About Us
Club Information
President Neal Wring PCHCP@gmail.com
VP Nancy Love PCHCVP@gmail.com
Treasurer Ron Hoffman PCHCTreas@gmail.com
Secretary Laurie Rosenbloom PCHCSecr@gmail.com
SMUGMUG: To see pictures of our various hikes around Phoenix and beyond, visit SmugMug. See a Club Officer to get the secret password. https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com
MILEAGE STATS To see your mileage stats. please click the button
MILEAGE STATS
WEEKLY HIKING SCHEDULE: March 20-26th
All hikes leave from Eagle's Nest Parking Lot. Standard start time for this week is 7:00 AM - Please check individual hikes for any unusual start times.
Monday C Hike has been corrected. Sorry for any confusion.
Monday night is the Club Annual Meeting and Picnic. Only two weeks remaining before the Tucson Overnight Trip - don't forget to complete your C or D qualification hikes. See you all on the trails! Neal
DATE: Monday, March 20, 2023
HIKE: No Monday A Hike Scheduled
DATE: Monday, March 20, 2023
HIKE: B Hike - McDowell SP - Brown Mountain Saddle to Cathedral Rock (PCHC # 259).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Bill Halte
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 9.2 mile clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 1400 feet. This route goes past Browns Saddle and adds Cathedral Rock to the hike. There are great views of the surrounding mountains (Weavers Needle, Four Peaks, Toms Thumb, etc.) as well as great rock formations along the trail. There are many different cacti species here and late spring could be very colorful after good winter rains.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Browns Ranch Trailhead TRAILS: Upper Ranch, Browns Mt.,Corral, Cholla, Chuckwagon
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restroom at the trailhead. No park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to McDowell Sonoran Preserve Browns Ranch Trailhead Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North following until it ends at I17. Turn left (north) on I17. Stay right and immediately take exit 222 going Right onto Dove Valley Road. Follow Dove Valley Road about 10 miles. (Name changes to Sonoran Desert Drive). Take Cave Creek Road North (left). Turn right at first light on Dynamite Boulevard (later changes to Rio Verde). Turn left on Alma School Parkway. The road dead ends at the trailhead DRIVING DISTANCE: 100 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/McDowellSonoranPreserve/Brown-Mountain
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/McDowell-Sonoran-Preserve/i-sMqPSnf/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4alwqmyq7Gr2HqLAbu
PCHC TRAIL ID: 259
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $7
DATE: Monday, March 20, 2023
HIKE: C Hike - McDowell SP - Brown Mountain Loop via Rustler and Hackamore (PCHC # 779).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Tom Wellman
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 7 mile clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. This route is a slightly longer version of trail #258 and leads to Browns Saddle via Rustler and Hackamore Trails. There are great views of the surrounding mountains (Weavers Needle, Four Peaks, Toms Thumb, etc.) as well as great rock formations along the trail. There are many different cacti species here and late spring could be very colorful after good winter rains.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Browns Ranch Trailhead TRAILS: Upper Ranch, Rustler, Hackamore, Brown Mountain, Wrangler
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restroom at the trailhead. No park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to McDowell Sonoran Preserve Browns Ranch Trailhead Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North following until it ends at I17. Turn left (north) on I17. Stay right and immediately take exit 222 going Right onto Dove Valley Road. Follow Dove Valley Road about 10 miles. (Name changes to Sonoran Desert Drive). Take Cave Creek Road North (left). Turn right at first light on Dynamite Boulevard (later changes to Rio Verde). Turn left on Alma School Parkway. The road dead ends at the trailhead DRIVING DISTANCE: 100 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/McDowellSonoranPreserve/Brown-Mountain
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/McDowell-Sonoran-Preserve/i-xx6HKjF/A
PCHC TRAIL ID: 779
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $7
DATE: Monday, March 20, 2023
CLUB ANNUAL MEETING 4pm. Oasis Pool Ramada
DATE: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
HIKE: D Hike - Deems Hills Park - Deem Hills Inner Circumference Trail (PCHC # 418).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kay Thomas
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 4.1 mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 560 feet. This is a loop hike around the Deem Hills Recreation Area. There are distinct vegetation areas on the different sides of the hills. There would be good wildflowers after a wet winter. Good views from the top showing the area north of 101 and west of I17.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Deem Hills Inner Circumference The Trailhead TRAILS: Inner circumference trail
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms are at the trailhead. There is no park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Directions to Deem Hills Park Head south on PebbleCreek Parkway, then take 101 North. Turn north on 59th Avenue. Turn north (left) on 55th Avenue. 55th Avenue becomes Deem Hills Parkway. The park is on the right. Directions to Deem Hills Alternate Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway, turn west (left) on Indian School Road, then take Loop 303 North. Turn east (right) on Happy Valley Parkway. Turn north (left) on 55th Avenue. 55th Avenue becomes Deem Hills Parkway. The park is on the right. DRIVING DISTANCE: 65 miles
URL PHOTOS: http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/DeemHillsPark/Circumference-Trail
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Deem-Hills-Park/
PCHC TRAIL ID: 418
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $6
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
HIKE: B Hike - White Tank MRP - Mule Waterfall B hike (PCHC # 638).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kris Raczkiewicz or Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 10 mile double loop hike with an elevation gain of 875 feet. This hike begins at the library and proceeds south to hike a small loop of Mule Trail. Returning back to the library, proceeding on Mule, then left on Old Stable Rd. Turn right onto Bajada, following it into Mule Deer (MD). Go left on MD to R4, cross the road and take a left onto Black Rock (long) to the Waterfall. Returning on Mesquite, proceed east to the Wildlife trail and returning back on Mule.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Mule Deer Trailhead at Library TRAILS: Mule Deer, Old Stable Rd, Bajada, Black Rock, Waterfall, Mesquite, Wildlife
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms at the library and Ramadas 3 and 4. Park fee is $7.00 per car for all trailheads (except from the library which is $2.00 per hiker).
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to White Tank Mountains Regional Park Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North (right). Exit at Northern (next to zoo) and turn left (West). Turn right on Cotton. Turn left on Olive and follow it towards the park gate. Just before the park entrance kiosk, turn right into the parking lot for the Nature Center and Library. From the parking lot, take the sidewalk on the left of the building. Trail goes off the end of of the sidewalk on the left of the building. DRIVING DISTANCE: 24 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Mule-Deer-Waterfall
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/White-Tank-Mountain-Regional-Park/
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4am3tcfRvVF7rLlGFx
PCHC TRAIL ID: 638
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
HIKE: C Hike - Peoria Area - Calderwood Butte (PCHC # 770).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Mary Hill
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 6 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. This hike is an urban hike, starting in a residential neighborhood, follows a paved portion of the Maricopa Trail for a while before heading up the butte. The trail then is a usual desert, rocky trail with a few steep portions. There is a 360 degree view from the top, overlooking Loop 303, the Agua Fria River and the city of Peoria. We will break at a small park before heading back. No park fee.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Calderwood Butte Trailhead TRAILS: Calderwood ButteTrail
FEES AND FACILITIES: No Restrooms are at the trailhead. No park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Directions to 108th lane and Cottontail Lane. Take Loop 303 North. Exit at West Happy Valley Parkway. Turn right. Cross the Agua Fria River. Turn left onto N Tierra Del Rio Blvd. Turn left onto W El Cortez Pl. Curve left onto N. 107th Lane. Turn right onto Cottontail Lane. It will curve left. Park on the street across from a small park. DRIVING DISTANCE: 45 miles
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4avSyUivvDPhMldArQ?e=Rpx2WE
PCHC TRAIL ID: 770
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $4
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 2023
HIKE: B Challenge Hike - Goldfield Mountains - Horns of a Dilemma Ridge (PCHC # 355).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Lynn Warren
REASON FOR CHALLENGE: B hike rating exceeded: Bushwhacking. Additional challenges include: 100% trailless. Route is a rough bushwhack. Climb to horns is a scramble.
DESCRIPTION: This hike is an 8 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 1350 feet. The hike goes up a narrow canyon below the horns and then up to a saddle opposite the horns. The saddle offers great views of the horns and two lakes. The route then goes up to the Horns of a Dilemma with expansive views of both Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake as well as the area between them.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Trail condition—there is no trail! 100% bushwhack.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Mailbox Trailhead TRAILS: #8
FEES AND FACILITIES: No park fees. No restrooms.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Goldfield MountainsMailbox Trailhead (#8 Trails)Drive south on PebbleCreek Parkway, then East (left) on I10. Exit on Loop 202 East. Drive east on Loop 202 to Brown Road which is exit 26. Turn left on Brown Road to Apache Trail (Highway 88). Brown Road is Lost Dutchman Boulevard in Pinal County. Turn left onto Apache Trail (Highway 88) and go past Lost Dutchman State Park. The trailhead and parking are on the left side of the road, right by a mailbox just past MP 208, before the road makes a big turn to the right. DRIVING DISTANCE: 130 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/GoldfieldMountains/Horns-of-a-Dilemma
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Goldfield-Mountains/i-MjtpsmL
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4alzNix2Csvzno-lT5?e=nFbKkA
PCHC TRAIL ID: 355
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $9
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 2023
HIKE: D Hike - Verrado Area - Old Intro Hike (PCHC # 612).
UNUSUAL START TIME: 8:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dennis Zigmunt
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 3.6 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 400 feet. Turn North on Caterpillar Road then take trail to the left at the end of a sidewalk. Trail climbs a rocky outcropping and continues thru a wash and along petroglyph ridge to the Petroglyphs Rock. Then climb to a saddle and proceed down a rocky trail to the 4 way junction with Lost Creek Road, turn left and return to the parking area
TRAILHEAD NAME: Lost Creek Trailhead TRAILS: No Named Trails
FEES AND FACILITIES: No park fees. No restrooms at the trailhead.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Verrado Lost Creek Trailhead. Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway, turn west (left) on Indian School Road. Turn left on Acacia Way (just past the high school). Turn right on Lost Creek Drive Parking for the trailhead is at the end of Lost Creek Drive. You walk between the green and a tee on the Verrado Founders Golf Course to get to the trailhead. DRIVING DISTANCE: 18 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/White-Tank-Mountains-Verrado/i-w6sgfQQ/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4anFYHy_3Mzr0sjhTI
PCHC TRAIL ID: 612
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Friday, March 24, 2023
HIKE: B Hike - Verrado Area - Verrado West Loop (PCHC # 629).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 10.4 mile double loop hike with an elevation gain of 1570 feet. The hike goes up to the top of the ridge, drops down the other side and loops back towards Buckeye. It then goes back up to the first saddle before returning to the trailhead. The loop portion of this hike is steep in both directions and the middle section goes through a sandy wash.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This hike typically takes 4.5 hours with breaks.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Lost Creek Trailhead TRAILS: No Named Trails
FEES AND FACILITIES: No park fees. No restrooms at the trailhead.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Verrado Lost Creek Trailhead. Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway, turn west (left) on Indian School Road. Turn left on Acacia Way (just past the high school). Turn right on Lost Creek Drive Parking for the trailhead is at the end of Lost Creek Drive. You walk between the green and a tee on the Verrado Founders Golf Course to get to the trailhead. DRIVING DISTANCE: 18 miles
PCHC TRAIL ID: 629
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Friday, March 24, 2023
HIKE: C Hike - Estrella Foothills - Crossover trail to Estrella Mountain Regional Park (PCHC # 587).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dana Thomas
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 6.5 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 121 feet. The hike goes from the high school parking lot to Park Avenue then to the Cross Over Trail that leads to the Estrella Mountain Regional Park. The trail is relatively flat and crosses typical desert terrain.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Estrella High School Trailhead TRAILS: PA
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms are on the left by the ballpark. No park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Estrella Foothills Park High School TrailheadHead south on PebbleCreek Parkway which becomes Estrella Parkway on the other side of I10. Continue into and through the Estrella Mountain development. Turn left into the parking lot just before the Estrella Foothills High School building. Park at the far end of the parking lot. DRIVING DISTANCE: 27 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Foothills/i-gr97WWj
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4aoRkcjQiKqGef50pd?e=wMcCGw
PCHC TRAIL ID: 587
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 2023
HIKE: B Hike - Estrella Foothills - Crossover to Estrella Regional Park (PCHC # 636).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kris Raczkiewicz or Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 9.3 mile lollipop hike with an elevation gain of 286 feet. From Estrella Foothills HS, we will take the Maricopa Trail following the PA trail into Estrella Mtn Reg Park. We will then follow the Crossover (CX) trail for about a mile where it ends at the Pedersen trail. Turn right on PD, then leftt on Toothaker, leftt on Gadsden, and then left on PD. Continue for 0.5 mile and go left on CX, back to PA, and then back to the high school. This is a lollipop hike; average flat hiking trail. The Gadsden section is sandy.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This hike typically takes 3.25 hours with breaks.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Estrella High School Trailhead TRAILS: PA, Crossover (CX), Pedersen, Toothaker, Gadsden, Pedersen, Crossover, PA
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms are on the left by the ballpark. There is a selfpay fee as you enter the EM Regional Park at Crossover; the fee is $7.00 or covered by Maricopa County Park Pass.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Estrella Foothills Park High School Trailhead. Take Pebble Creek Pkwy (south), which becomes Estrella Pkwy on the other side of I10. Continue into and through the Estrella Mountain development. Turn left into the parking lot just before the Estrella Foothills High School building. DRIVING DISTANCE: 26 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Estrella-Foothills/B-HikeEF-Crossover-04-16-2022LynnW2021-2022/i-8HPkF5f
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Foothills/i-k2CwCjX/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4am3rxEJyqTlRb8Aei
PCHC TRAIL ID: 636
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 2023
HIKE: C Challenge Hike - Estrella Mountain Ranch - Fantasy Island North Singletrack (FINS) Full Circuit (PCHC # 193).
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dennis Zigmunt
REASON FOR CHALLENGE: Elevation.
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 7.5 mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 1250 feet. The hike is on several trails of the FINS bike trails system. The trails meander through several desert hills with many rock formations. There are also a couple of interesting areas: an enchanted forest of stuffed animals and a boneyard of dozens of cow bones. Trail condition: overall, this is a good biking trail.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Fantasy Island Trailhead TRAILS: Inandout, Harvs Howl, Rusty Rake, Waynes World, Rainbow Valley, Romans Rise, Ritas Upper ByPass, Connies Causeway, Boneyard, Murels Mile, Boardwalk
FEES AND FACILITIES: No restrooms at the trailhead. No park fees.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to FINS Fantasy Island TrailheadHead south on PebbleCreek Parkway, which becomes Estrella Parkway on the other side of I10. Continue for approximately 12.5 miles. Turn right on West Westar Drive. Go approximately 1.1 miles and turn left into the parking lot (this turn is easy to miss so turn just before a onelevel concrete maintenance building; there is also a tall steel tower for power lines). DRIVING DISTANCE: 27 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Mountain-Ranch/i-gvLgCbF
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4anBtd8p5uT4k6RgMn
PCHC TRAIL ID: 193
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
PC HIKERS SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN's DAY 2023
