How long have Grand Hikers been in existence?
The Club was chartered as The Grand Hikers in February 2000 with 50 members. Many charter members are still active with Grand Hikers.
How many members are in Grand Hikers?
Typically, Grand Hikers has approximately 330 members.
How do I join Grand Hikers and how much are the annual dues?
Use the link to the membership application form on the Club website. You must sign a waiver and pay the required fees. Participation in an introductory hike is highly suggested to ensure that your fitness levels will match what is expected on hikes.
Prospective members can hike three times before deciding to join (requires approval of the Hike Director and Hike Leader).
Current annual dues are $15 with an additional one-time charge for a new member name badge.
Do I need to be an experienced or expert hiker to enjoy the club?
Hikers at all levels of experience become members and hikes are planned that allow hikers to experience the level of difficulty they are comfortable with. The Club has a system for rating the difficulty of all hikes. The hike rating is called the Composite Boot Rating (CBR) and is based on the length of the hike, the total elevation gained, the trail surface conditions and other factors. The CBR number rating is derived from gps data. A detailed explanation of the CBR formula is found under the Hiker tab. The number rating is further broken down into categories of Easy, Moderate, Difficult and Strenuous so that members can identify in advance whether they want to attempt a particular hike.
New hikers should start with the lower rated hikes and find out from experience what difficulty level they prefer.
Grand Hikers have designated Hike Leaders who are experienced hikers, many with CPR training. Every hike is led and coordinated by at least one experienced hike leader who is very familiar with the trail and helps ensure that all hikers are accounted for before, during and at the conclusion of every hike.
Most of the offered hikes have been hiked many times by the Club. Almost all hikes, old or new, are pre-hiked within a few days of a scheduled hike to make certain knowledge of the trail conditions and difficulty level are current.
How do I know whether I will enjoy hiking with the club?
If you enjoy being outdoors, getting exercise, seeing great scenery and visiting with fellow hikers, you will most likely enjoy Grand Hikers.
An Introductory hike is offered first Wednesdays of every month and is strongly suggested for new members. This is a relatively easy hike of about 4.6 miles and gives a good indication of what desert hiking with a group is like.
This is the only hike that doesn’t require hiking footwear. The Introductory hike is led by experienced hike leaders who provide guidance on hiking gear, hydration and trail etiquette. Guests are allowed to hike three times before joining Grand Hikers is required.
How does the Club foster hiking safety?
Grand Hikers acknowledge that hiking injuries are possible, but most can be avoided with proper preparation. Safety is stressed at every point of every hike.
The Safety Committee is a standing committee of Grand Hikers. This committee provides guidance and equipment to new and experienced hikers so that hikers are prepared for desert hiking conditions.
Every hike begins with a circle-up that includes a discussion of hike difficulty so members don’t mistakenly attempt a hike for which they are not ready. The hike leader(s) will also check for proper hiking footwear, adequate water and snacks. Required (supplied by club) for every club sanctioned hike are first aid kits, walkie-talkie type radios and a SPOT device that allows emergency satellite communication for 9-1-1 response in case of emergency.
Where do Grand Hikers hike?
Maricopa County and the surrounding mountain chains include regional and municipal parks with myriad hiking trails. Examples are White Tanks, Lake Pleasant, McDowell-Sonoran, McDowell Mountain and Estrella Mountain Regional Parks. Additional hiking experiences include Superstition Wilderness, Sedona, Wickenburg, Cave Creek, Cottonwood, Prescott and development of new hiking areas.
Referred to as Out-of-Area Hike Trips, Grand Hikers typically offer one or two per year that involve travel and overnight lodging for multiple days of hiking. In recent years, these locations have included Utah’s Grand Escalante National Monument near Kanab; Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab; and Zion National Park. Locations in Ouray, Colorado; Big Sur, California; and in northern Arizona, Kingman; and Tucson and the Chiricahua and Cochise National Monuments in the southeast.
How often do Grand Hikers hike?
Grand Hikers typically offer five hikes each week with seasonal adjustments. Hikes are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and with occasional weekend hikes. Tuesday and Thursday more than one hike is offered each day with easier and more difficult options. During the summer months, to mitigate Arizona’s climate, one hike is offered each week with early start times followed by optional breakfast.
Do I have to drive myself to the location of the hikes?
Carpools are arranged at the Spirit of Grace church parking lot where hikers and their leader(s) gather before every hike. Directions to the trailheads and appropriate reimbursement for expenses appear on all hike descriptions.
Does the Club have any social or other special activities?
Grand Hikers has an active Social Committee that typically arranges three or four social events each hiking year. These include fall and winter social events and one or more picnic hikes.
From time to time, Grand Hikers invites various agencies requesting assistance to make presentations during general membership meetings. Recently a local food bank and an organization which assists trafficked children and adults gave presentations.
An active GPS special interest group (SIG) helps members learn to use hiking GPS devices and hiking apps such as AllTrails.