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Pitahaya Winter Edition 2005 Volume No National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Pitahaya Winter Edition 2005 Volume No. 2, Issue No. 1 Why a Pitahaya? Superintendent’s Welcome “Pitahaya dulce”(pi-TEYE-yah dull-say) is the Spanish name Left: the beatiful blossoms of the Welcome to Organ Pipe for the fruit of the Organ Pipe Cactus. It is small and spiny Organ Pipe Cac- Cactus National Monument. and can be painful to harvest, but the flesh of the fruit is tus, our name- No matter how short or how sweet and life- sustaining. Organ Pipe Cactus National sake, open at night and only for long your stay, this place Monument is like a Pitahaya. Once you prepare yourself one night. offers you the opportunity and see through the thorns and harsh exterior of this place, If you visit in the to discover this unique you will find sweet rewards, traditional uses and even a few hottest part of the desert. Take the time to seeds of change. summer and go discover the spirit and for a walk in the early morning, secrets of the park, they are As you pass through the Sonoran desert in your air-condi- you will see astounding. blossoms. You tioned car, you may not see more than the thorns. This is a might be the only harsh place. Temperatures often soar above 106 degrees person in the I hope you will take during the day. Almost all of the plants have some form of world to see that advantage of our exhibits, particular flower. interpretive programs and self-defense, be it from thorns, or spines, or absence of learn about the fascinating leaves. The animals may seem to be missing all together and way that plants and those you might see are often considered dangerous includ- animals have adapted to ing scorpions, Gila monsters and rattlesnakes. The pieces of Right: Pitahaya dulce, living in the Sonoran this ecological puzzle have adapted to the hostility and the fruit of the Organ Pipe Cactus grows and desert. could be considered hostile themselves. ripens at the base of the flower. It is a sweet, America’s national parks are pulpy, messy fruit. Once However, if you stop to look, really look, it is amazing what it has burst open, like about caring for the land, can be found in the details of this place. If you pay atten- the one in the picture, the wildlife, and our spirit birds, bats and other as a people. Our national tion, you may notice the colors reflected from the Ajo wildlife eat the fruit and Mountains as the sun sets away from them, the delicate disperse the tiny seeds. parks serve as shining examples of America’s flutter of a poppy blossom in the breeze, the smell of creo- foresight and deep love for sote oil after a rain, or the dips and trills of a migrating They are desperate for a better way of life for themselves and country and a generosity of bird’s song. You may find fascination in the farming habits their families and are also suffering the dangers attempting spirit that is evidenced by of the world’s largest ant or you might just enjoy the warmth to get to their own life-sustaining fruit, “El Norte.” the preservation of so many winter here has to offer. Whether you drive, camp, hike, or extraordinary treasures for simply sit, the sweet and subtle rewards of the Sonoran Because of human impacts, seeds of change are emerging. all people to enjoy now Desert will become available to you. In fact, Organ Pipe You might notice new construction, a greater presence of and throughout the future. Cactus National Monument has been set aside by the United trained law enforcement personnel and possibly some travel The national parks provide States National Park Service and the world community of restrictions. As we adapt to new challenges set before us, places to discover the the United Nations as the best place to taste the opportuni- please remember that the changes are attempting to reduce meaning of our spirit, our ties of the Sonoran Desert. All it takes is a little time and the unnatural hazards to the desert environment and to you. country and our world patience. We appreciate your support in this change. through preservation of nature and cultural traditions. Unfortunately, in addition to the natural wonders and haz- If nothing else, remember this, the desert does not perform ards, there are illegal entrants and smugglers crossing, the according to a schedule. If you don’t slow down and ap- Camping, hiking, US / Mexican border daily. For this reason, we recommend proach this place on the desert’s own terms, you could miss photography, wildlife not approaching or stopping for anyone along the roadside the subtle flavor of this place entirely. It requires the pa- observation, birding, or in the backcountry. Instead, please report anyone in tience of a saguaro and the caution of a kit fox but the re- exploring – the list of ways need of assistance to a Park Ranger or the Border Patrol. wards are well worth enduring the hazards. to enjoy and understand Organ Pipe Cactus’s natural Keep in mind there is a third set of people here too. Pitahaya We hope that you will find a few seeds and juicy bits planted beauty and history is is a traditional food and before boundaries bisected culture, in this edition of the Pitahaya that will assist you in enjoying unlimited. Join a park people migrated through this area searching for sustenance. this harsh desert we call home, sweet home. ranger on one of the many Today, people still walk the paths looking for a new hope. activities offered daily or explore and discover the park on your own. Experience your America, 2 Plan your Visit 3 Hiking in ORPI 4 The Resource make Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument your Are you just passing through or are you Where to go, which to choose? Use our So, what is the difference between a own special place and have camping with us for a while? Either way quick and easy hiking guide to the most Saguaro and an Organ Pipe Cactus? For a safe and memorable visit. use this article to make the best use of popular trails. For more information on the answer to this question, and to your time inside your Organ Pipe Cactus these trails, or for information on trails that learn about a few endangered species Kathy Billings National National Monument. are not listed, visit the Kris Eggle Visitor that call our desert home, turn to the Superintendent Center, we’d love to help you out. resource pages, found in the center of ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ the newspaper. National Park Service Who was Kris Eggle? U.S. Department of the Interior Who was Kris Eggle and why is Mountains National Park track- medical care to the sick and injured, it an honor for us to have a ing wild boar and bears. battled blazes in our nation’s wilder- Visitor Center in his Later he served as an NPS ness, searched for lost people and Organ Pipe Cactus name? Law Enforcement provided assistance to anyone in National Monument Ranger at Sleeping Bear need. Kristopher William Dunes National Superintendent Eggle was a very good Kathy Billings Lakeshore and In the wake of 9/11, Kris protected his man and a Law En- Canyonlands National country by intercepting thousands of Chief Ranger forcement Park Ranger Park before arriving at pounds of illegal drugs, and guarding Fred Patton from Cadillac, MI. He Organ Pipe Cactus a 30-mile stretch of the nation’s was an Eagle Scout, a National Monument in southern boundary. Chief of Interpretation National Honor Society 2000. Dave Hutson Student, and valedictorian of Kris Eggle was shot and killed in the his graduating class at Cadillac He was elected president of his class line of duty at Organ Pipe Cactus Volunteer Coordinator High School in 1991. He was a mem- at the Federal Law Enforcement Training National Monument on August 9, Andy Fisher ber of the cross-country and track Center where he graduated in June of 2002, while pursuing members of a teams and he won numerous awards 2002 at the top of his class. He was drug cartel who fled into the United Mailing Address at the local and state level. After high awarded the FLETC Director’s Award for States after committing a string of 10 Organ Pipe Drive school, he ran for the University of Ajo, AZ 85321 outstanding achievement and completed violent crimes in Mexico. Michigan cross-country team while the 1.5 mile run in 7:09, only six seconds E-mail earning his degree in Wildlife Biology. off the all time FLETC record. He was 28 years old. [email protected] While Kris was a model of achieve- “Kris died serving his country and his death has great value Web Page ment and competence, he was the and meaning. But the life of Kris Eggle, even more than his http://www.nps.gov/orpi first to pass the recognition onto death, continues to set the standard.” others. He approached his entire life -Fellow Organ Pipe Cactus Ranger Fax Number with a kind of contagious enthusiasm 520-387-7144 that could only inspire everyone who knew him. He also baked some Kris took pride in his daily work. As a On July 29, 2003 President George W. Park Headquarters amazing cookies, constantly giving of National Park Ranger, Kris enforced Bush signed a bill renaming our Visi- 520-387-6849 himself without asking for anything Federal and State Laws while at the same tor Center as the “Kris Eggle Visitor The National Park Service cares for the in return.
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