Welcome to the 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 locator beacon , medical kit and walkie talkies.   The regular hiking season is the third week of Sept. to the first week of May. During the summer, there are B/C+ hikes held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and D/D+ hikes held Tuesday and Thursday. During the regular season the schedules is as follows:

D hikes(3.7-5.0 miles) are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays

C hikes  6.0-8.0 miles ) are held  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

B hikes (up to 12 miles) are held  Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays 

A hikes (up to 16 miles) are held on Mondays

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

Hikers are reminded that participation on these hikes is a reaffirmation of the waiver they signed when they joined the club.  The waiver may be found here.

The upcoming week is the last one in the 2020-2021 season and it is extra long as we have a special hike on Sunday.  Our monthly meeting will be held in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom on Thursday, September 16 at 7:00 a.m.  We hope you will plan to attend. 

Next week we will continue to meet at Eagle’s Nest for B Hikes departing at 5:40 a.m. and Tuscany Falls for C and D Hikes departing at 6:10 a.m.  We have a special hike on Sunday, September 19, for Talk Like a Pirate Day.  You will not want to miss this one.  See the details on the weekly schedule below.

Monday, September 13, 2021—Lake Pleasant—Beardsley Trail from Maricopa Trailhead.  Rating B.  Marilyn Reynolds or Bill Halte will lead.  This is a 9.1 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 1100 ft. There is a good chance to see wild burros on this trail.  The turn-around point is the campground in the park with some views of the lake.  No restrooms at the trailhead.  There is no park fee from this trailhead.  Driving distance is 64 miles.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Other-12/Beardsley-Trail

Directions to Morgan City Wash Trail--Lake Pleasant--Go left (west) on Indian School to Loop 303.  Turn right (north) on 303 to Lake Pleasant Road.  Turn left (north) on Lake Pleasant Road to Hwy 74.  Turn left (west) and drive past MP 22.  Turn right on Beardsley CSR Road a couple of hundred yards past MP 22.  Drive about a quarter mile to the Maricopa Trail trailhead on the left (just as the road turns right).

Tuesday, September 14, 2021--Estrella Foothills—SR to PA--from EMRP boundary to Estrella Foothills HS parking lot.  Dennis Zigmunt will lead.  This hike is approximately 4 miles.  Trail follows the Park Ave Trail to power lines (SR Trail) to parking lot.  Add Crosscut Trail from Park boundary to Pederson Trail for additional 1.6 miles.  Good trail.  There is no park fee.  There are restrooms at the parking lot.

Directions to Estrella Foothills High School--Take PebbleCreek/Estrella Parkways South to Estrella Foothills High School turn left at high school, then left into a parking lot.   

Wednesday, September 15, 2021—Verrado—South of the Border-Petroglyphs Loop.  Rating C.  Dana Thomas will lead.   This is a 6-mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 700 ft.  The hike goes through typical desert washes, up through a canyon to a saddle, past the petroglyphs., and down through a wash before returning to the trailhead.  Trail condition – average hiking trail.  There is no park fee.  No restrooms at the trailhead.  Driving distance is 18 miles RT.
https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountains-Verrado/Verrado-SOB-South-of-theBorder
Directions to Trailhead at Verrado West--Go West 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 Raven at Verrado golf course to get to the trailhead.

Thursday, September 16, 2021—White Tank Mountain Regional Park--Goat Camp Trail/Mesquite Trail.  Rating B.  Clare Bangs will lead.  This is a 9.9 mile round trip quasi loop hike with an elevation change of 1820 ft.  The South Trail trailhead marker is at picnic unit number 1.  Leave adequate transport at picnic unit number 6 for return.  The trail goes north for 1 mile to a junction with the Goat Camp Trail.  Go left and follow the trail on a westerly course for a gradual climb for .8 of a mile to the base of first major climb.  Cross the wash and start the .6 mile climb up 590 ft over a steep and rocky path to the meadow.  The next mile is not as steep and leads to the stone remains of an old corral, which was the “Goat Camp.”  Continue north and then east until you connect with the Mesquite Trail (6.6 mile mark).   About 3.3 mi. from here to picnic unit number 6 where you can carpool back to the Goat Camp Trailhead.  Restrooms are located at the trailhead.  Park fee is $7.00 per vehicle.  Driving distance is 30 miles RT. http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Goat-Camp

Directions to White Tank Mountains Regional Park--Take 303 North (right).  Exit at Northern (next to zoo) and turn left (West).  Turn right on Cotton.  Turn left on Olive and follow it to the park gate.  Park fee is $7.00/car.  Goat Camp/South Trail trailheads are found on Black Canyon Road, which is the first left after the gate. Park at Picnic area #1.

Thursday, September 16, 2021--Maricopa Trail, Bell Rd South.  Rating D.  Dennis Zigmunt will lead.   This hike proceeds south for 4-6 miles with minimal elevation gain.  You have good views of the White Tank Mountains on a good hiking trail.   You pass a radio-controlled aircraft club and may be able to observe R/C planes dog fighting which is quite interesting.   There is no park fee.  No restrooms.  

Directions to Bell Road South Trailhead--Hwy 303 North to Bell Rd West which becomes Sun Lakes Pkwy.  Watch for a sign about a mile past the developed area for Maricopa Trail Parking on the right. 

Friday, September 17, 2021—Estrella Mountain Regional Park—Desert Rose to Gadsden Trail—Rating C/D.   This is a 5 to 7 mile in-and-out hike with an elevation gain of 800 ft.  The trail meanders through typical desert terrain with many bushes and Saguaro cactus.  There is no restroom at the trailhead. Trail condition - average hiking trail.  Park fee is $7.00.  Driving distance is 26 miles
RT.
https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRegionalPark/Desert-RoseGadsden
Directions to Estrella Mountain Regional Park – Desert Rose Trailhead--Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek Parkway/Estrella Parkway (on other side of I-10).  Turn left onto Vineyard Avenue just across the Gila River.  Follow Vineyard as it curves to the right, becoming 143rd Avenue.  Turn left on Indian Springs Road.  At the fence that begins the parking for PIR turn right.  Follow signs to trails.  Pay park fee of $7.00 per vehicle at the self-pay station.  Angle right immediately after the self-pay station into the open parking area.  Drive across at a 45-degree angle – there is a trail sign indicating the trailhead.  No restrooms are at the trailhead.

Saturday, September 18, 2021—Estrella Mountain Ranch--Fantasy Island North Singletrack Loop.  Rating C.   Marilyn Reynolds will lead.  This is a 7.5-mile double loop hike with an elevation gain of 1250 feet on several trails of the FINS bike trails system. Trail condition - overall, this is a good biking trail.  There is no park fee. No restrooms at the trailhead.  Driving distance is 30 miles RT. http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRanch/Fantasy-Island-North

Directions to Fantasy Island Trailhead--Turn left out the main gate onto PebbleCreek Pkwy (south), which becomes Estrella Pkwy on the other side of I-10.  Continue for approx. 12.5 miles from Eagle’s Nest.  Turn right on West Westar Drive.  Go approx. 1.1 mi. and turn left into the parking lot (this turn is easy to miss so turn just before a one-level concrete maintenance building; there is also a tall steel tower for power lines).

Sunday, September 19, 2021—Special Event--Estrella Foothills—Cairn Canyon Loop—Rating C.  Dana Thomas will lead.  Ahoy mateys!  Talk Like A Pirate Day is almost here and you all should be preparing for an epic hike.   Arrr, we will hike trails with names Skallywag, Pirates Cove, and Rum Runner in celebration.   At the end of the hike we will parlay (tailgate) in the high school parking area so plan to bring cold drinks and snacks for the after hike celebration.  Be forewarned - some crew will be in costume!  Be sure to get your pirate's name in advance by using a name poster like the one at https://rosale.fashionshops2021.ru/content?c=pirate%20name%20generator&id=3
OR https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/pirate-name-generator/
Also, be sure to find a good pirate joke to share.  If you forget, you have to walk the plank.  This is a 6.4 mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 600 ft.  The hike starts at the parking lot of the Estrella Foothills High School and goes through several washes
and up over a couple of saddles.  The hike is in typical desert terrain.  Trail condition - average hiking trail.  There is no park fee.  Restrooms are at the trailhead.  Driving distance is 27 miles RT.
Directions to Estrella Foothills Park - High School Trailhead-- Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek Parkway (south), which becomes Estrella Parkway on the other side of I-10.  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.

Remember our first monthly meeting is this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom.  Hope to see you there.

Marilyn Reynolds, President

PebbleCreek Hiking Club

REVISED COVID Guidance for PebbleCreek Hiking Club Members.

These guidelines may be updated by the Hiking Club board at any time as new information on or recommendations about the pandemic occur.

If you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 during the past 14 days, DO NOT HIKE WITH THIS GROUP!!!! If you or someone you know has been in contact with or is diagnosed with Covid-19, please inform the club by contacting President Marilyn Reynolds PCHCPres@gmail.com or (208) 484-3156. This will allow the club to inform other hikers of their possible exposure.

Hikers should read and be aware of the current guidance for self- protection and protection of others offered by the Arizona Department of Health Service posted online at https://www.azdhs.gov/ preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease- epidemiology/ index.php#novel-coronavirus-what-everyone-needs.

Traveling to the Trailhead:

Hikers may use their own personal vehicles to travel to the Trail Head or carpool with other hikers.  Please do not ask to ride with another hiker at the meet up, if you want to share rides, arrange this personally in advance.

Hiking:

If you cough or sneeze, do so into a handkerchief or your sleeve to reduce the spread of droplets. If you feel unwell during a hike, inform the Hike Leader immediately. In case of a first aid scenario, the person(s) rendering first aid should wear disposable gloves and a facemask. Disposable gloves, hand- sanitizer and/or wipes are recommended to be added to the required items to carry for each Hiker.

Please do not bring guests until Covid protocols are lifted.