By Rita Thompson-Tinsley
Before lacing up your sure-footed hiking boots or dusting off the seat of your meticulously maintained mountain bike; before saddling up your newly shed-out trail mount and checking his cinch, take a minute. Think about how wonderful it is to enjoy the amazingly beautiful and diverse trail systems in the greater southwest.
As avid trail travelers, we live in the lap of luxury in God’s great Central Highlands. We can hike, pedal, or trot high in the pines, or over rocky terrain, sandy washes, and through granite dells. It’s a magical lifestyle, but what makes it so outstanding? The many folks volunteering behind the forestry scenes.
Back Country Horsemen of Central Arizona (BCHCAZ) is a non-profit organization that is comprised of local equestrians committed to help maintain and manage local trails in the Prescott National Forest and, on occasion, lending a hand to other nearby national forests. They put together work crews that haul in tools and supplies to various trail projects, hiking in for miles.
Since BCHCAZ is an equestrian organization, President Wendy Timmel was able to initiate a new ‘trial operation’ where members ride their horses to the worksite carrying equipment. Though what seems to be a pertinent practice, this procedure remains on probation with forestry personnel.
BCHCAZ is totally devoted to keeping trails open for all users, and they continually strive to educate horse trail riders in the Leave-No-Trace practices. They work closely with other trail-focused organizations such as Yavapai Trails Association (YTA) and Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance (PMBA).
The Yavapai Trails Association is not only dedicated but passionate about protecting, preserving, and developing recreational non-motorized trails. This organization is focused on creating trails and safe outdoor spaces, but as our community grows, they strongly persevere to increase awareness of trail etiquette and trail safety.
YTA recognizes the constant need for trail user education and the continued practice of maintaining our trails to a sustainable standard. They are happy to announce their new ‘Traveling Billboards’ featured around town promoting trail safety, the “No Trace” principles, and trail courtesy reminders.
YTA president Lisa Lafoon shared with me the clever events regularly planned each month for group members and guests. They have a booth at the Prescott Farmer’s Market, and you can find them at Whiskey River Tavern on Whiskey Row for their Thirsty Third Thursdays.
YTA, along with BCHCAZ, provides a multitude of volunteers who work on trail maintenance the second Saturday of each month. You can find that Workday Schedule at yavapai-trails.org. And, by the way, “All membership donation dollars go right back into the trails,” reminds Lisa.
Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance is the third nonprofit organization that naturally belongs to this triad of trail blazers. Their focus is to provide a voice in the community for the ever-growing population of trail bikers in the Prescott area.
Along with BCHCAZ and YTA, PMBA has provided thousands of volunteer hours maintaining our trails and initiating the crafting of new ones. Bean Peaks Gravity Flow Trail System Phase 1 will be ready to flow in June of this year.
Ximena Florez, PMBA president, was excited to share details of this monumental bikes-only project, “It is the first and only of its kind in Arizona”. Phase two is in the works, with Phase three just around the bend. PMBA along with the International Mountain Bicycling Assoc.
“(IMBA) has been working closely with the City of Prescott and the Prescott National Forest. The Bean Peaks three phases will be comprised of seventeen miles worth of trail featuring bike-optimized detail to suit every level of rider. What began as a vision is becoming a spectacular reality.”
All in all, you can hug a tree, but sometimes it’s better to hug a volunteer trail worker. Or, better yet, be one.
Happy Trails!
