homepage - outings - national - brochure - 10436a
Trip Number: 10436A
Price: $395
Deposit: $50
Capacity: 15
Staff: John Sumner
Highlights:
- Construct one of the final segments of the Arizona Trail
- Camp among saguaro cacti
- Prospect for malachite and other copper ores
- See where your computer comes from – several copper mines nearby
- See the desert made famous by the Lost Dutchman mine
Includes:
- All project tools
- Professional supervision
- Desert camp at the best time of year
The Trip
Photo: Karl Seisler
The title of this trip has changed from what was previously published. If you
have questions, please
contact us.
The 790-mile Arizona Trail, designed to highlight Arizona's topographic,
biological, historical, and cultural diversity, will allow non-motorized
travel from Utah to Mexico. We will be building part of this trail in open
desert terrain among multiple species of desert vegetation including
saguaro, cholla, mesquite, palo verde and many different varieties of cacti.
March is the perfect time to visit this desert at an elevation of 2,000 feet
and located a 90-minute drive east of Phoenix and a similar distance north
of Tucson. Surrounded by saguaros and cholla cactus, we'll camp near an
uncompleted section of the Arizona Trail, the section passing through the
Tortilla Mountains near the Gila River and crossing the river at Kelvin
Bridge. Our week's work will complete the trail on both sides of the Gila
River.
The Project
The Sierra Club and other volunteer groups have built hundreds of miles of
this awesome trail in different locales across the state. We'll work with
hand tools to complete one of the last links in this nearly-complete hiking
and biking route.
Itinerary
Photo: Terry Sario
Our trip will consist of four days working with one day off to explore the area or just relax in camp. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Day 1 at the south side of the Kelvin Bridge. Specific directions will be provided to registered participants. We will then set up camp within walking distance of our vehicles. Camping will be available on the night before we meet. On the last day, breakfast will be served in camp and we will have the option of packing a lunch for the trip home.
Getting There
Phoenix is a major airline hub. Competition among rental car companies here gives you plenty of options, and you may choose to carpool with other trip members. Tucson is another option.
Accommodations and Food
Our camp has no running water, so we will bring in potable water as well as our food and cooking gear. The Sierra Club will supply all cooking equipment and food for the trip. The meals will be vegetarian-friendly, but omnivores will also be happy with the menu. You will need to bring your own eating utensils (spoon, fork, bowl, cup, etc.), plus a plastic container large enough to carry a lunch.
Trip Difficulty
Photo: Terry Sario
You will enjoy this trip -- provided you like vigorous outdoor activity. No special skills are required. Beginners are welcome, though you will need to be in good physical condition to hike the low desert terrain and enjoy the trail construction. There will be a variety of tasks to accommodate all ability levels. You will, however, be performing physical labor and some physical conditioning will contribute to your enjoyment of the trip.
Temperatures will be pleasantly warm during the day (70s to 80s), to the 40s or 50s at night. It could get down to 30 degrees, or as warm as the 90s, but those extremes are unusual. Nevertheless, you should bring a sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees and layered clothing in order to be fully prepared for the range of possible temperatures. Even though it is the desert, there is always the possibility of rain.
Equipment and Clothing
Much of the equipment you will need is the same as any other weeklong camping trip:
- Ankle-high boots, well broken-in
- Water bottles or a hydration system, three-liter (or three-quart)
- A comfortable day pack large enough to carry your lunch container and water supply, plus raingear
- Tent with rainfly and ground cloth
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad (a foam pad is best since cactus thorns seem to find their way into typical thermarest pads)
- Rain jacket or parka and rain pants
- Fleece jacket or warm pullover
You will be sent a recommended packing list after you complete your application for the trip.
References
Photo: Terry Sario
Books
- Langford, Andrea, Biking the Arizona Trail.
- Jones, Tom Larang, and Jerry Sieve (Photographer), The Arizona Trail: The Complete Guide
- Manning, Reg, What Kinda Cactus Izzat? A "Who's Who" of Strange Plants in the Southwestern American Desert.
Websites
The Arizona Trail Association: http://www.aztrail.org/
Maps
USGS 7.5-minute topographic quads "Kearney" and "Hot Tamale Peak," available for $8 each (2009 price) plus a $5 handling fee (per order -- good time to get other USGS maps) from USGS Maps, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.
Conservation
Local issues include grazing, mining, and the effect of wildfires. Participants are welcome to bring conservation topics from their home states.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
John Sumner has participated in Sierra Club service trips for more than five years, primarily in Arizona, Idaho, and California. A geophysicist, he delights in botanizing, birding, and looking at the rocks and the stars.
E-mail: sumnergeo@yahoo.com
Cook:
Laurel Bradley works as a curator at a small liberal arts college in Minnesota. Childhood in California and Oregon instilled a deep love of nature and the wild. Laurel enjoys long distance walking in Europe, canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, cross-country skiing, gardening, yoga and cooking. The Sierra Club provides wonderful opportunities to return to the great American West.
E-mail: lbradley@carleton.edu
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips