In the heart of Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness, a dedicated group of volunteers gathered on Saturday, December 2, 2023, for the first part of a three-part event aimed at restoring (naturalizing) and surveying/monitoring user developed trails-also known as “social trails”. The event was organized by our Wild AZ coordinator Nizhoni Baldwin, and kicked off at 9 am at the First Water Trailhead with an enthusiastic team ready to make some positive strides!

The morning began with a warm welcome as Nizhoni set the tone for the day by providing coffee, muffins, banana bread, and fruit for the volunteers to ensure their bellies were full and energy was high for a long day outside. Among the participants was Dave Kaubisch, a volunteer Wilderness Ranger, who briefly joined the group before heading out to assist fellow rangers in providing information and guidance to hikers along other trails.

Following a comprehensive safety meeting, nine volunteers embarked on the trail leading towards Garden Valley. Equipped with instructions, the team worked diligently to survey and monitor trails with minimal supervision. Unfortunately, two volunteers fell ill after covering a mile and had to turn back, reminding us of the challenges of the rugged terrain and the sometimes overwhelming intensity of sun.

The undeterred remaining seven volunteers pressed on, documenting 2.5 miles of the user-developed trails. The journey led them to Garden Valley by 1pm, where a unanimous decision was made to extend the effort by tackling the Hackberry loop to return to the trailhead. This loop had already been surveyed during a prior Wild Arizona hitch, providing an opportunity for the group to reflect on the significance of wilderness preservation through this type of public land agency led wilderness trail work and scoring, known formally as Wilderness Stewardship Performance.

Throughout the day, discussions among volunteers and coordinator Nizhoni centered around the importance of monitoring trails and preserving the natural beauty of the Superstition Wilderness. The passion for wilderness conservation fueled conversations, making the return hike an educational and inspiring experience.

Upon reaching the trailhead/parking lot at 3pm, the volunteers had successfully surveyed 2.5 miles of trails, meticulously inputting the collected data into the Field Map app. The dedication of the nine volunteers amounted to a collective contribution of 10 hours, making strides toward WSP goals and marking the first steps of a larger mission to restore and preserve the trails of the Superstition Wilderness—testament to the positive impact that community-driven initiatives can have on their public lands. Stay tuned for the next chapters in this three-part volunteer event as Wild AZ continues its commitment to the conservation of Arizona’s unique and precious wilderness.

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Act Wild 4.16.2023 : the Marble Platform, Jim Dublinsky Dear {{ FirstName | default: ‘Friend of WildAZ’ }}, In a historic event last Tuesday, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition announced a campaign calling on President Biden to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument using his Executive authority under the Antiquities Act. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” to the Havasupai, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi. Today you have an opportunity to stand in support of the 12 Tribal Nations, and sign our petition urging the Biden Administration and the President to swiftly advance their proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukvani Grand Canyon National Monument. Tribal leaders have been fighting to protect the rimlands of Grand Canyon region from uranium mining threats for over a decade. The proposal for national monument designation would include 1,102,501 acres around and adjoining Grand Canyon National Park. These rimlands form an integral part of the Colorado River’s Grand Canyon watershed and are where traditional practices, cultural knowledge and spiritual ceremonies have taken place for millennia. SIGN THE PETITION PROTECT THESE LANDS The national monument designation would honor the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition Members’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and protect the area by making the temporary 20-year moratorium permanent, while also securing the cultural, natural, recreational, and scientific resources of the region. (photo by Kristen Caldon) Through the prevention of further uranium mining development and improved management of waters and forests, the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument designation would have the capacity to increase climate resilience by safeguarding the waters of the Colorado River in the context of acidification, reducing wildfire severity, limiting groundwater loss and disruption associated with uranium mining activities, and protecting unique biodiversity, including endangered California Condor and endemic and culturally important plants, from threats such as habitat loss and toxic pollution. Please join Wild Arizona and stand firmly as a supporter of the 12 Tribal Nations and their proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. In addition, we want to show our deepest and sincerest appreciation to all 12 Tribes for their courage, strength, and dedication as they continue the proud work of stewarding these lands, not just for themselves, but for all people and for generations to come. For the love of wildness, Kelly and the Wild Arizona crew ☞ If you’re in Flagstaff this lovely Sunday evening, join us at the       Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival! Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive Wild on Wednesday enews—updates and news about preserving wild lands, wild waters, wildlife, and wild connections across Arizona and beyond. Not every Wednesday, not always Wednesday. Know it. Love it. Protect it. | GIVE WILDLY | WILD Arizona – Tucson | Flagstaff Wild Stew | Grand Canyon Wildlands Council © 2023 wildarizona.org

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Wild for the Weekend 7.17.2021 : National Park Service   Dear Friend of WildAZ,   Our very own Dr. Larry Stevens is putting the stewardship spotlight on borderlands springs—Quitobaquito Springs, to be exact.   Quitobaquito Springs can be found in Organ Pipe National Monument in southern Arizona. People, plants, and animals have inhabited Quitobaquito and the surrounding area for generations. The spring is still home to the Tohono O’odham, who have a reservation about 30 miles away. Species such as the Quitobaquito spring snail, the Sonoyta mud turtle, and the desert caper plant do not occur naturally anywhere else in the country but here.   Despite being an invaluable piece of the southwestern landscape, rich with cultural history and ecological significance, Quitobaquito has been imperiled by border wall construction. So far we’ve seen a loss of nearly a quarter of the bird species that used to live and thrive in the spring’s wilderness. Stevens has joined with esteemed southwestern ecologists Roy Johnson, Gary Nabhan, and Karen Reichhardt to further describe the impacts of wall construction on the avifauna of the springs in a forthcoming publication.   For the protection and preservation of springs, Phoebe, Larry, Kelly, and the Wild Arizona crew   ☞ We’re hiring! We are looking to fill multiple positions on our Wild Stew Field Crew for work beginning September 15. Interested in performing trail maintenance, trail condition assessments, and riparian restoration in the beautiful Chiricahua Wilderness? See our job listing for more information. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive Wild on Wednesday, updates and news about preserving wild lands, wild waters, wildlife, & wild connections across Arizona & beyond  – not every Wednesday, not always Wednesday. know it, love it, protect it…     GIVE WILDLY!    WILD Arizona  Tucson | Prescott | Flagstaff © 2020  wildarizona.org

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