Autumn 2014 | Volume 22, No
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Arizona Trail News News and Information from the Arizona Trail Association Autumn 2014 | Volume 22, No. 3 Arizona Trail Junior Explorer Handbook cooperation with the Borderlands, Sky Islands, Gila land); drawing a sound map Service and National Park Arizona State Office River, Mogollon Rim, San (encouraging seldom-used senses Service. Handbooks are made In of the Bureau of Land Francisco Peaks, Grand Canyon to experience the environment); available to youth free of charge Management (BLM), the Arizona and Arizona Strip. These sections and many more. and will be distributed at numerous Trail Association (ATA) is proud are richly illustrated with the outlets statewide, including BLM to announce the release of the unique plants and animals that are The Handbook also includes field offices, US Forest Service Arizona Trail Junior Explorer found nearby, and activities that Junior Explorer Questions that offices, National Park visitor Handbook. This educational support Arizona science standards encourage critical thinking about centers, select Arizona State Park publication is intended for youth at the 6th – 8th grade levels. Just natural processes, environmental locations, Western National Parks ages 12-16, but kids and adults a few of the activities participants issues, and how to affect positive Association gift shop, Arizona of all ages will find much to learn are encouraged to do include change. These questions can be Trail Association office, The and enjoy within its 20 colorful creating your own watershed answered online and all partici- Summit Hut and special events pages. It will inspire readers to (teaching the importance of water pants receive a Junior Explorer throughout the year. They will get out on the trail to experience awareness and conservation); patch for completing activities also be mailed to individuals, the natural wonders between making a biotic community chart and answering questions. Patches schools and youth groups upon Mexico and Utah, and learn more (demonstrating the variety of life are sent through the mail at no request. A digital version of the about the biodiversity that makes at elevations throughout the state); cost to participants, along with a handbook can be viewed online Arizona unique. tracking felines such as mountain full-color map of the AZT. and printed from home, too. lions, bobcats, ocelots and jaguars The first printing of Junior The Handbook is a virtual (encouraging awareness of subtle To learn more, visit Explorer Handbooks is estimated adventure from border to border, signs along the trail); cream-filled at 32,000, thanks to support from www.aztrail.org/juniorexplorer/ and each section highlights cookie plate tectonics (explaining the BLM and supplemental different geographical areas, how the earth’s forces shape the including the Arizona-Sonora funding from the US Forest The Arizona National Scenic Trail Our Vision... …a continuous, non-motorized trail traversing 800+ miles from Dear Friend of the Arizona Trail, Mexico to Utah, linking deserts, Autumn is my favorite season in Arizona. From the golden grasslands of the south to the changing mountains, forests, canyons, communities and people. colors of the central mountain ranges, to the snow-capped peaks up north, this might be the best time of year on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Hopefully you are able to find many opportunities to Board of Directors get out and enjoy the 800+ miles between Mexico and Utah. Eric Hiser, President When you’re on the AZT over the next few months, you’ll probably notice the impacts from this Fred Gaudet, summer’s storms. Some sections of trail were completely obliterated by the monsoon season that was Vice President of immediately followed by an unusual hurricane season. Repairing the damage will require considerable Trail Operations resources, so I am inviting you to help. David Salisbury, Please report overgrowth, downed trees and unpleasant trail conditions to the Trail Director and Vice President of Regional Stewards through www.aztrail.org; join us for upcoming trail work events, which are Financial Development advertised on our Events Calendar online; and donate to our Trail Operations Fund by mailing a Larry Snead, check or making a donation online. Working together we can assess the areas of greatest need, get Vice President of boots and gloves on the ground, and pay for professional trail crews to repair the stretches that are Board Development beyond the ability of volunteers. Your investment of time and dollars benefits thousands of outdoor Jan Hancock, Secretary enthusiasts (and wildlife) every year. C.W. Payne, Treasurer We have put more energy into making the Arizona Trail News a truly comprehensive resource. Inside these 12 pages you’ll find lots of interesting people, places, events and news. And since we Board Members can’t fit 800+ miles of information into one dozen pages every season, please stay tuned to Arizona Steve Anderson Trail happenings through our website and Facebook. The more you know the more you’ll realize Gary Hohner what an incredible resource the AZT is, and how hard the ATA is working to protect it. Rob Mason John Rendall Never forget that you are an important part of the Arizona Trail. Volunteers, stewards, members, Denis Ryan donors, business partners, legacy partners and our small but dedicated staff all work together to Todd Sadow maintain, promote, protect and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the land. Bernie Stalmann The trail would not exist without you. Lirain Urreiztieta Enjoy this beautiful season on the AZT, Staff & Support Matthew Nelson, Executive Director Shawn Redfield, Trail Director Matthew J. Nelson Debbie Thorman, Executive Director Membership & Administration P.S. Please share this newsletter with others and invite them to participate in the Arizona David Babcock, Trail experience! Web Master Sirena Dufault, Gateway Community Liaison To Print or Not to Print? Rebecca Patterson-Markowitz, Want to receive the Arizona Trail News by email instead? Youth Outreach & Education Coordinator (Southern AZ) Send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll email directions on how to read the full-color version of Sabrina Carlson, the newsletter online. The “paperless” option saves the ATA printing and postage expenses so we can Youth Outreach & Education direct more resources toward the trail. Coordinator (Northern AZ) Aaron Seifert, GIS Director Mel and Marlene Betani, Arizona Trail Association Keepers of the Tools PO Box 36736 | Phoenix, Az 85067 | 602-252-4794 | www.aztrail.org Phyllis Ralley, Special Projects Autumn 2014 2 Arizona Trail Association News of trail (typically 3-12 miles in extremely important. GPS Summer Storms Wreak length) while others are folks coordinates, photographs and a who attend trail work events description is greatly appreciated Havoc on Arizona Trail held throughout the year. and assists our volunteer corps Many individuals reach out to in addressing priority needs Regional Stewards and offer to along the trail. help with a particular part of the trail that is important to them. The AZ Trail to Go App for your smartphone is another If you, your family, hiking club, valuable tool to use, as it was business, or any collection of specifically designed to allow motivated individuals would trail users to report on trail like to help repair the damage conditions and problem areas. from this summer’s devastation, You can download it for free we’d like to hear about it. And if here: AzTrailToGo. you don’t have time or ability to azurewebsites.net. help, but care about the Arizona Trail as the amazing resource it For projects beyond the reach is, then please consider making a of volunteers or that require donation today. With your help, specialized skills and/or heavy we can not only restore but machinery, the ATA employs improve the Arizona National professional trail crews to do the Scenic Trail for all. hard work. Sometimes these are youth crews who learn valuable skills while working with hand A long summer of intense storms has negatively impacted many passages tools in remote regions of the of the Arizona Trail. Segments that boasted sinuous singletrack earlier trail, and other times they are this year are now badly eroded and in desperate need of help. mechanized crews. Both are a Shawn Redfield Photo necessary part of trail maintenance. And both cost a In September, Arizona’s Arizona Trail earlier this year lot of money. Each year, the ATA Governor declared a state of (and over the past few years). dedicates a large portion of its emergency when Hurricane The result is degraded trail Trail Operations budget to trail Norbert slammed into Arizona. conditions and vegetation choking crews. Your help is needed in Nearly three inches of rain fell the trail corridor. Even areas that helping to fund this effort, as near Phoenix in a single storm, were trimmed by volunteers in much of our 2014 budget has flooding highways and leaving the springtime have grown back already been exhausted. tens of thousands of people with a vengeance. It’s going to without electricity. It was just be a long, arduous season of Donations can be made online one of many storms that affected trail maintenance. A mountain biker pushes his way through PayPal or by sending a areas throughout the state through the thick vegetation along check to the ATA. If you would That’s where you come in. the AZT corridor near Antelope between July and September. Peak. This normally rideable like to specifically dedicate your In the dry Southwest, rain is We know you care about the passage is now choked with catclaw donation to trail operations, just always a welcome element. But Arizona Trail, but do you care acacia, mesquite and prickly pear. note that on your check or in the when long periods of drought enough to volunteer a few days AZT Expeditions Photo comments section of the PayPal per year or donate a few dollars are followed by intense storms, To volunteer, get in touch with transaction.