In the middle of another cold winter, Hashknife Pony Express riders are gearing up for their 62nd annual Pony Express Ride where they will leave the Holbrook Post Office, taking letters from across the globe as they head through Payson and into Scottsdale to deliver the mail on horseback.
Carrying on a 62-year tradition, the men of the Hasknife Posse will begin their near 200-mile journey on Feb. 5. But before the ride, there are many preparations that need to be addressed to ensure that the mail for the trek gets to the barrels the organization sets out at the post offices in Holbrook, Winslow and Joseph City.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, Hashnife members will collect the mail in Winslow at the elementary schools before having lunch at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce then, at 1:30 p.m. riders will head to the Winslow Post Office where the postmaster will hand off letters to rider Walter Pacheco. Other riders will join Pacheco and relay the bag from rider to rider along Second Street to the park on the east end of town.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Heber, riders and support crew will attend a meet and greet on horseback open to the public at the Heber/Overgaard Chamber of Commerce, located at 2774 AZ-260.
At 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, the posse members will pick up the mail at Joseph City Elementary School. At 10 a.m. they’ll visit the Indian Wells Elementary School and at 10:30 a.m. they’ll visit the Holbrook Head Start. Finally, they’ll end their rounds with a visit to both Park and Hulet Elementary School in Holbrook.
At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, riders will be sworn in as official mail carriers in the United States Postal Service at the Historic Courthouse, located at 100 E. Arizona Street. Then that evening at 7 p.m., members of the Holbrook Elks Lodge, located at 714 Elkdom Ave., will host a lasagna dinner open to the public where attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with the riders. The cost to attend the dinner is $10 and can be paid at the door.
At 6 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, those who wish to can attend breakfast with the riders at the Holbrook Senior Center, located at 216 Joy Nevin Ave. Breakfast is $6 and can be paid upon entry.
After that, the ride begins at 11:30 at the Holbrook Post Office, with riders tag-teaming all the way to Heber/Overgaard where they’ll have lunch at the Heber Post Office. From 1:30 to 2 p.m. they’ll stop at Christopher Creek for a mail pickup and at 4:45 p.m. the riders are expected to enter Payson, where they’ll head to the Payson Post Office.
That evening at 7 p.m. members of the Payson Elks Lodge, located at 1206 N. Beeline Highway, will host a rib-eye dinner open to the public. The cost to attend is $15 and tickets can be purchased through Mark Reynolds by calling (928) 587-5742 or at the door.
At 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, the second half of the ride begins with the riders leaving the Payson Post Office. At 3 p.m. riders are expected at the Fountain Hills Post Office then at 3:30 p.m. they’ll head down to the Verde River where they camp for the night.
On Friday, Feb 7, riders have breakfast on the Verde, which is open to the public. At 9 a.m. riders will pack up and head out for the last stretch of road before reaching the Scottsdale Post Office. At 12 p.m. the mail arrives at the Museum of the West. Then on Saturday, Feb. 8, riders will also take part in the 67th annual Parada Del Sol then finish the journey at the Trails End Festival.
