/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
With the burst of winter weather shrouding northeastern Arizona, the riders of the Hashknife Pony Express are prepping for riding through snow and sleet during the 61st anniversary ride that begins in Holbrook on Wednesday, Feb. 6, ending in Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 9.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
“We have had five or six years of good weather with no major snow, but this year might be different,” said Hashknife Posse Captain Mark Reynolds, adding that no matter what the weather conditions are the 20,000 hand-stamped letters collected from the local post offices would get through.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The Hashknife Pony Express is under the leadership of Navajo County Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse and Sheriff K.C. Clark. The officers are Reynolds, First Lieutenant Steve Reynolds, Second Lieutenant Jim Mobley and First Sergeant Pat Nichols.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
This year, 28 riders will continue the tradition of the longest running Pony Express carrying the mail across a 200 mile trek from Holbrook to Scottsdale, traveling from the high desert landscape on Highway 377, through the lands that were at one time home to the Aztec Cattle Company on into Heber, where they tackle the mountains of the Mogollon Rim before dropping down into the wilderness of the Mazatzai Range for the final leg of the journey into Scottsdale.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The riders include Tommy Allen, Brantley Baird, Robert Black, Mike Bowman, Sam Buckingham, Dan Buckingham, Wade Carlisle, Aaron Colon, Dillon DeWitt, Jeff Gravely, Ed Hamilton, Gary Hayes, Tim Kelley, Jason Lewis, Greg Long, Shawn Maestas, Bob Moffett, Mike Meyers, Walter Pacheco, Leo Parent, Joe Perez, David Ramos, Wayne Ramey, Shane Robertson, Pat Reynolds, Scott Self, Byron Shelendewa and Steve Thomas.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Days before the swearing-in and the ride begins, it is the duty of the riders and support staff to collect the mail. As a way of engaging the public the riders also do a mock ride in Winslow and a meet-and-greet in Heber.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Starting on the morning of Friday, Feb. 1, the riders will collect the mail from the three elementary schools in Winslow.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
At 1:30 p.m., after lunch at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce, the Winslow postmaster will hand off letters to rider Walter Pacheco, who will begin the mock ride with other Hashknife riders along Second Street to the 911 Memorial Park on the east end of Winslow.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
On Saturday, Feb. 2, the riders and support crew will be at the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce for a meet-and-greet starting at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
On Monday, Feb. 4, the riders will continue the mail pick at the elementary schools in Joseph City, Indian Wells and Holbrook. Once all the mail has been picked up, members of the support crew spend hours hand-stamping every envelope in preparation for the ride on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Folks are welcome to come to view the swearing-in ceremony for the Pony Express riders on the lawn of the historic Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook at 12 noon on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
That same evening at 7 p.m. will be the send-off dinner at the Holbrook Elks Lodge. The public is welcome to come. Tickets are $10 per person.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The next morning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, an early morning breakfast will be served at the Holbrook Senior Center. Again the public is welcome to attend. Cost for the breakfast is $6 per person.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The first rider will be leaving the Holbrook Post Office at 8 a.m., with the mail arriving at the Payson Post Office by approximately 4:45 p.m. that evening.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
After a night’s rest, the riders will leave the Payson Post Office at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, with a 3 p.m. arrival scheduled at the Fountain Hills Post Office. After a camp out under the stars at the Verde River, the riders will take the mail the final leg of the journey arriving at the Scottsdale Museum of the West by 12 noon on Friday, Feb. 8.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, the riders will participate in the 65th Annual Parada del Sol Parade in Scottsdale before returning home.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
This year’s support crew members include Del Allen, Tim Lesperance, Dan Beilefeldt, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Fetherston, Tom Cernier, Steve Reynolds, Pat Nichols, Jim Mobley, Jerry Young, Phil Cobb, Cloyce Kelly, Kelland Webb, Andy Pickett, Bill Fischer Jr., Chris Baker, Mark Salem, Kelly Najar, Evan Mondragon and Bob Kashni.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
For dinner ticket information, call (928) 587-5742.
/wp:paragraph
