January Challenge

Posted By Mike Conklin on Dec 28, 2014

By Mike Conklin

Overton is one of the trails at Cave Creek Regional Park. Photo by Mike Conklin.

One certainty in the New Year: Desert Foothills YMCA, plus local fitness clubs, will be lively in the first week of 2015. That’s when everyone gets busy with their resolution to get in shape.

Another alternative is to start early hiking on our many miles of hiking trails and, just for fun, see how far you can get into the “100 Miles in 100 Days” program sponsored by the Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department.

It’s infectious once you start logging miles and get them initialed by resource center staffers in the participating Maricopa County Parks: Cave Creek, McDowell Mountain, Estrella Mountain, Lake Pleasant, San Tan Mountain, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Usery Mountain, and White Tank.

The program started Nov. 1 and ends Feb. 8, but, if you have the time and do the math, hitting 100 miles in a little more than five weeks is not out of reach. The miles have to be accumulated in at least three parks. There also are mileage alternatives for bicyclists and horseback riders.

You also can combine options: 75 percent of your challenge must be completed via your primary mode and 25 percent via secondary mode. For example if you decide your primary mode is hiking (100 miles) and horseback riding (200 miles) is your secondary mode, 75 miles must be hiked and 50 miles must be completed on horseback for a total of 125 miles.

All participants who complete the challenge receive a limited edition tee-shirt at the park program finale celebration Feb. 28.

The annual program is young, but popular. Park officials anticipate a significantly larger number of hikers hitting 100 this year, based on the hundreds of posts they’ve received on the event’s Facebook page. Here is the link (and a good way to get a feel for what is taking place): https://www.facebook.com/MCParks100MilesIn100Days

Here is another helpful link with entry details: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/100miles.aspx

There were occasional bike riders at Cave Creek Regional Park. Photo by Mike Conklin.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park has a lot of hiking options. Photo by Mike Conklin.

I encountered this particularly gnarly saguaro near Spur Cross. Photo by Mike Conklin.

There are a variety of special activities available at Cave Creek Regional Park. Photo by Mike Conklin.