First Hike

 The first hike this season is planned for December 8, 2023. If you are interested in hiking, email nanc21.na@gmail.com to be added to the email list. 

For more information about the club, visit the Welcome Hikers tab on this website or call Nancy at 403-896-9899. On the sidebar, there are maps of hikes on Casa Grande Mountain under the Know Your Limits Tab. 

March 31, April 1, April 2 - Chiricahua Hike. Includes Cochise Stronghold, Chiricahua National Monument - Ed Riggs Trail, The Grotto and Natural Bridge

The first date set for the Chiricahuas didn't happen because it was supposed to rain on Saturday. Nine hikers signed up. Richard and Linda were already there, so they hiked on Friday, March 17th, before the rain. 10 miles.

Barb, LeRoy and Bev hiked the Chiricahuas on March 31 and April 1. They did the Grotto, Sugarbush on Friday (3 miles). Saturday they hiked Ed Riggs, Mushroom Rock, Balanced Rock, Inspiration Point, Heart of the Rocks and Sarah Deming and Lower Rhyolite Trail (9 miles). 12 miles in total.

Nancy couldn't go because she caught a cold. 😴😷 

The Chiricahua hike is at the Chiricahua National Monument. Chiricahua National Monument

Friday - March 31st. - Leave the Parking Lot at 8:00. Bring a lunch, just like you would on a regular hike. Link to Google maps to Chiricahua National Monument  It is 182 miles and takes 2 hours and 50 minutes plus a bathroom break. So we would arrive around 1:00 PM at the Visitors Center at the Chiricahua Visitor Center. Then we drive up East Bonita Canyon Road to the first parking area on top. Two hikes today. We are hiking the Echo Canyon Grotto Trail. 1 mile out and back, then we drive 1/2 way down East Bonita Canyon Road to the Natural Bridge. This hike takes us to lookout where we can see a natural bridge. 4.7 miles- out and back. Then we go back to Willcox to check into Motel 6. 35.9 miles.  

We need to get sandwiches etc. for lunch and water at the nearby Safeway store.

There are several eating establishments in Willcox. We may all want to go together. It is our choice.

La Unica Restaurant & Tortilleria, 142 N Haskell Ave, Willcox, AZ 85643 - Downtown

Isabel's South of the Border - 135 E Maley St, Willcox, AZ 85643

Big Tex BBQ - 130 E Maley St, Willcox, AZ 85643

Double S Steakhouse - 1201 W Rex Allen Dr, Willcox, AZ 85643 - Close to Motel 6 

Saturday - April 1st. Leave Motel 6 at 8:00 after Breakfast at Mcdonald's (no breakfast at Motel)

Drive from Willcox to Chiricahua National Monument to the Visitor Center. (We will need one car at the bottom to take the drivers of the other cars back up to the top). Drive up East Bonita Canyon Road to the top parking lot to Massai Point.  

8.14 mile hike starts on the Massai Point Nature trail, then go left onto Ed Riggs Trail, then turns left onto Mushroom Rock Trail. (Do not take the Hailstone trail). Along the way, we see a junction to Inspiration Point which is an out-and-back hike and a great place for lunch. Once back at the junction, the trail turns into Big Balanced Rock Trail. Heart of the Rock Loop is off of this trail. Once back to the junction, this trail turns into Sara Deming Trail which meets the Lower Rhyolite Trail that takes us to the visitors center.

Then the driver of the car left at the bottom takes the drivers of the cars left at the top and brings them down to the parking area at the visitor's center. 

At Willcox, we will likely have the same routine. Go to Safeway and out for dinner. 

Sunday - April 2nd- Leave Motel 6 at 8:00. Check out from the Motel. Breakfast at McDonald's. We will hike Cochise Stronghold.  Cochise Stronghold website This is a 7-mile hike out and back. 

Link to Google Maps to Cochise Stronghold from Willcox. 32.7 miles. 

 

Arrival time: approx. 8:45. 

Hiking time is approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes. 

Cochise Stronghold to Casa Grande is 148 miles (2 1/2 hours driving time). Arrive back in Casa Grande at about 4:30. 

Accommodations: Motel 6. (this used to be the Best Western) -  69.95/night if you call directly at 520-766-3700. Address 1100 W. Rex Allen Dr. Willcox, AZ. Let them know you are with the Palm Creek Hiking Club, your room preference and the number of nights you are staying. If you cannot get through there is a Motel 6 number - 1-800-899-9841. May not get the same rate. There is no breakfast offered here.  The regular rate is $82.95 - $84.95, depending on the room requested.

March 24, 2023 Annual Picnic at the North Pavilion - 1:00 PM

 

The Annual Picnic was a great success. 

After arriving back from a hike at Picacho Peak Sunset Vista Trail, everyone enjoyed a wonderful picnic at the North Pavillion.

First is the food. 

John, Nellie and Jerry all helped organize the food for the picnic. 

The menu was every kind of Barros Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Beans, Chocolate Cake and Lemon Cake.  

Cathy and Pattie make cakes. Cathy made potato salad. John ordered Barros Pizza and Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

Preparation 

Mike is taping the tablecloths to the tables. 

John needed to pick up the Pizza and Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

                                       

Nellie, John, Denis, Jerry and Cathy served the food to a hungry crowd. 

Jerry's pictures 

It was a little cool in the shade of the tent, so everyone moved to the sunshine, before or after eating their meal. 

Nancy's pictures after the meal. 

John presented Certificates for Mileage.  Jerry and Nancy were given certificates for 125 miles. 

100+ mile certificates

75+ mile certificates

50+ mile certificates

50 mile Certificates

John presented Jerry and Nancy with a card from the Hiking Club. 

Denis and Mike also received cards. 

Nellie presented gifts to the leaders. In the gift bag were rocks made by Mary Jo, Cards and a gift certificate from money collected from hikers. The leaders thank  Palm Creek Hikers for their generous donations and a special thanks to Nellie for her creativity and fun.

Rock that Mary Jo, from the hiking club, made for the leaders. 

Thank You John, Nellie, Jerry, Cathy, Pattie, Denis and Mike for all you have done for the picnic.

 
See you next year!