Happy New Year, I hope you had an amazing holiday season, full of new hiking gear, in addition to all the treats & great food that come with this time of year.

If you also over indulged, let’s go hiking!! I’m super excited about what we have planned for 2026, in the way of group hikes, as well as a Summit Challenge in the northwest valley.

In this week’s edition:

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

Early in the New Year, Central Arizona search and rescue teams responded to a serious hiker injury near Bumble Bee Road, just east of I-17 north of Phoenix. A 55-year-old man fell from a ledge on Jan. 1 and suffered a significant leg injury in rugged, cold and wet conditions. Crews stayed with him overnight, building a fire to help protect against hypothermia while weather and flooding made ground extraction impossible. With daylight and a Blackhawk military helicopter from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, the hiker was safely airlifted to awaiting medical care the next morning. In addition to this challenging rescue, teams also located and assisted two other lost hikers that same day.

See the full article at AZFamily.com

A new outdoor destination is taking shape northwest of Phoenix near Wickenburg. The Vulture Mountains Recreation Area will soon offer new trail access, camping, and day use facilities in a rugged Sonoran Desert landscape that many hikers already know for its remote feel and challenging terrain. (link)

The trails here in Phoenix are pretty busy, and survival skills are not something you’ll need on most days, but if you venture out into the backcountry and would like to have some basic survival skills the Arizona Hiking Shack in Phoenix is offering a wilderness survival class.

How to prepare for, avoid, and survive emergencies. Self-Reliance Basics for the Backcountry. This course covers the internationally recognized principles and protocols for managing emergencies in the backcountry.

This class is being held on Wednesday, January 15th 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.

Find us on Instagram, we’d love to connect with and follow more local hikers!! Send a DM saying you get the newsletter! 🙏

Bruce Donaldson put together a recap of a hike we went on before Christmas with the Arrowhead Hiking Club. This trail in North Phoenix offers an easy escape from the hustle & bustle of metro Phoenix.

Read the full recap here.

Many of the trails in North Peoria & Glendale are super busy, especially on the weekend. If you’re looking for a challenging trail that doesn’t see as much traffic, but still has some WOW views, Deem Hills is a great option. (link)

The Arrowhead Hiking Club is launching the 2026 Summit Challenge, a simple, fun goal built around hiking some of the best mountains close to home, which can be completed throughout the year.

The challenge includes eight different hikes to eight local summits, all in and around Glendale and the surrounding area. Each hike offers its own views, terrain, and sense of accomplishment, giving members a reason to stay active and discover some new trails you may not have experienced yet.

The 2026 Summit Challenge is about enjoying the desert, setting personal goals, and hiking alongside others who love the outdoors, one summit at a time.

The Arrowhead Hiking Club is open to residents from all corners of the Valley. Most of our hikes are in the NW Valley, but we’re building out the rest of our spring schedule, which will include some more centrally located hikes in Phoenix.

Learn more about what this club is up to here.

We tackled one of the eight summits this morning at West Wing Mountain.

The previous trivia question was ‘How many mountain rescues did the Phoenix Fire Department perform on local trails in 2024?”

✅ Answer: Phoenix Fire responded to 213 mountain rescues in 2024, a number that includes heat incidents, injuries, and technical extractions across Camelback, Piestewa, South Mountain, and other city preserves.

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