With every “crunch, crunch, crunch” of shoe meeting path, the feedback is a feast for the senses. Eye-candy views, subtle desert scents and a healthy endorphin boost are among the benefits. And as for clearing your head? You can practically feel the stress melt away during your hike. Desert Mountain boasts an enviable array of easy-to-access hiking areas, but if you’ve never hiked before, the prospects might appear intimidating. Not to worry. If you’ve been too timid to tackle our trails, but are yearning to take the first step, here is your ultimate how-to guide, courtesy of Theresa Beall, outdoor adventures enthusiast and former Outdoor Adventures Director at Desert Mountain Club.
Getting Fit
Beall observes that hiking requires balance, leg muscles, strength, core, pretty much everything you use every day. If you can walk from your car to the Sonoran Clubhouse, you can hike. “There’s a little more instability in terms of the terrain you’re on,” she explains, “but your preparation should be the same as with any exercise routine: proper warmup, cool down, stretches, toe touches, maybe a couple of squats. Anything to get the blood pumping.”
Beall acknowledges the positives of regular stretching, and tries to incorporate yoga into a daily or weekly practice. She preaches the virtues of seeing one of the professional trainers at the Sonoran to maximize your fitness efforts, but at the onset, jump on the Stairmaster, “because it mimics the motion of walking uphill.” Beall adds that on the day of the hike, simple stretches are ideal. “Anything to target those larger muscles like the hip flexors, the quads, and the calves is beneficial,” she says. “And don’t forget the cool-down. Re-stretch those muscles as part of the cool down before you proceed to your next activity.”
Fuel Requirements
Understanding your nutritional needs is critical to enjoying the perfect hike. Beall suggests a well-balanced breakfast and proper hydration form the foundation. Drinking water before, during and after your hike is sound advice, but she cautions that there’s more to it. “When you hike, you sweat, and when you sweat, you release the salts in your body. So, replenishment of electrolytes is also key. On all of our Desert Mountain hikes, we offer our Members and their guests the LMNT electrolyte powder. It’s sodium, potassium and no sugar. It’s vegan. Replacing those electrolytes helps alleviate headaches, muscle fatigue and muscle cramping.”
For nourishment, a balance of protein, carbs and fats is preferred. Fresh fruit serves the purpose. Beall and now current Outdoor Adventures Director Jake Metz like to offer energy bars. A few extra calories won’t hurt, because in a one-hour hike, you may well burn 500 calories. Salty snacks actually work well to replace those electrolytes, but they should ideally be part of a healthy energy bar that’s also packed with protein and complex carbohydrates, such as the Picky Bars or Bearded Brothers brands.
Gear to Go
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and boots (hiking shoes) are musts. Beall advocates breaking in your boots as crucial. “Wear those boots or hiking shoes around the house a little bit,” she urges. “It might not be the best fashion statement, but wear them on smaller trips, even to the grocery store.”
Beall also suggests finding a good pair of cushiony, moisture-wicking hiking socks, and donning a long sleeve shirt made of light, loose material, which helps protect the skin. She prefers a baseball cap on top though depending on the sun intensity, she’ll use a wide brim hat. When she’s sporting a baseball lid, she’ll utilize a neck gaiter to keep the sun off the back of her neck. In summer, Beall chooses cotton shirts. “If you want to get it wet, it will stay wet for a little bit longer, which in turn will help keep you cooler for longer,” she says. “In colder weather, moisture-wicking shirts are better, to keep you dry and keep you warmer.”
Also essential is a backpack. It should be sufficiently sturdy to carry two to three liters of water, have good shoulder pads and padded straps that go around the waist, which helps alleviate a lot of pressure on the shoulders. Using the strap in that fashion puts more weight on the hips so that it distributes the weight properly. A cell phone is a must as well.
“I like to carry an additional cell phone charger,” says Beall. “The cell phone is great for access to trail maps and obviously for any emergencies, but put your phone in airplane mode. It helps significantly to save battery life.”
We aren’t done filling the backpack just yet. “Clothing layers are important,” Beall says. “Maybe bring an extra shirt and socks and definitely a small medical kit, with just the essential things. The most common ailment are blisters on the trail, so bring some second skin or moleskin and band-aids. Don’t have an ego about it. Stop immediately and address that heel or foot issue. You don’t want it to linger and turn into something debilitating.” A small, lightweight emergency blanket, your regular medications, antiseptic cleaning wipes, a utility knife, a flashlight/light source, a whistle (“just in case it’s needed”) and a pair of tweezers to deal with any cactus needles should also find a home in your backpack.
One final gear tip for beginners—well, two tips—that will ensure a successful hike is to use hiking poles. “They assist you in getting your momentum up,” says Beall, “and when you’re heading down, it takes pressure off the knees.”
Happy Trails
Anywhere between one and three miles and from 45 minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes is good as a starting point for a reasonably fit beginning hiker. Beall recommends an out-and-back trail without a lot of turns to begin with, which also minimizes the chances of getting lost. It’s great to graduate to loop trails because you’ll see a different landscape on your entire journey as opposed to seeing the same thing on the way out and back.
“Up at The Ranch, we’ve got trails that range from a mile and a half to the full perimeter loop, which is 14 miles,” says Beall. “There are areas for all levels of hikers. As featured in our seasonal Event Guide, when we post our hikes, we give it a “boots rating” system, which indicates the level of difficulty. Beginners should pick a one- or two-boot hike to enjoy. Once you gain more confidence, you can bump up the challenge.”
Beall touts the Sunset Summit Loop as ideal for the novice. “It’s the first trail ever built here, in 2011 and it continues to be one of my favorites. It starts at the Trailhead and goes up to Brangus Way, an old route for the miners from Cave Creek. It’s wide, it climbs gradually and it’s got gorgeous views from the summit. You see the Scottsdale/Phoenix lights in one direction and the Tonto National Forest in the other direction. The beginning part of the loop is where we do our Sunset to Full Moon hikes every month. It’s just beautiful.”
A Few Essentials
An ace bandage should be part of your hiking medical kit—just in case. “Cell phone service can be spotty, so have something handy to wrap yourself and get to a better place for reception,” says Beall. “Also, take a partner on your first few hikes, or at the very least, let someone know what route you’re taking, when you’re leaving, when you anticipate being back.”
A great way to get started on your journey is with the Outdoor Adventures Team, which hosts multiple hikes per week. “There’s no registration—it’s just show and go,” says Beall. “It’s a great way to meet fellow hikers, and go guided, so you don’t have to worry about the backpack. Let us take care of the heavy lifting. All you have to do is show up at the Sonoran Clubhouse and be ready to stretch those legs. That’s what we do. We’re here for our Members to create amazing experiences out in nature.”
Trail Rules
- All dogs must be on a 6’ maximum leash.
- Stay on designated and posted trails.
- Pack it in, pack it out, including pet waste.
- Do not disturb wildlife or alter, deface, place or remove materials, including rocks, artifacts, animals or vegetation, alive or dead.
- No smoking, fireworks, or open flames (except for Kiva fire pit).
Trail Etiquette
- Be considerate of other trail users
- Downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers
- Cyclists yield to hikers
- Cyclists and hikers yield to horses
- Use of trails when wet or muddy is discouraged
- Sounds travel in the desert environment, so speak quietly
Trail Safety & Tips
- Bring a cell phone and, in case of emergency, call 911.
- Bring ample water to prevent dehydration.
- Be aware of heat, limit activity to cooler parts of the day and wear proper clothing for the weather, use a hat and sunscreen, and wear sturdy footwear.
- Use hiking sticks or poles if you desire extra stability.
- Don’t hike alone but if you do, tell a friend what route you are taking and when you will return.
- If you come into contact with any wildlife, do not approach. Give it a wide berth and slowly back away to safety.
- If you have any medical condition or questions regarding your physical limitations or abilities, please consult with a physician prior to hiking.
- Be prepared and aware, especially of the weather and your surroundings.
