February 10, 2023 Medium Hike - Fremont Saddle and Lone Pine; Long Hike - Fremont Saddle, Lone Pine and Geronimo's Cave; Short Hike - Casa Grande Mountain.

There were thirty hikers today for the Fremont Saddle and Lone Pine Hike. Twenty-six were on the medium hike and four on the long hike that went to Geronimo's Cave and down Bluff Springs Trail

Nancy and Jerry led the medium groups. All the groups saw Mountain Sheep. 

Pictures from Medium Group. 

Mary Anne's pictures of Geronimo's Cave Hike - the Long Hike

John's pictures from the Long Hike

                                                 

                                         

Barb's photos of the Fremont Saddle and Lone Pine Hike - Medium group

Jerry's pictures of the Medium Group 

Denis's picture from Casa Grande Mountain Group

Nellie's photos from Casa Grande Mountain 

Short Hike to Casa Grande Mt: Hike the Arvada Trail to meet the Ridge Trail.  Denis will be available at 7:45 a.m. Friday for anyone wanting to do the short hike of approximately 3-4 miles. They leave at 8:00 a.m. and are generally back to Palm Creek by noon. This is a good hike for people who have just started hiking or those who feel they are a bit out of shape. Please note that a Palm Creek Hiking Membership and a fee of $10.00 for the year are required for all groups.

Medium Group Hike:  A scenic up-and-back hike up the Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle and the Lone Pine Tree. Distance  6.5 miles and rated as moderate because of the elevation climb and distance. We recommend you bring at least one hiking pole. The forecast is sunny and a high of 70 degrees, so don't forget your sunscreen. 

Long Group Hike: A scenic loop hike of approximately 6.5 miles first up the Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle, the Lone Pine Tree and then around to Geronimo's Cave and down the Cave Trail. We rate this hike as difficult because of the distance, elevation and rock scrambling! The difficult part is the Cave Trail descent on the steep slip rock section. Again, bring at least one hiking pole, and maybe two. Don't forget your sunscreen. 

DIRECTIONS: (GPS: Peralta Trailhead, Gold Canyon AZ)

Exit Palm Creek by turning right onto Henness and continue to Cottonwood and again make a right turn. On Cottonwood, continue on the back roads following the caravan to Florence Junction, where you turn left onto the 60W ramp heading toward Phoenix. Travel on Hwy 60 approximately 8 miles to the first traffic light, which is E Peralta Rd, and make a right turn. Keep on E Peralta Rd for about 5 miles and then turn left on Peralta Rd for another 2 miles to the trailhead. 

SUMMARY:

This is a very good hike up the Peralta Canyon to Fremont Saddle and the Lone Pine Tree. There are spectacular views of the valley area and breathtaking views of Weaver's Needle to the north of the saddle. The gradual ascent, 1366 feet, will get your heart pumping, but also offers views of interesting rock formations, including hundreds of hoodoos and steep walls of the canyon. From the saddle, we will hike to the Lone Pine Tree, which has an interesting story we will explain at the site. This is where both groups will have lunch! The medium group will return the same route they came and the long group will return via the Cave Trail to view Geronimo's Cave and along the ridgeline, which offers further spectacular views of the trail we took on the way up to the saddle. The long hike will continue to the Bluff Springs Trail and back to the Peralta Trailhead. 

INFORMATION: 

We meet in the parking lot in front of the Ballroom entrance Fridays 7:30 a.m. to sign up for the hike each hiker is taking and sign up on the carpool sheet. YOU HAVE TWO SHEETS TO SIGN UP ON!  We can always use extra drivers. Riders, please don't forget to reimburse the drivers $10.00 to help with gas. We caravan to the hike trailhead following the lead vehicle and always have a sweep vehicle to make sure everyone arrives safely. If for some reason a hike must be canceled, you will receive an email by 6 a.m. and you can go back to bed. For questions, call John Robichaud at 207-446-0650 or Jerry Garrison 307-630-0252

Our hike next week, Friday, February 17th -  American Flag Ranch Trail outside of Oracle Az. More information will follow!

Nellie is finishing the shirt orders and will be at this Friday's hike to collect money, however, you can also contact her at site # 1640 or px 780-940-5922. We have to pay for the shirts when we turn in the order!

February is here and the overnight hike to the Chiracahua National Monument is planned for March 17, 18, and 19th. More information will follow. You can let John R. know if you are interested. Nancy will have a sign-up sheet at the parking lot on Friday. 

If you are on the Palm Creek Hiking Club emails and do not wish to receive our Hiker News, please contact Jerry by email, text or phone.