arizona trail america’s new national scenic trail Special Edition Newsletter • 2010 In March 2009, an act of the United States Congress designated the Arizona Trail a National Scenic Trail. This issue of the Arizona Trail Association newsletter celebrates this milestone, a landmark moment that took over ten years of dedicated work by many people to achieve.
“It can be a humbling experience to travel along the Arizona Trail. The majesty of the mountains, canyons and vast open spaces makes me feel lucky just to be a part of it. Joining the National Scenic Trail system, the premier association of great trails, heightens my sense of responsibility to provide strong stewardship of this emerging legacy. Thanks are owed to the hundreds of volunteers and professionals who have pieced together the trail—and are still piecing it together–like a quilt forged with MacLeods, Pulaskis and sore backs. We won’t be one of the longest National Scenic Trails, but we can be one of the best.” Emily Nottingham President Arizona Trail Association Photo: Chuck Williams Williams Chuck Photo:
Above: The San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff near the Arizona Trail. On the cover: A hiker starts down the Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail. Photo: Elisabeth Wheeler
www.aztrail.org “The NationalScenic Trail designationensuresthatthe Arizona Arizona Trail isheretostay, for allgenerations.” Randy Warner, ATA Member Board It links deserts, mountains, canyons, linksdeserts, It communities andpeople. diverse and scenic trail across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Utah. to Mexico from Arizona across trail scenic and diverse maintain, promote, protect Trail andsustaintheArizona as The Arizona Trail Association’s mission is to build, build, to is mission Association’s Trail Arizona The The Arizona Trail is a continuous, 800+ mile mile 800+ continuous, a is Trail Arizona The Currently 95%ofthetrail iscomplete. a uniqueencounter withtheland. The Arizona The Arizona Trail
Photo: Chuck Williams
Photo: Scott Morris Photo: Elisabeth Wheeler Below: Arizona Trail Arizona Below: shows hiscolors. supporter TheCenter: Mexico/Arizona marker. Left: Irisinfullglory. border.Arizona Top: trailhead View attheUtah/ to thenorth Arizona State Department Land Coronado National Memorial Bureau Management ofLand Colossal Cave Mountain Park Grand Canyon National Park Agency Partners Arizona Office of Tourism Coronado National Forest Coconino National Forest National Forest Service: Saguaro National Park Kaibab National ForestKaibab Babbitt Ranches, Inc.Babbitt Arizona Arizona Trail National Monument Tonto National Forest Arizona State Parks Association Oracle State Park City ofPatagoniaCity Coconino County City ofFlagstaffCity ofSuperior City Walnut Canyon Pinal County Pima County
Photo: Terri Gay generations oftrail enthusiasts.” andfuture dividends tocurrent “It’s alegacy thatwillpay huge National Scenic Trail!” our beloved Arizona Trail asa thedesignationof work toearn inour and for participating us alongthisroadtosuccess ards, andvolunteers for helping sponsors, ourmembers, stew- partners, generous ourtruly “We thankallofourpublic land Segment 1 Segment Huachuca Steward, Mountains Steve Saway ATA Member Board ATA Founder, ATA Past President HancockJan
Photo: Fred Gaudet Photo: Scott Morris Photo: Scott Morris for what you’ve done.” you.honored to support We thankyou We’re ofthis. honored to bepart We’re going tolive. going tolivelonger thanwe’re now anationaltreasure. It’s that you protect the trail. It’s a few NationalScenic Trails is “An aspectofbeingoneonly USDA Forest Service Recreation Director, Francisco Valenzuela Top right: Ariderdescends thetrail toward theGilaRiver. peaks that really makesthistrail special.” to snow-capped from desert thearid the landscapethat includes everything For mepersonally, itisthediversity of already know. us whohave enjoyed thistrail really validateswhat thoseof Trail asaNationalScenic Trail “The designationoftheArizona Segment 22 Segment Steward, Mountain Saddle Pat O'Connell Top cactus Hedgehog left: blazes inbloom. Left: The rugged Canyon White landscape. www.aztrail.org Continental Divide Trail Arizona Arizona Trail Potomac Heritage Trail Four Decades, NinePresidents, Eleven Trails Pacific Northwest Trail North Country North Trail Natchez Trace Trail New England Trail Appalachian Trail Pacific Crest Trail Ice Age Trail Florida Trail
2009 2009 2009 1983 1983 1983 1980 1980 1978 1968 1968 of 2009. White HousePhoto:of 2009.White Chuck Kennedy. Public signingtheOmnibus Reidafter Lands ManagementAct Harry President Barack Leader shakes Obama Majority handswithSenate andotherhigh-levelJohnson look on. officials Photo: LBJLibrary. Udall, Stewart Lady Bird 2,1968.Interior Secretary law onOctober President Lyndon signstheNationalTrails Johnson System Act into Photo: Chuck Williams “We’ve gone alongway.” rewarding experience.” areaswillprovidehistoric a landscapes, ecosystemsand experience, andthatthediverse users willhave ameaningful the Arizona Trail so experience us tomaintainthequalityof means thatitisincumbenton Trail asaNationalScenic Trail “Designation oftheArizona Pinal County Director, Parks &Recreation Connie Lane Segment 16 Segment White Canyon Steward, Fred Gaudet very scenictrail. very prestigious recognitionfor a “The designationisavery nation happen.Congratulations!” helped maketheScenic Trail desig- the Arizona Trail. And allofthem joined together by acommon theme… corporations andpublicagencies people, clubs, smallbusinesses, large madeupofsomany ful partnerships It’s progressed becauseofsuccess- light possible. “ ment inthebestandmost enjoyable makesmewant to showcaseIt my seg- imaginable. almost any typeoflandscape saguaros, but astatethathas not justtheGrand Canyon and andrealizeArizona thatweare U.S. andtheworld willexplore means thatpeoplefromthe “National Scenic Trail status ships aroundthecountry.” model for- othertrails partner tion over theyears standsasa with theArizona Trail Associa Management’s partnership “The BureauofLand ATA Executive Director TrailArizona Hiker Dave Hicks Las Colinas Steward, 6a Segment Lee Allen Coordinator BLM Travel Management Bill Gibson -
Photo: Anna Pfender “The Arizona Trail being desig- “This is truly a worthy designa- nated as a National Scenic Trail tion since the trail covers such is a significant accomplishment a wide range of scenery from that will benefit present and mountains to canyons, from future generations. lakes to grasslands. Each and every ATA volunteer along For me, it means that I am helping put with our corporate and land manager Arizona and the trail ‘on the map’ so that partners can be very, very proud of the the world can learn of this true national legacy we have collectively created.” treasure.”
Larry Snead Elisabeth Wheeler Photo: Wayne Coates Past Executive Director Top: Oracle Ridge. Temporal Gulch Steward, Arizona Trail Association Center: Las Colinas panorama. Gardner Canyon, Segment 4a Bottom: Hikers in the Rincon Valley. Photo: Richard Grodzicki Photo: “The designation just proves what we already knew: The Arizona Trail passes through one of the most diverse land- scapes in the world and access- es areas that have almost been untouched by time. As an avid runner and trail steward, it means within a few minutes I can have a place to run free of traffic, pollution and noise.” Neil Weintraub Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association Photo: Elisabeth Wheeler Photo: “If one word comes to mind “The Arizona National Scenic Trail has become a premier wilder- when you talk about the ness experience. Within the borders of one state, it traverses over Arizona Trail, it’s passion. 800 miles of lowland deserts, unbelievable mountain ranges, vivid It’s passion in the sense of love of the part- deep canyons, while making connections with communities and nership, the fraternity of being out with the wonderful people along the way.” people working, and it’s love of the land and John Rendall, Central Region Trail Steward the whole concept of the trail.” Right page, clockwise from top: Moonrise in Bob Baldwin Colossal Cave Mountain Park; equestrians in the Grant Administrator Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson; blooming Arizona State Parks thistle flanks the trail.
www.aztrail.org “I ampersonally grateful for allofthedevoted peoplewhohave worked National sohardtobring people toenjoy, andthemagicofArizona’s landscapewillbesharedwiththeworld.” Scenic Trail statustoourArizona Trail. The trail willbeanadventurefor generations ofoutdoors Founder, Trail Arizona ShewalterDale
Photo: Scott Jacobsmeyer
Photo: Bonnie Slaten Photo: Scott Morris If you’re a member, remember to renew when your notice comes, and if you’re not yet a member, become one. Each membership supports our trail in many ways, from showing the sheer number of trail enthusiasts to helping pay the expenses that go along with a trail like ours. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, so your dollars are tax deductible.
Your generous donations from $1 to $20,000 are gratefully acknowledged.
You can find a map and access point information, as well as membership and upcoming event details, on our web site at www.aztrail.org.
The Arizona Trail—open for you 365 days a year. Photo: Chuck Williams Chuck Photo: Arizona Trail Business and Club Members Allstate Foundation, Max Shemwell University of Illinois Alternate Spring Break Apollo Group Special thanks for their Arizonahikers.com Intel Corp. newsletter support goes to Arizona Community Foundation Jorden, Bischoff & Hiser, PLC Arizona Horse Lovers Foundation Drs. Bruce Lachot & Kent Loo ® Arizona Public Service REI Arizona State Parks National Bank of Arizona ASARCO Resolution Copper Aspen Sports Rick Surina, State Farm Ins. Agency AZ Partsmaster Rosemont Copper Bashas’ Saddlebrooke Hiking Club Body Stabilization Training, Inc. Saguaro Horsemen Association Bureau of Land Management SRP For more information, Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists Camelback Hotel Corp. visit aztrail.org Coconino Rural Environment Corp. Sunnyside Medicenter Endurance Rehabilitation Summit Hut Arizona Trail Association Epic Rides Team Rhino Bike Club PO Box 36736 Fleet Feet Sports of Tucson Terrascape Consulting Phoenix, AZ 85067 Freeport McMoRan Tucson Electric Power Copper & Gold Tucson Saddle Club 602-252-4794 Hancock Resources LLC Wells Fargo Bank [email protected] Hatch Insurance Agency Whitneybell Perry Architects