“B” Hikers Enjoy a Flat Hike
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Ron Grove, Clare Bangs, Mike Tansey, Jan Larson, Eileen Lords-Mosse, and Kris Raczkiewicz pausing for a quick photo in the White Tanks with a miniature windmill in the background.
Lynn Warren
“B” hikers tend to tackle longer, somewhat more challenging trails, but on Nov. 4, enjoyed a change of pace and completed a 12-mile hike from the Sun Valley trailhead just off Bell Road west of Loop 303, and hiked on a section of the Maricopa Trail to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, with an elevation gain of all of 150 feet, about as flat as hikes get. The turnaround point was the location of two windmills near Ramada #4, one a full-size windmill and one a functional miniature, which is part of a rest area that includes a small pond for wildlife and park benches for humans, a great place for a snack break. After a short break, the group retraced their steps back to the trailhead. Why not join the hiking club and explore interesting and scenic areas with a great group of people; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Hiking the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Left to right: Ann Rohlman, Nancy Love, Nadine Eder, Barb Kripps, Jan Larson, Sandy Mednick, Kerry Walsh, and Tom Wellman (photo by Mary Hill)
Mary Hill
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a favorite hiking destination for the PebbleCreek Hikers, as it is scenic with its saguaro forests and well-groomed trails. It is a bit of a ride to get there in the Scottsdale area, but well worth it. The Granite Mountain Loop trail with the iconic Balanced Rock is a favorite. The PebbleCreek Hikers are a fun, inclusive group of people and welcome newcomers. Learn more at our website, www.pchikers.org.
Yet Another Milestone
Left to right, upper: Tom O’Reilly, Eileen Lords-Mosse, Carol Rice, Kris Raczkiewicz, and Doug Bieker; lower: Clare Bangs, Barb Kripps, Ruth Bindler, Ron Hoffman, Mike Trapp and Lynn Warren (photographer) pausing after snacks in an interesting wash in Estrella Mountain Regional Park.
Lynn Warren
Kris has only been hiking with the club since 2019 but has been racking up miles at a blistering rate, averaging approximately 2,000 miles per year. On Nov. 25, Kris and 10 “B” and “C” hikers celebrated her latest milestone on an 8-mile scenic loop in nearby Estrella Mountain Regional Park just south of PebbleCreek, across the Gila River. Kris loves hiking and can easily handle all four levels of hikes offered by the club. Stay tuned, and in just a few months Kris will be celebrating another thousand miles. 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.
Brrr! PebbleCreek Hikers Challenge the Cold and Wind
Hikers Tom Wick, Ann Rohlman, Nadine Eder, Dave Schuldt, Alex Elijew, Sandy Mednick, Charlene Elijew, Jim Gillespie, Barbara Valencia, Art Solorio, Ron Hoffman, and leader Gary Baker (photo by Jan Sherwood)
Jan Sherwood
As long as the sun is shining, the PebbleCreek Hikers keep exploring the trails. What started out as a cold and windy day turned out to be perfect hiking weather in Skyline Regional Park. As you can see in the photo, some of the hikers wore long pants, coats, gloves, and winter hats. Of course, as the hike progressed, layers came off and all ended up in regular hiking clothes. Here the hikers are navigating a downhill section. Remember, what goes down, must come back up again. Notice most of the hikers are using poles, which help with balance over and around the rocks. Perhaps you’d like to join the hikers but don’t own poles. We have extras! Just ask when you sign up for the introductory hike; the information is at pchikers.org.
A pleasant surprise greeted the hikers back in the parking lot—busloads of excited 4th graders were gathering for a day on the trails with their teachers and naturalists. Goodyear is fortunate to have this beautiful park in its backyard!
Spur Cross Hike
Left to right: Barb Kripps, Ron Hoffman (hike leader), Dorothy Sammartino, Dana Thomas, Nancy Love, Tom Wellman, Ruth Bindler (photographer), and Mary Hill
It was a cold morning in early December as eight PebbleCreek hikers started out on a trail at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek. However, the sun soon warmed everyone up, and the trails had much to offer the hikers. While the creeks are sometimes flowing, we were able to take our photo in a dry stream bed. The conservation area, one of the Maricopa County parks, offered views of mountains, a pond, and much greenery, including cottonwood trees. We viewed petroglyphs, evidence that this site was home to Hohokam Indians from 700-1200 A.D. More than 80 species of birds have been observed in the area, and many were seen and heard on the day of the hike. The PebbleCreek Hiking Club visits local parks close to Goodyear and others, like Spur Cross, that are a bit more distant. There are a variety of hikes offered weekly varying from 4 to 10 miles and led by experienced club leaders. Visit the website, pchikers.org, to learn how you can join the club or come to our meetings on the third Monday of each month, at 7 p.m. in Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse.