General Information About These Hikes And This Website

• Who is this site for: This is my personal website.  I maintain it to help me remember and enjoy the hikes that I do in the general area centered around Benson, AZ.  I also use this site to help others that hike with me (or without me) to get an idea of what a given hike entails before they leave the comfort of their home.  I believe the information to be accurate, but I offer no guarantees.  Anyone who uses the information in this site is doing so at their own risk.  
• Vehicles: For each hike, vehicles will be needed to transport hikers to the hiking areas. Usually, travel will be over paved roads and any vehicle can provide the needed transportation. Some hikes require travel over unimproved roads and vehicles with 4 wheel drive and higher clearance are needed. Hikers should refer to the specific hike on a specific day to determine whether their vehicle would be appropriate.
• Clothing: Hikers must be responsible for determining what clothing will be necessary for a given hike. Hikers must consider current weather reports, the time of year and the altitude change associated with any specific hike and bring appropriate clothing.
• Footgear: Appropriate footware is critically important for a comfortable hike. Hikers should remember that trails can be rough and much of the vegetation along the trails has thorns or spines that can penetrate footgear.
• Food and Water: Normally hikers have a lunch stop at about the half way point of the hike. Hikers are responsible for bringing their own food and snacks. Hikers must bring plenty of their own water. Even though many of the hikes are in the mountains where it is cool, hikers must remember that they lose water with every breath that is exhaled and that they will need to drink plenty of water along the hike to remain hydrated and comfortable.
• Courtesies: Passengers riding in the vehicles of others should remember that driving a vehicle is expensive due to the cost of the fuel as well as the wear and tear and insurance on the vehicle. Thus, each rider should help defray the cost of transportation by offering the vehicle owner an appropriate reimbursement depending on the distance traveled. The driver should not need to ask for this reimbursement. Some of the hikes are in state or federal parks where entrance or parking fees are charged. Riders should not expect the driver to be solely responsible for these costs. Rather, these costs should be considered in determining the relative cost of a given hike. Once hiking, hikers should make every effort to stay together during the hikes. If hikers wish proceed ahead or lag behind they should make sure that the hiking leader is informed. Lagging can be a particular problem since no one can leave the parking area until everyone is accounted for. Proceeding ahead can be a problem if those proceeding ahead take a wrong turn and do not get to the same exit point in a timely fashion.
• Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on some of the hikes. Dogs must be leashed on some of the hikes. Sometimes dogs can be allowed to run free. Hikers wishing to bring dogs need to determine whether or not dogs are allowed on a given hike.  Sometimes that information is available on this website, although I can not guarantee the accuracy of my information. As a courtesy to all other hikers, dog owners should maintain control over their dogs at all times such that other hikers are not inconvenienced by the dogs of others.