March 17, 2023 Brown Mountain (Medium Group) and Wassen Peak (Long Group)

Both Groups met at the Red Hills Visitor Center for washrooms and a group picture. It was St. Patrick's day, and everyone made a point of wearing green. 

Jerry led the group to Brown Mountain - Juan Santa Cruz Trailhead.

Barb's photos from Brown Mountain. 

Nancy's All Trail Hike for Brown Mountain

Long Hike to Wassen Peak - King Canyon Trailhead

Nancy led a group to Wassen Peak. From the Visitor Center we turned left and a sharp left into the parking lot. We started on the Gould Mine Trail. The Ocotillo were green from the recent rains, and there were plenty of poppies, lupin and other flowers along the trail. 

Close to the mine, we turned left onto Sendero Esperanza trail where we passed a stone structure used to hold explosives for the mine. After looking at the mine and the view we continued on the Sendero Esperanza Trail. It winds up and meets the Hugh Norris trail at a saddle. The Hugh Norris trail is a gradual steep trail with about switchbacks that takes us to the saddle and up to Wassen Peak.  We saw flowers scattered along the path. After lunch on Wassen Peak, we hiked back to the saddle and down the King Canyon Trail to the petroglyphs in the wash. We continued on the King Canyon Trail back to the trailhead. (8 miles and 1900 elevation gain). 

Nancy's All trails link for Wassen Peak

Casa Grande Hike - Denis was leader

Nellie's Pictures

Chiricahua ( Long Group) (Chiricahua was cancelled due to rain), Brown Mountain Loop (Medium Group, Casa Grande Mountain. (Short Group). Decided to do Wassen Peak. The King Canyon Trailhead is close to the Juan Santa Cruz Trailhead for Brown Mountain. 

Short Hike : Casa Grande Mountain . (C) Easy (GPS:Arica Road Trailhead)  Denis will be available at 7:45 a.m. Friday for anyone wanting to do this 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 is required for all groups.

Medium Group Hike: Brown Mountain Loop  (C to B-) Easy to Moderate  A scenic loop hike of approximately 5-6 miles. No rock scrambling but some elevation gain! Check the summary! 

Long Group Hike:  The people that signed up for the Chiricahua Overnight Hikes have already received their information from Nancy. Friday's hike will be to Cochise's Stronghold, Saturday, Chiricahua and Sunday either Natural Bridge and or Sugarloaf.

Directions to Brown Mountain:

From Palm Creek we exit left onto Henness Rd. to Florence and make a left and continue toward Tucson. Take I-10 south to the first Marana Exit, # 236. Turn right  and then again right quickly, onto Marana Rd. Drive one mile and turn left onto North Sanders Rd and drive 4 miles and at the stop sign, turn left onto Avra Valley Road. Drive 1 mile and turn right onto Sandero Road. ( Should be a sign for the Saguaro National Park or the museum.) Proceed past the Saguaro Park entrance road to Mile Wide Road and turn left.  Again, follow the signs for the Desert Museum. Travel just past the Desert Museum and turn right to the Juan Santa Cruz picnic area. The trailhead is just beyond the picnic tables! Good GPS: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum) 63 miles to the trailhead and took 1:05.

Summary of Brown Mountain: This is an interesting hike with two distinct components to it. One part is a relatively flat walk at the base of some hills and amongst plentiful vegetation of palo verde, saguaro and barrel cactus and the other is a ridgeline hike along a small range of hills with four peaks, offering outstanding views for almost its entire length. At one point you see the Tucson Movie Studios and another you look down on the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. (5 mile loop hike rated as easy to low moderate). No real hard rock scrambling! We will stop at the Red Hills Visitor Center West for restrooms and our group picture. Restrooms, but not as good, are also at the trailhead. Weather forecast is sunny and a high of 69 degrees. As usual, at least one hiking pole and sunscreen would be a good idea!

REMEMBER;  The Palm Creek Hiking Club end-of-the-year picnic is next week, Friday March 24, 2023 at the North Park Pavilion. Nellie is still taking names of hikers and their significant others that are planning to attend. She is also collecting $5.00 per person. She will be there this Friday and the club really needs to have a head count as soon as possible in order to know how much food to order!  Hiking certificates will be given out at the party!

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!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW: to check Nancy's blogspot: www.palmcreekhikers4.blogspot.com for more hiking information and pictures from our previous hikes! 

 Hope everyone can make it Friday! It's St. Patrick's Day! Wear your Green!