Livestream Reading of The Red Tail Tale on the Arizona Trail This Saturday
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At 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, join us on Facebook for a live reading of The Red Tail Tale on the Arizona Trail, an adventure story about a young red-headed explorer named Rowen and his unlikely friendship with a red-tailed hawk. In the book, you'll also learn more about the Arizona Trail and what makes it so special, and the amazing diversity of Arizona’s geology, animals plants, and people. The author will be available after the live reading to answer any questions you might have – just type them into the comment box.
The Red Tail Tale on the Arizona Trail is written by Rodo Sofranac, a writer, teacher, trainer, and translator based in Phoenix. Through his organization, RodoWrites, Rodo gives back to literacy and youth outdoor programs. The purpose of this particular book is to educate and inspire young readers about the Arizona Trail, and provide a funding source for the Arizona Trail Association. Up to 100% of the profits generated by this book are donated to the ATA’s Seeds of Stewardship program. It’s an incredible resource for kids of all ages!
The full-color book features photographs, illustrations, and tons of educational material in 62 exciting pages. To get your own copy check out the Arizona Trail Association Online Store.
For teachers: The Red Tail Tale on the Arizona Trail addresses all four core disciplines of the social studies standards—history, civics, economics, and especially geography—for Arizona 3rd through 5th grades.
We hope you’ll join us for this Facebook Live event on Saturday, and please share the invitation with others.
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Cross F Trailhead Completed
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We are proud to announce the completion of the Cross F Trailhead! This is a new access point to the Arizona National Scenic Trail, located off Forest Road 627 and Highway 87 north of the town of Sunflower. This location is an ideal place to begin an adventure along the Saddle Mountain Passage on the Tonto National Forest. A short connector trail leads from the new trailhead to the AZT, providing a rewarding experience along Sycamore Creek and into the Mazatzal Wilderness.
For many years, the ATA has desired a trailhead in this region. We have worked with the Tonto National Forest and Arizona Department of Transportation to identify the ideal location for public access. With funding from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI Co-op), the American Quarter Horse Association, US Forest Service and ATA members, we hired Bauer Built Trails to create a graded dirt parking area, build a fence around the perimeter, and install a steel super gate. The final touch was installation of a kiosk with navigational information and Share the Trail recommendations. In the future, signs from Hwy 87 will direct trail users to the trailhead. For now, check out the Passage Map online to see the location of the trailhead, and how to access it from Hwy 87.
Our profound thanks to all the volunteers, agency partners and supporters who made this project possible. We hope you’re able to visit soon and enjoy the natural treasures this area has to offer.
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Arizona Trail Wildlife Monitoring Project
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In an attempt to answer the question, “How many people use the Arizona Trail each year?” we partnered with the Center for Nature Conservation at the Phoenix Zoo to place wildlife cameras at strategic locations along the Arizona Trail. This will help count the number of people on the trail, as well as the type of use (day hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, runners, equestrians, etc.). Cameras are intentionally placed to not capture facial images, and all images are safeguarded and not made publicly available in the interest of respecting everyone’s privacy while out on the trail. This five-year study was initiated in 2018 and up to 50 cameras may be on the AZT at any given time. Each camera is marked with the AZT logo and a small sign explaining their purpose. Maybe you’ve even seen one while hiking, running or riding.
In addition to gathering data on frequency and use of recreation (which will assist land management agencies in understanding current use and planning for the future) cameras capture images of wildlife. Anyone who has ever spent time in the Arizona Trail knows that wildlife is a vital part of the trail experience. An equally important component of this important study is understanding which types of animals utilize the trail, and when, and how recreational non-motorized trails may benefit or negatively impact wildlife corridors and behavior. This type of research along a long-distance trail has never been undertaken before.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phoenix Zoo experienced a significant loss of revenue and had to redirect funding from many of its non-essential activities, including the Arizona Trail Conservation & Monitoring (AZT CAM) project. Thanks to a private donation and a small grant, the ATA was able to hire a Wildlife Monitoring Coordinator to continue working on this important project. Additional funding is being pursued to keep this research going through 2023.
Last month, Chelsey Tellez joined the ATA Staff and now works full-time on the AZT CAM project, including placement of cameras, collection of data, uploading images to a secure server, and engaging volunteers in verifying images. Chelsey spent her childhood on a small ranch in Arizona becoming acquainted with her surroundings, turning over rocks, climbing trees, and introducing herself to every inhabitant she met along the way. In these early formative years, she connected deeply with nature and found a love for all animals, large and small. Chelsey discovered ecology to be the means of continuing to learn more about the plants and animals of the world, and conservation to be the best way to protect them. She graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in life sciences. She has utilized camera traps to study focal species in the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona (one of the most biologically diverse regions of the United States) and has also spent time working on wildlife mitigation and corridor connectivity in Mexico and Costa Rica. You can learn more about Chelsey and the rest of the Arizona Trail Association Staff online here.
Images are initially sorted by an artificial intelligence program called Wildlife Insights, but we are going to need a lot of help sorting through thousands of images of wildlife to ensure that an ocelot isn’t a house cat, or a dog isn’t a Mexican grey wolf. If you’re interested in looking through wildlife camera images at home and helping to verify data, please send an email to our Volunteer Program Manager: volunteer@aztrail.org. We hope to have a cloud-based program available for volunteers to use in 2021.
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Trails Skills Institute Course Dates Announced for 2021
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Are you interested in learning more about properly monitoring, maintaining and constructing trails? Are you a steward of the Arizona Trail or are you interested in helping out with trail projects? Do you like to get your hands dirty while learning valuable skills at the same time? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then make your reservations today for our Trail Skills Institute courses for 2021.
In collaboration with Matt Roberts at Flagline Trails, our curriculum has been revised for 2021, including new modules and more in-depth treatment of topics. Upcoming dates include:
February 20-21
Module 1 (Trail Assessment) and Module 2 (Trail Maintenance)
Desert environment – central AZ
March 6-7
Module 3 (Trail Structures)
April 10-11
Module 5 (Trail Construction)
June 12-13
Modules 1 & 2
Mountain environment – northern AZ
September 18-19
Module 6 (Obliteration and Mitigation)
October 2-3
Module 4 (Trail Design and Layout)
October 16-17
Module 5 Trail Construction
November 6-7
Modules 1 & 2
Grasslands environment – southern AZ
Please visit the Trail Skills Institute page online to learn more about each of the Modules and how to register. Space is limited and some training are already filling up. We hope you can join us for these fun, informative, hands-on learning opportunities outdoors as we strive to make Arizona Trail Association volunteers the best trained trail volunteers anywhere!
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Verco Decking is a proud support of the Arizona Trail Association. Verco Decking, Inc., a Nucor Company, has been located in Phoenix for over 50 years. They are a leading producer of steel decking, over half of which comes from recycled content, in roofing and flooring for non-residential buildings serving the Western United States. Part of Verco Decking’s Mission is to live each day with gratitude for the families, customers and partners that make their work possible.
Verco Decking is a Bristlecone Pine level Business Partner.
Please support the local businesses that support the Arizona Trail.
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