The Peak Magazine

About The Current  Issue  
About Future Issues  
Getting The Peak (Print and Online)
Advertising in The Peak 
This Month's Advertisers
Writing for The Peak 
Editorial Copy Calendar
Meet Peak People
For More Information

Founded as a Scottsdale, Arizona magazine, A Peek at the Peak's logo is a stylized outline of Pinnacle Peak, North Scottsdale's most distinctive mountain. A "refreshingly different" magazine founded in 1983, The Peak has been a distinguishing part of the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills community since 1983. By and for that community, it is the only magazine dedicated to quality of life, education, desert preservation, wildlife conservation, and the arts in the North Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek, Rio Verde, and northern Phoenix areas. The Peak, a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 publication, is provided as a community service by the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), which was founded in 1977. The magazine, which received national recognition in 2006 and 2009 when the Society of National Association Publications named it an EXCEL Award winner,features original articles by local writers about local organizations, community events, local history, Sonoran plants, animals, restaurants, galleries, and people.

If you own or manage a local business, join the many other businesses that benefit by advertising in The Peak. Advertisements in The Peak not only attract customers but they enable advertisers to be part of an established community tradition. By placing ads, advertisers  foster desert preservation, wildlife conservation, the arts, education, and community service. Advertisements and GPPA Friends fund publication of The Peak magazine, which provides a voice for local writers.

About The Current Issue 

July-August 2009 Issue Click on Mountain Lion for Online Edition

The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) thanks you and the advertisers, members (Friends of the Community), writers, photographers, and volunteers who make this magazine possible. Because of your support over the last 26 years, A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) has evolved from a newsletter enjoyed by a few hundred people living in the then remote Pinnacle Peak area to a unique, two-time national award-winning nonprofit magazine “by and for the people” and nonprofits of the north Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek, northeast Phoenix, and Verde communities. Much has changed since 1983, but The Peak and e-Peak, our electronic newsletter, remain a “labor of love” and a free community service provided by the GPPA, which was founded by Pinnacle Peak residents in 1977. You can support The Peak and our community efforts by advertising in The Peak, shopping our online store for photos, books, and travel, or becoming a Friend of the Community. Towards the rear of the magazine, you will find information about becoming a Friend and the benefits you’ll receive.

The theme of this issue is “Our Wildlife.” Our cover photograph, “Tocho,” was taken by north Scottsdale
resident Dennis Liddell. Tocho is a male mountain lion, seven years-old, and under the care of Southwest Wildlife. Dennis Liddell is a professional photographer and frequent contributor, who has donated many of the terrific wildlife photos that have graced The Peak’s cover. You can view and purchase Liddell’s work at www.liddellimages.com. You can contact Dennis at dennisliddell@cox.net. We also thank Tony Nelssen and Sandie McCune for designing and creating another memorable cover.

Theme Articles

We begin this issue with a reminder that the deadlines for GPPA’s 6^th Annual Summer Fun Write Stuff and Photography contests are July 31st. Once again, there are youth and adult divisions for each contest and excellent prizes for top entries. For more information and to enter, see the article and advertisements in this issue. Incidentally, this year you will be able to view top entries and order prints by visiting the Book Travel/Shop section of GPPA’s Web site.

Our first two theme article can help you enjoy the summer. The next time you go for a walk or hike in the desert take the article “Wildlife Tracks in the McDowells” by Leonard Marcisz. Use the pictures of wildlife tracks and droppings to identify coyotes, bobcats, quail, and more. The second article, “Learn About Bats, See Bat Flights This Summer” describes free workshops that are being offered this summer by Arizona Game and Fish. Sounds like fun.

Our last two theme articles are provided by Southwest Wildlife and Wild At Heart. “Juan Peron” describes Southwest Wildlife’s efforts to save a young coyote that has been treated as a pet by well-meaning people. Wild At Heart’s column, “On The Wild Side” is written by William LeRoy and discussed efforts to re-establish the California condor in Arizona and elsewhere. LeRoy’s article was previously published in The Peak. The U.S. Fish and Game Service requested through Wild At Heart that the article be re-published to help educate the public about the ongoing condor effort. It and “Juan Peron” are very interesting “reads.”

There’s More!

In addition to the above theme articles, you will find a variety of articles, some serious and some not so serious, in this issue of The Peak. For example, you can learn about Cactus Shadows graduate Cody Williams. Cody was awarded GPPA’s annual education grant for his contributions to the environment and outstanding community service. In addition, we’ve re-published The Peak’s award winning editorial “On the Road to Groundhog Land.” The pieces are timely, as developers have now filed two Scottsdale General Plan Amendments that will contribute to the spread of urban sprawl into the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills areas. You’ll also find information about our Summer Fun Photography and Write Stuff contests.

In addition to other interesting local news and articles, you'll find these columns in almost every issue:

• Arizona Cowboy (humorous poetry about the West)
• Dining Out (review of local restaurants)
• Dog Daze (pet dog describes the challenges of daily life)
• Far From Home (experiences of two Scottsdale residents who do business training abroad as volunteers)
• Government 101 (a look at development issues that impact our community)
• Here and There in Art (review of local art exhibits and galleries)
• Hoof Beats (keeping the community posted on the local equestrian scene)
• A Peek at Fitness (advice for keeping in peak condition)
• On the Wild Side (articles about rehabilitation of great horned owls, hawks, and other raptors)
• Community Scene
• Community Events

    If you need a product or service, why not contact a local business that supports GPPA. You'll find those businesses listed in our Advertiser Sections.

Editor

About Future Issues

The  lead articles of every issue of The Peak are based on a theme. The themes of the year's issues are listed below.

• January - Have The Peak Year

• February - Snowbird Fun

• March - Pet Party

• April - Our Desert

• May/June - Summer Fun

• July/August - Our Wildlife

• September/October - Our Community Groups

• November - Winter Fun

• December -  Peak Gift Issue

In addition to theme-related content, you'll find articles by local writers, interesting columns, information about upcoming community events, and the latest GPPA news in this Scottsdale, Arizona magazine. 

Getting The Peak (Print and Online)

At Local Outlets

You can pick up your free copy of The Peak magazine at more than 60 convenient locations in North Scottsdale.   These locations include supermarkets, banks and stores. At  supermarkets you will find copies of the magazine in free standing magazine racks, usually near the store entrance. At offices, salons and stores the magazines are usually in the reception area in table-top racks.  Supermarket locations include:

• AJ's Supermarket at AJ's center at Pinnacle Peak, Thompson Peak/Frank Lloyd Wright, Pima and Union Hills Road, Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain Road 
• Basha's at Grayhawk Shopping Center, McDowell Mountain, Carefree
• Safeway at DC Ranch, The Summit, Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale, Tatum Road
• Walgreen's at Grayhawk Shopping Center, Terravita Marketplace, Dynamite and Alma School in Scottsdale

To find the location most convenient to you , consult Where You Can Find The Peak. 

Online

The current version of The Peak is also available online. To view the magazine, simply click on the link below.

 View Online Version of The Peak

Mail

GPPA mails free copies of The Peak to all its members. By becoming a GPPA Friend of the Community, you will be contributing to deserving community causes while saving time and gasoline. 

This Issue's Advertisers

All current Peak advertisers are listed in the Marketplace section of this site and their advertisements appear in both the print and online editions of the magazine. If you don't have a print edition hand, "thumb" through the online version and review the advertisements.

Peak advertisers can choose to gain additional exposure by having their magazine advertisement published also posted on a separate page on this Web site. Click on the link to the right to view information about these companies and organizations.  Let them know you appreciate their support of The Peak and GPPA by using their products and services.

GPPA thanks this issue's advertisers. Every year, GPPA donates money to a variety of nonprofit organizations and awards a college grant. It is the support of  advertisers and members that made those donations possible. 

Advertising in The Peak

Review The Peak's Advertising Kit online or download and print for later use. It provides all the information you need to make a decision and get started.

Download, View, Print Ad Kit

Writing for The Peak

The Peak has been a "labor of love" since 1983. If you love to write and are looking for an enjoyable  way to serve the community, we hope you will consider contributing articles to The Peak. Almost all of the articles that we publish are written by local residents who donate their work to support the objectives of GPPA. You can meet some of them in Peak People. The Peak's Amazon Store provides a resources for writers.  Writer Guidelines are designed to assist writers who plan to assist their work to The Peak.

 Editorial Calendar for 2009

All articles and other copy must be submitted by the dates shown below. Earlier submissions are appreciated. Late submissions may be withheld until a future issue.

For More Information

For more information about writing articles for The Peak, advertising in The Peak or obtaining copies of The Peak, please do not hesitate to contact us.