PCHikers.org

Come hike with us

PebbleCreek Hiking Club

The PebbleCreek Hiking Club has been established to provide PebbleCreek residents with the opportunity to enjoy recreational hiking in an organized, safe and social environment. Safety is a key concern. Hikers are accompanied by a leader and sweep carrying an emergency spot locator, medical kit and walkie talkies. The regular hiking season is Sept. to the first week of May. Through the summer, there are exploratory hikes held Mondays and Thursdays.

A hikes (over 12 miles) are held on Mondays.

B hikes (8-12 miles) are held Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

C hikes (6-8+ miles) are held Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

D hikes (up to 5 miles) are held Tuesdays & Thursdays.

For PROSPECTIVE members
Prospective members must walk around Robson Circle twice and complete an Intro hike. Once completed, new members need to submit their registration form and dues.

Announcements

Monthly Meeting

Next Meeting of the Hiking Club will be on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 7 PM in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. Please wear your name tag.

MEMBERSHIP for the 2019/2020 Year

Membership dues are $10.00 per member. Each member must submit a new registration form along with their dues payment. This is an annual requirement. Checks should be made payable to: PCHC. Dues may be paid at the club's monthly meetings. They also may be sent to: Dennis Zigmunt, PCHC Treasurer, 16074 W. Roanoke Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85395.

SUNSET HIKES COMING UP:There will be a sunset hike at Skyline Regional Park on Sunday January 26. There will be a D hike of about 4 miles and a C hike of about 5-6 miles. We will meet at Eagles Nest at 3:00 and leave at 3:15. Bring your usual hiking gear and be sure to have a headlamp or small flashlight. Although we plan to be done hiking by sunset, it is best to be prepared. After hiking we will meet in the ramada near the parking lot to watch the sunset over the mountains, so bring a small food item to share with others; we will supply napkins, small plates and utensils. Bring your own beverage of choice and note that no glass is allowed in the park. Thanks to all who have expressed interest in continuing this event that was trialed in the past 2 years. We plan additional sunset hikes on February 23 and March 15, so provide your feedback and ideas to Kris Rackiewicz or Ruth Bindler.

Patches and Pins

If you would like to order an Awards patch for the number of hikes or miles achieved, click on the Patches and Pins above. If you would like to order a Pebblecreek Hiking Club Nametag, click on the Patches and Pins above.

Spring Hiking Trip - Chiricahua - March 23-25, 2020

The Chiricahua National Monument will be the location of the spring 2020 club hiking trip. The club will stay in Willcox AZ on March 23 and 24. Hikes for B, C, C+, and D hikers will be planned for the 23rd, 24th, and 25th. More information and signup will be available after the Sedona overnight trip in November 2019 is completed. If you want to read about the area, peruse the website at https://www.nps.gov/chir/i

This Week's Hikes

Attention hikers

The price of gas at Safeway is $2.99 per gallon.

Monday’s A hike is downtown so the meet/depart time will be early - 6:15/6:30.

** REQUIRED - EACH HIKER needs to bring all of the items on the MANDATORY list. The most current list can be found on our website.

Each hiker should bring one liter of water for every hour of hiking when temperatures are between 70 and 90. Calculate hike time by assuming an average of 2 miles per hour overall. Therefore simply divide the estimated hike miles by 2 to get hours on the hike and bring that many liters of water. Adjust up or down according to the temperatures outside 70-90 degrees.

This week’s hikes are:MONDAY– 01/20/20 (C) Goldfield Mountains trails 4A and 4D - Hat Top Loop 7.8 miles/960 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Good hiking trail - some on old jeep trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am

No restrooms at the trailhead - there are restrooms at Prospector Park - left on Idaho - park is 1/3 mile on the right - Turn right as soon as you enter the park, then turn left into the parking area - restrooms are in the back by the tennis courts.

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 114 miles (1/4 mile of dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((114/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $22.72

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $22.72 / 3 = $7.57 rounded up to $8.00

Suggested driver donation: $8 + $1 + $1+ $0 = $10 per person

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MONDAY– 01/20/20 (B) Goldfield Mountains Trails 4A and 4D - Hat Top Loop + extension 9 miles/1300 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Good hiking trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am

No restrooms at the trailhead

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 114 miles (1/4 mile of dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((114/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $22.72

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $22.72 / 3 = $7.57 rounded up to $8

Suggested driver donation: $8 + $1 + $1 + $0 = $10 per person

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MONDAY– 01/20/20 (A) Superstition Mountains - Flat Iron 7 miles/3000 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Gradual climb, then climbing over boulders and steep trail to top

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am

Restrooms are at the trail heads.

Park fee - $7 per car

Round trip distance is 120 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((120/15 ) X $2.99 + 7) + $0 = $30.92

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $30.92 / 3 = $10.30 rounded up to $11.00

Suggested driver donation: $11 + $1 + $1 + $0 = $13 per person

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TUESDAY – 01/21/20. (D) Wild Burro/Pipeline trails to floating bridge (Lake Pleasant Regional Park) 4.4 miles/500 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Good hiking trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am

Restrooms at the trailhead

Park fee - $7

Round trip distance is 80 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((80/15 ) X $2.99 + $7) + $0 = $22.95

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $22.95/ 3 = $7.65 rounded up to $8.00

Suggested driver donation: $8 + $1 + $0 + $0 = $9 per person

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WEDNESDAY – 1/22/20 (C) Estrella Foothills Park Cairn Canyon Loop - SR/PA/RR/GR/UT/PC/JL Loop 6.4 miles/600 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Average hiking trail

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:00 am

Restrooms at the trailhead.

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 27 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((27/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $5.38

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $5.38 / 3 = $1.79 rounded up to $2.00

Suggested driver donation: $2 + $1 + $0 + $0 = $3 per person

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THURSDAY - 1/23/20 (B) Marcus Landslide/East End/Tom's Thumb Loop (McDowell Sonoran Preserve) 10.6 miles/2100 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - most of it is a good trail, with some steep and very steep sections.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 108 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 108/15 ) X $2.99 ) = $21.53

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $21.53 / 3 = $7.18 rounded up to $8.00

Suggested driver donation: $8 + $1 + $1 + $0 = $10 per person

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THURSDAY - 1/23/20 (D) White Tanks Maricopa Trail North 4.5 to 5 miles/200 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - average hiking trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - $7 per car

Round trip distance is 30 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 30/15 ) X $2.99 + $7.00) + $0 = $12.98

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $12.98 / 3 = $4.33 rounded up to $5.00

Suggested driver donation: $5+ $1 + $0 + $0 = $6 per person

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THURSDAY - 1/23/20 (Hike Leader Training D) Estrella Mountain Park: Rainbow Valley, Quail, Saddle, Baseline, Toothaker Trail

4 miles/200 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - average hiking trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - $7 per car

Round trip distance is 25 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 25/15 ) X $2.99 + $7.00) + $0 = $11.98

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $11.98 / 3 = $3.99 rounded up to $4.00

Suggested driver donation: $4+ $1 + $0 + $0 = $5 per person

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FRIDAY – 1/24/20 (C+/B) Caterpiller Hill Loop (Verrado) 8 to 10 miles/800 to 1900 ft total elevation gain.

This is Pete's annual challenge hike for C hikers.

Trail condition - An average hiking trail with a steep climb (9% grade) to the top.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am

No restrooms at the trailhead.

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 18 miles

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 18/15) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $3.59

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $3.59 / 3 = $1.20 rounded up to $2.00

Suggested driver donation: $2 + $1 + $0+ $0 = $3 per person

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FRIDAY – 1/24/20 (B) Saddle Mountain - "Gary's Canyon" (Tonopah - Exit 94) 8 miles/1100 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Half average hiking trail/road and half bushwhack through washes and ridges.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am

Restrooms are at the trailhead

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 95 miles with some dirt jeep road - high clearance vehicle recommended

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((95/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $18.94

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $18.94 / 3 = $6.31 rounded up to $7.00

Suggested driver donation: $7 + $1 + $1 + $1 = $10 per person

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SATURDAY – 1/25/20 (C) Butterfield/Gadson Loop trails (Estrella Mountains) 7.6 miles/900 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - An average hiking trail.

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at

7:00 am and depart at 7:15 am OR 9:30 am and depart at 9:45am

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - $7 per car

Round trip distance is 20 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 20/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $7 = $10.99

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $10.99 / 3 = $3.66 rounded up to $4.00

Suggested driver donation: $4 + $0 + $0 + $0 = $4 per person

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SATURDAY – 01/25/20 (D) Introductory hike (Butterfield/Dysart/Toothaker in EMRP) 4.4 miles/about 400 ft total elevation gain.

Trail condition - Good hiking trail

Meet at Eagles Nest Clubhouse at 7:00 am and depart around 7:15 am

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - $7/car

Round trip distance is 20 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: (( 20/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $7 = $10.99

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $10.99 / 3 = $3.66 rounded up to $4.00

Suggested driver donation: $4 + $0 + $0 + $0 = $4 per person

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SUNDAY - 01/26/20 C and D Sunset Hikes Skyline

There will be a D hike of about 4 miles and a C hike of about 5-6 miles. We will meet at Eagles Nest at 3:00 and leave at 3:15.

Bring your usual hiking gear and be sure to have a headlamp or small flashlight. Although we plan to be done hiking by sunset, it is best to be prepared. After hiking we will meet in the ramada near the parking lot to watch the sunset over the mountains, so bring a small food item to share with others; we will supply napkins, small plates and utensils.

Bring your own beverage of choice and note that no glass is allowed in the park.

Additional sunset hikes are planned on February 23 and March 15, so provide your feedback and ideas to Kris Rackiewicz or Ruth Bindler.

Trail condition - Good hiking trail

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Park fee - free

Round trip distance is 30 miles (no dirt)

Total gas & fees cost calculation: ((30/15 ) X $2.99 ) + $0 = $5.98

Gas & fees per rider (assuming 3): $5.98 / 3 = $1.99 rounded up to $2.00

Suggested driver donation: $2 + $1 + $0 + $0 = $3 per person