Trail Values 2015, the USDA Forest Service Will Begin a Major in Analysis of All of the Resources That Make the Arizona Trail Unique
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Arizona Trail News News and Information from the Arizona Trail Association Spring 2015 | Volume 23, No. 1 Help Identify and Document Trail Values 2015, the USDA Forest Service will begin a major In analysis of all of the resources that make the Arizona Trail unique. This will be integrated into the Comprehensive Management Plan for the Arizona National Scenic Trail – the foundational document that will help guide its management and protection into the future. While the Forest Service will be able to identify data like cultural sites, threatened and endangered species, and other resources that have been previously studied and identified, they are going to rely on the Arizona Trail Breathtaking view of the Gila River near the spot where the Arizona Trail was officially completed. Love this view! ATA photo community to identify all other “trail values.” That’s where we need a seasonal water source, unusual Photographs, written descriptions your help. plants, rare animals, natural quiet, and GPS coordinates are all very dark skies, historic and prehistoric important. The next time you’re on Jaguar tracks in the Since you are the eyes and boots artifacts found nearby…really the trail, think about all of the things Santa Rita Mountains, Passage 4. on the ground the Arizona Trail anything significant. And it doesn’t around the trail that influence the Association is requesting that you have to be on the trail; anything trail experience. Start recording report on all of the significant within a ½-mile of the trail is that information and submit your resources that make the AZT valuable information. What we’re findings. special. This can be everything attempting to do is create an from particularly incredible views, inventory within the Arizona Trail corridor. We’d like to receive all of this information before October 2015. Either use the AZ Trail To Go app or submit the information on this page: www.aztrail.org/trail_values.html. You can also email your information to [email protected]. Just be sure to include GPS coordinates and a complete written description. Photos are nice, too. Thank you in advance for helping document trail values. It might be Red Pineapple (Echinomastus intertextus Decorated ceramics found 150 feet the most important project we’ve embarked on since constructing acunensis), an uncommon cactus flower- north of trail along Passage 20. the trail. ing in late March along Passage 7. Matthew J. Nelson Photo Matthew J. Nelson Photo 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, mountains, forests, canyons, Springtime is the busiest season along the Arizona Trail, and I sincerely hope you have been able to communities and people. enjoy some quality miles somewhere between Mexico and Utah. These past few months have seen a Board of Directors record number of individuals attempting a thru-hike or thru-ride of the AZT, and we’ve heard from dozens of people who have successfully completed the entire trail after many years of ticking off one Eric Hiser, President passage at a time from their list. This is a grand accomplishment – congratulations! Beginning in June, Fred Gaudet, we will offer a Completion Award to anyone who has traveled the entire length of the AZT. Look for VP of Trail Operations more information at www.aztrail.org and in the next issue of the Arizona Trail News. Larry Snead, As one of the most recently designation National Scenic Trails, the Arizona Trail is in a very unique VP of Board Development and important phase of its development. As you probably read on page 1, we need your help in identifying Jan Hancock, Secretary the unique resources that make the AZT and its corridor special. Please take some time over the next C.W. Payne, Treasurer six months to help us document the trail values that will help protect the trail into the future. Board Members It’s been a long and colorful spring, and now that temperatures are beginning to rise it’s time to head to Steve Anderson higher ground and explore the northern passages that are just now coming into season. We hope you’re Ambika Balasubramaniyan planning an Arizona Trail getaway over the next few months to places like Happy Jack, Mormon Lake Rob Mason and Walnut Canyon. The biodiversity of Arizona never ceases to inspire, and the AZT is an excellent way to experience much of this incredible state. Ben Murphy John Rendall Enjoy this issue of the Arizona Trail News and hopefully our paths will cross somewhere out on the trail. Denis Ryan Todd Sadow Sincerely, Bernie Stalmann Lirain Urreiztieta Jeff Whitney Staff & Support Matthew J. Nelson Matthew Nelson, Executive Director Executive Director Shawn Redfield, Trail Director Debbie Thorman, Membership & Administration Sirena Dufault, Gateway Community Liaison Wendy Lotze, Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca Patterson-Markowitz, Youth Outreach & Education Coordinator (Southern AZ) Sabrina Carlson, Youth Outreach & Education Coordinator (Northern AZ) David Babcock, Spring wildflowers near American Flag Ranch Trailhead. Shannon Web Master Marshall Photo Aaron Seifert, GIS Director Mel and Marlene Betani, Keepers of the Tools Arizona Trail Association PO Box 36736 | Phoenix, Az 85067 | 602-252-4794 | www.aztrail.org Spring 2015 2 Arizona Trail Association News Annual Report 2014, the Arizona Trail Association experienced growth in income and expenditures in support of our In programs, including Trail Operations, Gateway Communities and Seeds of Stewardship. Thanks to the generous support of individuals and business partners, the ATA was able to accomplish many important goals in the maintenance, protection and promotion of the AZT. Approximately 1,600 volunteers contributed more than 15,000 hours to the Arizona Trail, the equivalent of $320,000 in savings to Federal land management agencies. And these are just the individuals who reported their volunteer hours. Please remember to log your volunteer hours online and help us document all the great things you do for the Arizona Trail. The strength of the ATA remains within our amazing volunteer corps. Significant improvements were made to the Arizona Trail along most of its passages, with major projects happening in the Tonto These charts help demonstrate major sources of income and National Forest. In addition to expenditures from 2014. While the ATA experienced a 54% increase tread work, eight steel gates were in income, and thus, our ability to put more resources toward our installed to protect the trail from core mission, our membership continues to decline (from 1075 OHV abuse and accommodate a individuals in 2013 to 950 in 2015). Your suggestions on how to variety of trail users, and 10 new boost membership within our organization are welcome and interpretive signs were installed appreciated. Some good news is that although our total membership at key locations along the trail. numbers declined, many members renewed at higher donation levels. The Seeds of Stewardship We sincerely appreciate your continued support of the ATA and program helped introduce hope you’re proud of what we have been able to accomplish together. hundreds of youth to the Arizona Look for a comprehensive Annual Report with audited financial Trail, and assisted them in information online later this year at accomplishing rewarding service projects throughout the state. www.aztrail.org/annual_reports.html The Gateway Community program continues to flourish, with new partnerships being developed in many of the Arizona (From Top to Bottom) Trail’s 33 gateway communities. Volunteers sustain the Arizona The interpretive display within Trail. REI Photo the National Geographic Visitor AZCC youth crews at work on the Center – Grand Canyon, Tonto National Forest. ACE Photo installation of new Gateway New trailhead signs throughout Community signs, and Southern Arizona. ATA Photo integration of the AZT into (On the Right) towns’ economic development Seeds of Stewardship introduces plans are just a few of the youth to the Arizona Trail. ATA highlights from 2014. Photo Arizona Trail Association News 3 Spring 2015 Gateway Community Spotlight: Pine/Strawberry One of the biggest events in Pine the Pine Trailhead. For more Springs, 8.6 miles round-trip, is the Fire on the Rim mountain information and to register, to see stands of bigtooth maples bike race, a benefit for PSFR, visit fireontherim.com. and a beautiful little meadow which will happen on September near the spring. It’s a great trail The Gateway Communities of 11-13. There is a full weekend Pine has also has the distinction for a fall foliage fix. Pine and Strawberry are nestled of free camping that starts with of being the starting point for beneath the Mogollon Rim in a beer garden hosted by That the Zane Grey 50. The 26th The Pine Strawberry Trail is a the dense forest that helps define Brewery – a favorite among annual event on April 25 is four-mile trail that connects the this region. In recent years, they Arizona Trail users for their regarded as one of the toughest, two Gateway Communities. have truly embraced what it means Arizona Trail Ale, tasty food, roughest and most beautiful To do this trail in a downhill to be a gateway to recreation in and hospitality. That Brewery 50-mile trail runs in the country. direction, start at the Strawberry the Rim Country by building and donates a portion of all Arizona The course follows the Highline Trailhead off Highway 87 and promoting a network of trails to Trail Ale sales to the Arizona passage of the Arizona Trail to take the Pine Strawberry Trail encourage ecotourism. Travelers Trail Association, so drink up the Christopher Creek Trailhead. into the upper reaches of the on the Arizona Trail will find and help the trail when you’re Strawberry Hollow drainage.