Lending a Hand to our Beautiful Land
Story by Rita Thompson-Tinsley. Photos courtesy of Back Country Horsemen of Central Arizona.
After orchestrating an exceptional surprise party for his wife Rene, the members of Back Country Horsemen of Central Arizona (BCHCAZ) were so impressed that they voted in Craig Ferdig as their next president. The bigger surprise was that Craig wasn‘t present during the election. He was out of town that day. But it‘s a pretty sure thing that the right decision had been made, for Craig Ferdig has a way of making a lot of work seem like a lot of fun for a lot of volunteers.
Back Country Horsemen of Central Arizona (BCHCAZ) is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization designed to improve and maintain wilderness trails in the Prescott National Forest, their primary partner. They also work with the Coconino, Kaibab and Tonto National Forests, along with the National Park Service of the Grand Canyon and Wupatki National Monument.
Though the BCHCAZ is dedicated to keeping trails open for all trail users, they intently strive to educate horse riders in the Leave-No-Trace practices of the Seven Principles:
Plan Ahead & Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
BCHCAZ has approximately 85 members, all equestrians, but due to Covid, there were not a lot of scheduled work days in 2020. Jason Williams, Trails & Wilderness Coordinator of the Prescott National Forest, plans and implements trail projects and works closely with BCHCAZ as their liaison. According to Jason, there was not a set policy for working during the Covid crisis, but they chose to make strides in safety and took extra efforts to make work environments, though outdoors, as sanitary as possible.
Since April, 2021, the work crews have been increasing their activity and presence in wilderness tasks, but as Jason points out, ”Due to the circumstance of a two-year drought, there has been little growth in brush and foliage.“
He further acknowledges that due to the active monsoon output, we will be seeing major growth very soon, and then the work begins. Jason considers the Back Country Horsemen as his “go to“ when he needs someone to go real remote in the wilderness for trail maintenance or repair.
Unlike the name suggests, members of BCHCAZ generally do not show up for service in the saddle. Work crews may possibly have a pack mule with supplies, but these volunteers actually hike in, sometimes for miles, to their destined trail location. Then they work. Then they hike back. All in a day‘s work. Work crews are not allowed chainsaws, but equipment may include saws and clippers.
Due to the Covid period, President Ferdig attended to some of the trail needs solo, and other workers have done the same. But now the volunteers will be coming back to meet the needs of the many hikers, bikers and horse riders who enjoy every step, pedal, and stride they take in these extraordinary trails that have become an amazing adventure.
In the spring, they restocked Kendrick Mountain lookout tower in the Coconino National Forest with 800 lbs. of water for the fire season. The crew worked diligently to climb the 10,000 foot elevation. They also created a trail head at Almosta Ranch Road in cooperation with the neighborhood in Williamson Valley. The Stringfield trail is to be completed this year. BCHCAZ is also doing work in Sedona with the Red Rock District. “There are dangerous locations on some of the trails,“ reports Ferdig, “so we will be installing warning signs and such.“
If you think this group is all work and no play….wrong! BCHCAZ schedules at least one social ride a month for fun. Their fundraisers are not just resourceful for their needs, but valuable and important events to experience.
This year, they put on a two-day Ned Leigh clinic focusing on Horsemanship Communications. They offered two Self-Defense on Horseback clinics instructed by Horse Lords. Annual events include their Little Thumb Butte Ride that was in June, the Groom Creek Camp Weekend, and their biggest annual fundraiser, the Bumble Bee Ranch Weekend Ride taking place November 4-7, a great way to have fun and contribute to a wonderful cause all at the same time.
BCHCAZ teams up with Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance and Yavapai Trails Association on trail renovation projects. Their up and coming All-User Trail Work Days is scheduled for Groom Creek Loop Trail #307 on September 17 & 18, 24 & 25. This project offers our trail user community the opportunity to pitch in and help to clean up the trails that we love so much.
For more information on how you can help or to participate in the upcoming trail project, visit yavapai.trails@gmail.com.
