Important information for this hike Palm Creek Hiking Club Friday, February 7, 2020

Important information for this hike

Palm Creek Hiking Club

Friday, February 7, 2020

As noted in the first handout for this hike there is a Tram (now called Crawler) for this hike.
To assure places on the Crawler you need to buy your ticket online. There are only 56
spaces available so it is important to purchase the $12.00 ticket as soon as possible.
Each hiker has this responsibility. The website is www.sabinocanyoncrawler.com. When
purchasing the ticket you will need to select the 10:00 AM Sabino Canyon Tour. 

To make sure we don’t miss the Crawler we need to:

1. Leave Palm Creek parking lot at 8:00 sharp. 
2. Make sure a member in your car has an America the Beautiful Senior’s pass for National Parks. Go to the left-hand side at the gate if you have a pass. If you do not have a pass you pay $5.00 per car and you may have to wait longer. 
3. We all need to be at the Crawler departure site location at least 15 minutes before departure (9:45).
4. Make sure you waste no time as you gather equipment and use the washrooms.  

The Crawler goes to “stops” along the way where people can get off when they choose. We will be riding to the end, which is stop 9. The Crawler’s last pick up at #9 is 4:30. We need to be back in time. We will gauge our hike accordingly. 

Please don’t be deterred by these arrangements. We want this beautiful hike to be successful.  

February 7, 2020 Hutch's Pool - Sabino Canyon

This hike located in the beautiful mountains of Sabino Canyon starts at the end of #9

Tram stop. The beginning of the trail has switchbacks that lead to a Junction of Phoneline Trail. The Hutch's pool trail turns left and up another set of switchbacks. At the top, there are views of Sabino Canyon. The trail then winds around to the other side of the mountain where parts of Mount Lemmon can be seen. From here it winds down into a valley and levels out across meadows. The fork in the trail is a good place to stop for lunch for the medium group. (6 miles total). The long hike will continue to Hutch's pool (8.9 miles total). We need to keep in mind that the tram's last ride is 4:30. 

Directions to the Trailhead: 

From the Palm Creek Park's Main gate and turn left on Henness Road to Florence Blvd. Drive to 1-10 and turn south toward Tucson. Drive 53 miles to Exit 248 toward Ina Road. Turn left onto Ina Road and drive east (7.1 miles) until the highway meets Skyline Drive and starts heading southeast. After 1.9 miles this road turns into Sunrise Drive. In 6.3 miles turn left at the light onto Sabino Canyon Road. Sabino Canyon Visitor Center is a short distance on the right. It is 70.2 miles from Palm Creek to the Visitor Center. You can use your America the Beautiful Pass for your car (otherwise the fee is $5.00 per car). At the Visitor Center proceed to the Tram where you can purchase a ticket (cost $10.00 per person). Try to embark on the Tram as a group. 

Google Maps to Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon Website 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/arizona/hutchs-pool - this hike has not taken off the mileage
for the 3.8-mile tram ride to the trailhead.

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Casa Grande Mountain Hike leaves the Palm Creek Parking Lot at 8:00 and arrives back

to the park before lunch.

 Proposed Next Hikes - Schedule may change

February 14 - Miner's Needle or Coffee Flat - Out and Back - Medium Group Coffee Flat - Out and Back - Long Hike

February 21 - Picketpost Mountain - South Trail - Medium Group
Picketpost Mountain Loop - Long Hike - Counterclockwise.
February 28 Bear Canyon to Seven Falls - Sabino Canyon - Out and Back for both groups.

Nancy's Cell - 403-896-9899

Note: These hikes are designed to be an outing, not a race. Hikers are encouraged to hike together, socialize, and enjoy the fresh air and exercise, stopping as necessary to rest. To assure all hikers are accounted for, drivers will make sure that all the same hikers they take, return with them. 

January 31, 2020 Hidden Valley (Fat Man's Pass) - South Mountain

 Jerry's group for Medium Hike - Buena Vista parking lot

Dobbin's Lookout

The Medium Hike starts at Summit Road for a 7.5 mile hike Hidden Valley, commonly known as Fat

Man’s Pass. This hike is fun, hiking over and under great boulders. 

The Long Hike also goes to Hidden Valley, but it takes hiking trails up a ridge that overlooks the
Airport and the City of Phoenix. The rock formations are unique to the area. 

Directions: 

Summit Road - Medium Hike - Take 1-10 north to exit 155 (33 miles). In 0.9 miles turn left on
Baseline Road. Follow Baseline for 4.7 miles then turn left onto S. 7th St. In one mile turn right
onto East Dobbins Road for 0.4 miles Then turn left onto S. Central Ave. and drive for 1 mile. 
There is a Ranger Station and Washroom facilities here. Proceed on S. Central Ave for another
1.6 miles and wind up the road, turn left onto Summit Road and wind further for 3.7 miles to Dobbins
Lookout to the parking area. There are also washroom facilities at the Dobbin's Lookout.
51 miles driving distance. 

Dobbins Lookout - Summit Road - South Mountain - Medium hike

Pima Canyon Trailhead - Long Hike - Take 1-10 North for 31 miles to exit 157 to Elliott Road.
Turn Left on Elliott Road for 1.1 miles then turn right onto S. 48th St. keep following S. 48 St.
as it turns left at a left-hand turn lane. 

(If you do not turn left and follow what looks like 48th street to the right you will end up on
St. Point Parkway E.- don’t go here. If you miss this turn and are on St. Point Parkway -
keep following it until you see 48th st. where you can turn left and loop back on 48th and
to the Pima Canyon Trailhead.)  Then turn an immediate left to Pima Canyon Road.
Follow this road to the trailhead. There are pit toilets and a large parking area. 42 miles
driving distance. B- hike. 7 - 8 miles. 

Pima Canyon Trailhead  - Long Hike - Google Maps

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Casa Grande Mountain Hike leaves the Palm Creek Parking Lot at 8:00 and arrives back to the
Park before lunch. 

Proposed next hikes- Schedule may change

February 7 - Hutch’s Pool - Sabino Canyon - Out and back - There is a tram ride and fee. 

February 14 - Medium Hike - Miner’s Needle out and back

                      Long Hike - Coffee Flat - Out and Back

February 21 - Picketpost Mountain - South Trail - Medium Group. 

              Picketpost Mountain - Long hike - Picketpost Mountain Loop - Counterclockwise 

Nancy’s cell: 403-896-9899   

Note: These hikes are designed to be an outing, not a race. Hikers are encouraged to hike
together, socialize, and enjoy the fresh air and exercise, stopping as necessary to rest. To
assure all hikers are accounted for, drivers will make sure that all the same hikers they take
return with them.

Please read our Blogspot: www.palmcreekhikers3.blogspot.com

January 24, 2020 Casa Grande Mountain. Hike to the Flag

Medium Hike - Leaders John and Montey. This hike started in Hanna Trailhead and went up the concrete road to the Radio Tower. From there it winds up through a trail of rock until you come up to a great view of Casa Grande and surrounding area and of course the Flag. 

Jerry's Pictures




Montey's Picture of the Flag from below

"Welcome Back" is this Friday at 11:00 in Palm Park. In order not to conflict with this event the hike will be at Casa Grande Mountain. It is a short hike and hopefully, we will be back before noon. 

There will be two Casa Grande Hikes: 
Short Hike at Casa Grande Mountain - Usual hike
Medium Hike at Casa Grande Mountain to the Flag 

Google Maps to Peart Road Trailhead  But we may be using another trailhead, like Hanna Trailhead. Stay tuned. 

January 17, 2020 50 Year Hike - E. Golder Ranch Road - E. Equestrian Trailhead

The medium hike on the E. Equestrian Trail and 50 year Trail was lead by John. This lollipop-shaped hike was 6.6 miles and was an easy hike with desert scenery and vegetation. Barb sent these pictures of the hike. 

All Trail 50 year trail

Long Hike was up E. Equestrian Trail to 50 Year Trail and up Gem Trail loop and back, forming a lollipop shape. Linda and Mike lead this hike. Linda sent these pictures. 

Proposed Medium Hike - 7 miles. This hike starts at the E. Equestrian Trailhead located at the

end of E. Golder Ranch Road. 50 Year Trail and Gem Trail form a lollipop shape trail.
Proposed Long Hike - 8 miles - Same Hike with an extension of Gem Trail of a 1-mile loop.

Directions to trailhead: Take 1-10 south and take Exit 240. Turn left (east) on
Tangerine Road. In 13.5 miles turn left onto Oracle Road. In 3.9 miles turn right onto
East Golder Ranch Drive, then in 2 miles, the pavement ends. Turn right into a parking
area of the E. Equestrian Trailhead. Total Driving distance 67 miles. There are no washroom
facilities. Stop at a gas station just off Golder Ranch Road.

Google Maps to East Equestrian Trailhead at Catalina State Park