The Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) at the University of Arizona invites you to join them in exploring the Arizona Trail during the month of April while also recognizing the ancestral lands upon which we hike, run, pedal and ride. To participate in this wellness challenge and educational initiative, post a photo from your AZT adventure on Instagram, tag @uarizonanalsa, and share whose ancestral land you’re on. NALSA hopes to log a total of 800 miles with student and general public participation, and covering the entire Arizona Trail would be amazing. You can also log your information on this spreadsheet online.
With 22 federally recognized Native American tribes in Arizona today, and tens of thousands of years of cultural history within the Grand Canyon State, it’s safe to say that every foot of the AZT is on native land. Understanding who has lived here is a wonderful way to connect with the land while honoring past, present and future generations.
Need helping learning more about ancestral lands? There a smartphone app called Native Land that’s a good start, which includes various layers of cultural history based on your location. To dig deeper, check out the websites for each of Arizona’s tribes here. Within each of these independent websites, search under the Cultural Department pages and look for maps and information on ancestral lands. You may be surprised to learn that present-day locations of many tribes’ reservations are a tiny fraction of their historic homelands, and some are located far from their original territory.
Follow @uarizonanalsa on Instagram for weekly updates on progress and to learn more.
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Warrior Hikers Hit the Trail
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On March 31, two combat veterans from Arizona started their 800-mile journey along the Arizona Trail as part of the Warrior Hike program. The Arizona Trail Association has proudly partnered with Warrior Expeditions to provide outdoor therapy opportunities for veterans through long-distance hiking expeditions. Due to COVID-19, last year’s program was canceled so everyone was delighted to help two local vets hit the trail this spring after receiving their vaccinations.
If you’re out on the AZT over the next two months, keep an eye out for Jared, a Marine Corps veteran from Tucson who served in Afghanistan from 2008-2012; and Paul, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq from 2002-2010. Trail Angels and volunteers from throughout Arizona are signed up to help the duo with transportation, a hot shower, a meal, and a friendly face when they arrive in gateway communities along the way.
According to one recent Warrior Hiker, “The kindness of strangers along the Arizona Trail really restored my faith in humanity, and reminded me that it’s OK to trust people I don’t know. This has been an important part of my healing process.”
Since 2001, over 3 million veterans have returned home from war but many of them have never transitioned from their experiences. The Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that up to 20% of post 9/11 veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Recognizing the therapeutic value of long distance outdoor expeditions, Warrior Expeditions created the Warrior Hike, Warrior Bike and Warrior Paddle Programs to help veterans transition from their wartime experiences.
To learn more, visit the Warrior Expeditions website and the ATA’s Veteran Program webpage here.
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New AZT Hats Keep You Looking and Feeling Cool
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We just launched two new limited edition caps celebrating the Arizona Trail and they’re available for $25 each through our Online Store. Once these are gone, they’re gone for good. Choose from the Trailway Yellow & Brown cap and the Ranger Blue cap from our friends at Crown Trails Headwear. Both have full mesh backs to maximize airflow. ATA Members login to get a discount.
Also, for a limited time, anyone purchasing $50 or more in AZT goods will get a Huppy Bar! We just got a fresh shipment of AZT Wild Mesquite Bars from Huppy Bar (handcrafted in Flagstaff) and are happy to share the love with online customers.
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Saguaro National Park is gearing up for its summer season and they’re looking for youth ages 16-18 to participate in a summer Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The YCC is an 8-week youth employment program for teenagers consisting of three main components: conservation work, environmental education, and outdoor recreation. Saguaro National Park will be selecting 10 crew members and 2 Youth Crew Leaders. The dates for the season are June 7 – July 30. Enrollees will be paid $12.15 hourly for 40 hours a week. The Park is accepting applications from April 1 – 30, and selections will be made by May 17.
To apply, please visit Saguaro National Park’s website or stop by Saguaro National Park-East to pick up an application at the Visitor Center (3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, 85730).
Wild Arizona, in partnership with the Coronado National Forest’s Douglas Ranger District, is also seeking corps members and leaders for its six-week summer residential Youth Conservation Corps program for Summer 2021. Wild Arizona seeks high school students who enjoy the outdoors and conservation and would like to get paid to work and live together with a crew of similarly aged people, camping and backpacking to remote areas in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona, and learning the skills required to maintain and repair trails.
The ideal crew member is at least 15 years of age at the start of the program and no older than 19 years old before completion of the program; is a current high school student or recent graduate; demonstrates leadership skills and/or responsibility; participates with extracurricular groups or volunteer organizations; likes working and living with people in close quarters for an extended period of time; enjoys spending time outdoors and is comfortable spending extended time in the backcountry and away from home; and wants to learn more about natural history and ecology. The program will run from June 13 to July 25, and applicants must be available for the entire program duration.
Crew members will be compensated at the Arizona state minimum wage rate of $12 per hour, for a total of $480 per week, and upon completion of this program will receive 240 hours towards the Public Lands Corps hiring authority. Food and housing while in the program are provided at no cost. To learn more and to apply, please visit Wild Arizona’s YCC webpage.
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Mt. Lemmon Hotel is a proud supporter of the Arizona Trail Association. Mt. Lemmon Hotel recently opened and now offers the privacy of individual cabins with the features and affordability of a hotel. They have decorated and stocked the rooms with everything you need to make yourself right at home in the cool pines near the summit of the Santa Catalina Mountains just a short drive from Tucson or after a long day on the Arizona Trail. All wooden-interior cabins have room enough for four guests and a full kitchen, dining table and four chairs, flat-screen TV and WiFi. Everything you need to cook a meal or reheat food can be found within the well-stocked cabins – just bring your own food and beverages or shop at the Mt. Lemmon General Store across the street. Discounts are available for any active duty military/veterans, RNs, or employees of Arizona Community Physicians. Some of the cabins are pet-friendly, too. Learn more and book your reservation at https://mtlemmonhotel.com/.
Mt. Lemmon Hotel is a Saguaro level Business Partner.
Please support the local businesses that support the Arizona Trail.
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