It blows my mind a little bit how I’m writing newsletters with Christmas content. Seems like not very long ago it was 100*+ and I was dreaming of hiking in long sleeves…

I hope you’re taking advantage and getting out on the trails, that heat will be back before we know it.

In this week’s edition:

Thank you for being here, see you out there! 🙏

Not directly applicable to hikers, but if you are hiking in this area, something to be aware of if you do come across the herd of wild horses. (link)

Equestrians planning to ride through Tonto National Forest in the next two weeks will need to make other plans.

The Tonto National Forest and the Arizona Department of Agriculture announced Saturday that much of the recreation area is temporarily closed to horses, mules, burros and donkeys.

Officials say the move comes after Salt River wild horses showed signs of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, or VSV — a contagious disease that spreads through direct contact or insects.

The closure will remain in place until at least two weeks after the last animals display symptoms of the illness.

If you have ever wanted to try backpacking but were not sure where to start, the Arizona Hiking Shack in Phoenix is offering a beginner friendly backpacking class that teaches how to choose the right gear, pack efficiently, plan safe routes, and feel confident on your first overnight trip.

This class is being held on Wednesday, December 10th at their store in Phoenix and is just $35. (link)

Arizona Hiking Shack offers hands on classes that cover the basics of gear, packing, trip planning, safety, and comfort on the trail. These small group sessions are perfect for new backpackers or anyone who wants to feel more confident before heading out on an overnight adventure.

Are you like me and always dress improperly for your hike? It is cold at my house this time of year, and I really want to wear warm clothes after suffering through a long summer. Every hike though, at that 1 mile mark, I’m wishing I had dressed for the peak…

Have you seen the Christmas tree in South Mountain? I saw this post on TikTok and it looks really cool. May have to make the trip up to see it before the holidays are over.

If you’d like to see it for yourself, check out the hike on AllTrails.

I lean towards trails that are less busy, which can be hard to do around here, especially in one of the most popular parks in the Phoenix area. Because of this, I typically try and avoid the Piestawa Peak Trail, and opt to explore other areas of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. This trailhead is a great launching point for a ton of options. (link)

Have a hiker on your shopping list? It can be hard to find the right gift for a hiker, but this list has some fun ideas for all skill levels of hiker. It is also a great way to give ideas to family asking you what you’d like as well. (link)

The ascent always burns my lungs, but the descent burns up my knees. I was curious why that happened, and it turns out it isn’t just me. (link)

The previous trivia question was ‘South Mountain Park in Phoenix is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. In what year did the City of Phoenix first acquire the land that would eventually become the park?

✅ Answer: Phoenix began acquiring the land for South Mountain Park in 1924, creating the foundation for what is now one of the largest municipal parks in the country. The early purchase protected the mountain from private development and set the stage for later improvements by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

The Arrowhead Hiking Club had an awesome turnout out for our Thanksgiving weekend hike. We have another hike planned this week on Saturday, December 13th in North Phoenix, we’ll be doing the Desert Tortoise & Dixie Mountain Loop Trail. If you’re in the North Valley, we’d love to have you join us on the trail!!

Get all the info this hike & all of our upcoming hikes at ArrowheadHikingClub.com

This group is for everyone of all skill levels, seasoned backpacker to beginner, we’d love to have you join us, no matter what part of the Valley you live in!!

I had the pleasure of seeing the full moon rise this past week, with HikePhoenix contributor & very talented photographer Bruce Donaldson. He captured this image while we were at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. We had a great time watching the moon, telling stories & partaking in a beverage or two.

If you into things like this, Lake Pleasant is a great place to watch the full moon over the water and it can be done just a few steps from your car at the Castle Creek Boat Ramp.

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