Hikers in the Dells
Left to right: Stacey Miller, Tom O’Reilly, Steve McElroy, Kelly McElroy, Kris Raczkiewicz, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing in Prescott’s Granite Dells with Willow Lake and Granite Mountain in the background.
Lynn Warren
On Aug. 30, six PebbleCreek hikers decided to take a break from the oppressive valley heat and head north to the cooler climes of Prescott. Just a few miles northeast of Prescott is an area known as the Granite Dells, small mountains of exposed granite which has been a favorite hiking area for years. The Dells are impressive and challenging, and the scenery is enhanced by adjacent Willow and Watson lakes. A group known as the Over-the-Hill Gang has created numerous trails which can be combined to create hikes of different distances and difficulty. Since the trails are primarily on exposed rock, the gang has used white paint dots to mark trails so hikers follow dots instead of rock cairns, which are more commonly used in the valley. After a scenic workout in the Dells, the hikers finished with a pre-Labor Day lunch at the Lazy G. Why not join the hiking club and you, too, can enjoy interesting and scenic outings like this with a great group of people; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Hiking in the Heat
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Kris Raczkiewicz, Mike Tansey, Rowena Stephenson, Bill Halte, Clare Bangs, Joyce Raidle, Rob Gold, and Steve McElroy pausing along the Maricopa Trail on the return to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
Lynn Warren
On yet another hot valley morning when the temperature was already 92 degrees, what did seven acclimated “B” hikers do? Well, they didn’t let the heat deter them and they headed to nearby White Tank Mountain Regional Park and enjoyed/endured a 9-mile hike, which started in the park and proceeded out of the park onto the Maricopa Trail. Even though it was a longer hike, it was relatively flat as the elevation gain was only 150 feet. During normal conditions, the hike would have gone all the way to the Sun Valley trailhead at Bell Road but for summer hiking, where for safety, hikes are restricted to less than 10 miles, the turnaround point was about a mile short of Bell Road. Join the club and you too can enjoy the Arizona outdoors with a fun group of people. Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
“D” Hikers Enjoy Estrella Mountain Park
Left to right: Jack, Laurel, Kay Thomas, Dennis Zigmunt, Dave Schuldt, Kris Raczkiewicz, Tom Wick, and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing along the trail in Estrella Mountain Regional Park with the White Tanks in the background.
It’s indicative of the 2024 summer when a morning with a starting temperature in the 80s with lower humidity is considered a comfortable day. On Aug. 29, eight PebbleCreek hikers enjoyed a 4-mile “D” hike in Estrella Mountain Regional Park with over 600 feet of elevation gain, a bit more climbing than for a typical “D” hike. The hike followed familiar trails but in a somewhat different order, making it seem more like a new hike. The hike was scenic and provided great views of the Tres Rios Golf Course as well as the White Tank Mountains. Hiking is social as well as physical, so join the club and you too can enjoy interesting areas with a fun group of people. Visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.