As the hiking season kicks off, and in time for this year's Fountain Hills Hiking Challenge, join us for really fun, eye-opening review of What's in My Pack. Whether you're new to hiking or have had the same contents in your backpack for years, it's time to refresh. In addition, your intro to desert safety will include an overview of CPR and hands-on use of an AED. This information can be life saving in the desert, at home, and in public spaces. You will also receive a link to a 20 minute video on our YouTube channel with basic First Aid practices for hiking in desert conditions.

This session is a great precursor to The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace offered November 2, sharing best practices for safe outdoor experiences.

You'll learn from two professionals who have been managing first aid and saving lives in the Sonoran Desert - Yvonne Massman, Natural Resources Coordinator, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Lori Stauffer, Public Information Officer, Community Relations, Scottsdale Fire Department.

Note: SCFH volunteers will find this useful, but not as in depth as the Desert First Aid classes offered exclusively for volunteers.

The SCFH invites you to join Vicky Derksen on this moonless evening to observe the night skies with less moonlight interference. You might see a planet or two and locate and identify constellations and their stars while Vicky recounts some myths and stories held by ancient cultures. After the hike, the Star Dudes will point their telescopes at deep space objects that can't be seen with the naked eye. Bring preregistered children age 8+, and wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Bring water and hiking poles if needed. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended to protect everyone's night vision. Be prepared to hike 2 miles on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road. No dogs, please.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and serves on the boards of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center and the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association. You can find her online at nightskytourist.com.

Join SCFH leaders and volunteers to kick off the hiking season and the Fountain Hills Hiking Challenge. Stop by at 8:00 a.m. for coffee and cookies and to chat with SCFH leaders. At 9:00 a.m. we will hike the 2 mile Lake Overlook Trail. Those that wish to do more can add a mile by walking the circumference of Fountain Park. Bring one liter of water, a hat and wear shoes with grippy soles. Hiking poles are recommended. No dogs please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes in the Challenge is required!

This session, following What's in my Pack on October 27, is for everyone interested in learning more about the best practices for safe outdoor experiences as the hiking season gets underway. Join the SCFH and Elisa Grandizio, a SCFH volunteer and owner of Hike Explore Recharge (HER), as she presents The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. She will provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks, and even in your backyard. Each Principle covers a specific topic and provides detailed information to empower you to minimize your impact. You will also receive a link to a 20 minute video on the SCFH YouTube channel with basic first aid practices for hiking in desert conditions.

Elisa is an American Hiking Guides Association (AHGA) certified hiking guide, serves on their board and is a 52 Hike Challenge Leader. Through her company, Hike Explore Recharge (HER), LLC, she is a Leave No Trace business partner. HER offers small group travel adventures throughout the USA exclusively for women.

This is a 4 mile more difficult hike involving two climbs but we will not be rushing! We climb to the top of the Western Trail - a steep rocky climb. We also hike the new North Leg Trail which descends for about 1 mile as it follows a ridgeline to its end. So even though the trail is short be prepared for an uphill hike on the return. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Both trails will be included in the 2024 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the FH Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

The SCFH invites you to join Vicky Derksen on this first quarter moon evening to observe the night skies. You might see a planet or two and locate and identify constellations and their stars while Vicky recounts some myths and stories held by ancient cultures. After the hike, the Star Dudes will point their telescopes at deep space objects that can't be seen with the naked eye. Bring preregistered children age 8+, and wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Bring water and hiking poles if needed. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended to protect everyone's night vision. Be prepared to hike 2 miles on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road. No dogs, please.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and serves on the boards of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center and the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association. You can find her online at nightskytourist.com.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes in the Challenge is required!

Lisa Miller will lead a walk in the FH Desert Botanical Garden where you will discover the remarkable ways plants and animals rely on each other to thrive in the harsh climate of the Sonoran Desert. Some win, some lose in this intricate web of interdependence. Bring water, snacks, a hat and wear sturdy shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Lisa Miller, is a Naturalist and Master Steward of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, and a FH Dark Sky Association Board Member.

Hike with your children ages 5+ on this school holiday to spend time in nature. Walk on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road (no strollers). At 10:00am, at the end of the hike, a representative from the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center will be at the trailhead to talk about the work of the sanctuary and share a few animals, such as an owl, for children to visit with while enjoying cookies and refreshments. Parents may also bring children directly to the trailhead for refreshments and to visit the animals at 10:00 am. Make sure everyone wears closed-toe shoes, hats and has plenty of water. No dogs, please.

Each child must be accompanied by an adult and all participants attending the hike & meeting the animals or just meeting the animals must be preregistered.

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, rescues and rehabilitates native wildlife that has been injured, displaced and orphaned. Once rehabilitated, they are returned to the wild. Sanctuary is also provided to animals that cannot be released back to the wild. Visit www.southwestwildlife.org for more information.

This moderately difficult hike will take in the entire 4.5 mile Ridgeline Loop. The Ridgeline trails are accessed from the Adero Canyon Trailhead. The Ridgeline trail follows the top of a ridge overlooking Adero Canyon while the Lower Ridgeline and the spur to a scenic overlook provide views to the east. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

During this walk through the Desert Botanical Garden with birder Peter Herstein you will be searching for birds, not only by sight, but by sound. November is an excellent time for birding here, with viewing of over 15 different species a distinct possibility. Highlights could include Rock Wren, Gilded Flicker, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow. Peter will also demonstrate the use of the ebird, Merlin and birdNET apps. Bring water, a hat, and binoculars if possible. Wear shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. Bring a bottle of water and snacks. No dogs, please.

This is a moderately difficult 5.5 mile lollipop hike. We follow the Promenade trail to its end, then take the Sonoran and Lower Sonoran Trails for a loop hike. This hike can also be shortened by taking one of two crossovers to the alternate trail. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

Are you an early bird looking for an early morning hike that isn't too far, too fast, or too hard? Then this series of hikes is for you and perfect to introduce hikers new to the Preserve. Cathy Pepperd will again lead a nearby hike starting at sunrise. This month she will hike the North Leg Trail, a newer trail in the Preserve. The Trail is accessed from the Promenade Trail, about 1/2 mile from the Adero Canyon Trailhead. It follows a ridge about 1 mile, descending almost the entire way. So even though this hike is short, be prepared for an uphill hike on the return! Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

This is a 6 mile, out and back, moderately difficult hike, starting from the Adero Canyon Trailhead. The trail climbs as it winds through the Adero Canyon to the Sunrise Trail with its hitching post. Those who want an extra challenge may opt to continue another 1/2 mile and climb to the top of Sunrise Peak. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

This will be a moderate paced, challenging hike from the Golden Eagle Trailhead to the Adero Canyon Trailhead and return. The total distance is about 9.5 miles round trip. For an extra challenge, some participants may wish to add 1/2 mile by climbing the Western Trail. It is possible to shorten the hike to 5 miles by arranging to be picked up at the Adero Canyon Trailhead. Bring two to three liters of water, lunch or snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

This is a moderate 5.2 mile round trip hike to a historic mine in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Only trace amounts of valuable minerals were ever found in the mine. $2 park entry fee. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Back by popular demand, the SCFH invites you to join Dan Gruber as he leads you on an informative hike in the FH McDowell Mountain Preserve. Dan will talk about the different rocks, the stories they tell about local geological history and their importance to the area, and some unique features along the way.

We'll have a relaxed pace with numerous stops for a 2-mile round trip on the moderate Andrews-Kinsey Trail. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy shoes or boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

What better way to get into a festive mood than to enjoy the Avenue of the Fountain holiday lights, learn about some of the town's art installations, and share hot chocolate and cookies! We will meet outside the Community Center entrance for a 2.5 mile walk exploring the outdoor art work in downtown Fountain Hills. We will start in the Centennial Circle then make our way down the Avenue of the Fountains and around Fountain Park. We will wrap up by enjoying hot chocolate, coffee and cookies!

At 150 pieces, Fountain Hills is home to one of the largest public art collections in the state of Arizona. Learn more about the art work and view a map at: https://www.fountainhillsaz.gov/260/Public-Art. Bring a bottle of water, wear your best holiday finery and comfortable walking shoes. No dogs, please.

This is a scenic, 6 mile loop hike with only a small elevation gain that will introduce you to the NE corner of the Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve. The hike will be at a moderate 2 mph pace and should be enjoyable for anyone comfortable with the Sonoran Loop in the FH Preserve or the Dixie Mine Trail. We will have very limited parking for this hike so a short shuttle may be required. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Are you an early bird looking for an early morning hike that isn't too far, too fast, or too hard? Then this series of hikes is for you and perfect to introduce hikers new to the Preserve. Cathy Pepperd will again lead a nearby hike starting at sunrise. This month she will hike the Ridgeline Trail which starts at the Overlook Trail and continues on the Ridgeline Trail to the Scenic View for a 3.3 mile out and back hike. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This is a 8.5 mile off-trail loop hike at a moderate 2 mph pace for those with a sense of adventure and comfortable with the distance. The hike is more than twice the distance of the Ridgeline Trail in the FH Preserve though the elevation gain is about the same. We will start from the Needle Rock parking area on the Verde River in the Tonto National Forest. We follow informal trails, jeep roads, and find our way through washes that can be quite narrow in places. Hikers should be prepared for a modest amount of scrambling, slippery conditions on jeep road descents, brush, and possible water in the washes. Wet feet are a possibility! This is a surprisingly beautiful area close to home. Bring three liters of water, snacks and lunch and wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs please. Tonto Day or Federal Annual or Lifetime Pass required for each vehicle.

The SCFH invites you to join Vicky Derksen on this moonless New Year's Eve to celebrate and observe the night skies with less moonlight interference. You might see a planet or two and locate and identify constellations and their stars while Vicky recounts some myths and stories held by ancient cultures. After the hike, the Star Dudes will point their telescopes at deep space objects that can't be seen with the naked eye. Bring preregistered children age 8+, and wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Bring water and hiking poles if needed. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended to protect everyone's night vision. Be prepared to hike 2 miles on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road. No dogs, please.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and serves on the boards of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center and the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association. You can find her online at nightskytourist.com.