A difficult journey...

Here's a challenge: name a movie or book that includes a situation where people are forced to go on a long, difficult journey- walking, hiking. I am thinking of something like the Sound of Music where they need to climb over the Alps. I also started reading a book but never finished it where Jewish refugees were constantly on the move from the Nazis. Let me know. I am having a hard time getting comments, but you can try that route or you can write me at cleblanc46 . at . gmail (. com). I don't mean to be difficult with my email address it will be the usual format ___ @___.com but I it seems like bloggers all take this precaution against spammers. Send me your movie and book ideas!

Let's Keep Moving! More Walks!

WALK THE WALK, County Park Walk Series, Walk Into Fall!
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 28 AUGUST
County Parks Walk Series
Sawmill Park
Start Location: Police Department Parking Lot
911 Sawmill Road next to the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking that will include a visit with a Flagstaff Legend - Elson Miles.
His Bicycle Shop - Bici-Mundo is located on Brennan and is a fun place to visit. Elson will tell us a few of his Flagstaff Stories and then we'll finish the walk. I promise we'll be back to the cars by 9:15 AM

SATURDAY 29 AUGUST - Change in details - Please Read!
County Park Walk Series
Raymond County Park
Start Location: Raymond County Park which is located off I-17 at the Kachina Village/Mountainaire Exit. Raymond Park is right on the frontage Road. At the Exit turn right and then right again. The parking lot is around the corner. The Park can be seen from the exit ramp.
Time: 8:00 AM
We will gather at Raymond Park and then convoy over to the Pumphouse Wash Trailhead (about a mile away). Giving directions would be difficult. Our walk will be about 3 total miles on the Pumphouse Wash Trail where I have never been.

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST
County Parks Walk Series
Peaks View County Park:
Location: In Doney Park. Make a right onto Silver Saddle Road (from 89a - past Townsend-Winona)And another right at the stop sign. Peaks View is behind the Summit Fire Station
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking as we take a look of the Rio de Flag where it runs through Doney Park.

TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2009
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. Fast and Slow Pace
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

INTERPRETIVE HIKES
from Stephen Hirst

Thursday, August 27, 7 am to noon
AZ Trail: Marshall Lake to Canyon Vista
Join rangers Jane Jackson and Judi Irons for a car-shuttle through hike. Go 5.5 miles south on Lake Mary Road to Canyon Vista Campground and meet at the parking area at the back of the campground. After stationing cars at both ends, the hike will begin at Marshall Lake and lead through forested views across Anderson Mesa down to a shaded lunch stop along the dry bed of Walnut Creek and then up Sandy's Canyon to finish at Canyon Vista. Bring hiking boots, plenty of water, and lunch. Difficulty: moderate with one long, rocky downhill and a few good uphills. Participate by reservation only. Call 527-8222 by August 25 to reserve a spot and indicate how many passengers you can carry.

Saturday, August 29, 9 to 11 am
Pull It? But... It's Pretty
Join ranger Judi Irons for an easy nature walk along Little Elden Springs Trail to learn about invasive plants and benefit the forest by pulling them out. Bring gloves, water, and snack. Bags will be available. Go north 9 miles on Hwy 89 past Townsend-Winona Road and turn left on FR 556 (Elden Spring Road). Go 2.5 miles to Little Elden Springs Trailhead on the right (not the Horse Camp). Call 527-8222 for information.

Saturday, August 29, 9 am to noon
The Cursed Incline
Climb Flagstaff Lumber Co.'s ill-fated railroad incline up Anderson Mesa with rangers Steve and Lois Hirst. Hear from the horse's mouth about the shipwrecked log train, the Walnut Canyon bridge collapse, and the fireman's jump for his life. See remnants of long-gone logging operations atop the mesa. Difficulty: moderate with a 300-foot elevation gain. Bring water and snacks. Go seven miles south on Lake Mary Road to meet at the first gravel pullout a half mile past the old dam on Lower Lake Mary. Call 527-8222 for information.

Saturday, August 29, 3 to 4 pm
Nature Walk
Ranger John Westerlund will lead a walk for the whole family on the Dairy Springs Loop Trail. Meet at Dairy Springs amphitheater at 3 pm. Go 20 miles south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road to Mormon Lake turnoff. Proceed 3.5 miles to Dairy Springs. Call 526-1157 ext 273 for information.

Sunday, August 30, 9 am to noon
The Hart Prairie Shield Volcano
You've heard about it; now see it: the shield volcano that created the famed Lava Tube and spread its lava over square miles all the way to the Navajo Army Depot (which wasn't there at the time, believe it or not). Rangers Richard Holm and Bill and Ellen Wade will show this one-of-a-kind volcano and the tuff ring that formed on top of it. See a spatter cone, craters, and a lava dike and hear about early early homesteaders who left their mark and their names on the landscape as well. Great views of the Peaks. Go north on US 180 past MP 225 to follow FR 151 3.6 miles and meet at FR 9001U. Difficulty: easy. Bring water, good shoes. No dogs please. Call 527-8222 for information.

Every step we take...

I was reading the Dot Earth blog (one of the blogs I have listed on the side) the other day and they were talking about this artist, Chris Jordan. The purpose of Chris Jordan’s art work is to show how one action by one person can build up to something colossal when you consider everybody. Mostly he was focusing on negative activities or results, for example: art created from plastic refuse found in the Pacific Ocean (this is what got my attention, it’s amazing), the number of plastic cups airlines use stacked in a mind- boggling display, cigarette cartons fashioned into a skull portrait.
He covers a wide-array of issues, many of them having to do with our impact on the environment. After I saw his paper cup towers, I tried to hide my Starbucks cardboard cup that had held a delightful chai latte. According to this piece of “art” we collectively use 410,000 paper cups every 15 minutes.
I remember when I was growing up and I would think about littering. For some reason I remember people saying that it was no big deal, but that might have been in my mind, manufactured for the sake of my mental argument. “Yes, but” my young mind would continue, “if everyone littered then it would be a big deal. So we all have to do our part and not litter.” The point is that littering, drinking from a plastic cup, driving just because it’s easy, using something once and throwing it away- none of these activities is a big deal when just one person does them. But we are millions of people, actually billions- 6.5 billion and growing- all doing these activities.
I did a quick, and very inaccurate (very low estimate), calculation of miles we drive every week in Flagstaff. I based it on driving five miles per day for seven days, I would venture that most people drive more than that. I will let you know if I ever find the statistics to back this up. I based it on a low mileage week for me, just to show you how the numbers add up quickly. So assuming that around 30,000 people in Flagstaff, out of a population of 62,000 (all ages) drive at least 35 miles per week, that would equal 1.05 million miles per week or 383 million miles per year- four times to the sun and back in a year. And that’s just Flagstaff. Imagine if you include Arizona, the United States, the world.
After I saw the 410,000 paper cups, I got to thinking, “Hey, I have a cup I can bring to Starbucks and they can refill it.” I guess that’s a small start to lessening those paper cup towers. Next year I will ride the bus to Climb to Conquer Cancer because driving does make a difference.
For all of my negative behaviors, anything I can change, I believe can make a difference. Naysayers can say I am just trying to empty the ocean with a bucket. But just flip those art pieces around. What if he showed us: the cumulative impacts of people biking or walking to work, choosing to reduce and reuse or do without, or ???
But no guilt to what I do, I will focus on what I can do and I will have my latte- just in my reusable mug.

Squirrel in sight

I can't help it, this makes me laugh. I know most of you have probably seen this but just in case you haven't here it is- the crasher squirrel.
Some walks, as you can see, are very memorable. This couple was hiking in Banff and had stopped to get a automatic photo of themselves in this gorgeous setting. They had a remote trigger for the camera. This ground squirrel was so curious it popped up in front of the camera when it heard the shutter going off. Say "cheese."

A Wednesday Walk List for You

Walk the Walk, County Park Walks
from Jack Welch

WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST
Flagstaff Trails Talk Meeting
A presentation by Kay Perelstein
Those who wander - Alzheimer's Disease
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
We live inside a big woods with many trails - An easy place to get lost.
Please make plans to attend this discussion about folks who have this
problem and the people who live with them. It's a delicate subject I know but
one we all need to know more about.
Everybody Welcome!
Please do bring a friend!
I'll bring the Store Bought Cookies

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST
County Parks Walk Series
Sawmill County Park
Start Location: Flagstaff Police Department
911 Sawmill Road
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking as we use the FUTS and sidewalks for a walk out to the community college. Expect a few good hills.

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
County Parks Walk Series
Peak's View County Park
Start Location: Parking Lot which is located on Koch Field Road behind the fire station.
Off Silver Saddle Road
Time: 8:00 AM
About 4 total miles of walking over to the social trail around Old Caves Crater

SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
County Parks Walk Series
Raymond County Park
Start Location: Raymond Parking Lot which is down I-17 - Leave the highway at the Kachina Village and Mountainaire exit
Go right onto the frontage road and Raymond park is just around the corner. You can
see the parking lot from I-17
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking over to the Pumphouse Wash trailhead

NPS/USFS INTERPRETIVE HIKES
from Stephen Hirst

Thursday, August 20, 9 to 11 am
Walnut Canyon Historic Cabin
Journey back in time with ranger Jane Jackson at Walnut Canyon National Monument on an easy two-mile guided walk to the 1904 log cabin built by the first ranger to protect the cliff dwellings from pilfering pot hunters. No dogs please. Participants must be 16 or older. Limit of 8; reservations required at 526-3367. Park entrance fee. Meet at Walnut Canyon visitor center at 8:45. Difficulty: easy. Call 527-8222 for information.

Saturday, August 22, 3 to 4 pm
Nature Walk
Ranger John Westerlund will lead a walk for the whole family on the Dairy Springs Loop Trail. Meet at Dairy Springs amphitheater at 3 pm. Go 20 miles south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road to Mormon Lake turnoff. Proceed 3.5 miles to Dairy Springs. Call 526-1157 ext 273 for information.

Saturday, August 22, 9 am to noon
Riding the Rails on the Flim-Flam
Join rangers Steve and Lois Hirst for a four-mile hike along Flagstaff Lumber Co.'s Flagstaff and Southern Railroad. Learn about lumbering and railroading when Flagstaff was young along one of its most colorful operations. Difficulty: easy. Bring water and snacks. Drive 20 mi south on Lake Mary Road to the Dairy Springs/Mormon Lake Lodge turnoff and go two miles to meet at FR 132. Call 527-8222 for information.

The lovely ponderosa

Check out this NPR story on the ponderosa tree- it focuses on walks led by Stephen Hirst in the woods near Flagstaff! (I list those walks on Wednesday)Be sure to look at the photos by Tom Bean, they are beautiful!

Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of school for my sixth grade son. I always feel a little bit of sadness when school starts, even if I am ready for it- really ready for it. On the way to school this time, I couldn't help but reminisce on walking on the trail through the woods when my son was in kindergarten- six years ago. When we first started walking on the trail my son discovered a half-buried old wagon wheel near the base of a ponderosa pine tree. Really the outline of the wheel was all you could see but you could tell what it was. As the years passed, more soil washed away and more of the wheel became exposed. We enjoyed seeing part of the old west history as we headed to the school. Unfortunately, someone else noticed the wheel, soon after work was completed in the area, and the wheel was dug out, just scraps of wood were left. I picked up one of those scraps and wished I had taken a photo of the wheel to go along with it. But we still have our memories.