b"Glendale Equestrian ClubRIDE REPORT By Robert Piekow, Publicistgecriders.comT he first club ride of the long-awaited new year happened on January 2nd at Estrella Regional Mountain Park. The park itself is an amazing piece of real estate comprised of twenty thousand acres of land with about thirty-five miles of trails. Located in the northern part of the Estrella Sierra Range, the park was one of the first in the Maricopa park system. It was dedicated in 1961 on land that once was part of Mexico. Mexico was obligated to return Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to the United States according to the Peace Treaty known as Hidalgo Guadalupe following the Mexican-Americanfrom which we departed war in 1848. Beforeon a cool crisp morning that, this area waswith temperatures in occupied by variousthe mid-thirties. It soon tribes of Nativewarmed up as we went Americans. around the hills on the Rainbow Valley Trail. The trails are well-groomed and Fourteen clubeasy to follow with mostly gentle slopes. Some elevations members participatedapproach five thousand feet so this is not flat country. also some club members who came just to enjoy the on the ride. WeAll in all, it was a nice easy ride of about three hours. food and company of GEC.had twelve using horsepower and twoAfter the ride, we gathered around Bill's trailer while heSeems like, after the year we all just experienced, mules. The park hascooked up some great hamburgers accompanied by theeverybody was optimistic about the new year and a large staging areamany side dishes provided by the ride participants andanxious to see better times ahead. PRIME RIBFRIDAY & SATURDAYArizonaRealCountry.com February 2021 37"