Citizen HikerVolunteers Rebuild Part of Maricopa Trail Damaged by Wildfire
Mare CzinarApril 19, 2021
The stories of the volunteer groups who repaired fire-damaged trails will restore your hope for America's youth.
Citizen Hiker
Citizen HikerOB-GYN Dr. Tamar Gottfried Believes Hiking is the Perfect Way for Pregnant Women to Optimize Their Health
Mare CzinarApril 13, 2021
Dr. Tamar Gottfried expects a bit of a baby boom in 2021. While the Mesa-based OB-GYN (obgynmesa.com) has seen a decrease in routine screenings and consultations due to the coronavirus pandemic, she has also witnessed an uptick in new pregnancies. Whether that’s a byproduct of quarantine is a subject for historians, but even in these virus-cloistered times, expectant moms need exercise and fresh air. Gottfried, who leads hikes for the Arizona Trailblazers hiking club (azhikers.org),...
Citizen HikerHiking Guide to Black Canyon National Recreational Trail: Drinking Snake Segment
Mare CzinarMarch 12, 2021
Explore the Arizona Outback less than an hour's drive outside of the Valley.
Citizen HikerHiking Guide to Camp Creek Falls – Blue Wash Trail near Cave Creek
Mare CzinarFebruary 19, 2021
Navigate the boulders, create your own adventure and discover a desert waterfall in the northeast part of the Valley.
Citizen HikerHiker Tom Rodriguez Learns Risk Management in the Remote Blue Range Primitive Area
Mare CzinarFebruary 5, 2021
Huddled in a rain poncho, drenched, shivering, dehydrated and lost, Tom Rodriguez wished he had packed the right charging cord for his cell phone. His August 2019 day trip in the remote Blue Range Primitive Area in eastern Arizona illustrates how even the most experienced hikers can end up in life-threatening situations. A former Eagle Scout, Rodriguez was no amateur. Alongside hiking pal and fellow Valley resident Michael Houseknecht, he familiarized himself with the area,...
Citizen HikerA Hiker’s Guide to Kiwanis Trail at South Mountain Park
Matthew JohnsonJanuary 22, 2021
Phoenix's preeminent hiking guru Mare Czinar guides us on a hike of Kiwanis Trail in Phoenix.
Citizen HikerRaising Arizona Hikers
Mare CzinarDecember 11, 2020
For the Twaddell family of Cave Creek, hiking is a family affair. Their patriarch, Graham, an environmental consultant, has been hitting the trails with 10-year-old son Enler and 6-year-old daughter Neala since before they could walk. While the sport comes naturally to them, Twaddell says that getting his kids started in hiking took planning and patience. “I found planning the hike during the week, looking at trail maps together, preparing our equipment and generally talking...
For many Valley hikers, climbing Flatiron is an essential adventure. Getting to the top of the landform that juts out 2,500 feet above Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction is challenging – it does not give up its bragging rights easily. The climb is rugged, vertical and difficult to follow. Many give up. Everyone could use a bit of coaching. So it’s wise to take some from a guy who has hiked it more...
Citizen HikerPhoenix Hiker Heather Viti Taylor Takes It Easy on Arizona Trails
Mare CzinarOctober 13, 2020
As a former smoker living with reactive asthma that’s exacerbated by exercise, Heather Viti Taylor takes it easy while hiking Arizona trails. While her lack of speed allows for heightened enjoyment of the outdoors, it’s not always well-received by other hikers. “I used to feel embarrassed for ascending so slowly,” the Phoenix executive assistant says. “Half the time I will hike alone because it’s easier to not hold anyone back, but I’ve also learned to...
Citizen HikerSteve Horvat’s Hiking Journey
Mare CzinarSeptember 2, 2020
When his daughter planned her June 2011 wedding to be held on the summit of Camelback Mountain, Peoria teacher Steve Horvat was devastated. Out of shape, overweight and dealing with blood pressure issues, Horvat knew he would miss the mountaintop nuptials. The couple as well as Horvat’s wife are voracious hikers, so it was no surprise that they would want to tie the knot at a place that was special to them. Yet, for Horvat,...
To those who don’t know him, Moose doesn’t immediately register as a great hiking dog. True to his Chinese Shar-Pei breed, the quirky 8-year-old sports a grows-on-you kind of handsomeness. His wrinkled skin, sandpapery coat (Shar-Pei means “sand coat”), large blocky muzzle and wary attitude are not exactly the standard-issue kit attributed to typical outdoor types like Labrador retrievers and Border collies. But with consistent socialization and specialized training, Moose has evolved into a fine...
Citizen HikerBack on the Trail: Phoenix Hiker Toni Barker Shares Her Favorite Treks
Mare CzinarJuly 8, 2020
Toni Barker of Phoenix does not like snow. A native of Guyana in South America, Barker arrived in Arizona by way of Kansas in 2013. “I’m accustomed to sunshine all year, so moving to Arizona was the perfect choice,” Barker says. “My company at that time was expanding in Arizona, so I applied and got the job. I packed up my car, rented an apartment online and drove over 15 hours to a state where...
Citizen HikerDevil of a Destination
Mare CzinarMay 4, 2020
Looking for a remote, rigorous hike? Check out Devil’s Chasm in Tonto National Forest.
Citizen HikerDesert Defenders
Mare CzinarMarch 25, 2020
When you stand on the 4,890-foot high point of the Desert Mountain Trails System, you’re witnessing a miracle of sorts. “Look to the right and you’ll see 3 million people. Look to the left and you’ll see 3 million acres,” says Troy Gillenwater, Desert Mountain community resident and one of the founders of the private North Scottsdale trails. “It’s a buffer zone between civilization and wilderness,” adds co-founder Bob Borsch. As subdivisions and golf courses...
Citizen HikerAgeless Adventurer
Mare CzinarFebruary 29, 2020
Dede Rand of Scottsdale sees hiking as an important part of her lifelong commitment to maintaining her physical and mental fortitude.