Trail Mix

Fitness for Fun Hiking Group

Nourishing Our Spirit through Fellowship & Nature

May 2008
Mark Your Calendar

The Fitness for Fun Hiking Group, along with other groups from the church (Singles, Living Love, Choir, Biz Net, Teens, etc.) are helping with the Hospitality Serving on Sunday mornings. The Hiking Group is scheduled on the Second Sunday of Every Other Month.

Our next opportunity will be on Sunday, May 11th. We need 2-3 volunteers before/after each of the three services. So please let me know and help make it an enjoyable fun Sunday for everyone, including the congregants that you will be serving. A person doesn’t need to be a hiker (or attend any of the hikes) to Volunteer, just the joy of meeting people. Please E-mail or call me that you wish to participate. Join in and make it a pleasant experience for all the congregants that we help serve after the services. Thanks in Advance for Stepping Forward. “First Timers” are more than Welcome.

Moonlight Hike
Friday, May 11 - Shaw Butte (7:30 PM)
No Sign-up Required for the Moonlight Hikes

Each month we alternate between two local trails for our moonlight hikes. Both are on small mountains which allow us to enjoy the light of the moon, as well as all of the city lights as we trek to the top. With almost a 360 degree view, the night lights give new meaning as to what Phoenix is all about. We use the wide service road most of the way as we walk to the top.

Shaw Butte, Friday, May 11
The May Moonlight Hike is three days prior to the actual full moon night. The sun will be setting just prior to our beginning the hike, with the moon up for about 3 hours. The common name for the Full Moon in May is the Full Flower Moon. Flowers spring forth in abundance this month, and some Algonquin tribes knew this Full Moon as the Full Corn Planting Moon or the Full Milk Moon.

Meet in the church north parking lot at 7:30 PM, or, in the parking lot at the end of central Avenue, which is south from Thunderbird Road, at 7:45 PM to begin the hike. Bring a friend, or many have brought their canine friends to enjoy the evening hike. The next Moonlight Hike will be on Friday, June 13th.

Bell Trail #13
Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness
Coconino National Forest

Our Treat is: Some people refer to the Wet Beaver Creek area as an oasis. You can follow parts of the Bell Trail for a good hike or skirt the creek for memories of a lifetime. If you like Sedona and West Fork of Oak Creek, this trail is for you. If you can’t join us now, take time later to enjoy its beauty.

Saturday, May 17th (Yes, Come Join Us)
Meet at the Unity Parking lot at 7:00 AM. (or just before)
1500 E. Greenway Pkwy.
NO Sign-Up Required in Advance

Directions from the Church to: Bell Trail #13 Trailhead
From the church, take I-17 North toward Flagstaff. [NOTE: We will be making a Pit Stop at the McDonald restaurant in Camp Verde, Route 260, Exit #287. Regroup about 8:30/8:45 AM] Continue north on I-17 for 11-miles to the Sedona Exit which is State Route 179 (mile marker 298). TURN RIGHT on FR618 and go two miles and TURN LEFT onto FR618A. Follow the signs to the trailhead.

General Info: Toilet’s - ??, Water - ?? (Will be confirming prior to the day of the hike)
Managing Agency: Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District (928) 282-4119

Trail Stats:

Trail Description:

We will be hiking the first 3 to 3.5-miles of the trail to the Bell Crossing and then returning.  If one wishes to explore the entire length of the trail, Bell Trail #13 is 11-miles long and gains in altitude from 3820 feet to about 6270-feet at the Field Road #214 Junction.  The first part of the trail is an old jeep trail and passes junctions of the White Mesa Trail #86 (1-mile long with 900-feet elevation gain), the Weir Trail #85 (0.75-miles long with almost no elevation gain), and the Apache Maid Trail #15 (9.5-miles long with an elevation gain of 3000-feet).

The first part of the hike will be through some tall grassy meadows area which typically contains Upper Sonoran types of plants which includes prickly pear, agave, catclaw and junipers.  Once the trail reaches the creek, which is within two miles and you have passed the Wet Beaver Wilderness boundary,  the vegetation changes dramatically to black walnut, willow, ash, sycamore, cottonwood, canyon grape and blackberry.  The numerous deep pools in the creek contain introduced trout and bass for the anglers.  Bring your camera for some excellent pictures.  With the many adventurous short paths along the creek, the return trek from Bell Crossing (if you make it that far) will be the memorable part of the hike.

Come join us for this third Saturday (May 17th ) of fun hiking and getting out in nature.  We will car-pool from the church parking lot (meet at 7:00 AM to leave by 7:15 the latest), OR, meet at the Camp Verde McDonalds Pit Stop location at 8:30/8:45 AM.  We will be joining with the “Christ Church of the Valley Hiking Group.”

RECOMMENDATIONS:  We highly recommend sturdy hiking shoes/boots.  Be prepared for moderate amounts of sunshine by bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, etc.  Bring at least 2-quarts of water for the hike.  There are few or no trees along the first part of the trail, then lots of trees in the canyon along the creek. The May sun will give you a tan if not prepared.  Bring your favorite trail snacks and munchies to keep your energy levels up.

If you wish to be on the general "Fitness for Fun Hikes" Unity Trail Mix emailing list, and are presently not receiving this information, please let me know so that your address will be on our list for monthly Hiking News. Thanks for sharing this information with others.

Don Clausing
(Unity Fitness for Fun Hiking Group)
602-866-0285 or email at: dclausing@unityphx.org