly rivalry are part of most sporting activities, and hiking is no exception. In 2016, new retirees Wayne Wills and Dennis Zigmunt joined the hiking club. The pair spent their first year in the club vying for the title Rookie of the Year, a crown Wayne would eventually wear. Fast forward five years to find that both men are still active members of the club and currently serving as hike leaders, with Dennis additionally serving as club treasurer and Wayne as former Safety Committee chair. Earlier this spring, Minnesota snowbird, Wayne, hiked his 4,000th mile with the club. Not to be outdone, Dennis continued to hike in the summer heat, and on Sept. 2, he also logged mile 4,000. Of course, Wayne was back on the trail to help his friend celebrate! If you would like to meet new friends and explore interesting areas around the Valley, the Hiking Club welcomes new members all year long. Check out the club website at www.pchikers.org for more information.
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Eileen Lords-Mosse, Bob McDermott, Kris Raczkiewicz, Bill Halte, Mike Tansey, Neal Wring, Marilyn Reynolds, and Clare Bangs pausing after a snack break on Mountain Top in Verrado.
Hiking Verrado Mountain in Summer
Summers in the Valley are always hot, but this summer was particularly humid, which created additional challenges for hikers. PebbleCreek hikers dealt with this by leaving early and concentrating on staying hydrated on the trail. On Aug. 30, nine hardy “B” hikers left at 5:30 a.m. and hiked to the top of Verrado Mountain, north of Victory Stairs, a distance of 4.5 miles, but with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet and some bushwhacking and scrambling along a rocky ridge at the top. Although this was a hot, strenuous hike, the hikers were rewarded with impressive views of Verrado and the surrounding area. Even in the heat of summer, the club offers hikes six days a week at three different levels, so visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.