Big Sky country

can be reached either direction, with pristine views toward the Tetons.

Excursions include a snow coach tour to either Old Faithful or the Canyons, where bison, swans, otters and wolves can be spotted. Or visit “local’s mountain” Bridger Bowl, like a mini–Big Sky, also all-terrain, but with the advantage of no lift lines. Follow Thatcher on Instagram @TheArtfulTourist.

Legacy at DC Ranch to begin home sales

Camelot Homes’ new nine-lot subdivision, which will be the final new-home community in DC Ranch, is slated to start home sales this month. Demand seems strong, with more than 100 people on the “interested party” list. One and two-story floor plans ranging from 2,790 to 3,420 square feet are available with options ranging from 2 bedrooms plus den to 3 bedrooms plus a casita. Entrance into Legacy at DC Ranch will be through an unmanned gate off Union Hills Drive, west of 94th Street. For more information visit Camelothomes.com.

DCR2025 Strategic Plan

DCR2020 was DC Ranch’s first strategic plan. Launched in 2016 with the intent of being completed by about 2020, eight Standing Principles (the foundation of the strategic plan) and six Strategic Initiatives (focus areas) were developed with hundreds of tactics. It was very ambitious but almost all of the tactics were accomplished.

The intent for DCR2025 is to refresh the plan. Rather than starting over, DC Ranch will test the validity and relevancy of the original Strategic Initiatives and identify the focus for the next 3-5 years.

As with DCR2020, a crucial initial component of the process was resident input. The input sessions were administered by Doug Griffen, Advanced Strategy Center (ASC). Each one-hour session was professionally facilitated online with groups of 20-30 residents. The virtual format allowed the facilitator to gather a great deal of good information in a short timeframe. Approximately 100 residents participated in seven sessions offered mid-February.

In April, the Community Council and Ranch Association boards and team members will also engage with the consultant in a similar process. Once complete, ASC will produce the overall results so that DC Ranch can formulate strategies and tactics. Visit DCRanch.com/DCR2025 for updates and more information.

Book share added to park amenities

Scottsdale Public Library has installed a “Books To Go” in the DC Ranch Neighborhood Park, located at 91st Street and Trailside View. Fashioned after a London phone booth, the book share operates on a “take one, leave one” system. What a great way to pass on favorite books to your neighbors and read one of theirs!

By Gary Dokes | McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Gateway Trailhead is truly the gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Because of its location in Scottsdale, it hosts many out-of-town visitors wishing to exercise outdoors and learn about the Sonoran Desert and the Preserve. It also attracts hikers, bikers, and equestrians from across the Valley who come to enjoy regular fitness workouts.

Conservancy Trailhead Ambassadors and Patrollers who serve this region of the Preserve record some of the largest numbers of visitor engagements per year compared to the other six Preserve trailheads. While all seven Preserve trailheads have wonderful, distinct attributes, I keep returning to Gateway because of its picturesque views and the way the sun rises over the mountains in the morning. Also, Gateway hosts a beautiful trailhead entrance, which includes a tabletop topographical map that offers a bird’s eye perspective of the 225 miles of trails within the 30,580-acre Preserve. Parking at Gateway is plentiful, restrooms are available, and the water dispenser offers chilled filtered water.

One of my favorite morning fitness hikes is from Gateway Trailhead to Inspiration Point and back, a roundtrip distance of 5.6 miles, which takes about 2.5-3.5 hours. This hike is moderately challenging, gaining approximately 1,000 feet in elevation in 2.8 miles. This is a wonderful morning fitness workout that gets one in touch with one’s physical conditioning. Trails are well-marked with periodic signs along the trail and at intersections showing trail direction, abbreviations of the trail names, and location numbers, which correspond to notations on the Preserve’s trail map. Keeping track of where you are while hiking is an important safety precaution. Carrying plenty of water is also essential to ensure a safe, pleasurable outing. Having at least one liter (34 oz) of water per person per hour of hiking is a good rule of thumb. When you are half finished with your water, turn around and return to the trailhead. We also suggest bringing a charged cell phone, and a backpack to carry saltyn-sweet snacks, a hat, and sunglasses. Hiking poles are also helpful for the steeper sections of the route.

The route to Inspiration Point is straightforward. After leaving the trailhead on Saguaro Trail and reaching the Gateway Loop sign marker GL7, turn left and proceed north to GL5 and then GL4, continuing to WP1, which is the start of the Windgate Pass Trail. Occasionally, following a rain, I have seen a desert tortoise meandering across the trail between GL5 and WP1. If you’re lucky enough to spot one, please don’t touch it. Do take a photo, note your location, and tell the Trailhead Ambassador when you return to the trailhead.

The trail from WP1 continues to get steeper as you hike to WP2 and WP3 with the hill to TT17 being the rockiest and most challenging. At the TT17 juncture, stay on Windgate Pass Trail, and Inspiration Point is 0.2 of a mile ahead. At Inspiration Point, rest and have an energy snack sitting on the rock bench and enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains and the valley below. It’s not unusual to see deer peeking around the mountainside bushes in the area.

On the return trek, watch your footing as it’s easy to catch a toe on a rock. Those hiking poles are especially helpful on the descent. The views on the way down are wonderful. You can see Camelback Mountain and part of the Valley stretching to downtown Scottsdale. Just south of marker GL4, there is a hollowed-out side on a saguaro cactus, which is most easily seen on the descent. I recently noticed a cactus wren nest there with eggs inside.

The journey back provides time to reflect on your hiking accomplishment and to think about other areas of the Preserve to visit. So, where do you want to explore next?