Posts

Showing posts from June, 2016

ARIZONA HIKING GROUP

Image
Have you been seeing these colorful patches attached to hiker packs, shirts and hats while trekking Arizona trails?  They signify that the wearer is a member of the Arizona Hiking Facebook Group . The group has over 23,000 active members who share their hiking adventures, photos and advise. Join us and get a patch (NOT a requirement) of your own, too. CHECK IT OUT: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428020817423751/ ORDER PATCHES HERE: https://arizona-hiking-group.myshopify.com/ GROUP STANDARDS OF CONDUCT The goal of Arizona Hiking group is t o provide a forum for hikers of all levels to share experiences and tips. As a member, you are expected to: � Contribute helpful and inspiring hike-related posts. � Respect fellow members by keeping comments civil. � Stay on topic. � Provide positive feedback and encouragement. � Disagree constructively, not hatefully. �Do not post business ads and links to draw readers to your social media sites/website/Instagram/blog/store/YouTube channel

CLOVER SPRING TRAIL # 46

Image
CLOVER SPRING Williams Clover Spring On a mountain with no shortage of summit-busting hiking trails, it takes will power to swerve off the epic routes onto one with a subtler kind of charisma. Whether bypassed due to time constraints, bad weather or dwindling supplies, secondary routes often get ignored in favor of heavily travelled arterial trails. Clover Spring Trail #46 epitomizes the joy to be found on the little trails that compete for love with the summit routes on Bill Williams Mountain. Trough at Clover Spring More an option than a diversion, this shady, moderate path is toggled to challenging Bill Williams Mountain Trail #21 and can be hiked as either a short loop or an alternative leg that adds less than a mile to the standard summit route. The "C"-shaped connector moves through beautiful woodlands overlooking the city of Williams. A short section of climbing among lichen-cloaked boulders precedes the arrival at a rustic concrete trough marking Clover Spring. Don&#

LITTLE SPRING to BISMARCK LAKE

Image
LITTLE SPRING to BISMARCK LAKE Flagstaff Approaching Little Spring From the looks of the place, it's hard to imaging a stage coach lurching through the bumpy terrain below the north face of Flagstaff's San Francisco Peaks. Between 1892-1900, the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach line did just that, braving rough back roads to shuttle guests to the South Rim during the summer season. The stage service is long gone, but portions of its former route live on as footpaths used by hikers, bikers and for ultra running and long distance trekking events. One of the most beautiful segments of the historic trail wanders along the eastern edge of Hart Prairie just outside of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area. The hike begins near Little Spring, a popular stop along the stagecoach route that's now part of a national historic landmark. Picking up the trail is a little bit tricky in the beginning. From the parking spot, h ike 0.4 mile on an old dirt road to where there�s a split ra

HASSAYAMPA RIVER PRESERVE

Image
HASSAYAMPA RIVER PRESERVE Wickenburg Sacred datura bloom along River Ramble Trail The month of June is notoriously rife with wildfire activity. Historically, it's our driest month leading into monsoon season. Hikers who like to escape the heat on high elevation trails may find their plans thwarted by road closures, smoke and the possibility of more fires popping up with no warning. During those weeks when it seems like the whole state is on fire, it's good to know that that there's an alternative cool hiking destination located not too far from Downtown Phoenix. The trails at Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg offer respite from the heat under canopies of cottonwoods, willows, mesquite, alders and enormous Desert fan palms. Straddling one of the few places where the 100-mile-long river flows above ground, the preserve has trails that explore the site's diversity. River Ramble Trail follows a channel of trickling perennial water through a tangled, green forest flu

Guardian of the Golden Gate: Interview with Kevin Briggs

Image
[Episode 104] In today's episode of the Social Work Podcast I spoke with Kevin Briggs, retired Sergent with the California Highway Patrol. As part of his duties patroling Marin County, Sgt. Briggs responded to calls on the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most lethal suicide spots in the world. In April 2016 Sgt. Briggs and I talk about what it was like to be a negotiator working with people seconds away from jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Sgt. Briggs shared some of his strategies and his struggles working with hundreds of people, some of whom jumped and some of whom didn�t. He talked about getting famous and doing a TED talk. And then he shared something very personal � the story of how he found out that his son had been thinking of killing himself. Sgt. Briggs provides valuable insight in the professional and personal side of crisis work. Download MP3 [35:50] You can read more about his story in his book,  Guardian of the Golden Gate  and on his 2014 TED talk "The Bri

MEADOW TRAIL # 505

Image
MEADOW TRAIL # 505 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest A pond on the Meadow Trail Taking a walk in the forest shouldn't be limited to the young and fleet of foot. High on the edge of the Mogollon Rim north of Payson, two paved trails combine for more than 5 miles of barrier free exploring. Both are suitable for wheelchairs, strollers and walkers so everybody can wander under the pines regardless of their mobility issues. Well known Rim Vista Trail #622 traces limestone escarpments overlooking rambling valleys of coniferous forests and distant mountain vistas. This popular route can be accessed from any of the viewpoint parking lots located along the first three miles of Forest Road 300. Meadow Trail #505 intersects Rim Vista at the Woods Canyon Vista trailhead and offers a less crowded option. Located within Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area, Trail #505 parallels the busy access road, passing several campgrounds on its way to the lake. The well-signed route encompasses pine-oak wood