Roberta Arpan

Spring is in the air, wild flowers are blooming and the temperatures remain moderate. The time is perfect to don your hiking boots and head for the outdoors. The Sun Lakes Hiking Club offers a wide variety of trails in the 14 scheduled hikes. Hikers and their significant others have also had the opportunity to sign up for the annual four day Special Hike in Sedona and Flagstaff from March 24 through March 27.

Hiking information can be found on the club’s website at http://meetup.com/Sun-Lakes-Hiking-Club. Please note the new start time, unless otherwise noted, all carpools meet at the Cottonwood parking lot east of the tennis courts at 6:45 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. departure. If you are new to the club, remember to contact the hike leader before the day of the hike.

The tip of the month: Although rattlesnake sightings are relatively rare, it’s always prudent to be on the alert. Listen, as well as look; snakes will likely spot you first and will warn you with a rattle and a hiss.

The next Sun Lakes Hiking Club meeting will be held on March 6 at 3:45 p.m. in the Phoenix Room at Cottonwood. For more information about the SLHC, contact Brian Hill at 802-1050 or [email protected]. You may also visit the club’s website at the address given above.