West Side Story Trail attracts opposites
by Brian Mostoller
Many of us know the story of Romeo and Juliet, as well as of Tony and Maria in “West Side Story.” Opposites attract and tragedy follows.
There is another West Side Story near Prescott, on the west side of the city, and there is a tragedy. West Side Story Trail #725 in Prescott National Forest is approximately six and a half miles northwest of Prescott, beginning at the Iron Springs Trailhead.
Upon arriving at the entrance to the trail and meeting some of my fellow hikers for the first time, I gathered that there was a commonality among many of us. Jenny Cobb, our day’s Sierra Club Outings Leader with many outdoors-oriented activities in Prescott (Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Sierra Club Yavapai Group, and Unity of Prescott Outings Leader), kept using the word “unity” until I realized that this group of nine were not only Sierra Club people but Unity of Prescott people. Unity is a spiritual movement that focuses upon the spirit within each individual. I am a member of Unity of Phoenix. Jets or Sharks, we had our gang.
Our rival, it seemed to me, was the beautiful and foreign terrain. It had its own Spirit. A mix of ponderosa pine, alligator juniper, Arizona cypress, and gambel oak greeted us around every bend. Astounding views unfolded on certain stretches. Undulating, gentle paths met us–
no threat whatsoever. We were dressed for the outdoors, but I sensed we didn’t quite fit in. One world costumed with wonder, the other world seemingly trying to fit back in. Laurence Olivier to an understudy.
We humans have impacted this and other areas. Jenny has lived in Arizona for over 50 years and another one of the many activities she does, since 2006, is a flow monitor for the Upper Verde River. She and others in our group, Chuck Meinke, Liz Brown and Mike Bieluch, measure water. Every time it rains in Prescott, Chuck measures. Things have dried up over the last few years. Our West Side Story Trail hike was supposed to bring us to views of Spence Creek, but there was just a dry bed. Cobb and Meinke commented that there are just trickles and small pools here and there.
Evidence of other human impacts were near the end of the trail. We saw remnants of old gold mining paths and train paths. These wide swaths gouged the area years ago. On these scars we trudged back to the lot where our vehicles waited.
The musical “West Side Story” ended with death because of misunderstanding, but both sides came together in the end. Hopefully more human beings will visit the West Side Story Trail and see its beauty so that we may all come together to keep this area of wonder alive.
The Sierra Club is always looking for more people to lead hikes, walks, and service projects into this area and other wild lands. Help us to keep telling the stories.
Outing leader Jenny Cobb stands amidst unusual rock outcroppings on the West Side Story Trail #725. Though the path is an easy hike, many eye-catching vegetation, views, and features abound.
A majestic view opens up early on the West Side Trail #725 path. The Sierra Prieta mountainRrange rests in the distance.