Warren Wasescha I’ve always wanted to take a helicopter ride, but not because of a need to be rescued from a mountainside for making a poor choice. This happened again last month when a 27-year-old hiker became ill after experiencing intense heat while hiking on Camelback Mountain. Of course, the rescue happened at 2 p.m.…
Warren Wasescha As Valley temperatures reached 112°F, a friend called to say he caught the news of multiple hikers being rescued from trails due to fainting, heat stroke, and falls. Then last week, the news of a man rescued who stepped aside to let faster hikers pass, only to have the rock he leaned on…
Warren Wasescha Sixteen club members kicked off the new year by hiking to “Resolution Rock” at South Mountain to “fly” their resolutions through a special “rock portal” into the new year, followed by a “toast” at the trailhead afterwards. Word has it everyone is keeping their resolutions so far! In January, the Mellows enjoyed hikes…
Warren Wasescha It’s summer. It’s hot. And you wonder, does anyone hike mountain trails around the Valley at this time of year? While the Sun Lakes Hiking Club’s official hiking season is November through April, club members do continue to hike during the summer months. The game plan is just a bit different. Top on…
Judith Kuse The official hiking season for the Sun Lakes Hiking Club is November 1 through April 30, and it’s right around the corner. Here’s what you need to know. Preparation is key to successful hiking. To begin with, you can maximize your physical ability to hike by committing to an exercise routine that…
Judith Kuse Spring has sprung here in Arizona, and summer is fast approaching. It’s rattlesnake season. Hikers, be on the lookout. Snakes are out of their winter haunts enjoying the sun’s warmth. As you hike during the next months, keep this information in mind. Thirteen species of rattlesnakes reside in Arizona. Rattlesnakes are identified…
Judith Kuse On November 10, SLHC members and potential members gathered at Oasis Park in Sun Lakes I for the opening picnic. All were treated to a bountiful smorgasbord of fried chicken, salads, casseroles and desserts. After lunch, leaders of the club shared their advice for successful hiking. The list of safety tips-in-a-nutshell follows: Choose…
Roberta Arpan Shinrin-Yoku, a term minted by Japanese researchers, translates loosely into “nature bathing.” This tidbit was included with findings about the therapeutic effects of being in nature that appear in a TIME magazine article written by Alexandra Sifferlin (“The Healing Power of Nature,” July 25, 2016). It is beyond the scope of this Splash article to…
Roberta Arpan If your out-of-town guests aspire to see more of Arizona than golf courses, tennis courts and swimming pools, take them hiking. Almost all of the hikes below involve an element of driving. Thinking of taking an extended hiking break? Leasing a car might be a good option. If you’ve got friends in the…
Roberta Arpan The statistics are in showing the Sun Lakes Hiking Club enjoyed another very successful season. The number of Sun Lakers on the membership roll increased to 215, up 49 members this year and 81 members in the last two years. In an effort to keep the numbers on each hike manageable, club leaders…