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CHASE THOSE ENDORPHINS Northern hikes are the way to go this summer
Jordan Houston >> The Entertainer! B etween coronavirus anxieties, self-isolation, gym closures and working from home, it’s normal to want to curl up on the couch and bingewatch Netfl ix for days on end—but that doesn’t mean regular exercise should take a backseat.
With Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-athome order exempting outdoor exercise, exploring one of Arizona’s many natural
FAY CANYON TRAIL
playgrounds is the perfect remedy to ease stress, break a sweat and soak up some sun.
Not to mention June 20 is National Hike with a Geek Day, which serves as a reminder for STEM professionals to step away from their computers and labs and head outside. So, grab your best geek friend and check out our mustsee list of hikes to conquer during this isolation.
As a disclaimer, many Arizona State Parks and Trails are following precautions outlined by the Arizona
Department of Health Services and the Center for Disease Control to promote responsible hiking.
Th e agency is encouraging visitors to avoid group gatherings, maintain social distances of 6 feet apart, use hand sanitizer and pack out all trash.
Now go chase those endorphins! DOE MOUNTAIN
Our fi rst hike is a 1.5-mile trail tucked inside the Coconino National Forest. Doe Mountain, rated as a moderate trail, climbs a sheltered ravine to a 400-foot plateau top.
Painted by dancing wildfl owers, the picturesque ascent follows winding switchbacks up the north side of the low fl at, top mesa. With no competing peaks nearby, the destination boasts panoramic views of some of Sedona Red Rock Country’s most prominent landmarks.
Th e east rim looks out over the wide, bushy valley of Dry Creek, toward Capitol Butte and Downtown Sedona, while the north edge has views toward Bear Mountain, and many cliff s, ravines and pinnacles in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Th e dog-friendly trailhead takes about an hour round trip and sits along Boynton Pass Road, 5.7 miles from Sedona’s State Route 89A via Dry Creek Road. Parking is available at the base of the trailhead. FAY CANYON TRAIL
Fay Canyon, stemming from a large parking area along Boynton Pass Road, off ers an easy introduction to Sedona hiking.
Following a short and scenic ravine, the 1-mile hike is a good choice for hikers seeking minimal elevation with camera-friendly red sandstone cliff s and towering pinnacles.
Th e partly shaded path crosses into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, entering the wooded surroundings of the canyon fl oor. Staying near the seasonal stream, the trail showcases a selection of cacti, like yucca and opuntia, wildfl owers and shrubs, while enclosing red-and-black stained rocks display impressive arrays of forms and texture. Many have eroded into buttes and pinnacles, especially along the east side of the canyon.
One of the route’s top attractions, though, is the Fay Canyon Arch. Viewed by a short and steep side trail, the dramatic 130-foot-span feature off ers long distance southern views across
Dry Creek Valley toward Sedona and Chimney Rock.
Fay Canyon’s trailhead, another Coconino National Forest treasure, sits 8.5 miles from US 89 in Sedona. SANDY SEEP TRAIL NO. 29
This next one is for the bikers—or anyone who doesn’t mind traveling by (literal) horsepower.
The Sandy Seep area, located on the eastern slopes of Mount Elden, is characterized by its rich history, marked by a 1977 fire, and awe-inspiring terrain. But as a vital winter range for mule deer and a valuable recreation resource for the Flagstaff area, the Coconino National Forest closed the trail to entry by motor vehicles—or saddle-horse—to protect its wildlife habitat.
The access trail follows an old jeep track that meanders through open grasslands dotted with ponderosa pines, Gambel oaks and clumps of cliff rose. Pioneer sprouts of oak at lower elevations and aspen higher up carpet the slopes, providing a nourishing browse for the area’s deer herd.
Dead tree remains from the disastrous fire pepper the 1.4-mile hike. Throughout the ascent, burnedout snags and debris of old fire breaks plowed into the landscape become more prevalent.
The Sandy Seep Trail has a maximum elevation of 7,270 feet, with stunning views of Sunset Volcano Field, and is accessible a half mile beyond the Townsend and Winona Road intersection (a little over 2 miles north of the Flagstaff Mall). Forest Road (FR 9139) turns west of Highway 89 and leads to the trailhead. RANCH TRAIL NO. 62
An easy-to-navigate trail, Ranch Trail No. 62 is part of a 10.1-mile loop about 20 minutes away from Prescott. A fan favorite among mountain bikers, the difficult hike is perhaps better suited for more experienced hikers—thanks to its steep elevation gradient. But the lush scenery is rewarding nonetheless.
Located off Walker Road, the trail winds through manzanita plants, pinyon pine, mountain mahogany and lowgrowing oak. It climbs considerably to its junction with Boy Scout Trail No. 126, where Government Canyon lies to the west. As the ascent continues, panoramic views of Lynx Lake, Prescott Valley, Bill Williams Mountain and the San Francisco Peaks dominate the surroundings. Mule deer, Albert’s squirrels and wild turkeys can be found meandering around near the hike’s higher elevations.
Diving into Ponderosa Pine, Ranch Trail comes to a stop at Seven Mile Gulch Trail No. 9854.
The eastern portion of No. 9854 travels back down to Walker Road, while the western end connects with Watershed Trail No. 299. Hikers can then travel roughly 3 miles before reaching Senator Highway.
The trailhead has generous parking, as well as an outhouse and picnic table.
To reach the trail’s entry point, travel east on Highway 69 to Walker Road. Turn right and travel 0.6 miles to find the signed trailhead on the right.
THUMB BUTTE TRAIL
Due to its proximity to Downtown Prescott, Thumb Butte Trail is one of the Prescott National Forest’s most popular hiking trails—and it’s no secret why.
The 2.5-mile trail serves as a great resource to learn about the area’s native wildlife and cultural history, how humans impact natural ecosystems and the importance of protecting such natural places.
Open only to hikers, Thumb Butte can be traveled as an out and back or in a moderately intense loop around the Butte’s gentle western slope to just below its craggy crest.
Signage identifying vegetation and outlining forest ecology decorates the trail, while a steep climb leads to a ridge just below the rocky crest.
The ridge boasts spectacular panoramic views of the Prescott area, as well as the Bradshaw Mountains, Sierra Prieta Mountains, Granite Mountain, Mingus Mountain and, on clear days, the San Francisco Peaks.
The steeper eastern portion is paved to control erosion and increase safety. Climbing is not recommended at the top of the butte.
The trailhead sits across the street from its picnic area, off Thumb Butte Road (3.4 miles west of Downtown Prescott on Gurley street).
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UN-FORE-GETTABLE GOLF
These 18 holes are the best, by par
GRAYHAWK (RAPTOR)
Tim J. Randall >> The Entertainer! A rizona boasts more than 300 golf courses, and the Valley offers roughly 200 tracks. This panoply of venues provides low and high handicappers alike the opportunity to experience some of the country’s finest collection of fairways, greens and 19th holes.
In that spirit, The Entertainer! takes readers on a tour of the 18 finest golf holes as picked from Golfweek’s roster of the Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona.
Tee it up!
FRONT 9: PAR 36 1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell
This Bill Coore/and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw design stuns with beauty and challenges players to think their way through each hole. One of two 18-hole venues at We-Ko-Pa (Cholla the other), Saguaro tests a player’s imagination and provides free-flowing fairway contours set against the rugged desert landscape. The course’s par 4s are works of art, perhaps none better than the 13th hole, a left-to-right shape with a perfectly situated front greenside bunker to collect the errant approach.
2. Quintero GC, Peoria
This fabulous layout designed by distinguished architect Rees Jones displays all of the characteristics of a championship course: length where needed, driving options, demanding approach shots, subtle green complexes and short game artistry. The best hole and most challenging, the par-4 third hole creates stress on the tee shot with water down the left side of the fairway. Next,
the approach requires a forced carry over desert to a well-protected green.
3. Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita), Marana
The club boasts three nine-hole tracks
WE-KO-PAL (CHOLLA)
designed by the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus—Saguaro/Tortolita/Wild Burro. Players are able to experience three distinct 18-hole rounds. Hole one on Tortolita, a par 4, forces players to get their round going quickly, as the long
at glory where tour pros have walked. While you won’t have thousands of screaming fans cheering or booing your efforts on the par-3 16th hole, you will feel the surge of adrenaline as you try to stick your Titleist close!
AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES
hole demands a quality opening tee shot and a carry over a desert wash to reach the rectangular-shaped green.
4. Wickenburg Ranch, Wickenburg
The hour-plus drive from Phoenix to Wickenburg Ranch is worth the time. Big Wick, designed by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett, is a treat to play with immaculate course conditions. The par-4 16th hole, Vulture, will test players coming down the stretch hoping to beat their personal best score. A demanding tee shot, and equally tough approach, must be executed to record a par on this arduous hole.
6. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Maricopa
An Ak-Chin Indian Community offering, the Southern Dunes course brings the design talents of Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley and PGA Champions legend Fred Couples. Aptly named Trickster, the short par-4 third hole requires precision off the tee and into a small green well protected by a massive front bunker.
7. Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale
Both of Troon North’s courses—Monument and Pinnacle—receive high ratings from players and golf publications. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, the Monument track’s par-5 third hole requires the player to navigate an enormous boulder directly in the middle of the fairway, which plays into your position off the tee, as well as affecting your lay-up options.
5. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), Scottsdale
Home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, this exquisite Tournament Players Club track designed by 1973 Open champion Tom Weiskopf brings thrills to patrons on the closing stretch of the back nine. Take your shot
8. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla), Fort McDowell
Designed by Scott Miller, the Cholla
layout stands in contrast to Saguaro with a more traditional, target, desert, shot-making feel. The par-5 10th hole stands out with a tough tee shot followed by the need for a solid lay-up, and precise short iron to a tough green flanked by two left bunkers.
9. Troon North (Pinnacle), Scottsdale
Weiskopf’s second masterpiece at Troon North, Pinnacle, is a sight for the eyes and a difficult test for players of all skill levels. As par 3s go, you can’t do much better than 16, a tough tee shot to a small green (aptly named Postcard) blanketed by bunkers with a carry over water.
BACK 9: PAR 35 10. Ventana Canyon (Mountain), Tucson
Players can explore two Tom Fazio designs—Mountain and Canyon—at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon. The course professionals boast the par-3 third hole as the course’s signature, and I will not argue. Stretching only 107 yards from the tips, the green is tucked into a rocky canyon, and hitting the target necessitates a carry over a swath of desert cactus. A truly gorgeous hole with a brilliant design.
11. Verrado GC, Buckeye
John Fought and PGA Champions
TALKING STICK
star Tom Lehman crafted the Founder’s Course, a feast for the eyes with the White Tank Mountains as a backdrop. The golf is equally impressive with the
par-4 ninth hole requiring a solid tee shot, followed by a crisp short iron with water on the right to catch any slight push.
12. Boulders Resort (North), Carefree
With 36 holes (North and South courses) Boulders, designed by Jay Morrish, provides an exciting test of ball striking and strategy. Take hole three, a par 5 requiring a well-struck tee shot to avoid fairway bunkers on the right; a finely positioned lay-up to the player’s perfect distance; and, lastly, a precision short iron over water to set up a birdie putt.
13. Sewailo GC, Casino del Sol, Tucson
PGA Tour player and nowcommentator Notah Begay III, along with Ty Butler, crafted a gem on Pascua Yaqui Indian lands. Hole three, only a 155-yard par 3 from the tips, will have players trembling on the box, as the tee ball must carry water to land on the putting surface. Short, left or right and a Titleist finds a watery grave.
14. Laughlin Ranch, Bullhead City
A David Druzisky design, hole two, a short par 4, requires a tee shot over the corner of the desert, and as the hole is named Ascent, an upward approach to a tough to hit green complex. A par is no sure thing on this deceiving, sub 300- yard challenge.
15. Boulders Resort (South), Carefree
The South Course’s 13th hole, a medium-length par 4, requires a centercut tee ball followed by a forced carry over desert to a well-guarded green with bunkering left and right. Consistent shot making at the Boulders is a necessity for good scoring.
16. Apache Stronghold, San Carlos
Famed architect Tom Doak is the brains behind this desert masterpiece. Hole 12, a par 3 playing 239 yards from the tips, is a monster, and it demands Raptor designed by Tom Fazio, boasts a plethora of phenomenal holes, the finest the 18th, a par 5 reachable in two shots, but only with a splendid tee ball and, subsequently, a perfect laser second shot off a downhill lie to a green, bordered by water on the right and bunkering left. An eagle 3, or birdie 4 for that matter, is quite an accomplishment on final hole of the Raptor.
One of two courses at Grayhawk, the venues.
SEWAILO GC Missed the Cut: 19. Grayhawk (Talon), Scottsdale 20. La Paloma GC (Ridge/ Canyon), Tucson 21. Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Dinosaur Mountain), Gold Canyon 22. Papago Municipal Golf Course, Phoenix 23. SunRidge Canyon Fountain Hills 24. Victory at Verrado, Buckeye 25. Los Caballeros Golf Club, Wickenburg 26. Kierland GC, Scottsdale 27. Camelback GC (Ambiente), Scottsdale 28. Wigwam Golf Club (Gold), Litchfield Park 29. Ventana Canyon (Canyon), Tucson 30. Wildfire at Desert Ridge an impressive tee ball to find and hold (Faldo Course), Phoenix the putting surface. Walk off with a 3 and you have bragging rights with your Every player has a favorite hole on playing partners on the 13th tee. the tracks they play. Agree or disagree on these choices, but at the very least, 17. Grayhawk (Raptor), Scottsdale head out and enjoy these terrific Arizona
18. Talking Stick (North-O’odham), Scottsdale
Another gem from Coore/Crenshaw, which tests a player’s ability to pick site lines and execute quality shots. The best hole, 12, a split fairway par 4 that provides options on the tee shot and precision for the fairway approach to a small protected green. You’re sure to want to play this hole twice to appreciate its optionality and intelligent design.
TROON NORTH
10 UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY |
THEY ARE
MUSIC
Avril Lavigne pays tribute to front-line workers
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer! A vril Lavigne admits she’s had her fair share of meltdowns during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Still, she wanted to do something positive for the world, to help everyone stay optimistic. So, the Canadian pop star gave a pandemic facelift to her Chad Kroeger cowrite “Warrior” and renamed it “We are Warriors.”
“I’m hoping this song gives the world hope and brings it comfort,” she says. “It’s also a reminder that this is still going on. Even though we’re inside, we need to be patient and follow the guidelines right now.
“We have medical workers working 17- hour shifts and putting their lives at risk. People are trying to not worry about it, but the thing is, the medical workers work longer and harder. We need to give them a break.”
“We are Warriors” takes an anthemic, collective tone to remind listeners of their inner strength and ability to come together in this crisis. The song expands on its original version’s reflection of Lavigne’s own health battle with Lyme disease and her first-hand knowledge of the struggle, hope and determination it takes to overcome.
Coinciding with the song’s release, the Avril Lavigne Foundation partnered with Project HOPE, a global health organization dedicated to placing power in the hands of local health care workers across the globe, who are providing support on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I felt the need to do something to honor all of the front-line workers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe,” she says.
“From the doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, grocery workers, delivery services, all essential workers and the brave volunteers. I am humbled with gratitude and want to dedicate my song ‘We Are Warriors’ to everyone putting their lives at risk to keep us safe.
“You guys are the ones who are holding the world up right now, and we’re all counting on you and relying on you.”
All net proceeds from sales and streams of “We are Warriors” and its accompanying video will help Project HOPE’s ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts around the world—including providing personal protective equipment. To make an additional donation to this effort, visit charitystars. com/Warriors.
“This is my small way of showing my gratitude toward the front-line workers,” Lavigne says. “It’s so incredible to see them step up to the plate.”
“Head Above Water” and “Warrior” were the first two songs Lavigne wrote about her own struggles with Lyme
disease for her sixth album, 2019’s “Head Above Water.”
“I’ve gotten really strong, and I’m doing really well,” she says.
“It’s nice to be able to bring back ‘Warrior.’ (Front-line workers) are the true warriors right now. I re-recorded it, changed some of the lyrics and dedicated it to them.”
Lavigne took a DIY approach to filming the accompanying video, which she shot on her iPhone in selfie mode on a tripod in her backyard.
“I became a director, producer and
editor all in one,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve been doing the work for 30 people. I almost had a nervous breakdown the other day.”
Lavigne has been quarantining since March 14 with her good friends, whom she calls her “team.”
“We’ve been cooking for one another,” she says. “We’re all taking turns being super safe. No one comes over. If we do, we wear masks and gloves and we’re super careful.”
The pandemic has inspired Lavigne to write new music—a marked return to the hard pop for which she’s known.
“The songs I feel like writing now are upbeat,” she says.
“I know what it’s like to be isolated to the world. I was in an introspective headspace. Now I’m coming out on the other side and getting better. I put out the record, went on tour and I’m in a different place. I just want to write songs about beer—good old rock ’n’ roll music.”
Avril Lavigne
avrillavigne.com charitystars.com/Warriors
11 THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JUNE 2020
ELECTRIC DREAMS
Lectric eBikes celebrates its first successful year Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer! L evi Conlow and Robby Deziel were passionate about biking. When electric bikes hit the market, they piqued their interest.
“Robby was already a passionate cyclist,” Conlow says. “But then once he heard about the electric aspect, he really dove straight in and really kept asking the question, ‘How can it be better?’”
Minnesota natives who now live in Phoenix, the two decided to answer that question themselves. Through Conlow’s entrepreneurial skills and Deziel’s mechanical engineering abilities, Lectric eBikes in Deer Valley was born.
“The reason the electric bike came to be was because my dad kind of almost pestered us to try to make it more affordable just for his own personal benefit,” says Conlow, a Grand Canyon University graduate.
Conlow and Deziel thought it would be a small effort called “Levi and Robby’s Lectric eBikes.” Instead, they shortened the name and chopped off the first E.
“It’s kind of cool because it takes the ‘e’ where it’s supposed to be in electric then puts it before the bikes,” says Conlow, who earned his degrees at the University of Minnesota. “We just fell in love with the name.”
Sales have been a surprise for Conlow and Deziel. They started selling the high-end Lectric XP, which retails for $899, in May 2019. It was an instant success where “sales were flying through the door,” according to Conlow. Barely a year later, the Lectric XP bike has over 10,000 purchases and earned Electric Bike Review’s Top Choice Award for Best Folding Electric Fat Tire Bike of 2020. The company was expected to hit $12 million in sales by its first anniversary on May 30.
“We got the ball rolling with really awesome influencers on YouTube,” Conlow says. “The beautiful thing is these influencers reviewed the bike and the response was overwhelmingly positive, which was a huge win because we didn’t know what they were going to say until the videos came out.”
Conlow and Deziel enlisted the help of YouTube influencers to help market their bikes without having to drop an
excessive amount of money on ads. The guys started with an email asking the influencers to review the bike and post a video about it. Eight people accepted the offer. The videos have reached more than 3 million views and helped sell 10,000 Lectric XP bikes.
At one point, the two increased the price to help combat the bike’s demand. They also had to switch to offering preorder for the bikes to help give them time to manufacture the orders.
“We were in preorder, and we’re asking customers to wait eight to 12 weeks to get their bikes,” Conlow says. “We understood that was a huge ask, and we had to be able to support them the whole way.”
The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a surge of bike requests, too. To give back to the community during these unprecedented times, Lectric eBikes will donate 8,000 KN95 masks to health care workers in Arizona.
“In certain parts of New York or on the East Coast, subway stations and certain transit systems have been shut down and people still need to get around,” Conlow says. “People are wanting our bike to be a solution for that.”
Conlow thinks that during the time of social distancing it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and ride.
DEEP RESEARCH
The bike came about after researching customers’ wants and desires.
“The hardest part of creating the bike was the process of figuring out what customers wanted out of their bikes,” Conlow says. “It was a very lengthy process. At some point, you may feel discouraged because you think you might have it figured out and then you go back to square one.”
Once they had that down, it was time to find a place. They ran it out of a friend’s garage and living room, before moving to a building in Deer Valley. Ultimately, the high-end Lectric XP came alive.
The duo’s bike remains affordable, even though they use name-brand quality parts from LG, Shimano and Tetra. The bike’s design has riders’ backgrounds in mind. The paint job, the branding, the style and the big-top tires were all designed to be really cool in the guys’ eyes.
The all-terrain tires and foldable frame make the bike easy to pack up and go riding anywhere at any time. Lectric XP folds into a third its size with a hidden battery within the framework.
“The foldability is just beautiful, because I have a small hatchback car and I can fit three bikes in it,” Conlow says. “Just being able to go out riding, fold it up and throw it in the car is the best feature of it.
“Nobody wanted to buy a bike they had to put together, because they don’t build bikes. So, we ship the bike to you fully assembled. You get the bike, unfold it and you start riding.”
Lectric XP maxes out the legal top speed for an electric bike by zooming up to 28 mph. Lectric XP can ride anywhere a normal bike can go.
“With the high performance and speed, our customers are tapping into that youthful fun,” Conlow says. “Many of our customers have said this is their first time biking in 20 to 30 years and they like the way the bike looks and feels.”
The company is focusing on its highend Lectric XP, with no plans to create a new model. There’s always room for improvement, though.
“I think it’s human nature to improve and make things better,” Conlow says. “I most certainly believe that in 2021 we will have a new version of our bike or maybe a different bike entirely to the public.”
Lectric eBikes
602.715.0907 lectricebikes.com
