Hiking season is here, at least for those of us who don’t mess with summer hiking, and I hope this email finds you well, and sore from recent hiking adventures.

Bruce and I started a hiking club in the community we live in and we had our first group hike last weekend. It was great, until it wasn’t. 😲 Unfortunately one of our group fell and injured themselves. Another reminder of how the trails can bit you in a lot of ways, no matter how careful you are.

Be safe out there!!

In this week’s edition:

Thank you for being here, have an amazing week! 🙏

Due to erosion from recent rain storms, the City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department has temporarily closed the Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain. (link)

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has temporarily closed Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain until further notice due to safety concerns caused by recent storms. The closure is necessary to ensure public safety while the City of Phoenix assesses the damage and determines next steps.

Park rangers will remain on duty to educate visitors about the closure and ensure the public stays off the trail until it is deemed safe to reopen.

Two hikers were struck by lightning near the summit of Humphreys Peak outside Flagstaff last week. Rescue crews faced heavy rain and fog during the response, but both men survived and were taken for treatment. Officials warn hikers to check the forecast and leave exposed areas immediately when storms approach, Arizona’s highest peak offers little protection from lightning. (link)

While in the East Valley last January, I had a chance to finally hit the trail in Lost Dutchman State Park. There are a ton of great hikes in this park, I wish I’d had more time to explore, but even the short hikes are an adventure in this park. (link)

Love hiking and exploring Maricopa County’s trails? The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its next Trail Ambassador training session on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at White Tank Mountain Regional Park.

Trail Ambassadors help welcome visitors, share safety tips, report trail issues, and promote good outdoor etiquette across the county’s regional parks. Volunteers receive official gear, flexible schedules, and the satisfaction of giving back to the desert trails they love.

Spots are limited, so register early through the Maricopa County Parks volunteer portal to reserve your place. (link & link)

It is not a hiking story, but it does involve one of Arizona’s most famous trails. Arizona Republic writer, Joan Meiners, is documenting her trip as she mountain bikes the Arizona Trail. You can read more here or follow her posts on Instagram.

Join the Maricopa Trail + Park Community Partners at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, November 23rd, when the Arizona Cardinals take on the Jacksonville Jaguars to help support and raise awareness for the Maricopa Trail + Park Foundation. Your participation will help raise funds and make a meaningful impact on our trails and parks! (link)

The Phoenix area is known for its clear skies most of the year, but during monsoon season, fast-moving thunderstorms can form with little warning. Lightning is one of the biggest dangers hikers face in these storms, and Arizona ranks among the top states for lightning strikes.

If you find yourself on the trail when thunder rolls in, here’s what to do. (link)

Are you a fan of the Usery Mountain Regional Park? This home & community in Mesa offers private access to trails in the park, without the crazy prices of living ‘on the mountain’ in Scottsdale. If you like hiking in the East Valley, this house would be a great hub.

See all the details and pics of this three bedroom & two bathroom home.

The previous trivia question was ‘Piestewa Peak was renamed in 2003 to honor Army Specialist Lori Piestewa. What was the peak’s former name??’

The answer is: Squaw Peak.

Piestewa Peak was named in 2003 to honor Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe from Tuba City, Arizona.

She was the first Native American woman in U.S. history to die in combat while serving in the military, and the first American servicewoman killed in the Iraq War.

Before 2003, the mountain was known as Squaw Peak, but that term was considered offensive toward Native women. Following her death, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano led the effort to rename the mountain and the adjoining Squaw Peak Freeway (State Route 51) in Lori Piestewa’s honor.

The first hike of the Arrowhead Hiking Club was a huge success!! Well, until it wasn’t. Unfortunately one of the hikers had a mishap and fractured her wrist. 😲

There are two upcoming hikes this next week, on Wednesday 10/29, and on Saturday 11/1.

Get all the info these hikes & 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!!