Pinnacle Peak Park Update, July 13 – Closing Times, Falcons, Volunteers & More

July 13, 2017

Good Morning Volunteers and Regular Hikers!

The closing time at Pinnacle Peak Park will change on the 15th (Saturday) to 7:45p. The 5:00a opening will remain in place until August 1st.

The Prairie Falcon closure has been removed at Tom’s Thumb. While staff was there on Tuesday they were treated to some amazing aerobatics from the falcons. One of them had caught a small bird and two of the others were trying to steal it. . . and the show went on for about 20 minutes! I have attached a sweet photo taken by one of the preserve stewards who was a bird monitor during this baby season.

Next time that you hike Tom’s Thumb you will see new signage! The various overlook vistas on the way up the Tom’s Thumb trail have been established and named, as well as a “selfie station” near the actual “thumb.” We hope that by having the newly defined overlooks, that novice hikers will consider those as a destination and not proceed past their skill level to get to Tom’s Thumb which may end up being too much for them.

Beginning on August 1st we will begin accepting New Volunteer applications for Pinnacle Peak Park. If you would like me to send you or a friend an application to complete, please let me know! The training will begin in the evening of October 5th, with our meet and greet pizza party, and History of the area presented by John Loleit. Yipee!

And, I unfortunately am going to end on a sad note. . . Yesterday at 12:12p, the fire department Technical Rescue Team (TRT) was called out to a rescue at the Lost Dog Trailhead. The unfortunate patient was indeed a dog, that died from the heat. The hikers with the dog not only faced the awful sadness of their dog’s death, they were additionally issued a citation by the police department for animal cruelty.

Thank you!

Yvonne R. Massman
ymassman@scottsdaleaz.gov
Natural Resources Coordinator
Pinnacle Peak Park
McDowell Sonoran Preserve Central Area
Direct line) 480-312-7901
Office main line) 480-312-0990

To learn more about the Pinnacle Peak Park and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve,
log onto:  www.scottsdaleaz.gov  use the search box


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Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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