Hikers Challenge Summer Heat
Left to right: Neal Wring, Dana Thomas, Doug Bieker, Kris Raczkiewicz, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing for a group photo after a snack break in a large wash along the Gadsden trail in Estrella Mountain Regional Park.
Lynn Warren
Since the valley was experiencing consecutive triple-digit days, PebbleCreek hikers started leaving at 5:30 a.m. to avoid the extreme temperatures later in the day. On July 5, five hardy and acclimated hikers enjoyed an 8-mile hike in nearby Estrella Mountain Regional Park, just south of PebbleCreek. The hike started on the Desert Rose trail near PIR and continued after a relatively steep climb up and over to the intersection with the Gadsden trail. The hikers continued on Gadsden to the snack break and turnaround area in a large wash. Even though it was hot, the hikers obviously had plenty of energy as evidenced by the clowning around during the group photo. The Hiking Club offers hikes appropriate for most levels of fitness; join the club and enjoy the Arizona outdoors with a fun group of people. Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Hikers Visit Prescott’s Wolf Creek Falls
Left to right: Kay Thomas, Leon Mosse, Dennis Zigmunt, Mary Hill, Nadine Eder, Eileen Lords-Mosse, Tom Wellman (hike leader), and Kris Raczkiewicz pause for a photo with Wolf Creek Falls in the background. (Photo by Dana Thomas)
Although the hikers had not yet experienced real Phoenix summer heat, on May 1, nine Hiking Club members thought they would beat the Valley heat by driving to the Prescott area and making their way to scenic Wolf Creek Falls, just south of Prescott. Walking through the pine and manzanita forest was a welcome change to the more usual desert conditions of the valley. The Hiking Club is active year-round and occasionally ventures outside the valley for interesting hikes such as this; check out the club website at pchikers.org.
Hiker Reaches New Milestone
Left to right: Clare Bangs, Kay Thomas, Dana Thomas, Ron Grove, Kris Raczkiewicz, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing along the Tortuga trail in Verrado to celebrate Dana’s significant milestone.
Lynn Warren
Dana Thomas is a native Alaskan who grew up in Fairbanks and graduated from University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He continued his education in the Lower 48 and earned a PhD in statistics, later returning to Fairbanks to teach and conduct research along with wife Kay (another native Alaskan) and son Seth, and eventually serving as Interim Chancellor. Skills acquired during this phase of his life served Dana well when he became president of the Hiking Club just in time to lead the club through the challenging COVID-19 period. Dana loves hiking but also is an ardent birder and takes advantage of hiking to learn more about desert birds, plants, and other animals. Dana joined the Hiking Club in 2015 and has participated in, and led, many hikes, and on May 3, celebrated 5,000 miles with the club on an 8-mile hike in nearby Verrado. (Not to be outdone, Kay, along with several other lady PC hikers, completed a 200-mile trek across England in early May).
Why not join the Hiking Club and pursue your own milestones while experiencing interesting areas you might not visit on your own? Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.