big man tips

CHILDRESS TANK ROAD The Ortiz and Hull families of Mesa on Childress Tank Road What do you do when you want to take friends or family with young kids or mobility issues on a hike but still want to get in a good workout?   Childress Tank sits on a mesa below the Mogollon Rim The answer might be found on dirt roads that spiral off the short, barrier-free trails that cater to the �hiking lite� crowd.   One such place is the Shoofly Village Ruins north of Payson.   For years, this has been my go-to destination for introducing non-trekkers to the history and beauty that lies beneath the Mogollon Rim.   A visitor reads a sign about an ancient room at Shoofly Village The site offers an approachable, intriguing way to get outdoors without the preparations needed for more remote or wilderness hikes.   Gateway to Childress Tank Road All you need for gear is stable footwear, sun protection and a bottle of water.   The self-guided tour is outfitted with interpretive si...

CHAVEZ TRAIL & BEAVERHEAD TANK Old feed trough at Beaverhead Tank. When confronted with a befuddling trail junction, many hikers opt to bypass the unknown and follow their researched route. In most cases, that�s a smart move. Sticking to plans and designated trails reduces the risk of getting lost and injured.   But while even long- established paths can be fraught with challenges,  some forks in the road can be low risk diversions that are too sweet to ignore.     You�ll experience both elements on this two-part trek near Sedona. View of Mingus and Woodchute Mountains  The recently re-located and documented Chavez Road has a captivating history as a prehistoric trade route, mule and oxen trail and freight transit system for Verde Valley pioneers. The steep, rough-cut road was an important travel route until 20 th century railroads and the General Crook Trail provided safer, more efficient means of transportation.   Beaverhead Tank By the 1920...

[Episode 118] In today�s episode, I talk to Erlene Grise-Owens, Justin �Jay� Miller, and Mindy Eaves, the editors of the T The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals , published by The New Social Worker Press . My guests debunk some self-care myths and they share some of the guidelines about making self-care a practice.  My guests not only talk about what self-care is and is not, but they also model it. We talk about SMART self-care plans, about how being active is not the same as being athletic, about how personal self-care requires professional self-care and that professional self-care affects organizational wellness and that organizational wellness affects professional self-care. If you like what you hear, check out their book  The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals , published by The New Social Worker Press. If you want a deeper dive into self-care, Erlene and Jay are doing a webinar for the Ne...

SPANISH RUINS,  Mazatzal Wilderness The mysterious monolith The town of Payson at the base of the Mogollon Rim is a hiking hot spot with a diverse collection of trails. From creekside rambles (Horton Creek), grueling ascents (See Canyon), pine forest rambles (Highline Trail) and high desert cypress-and-boulder-centric paths of the Payson Area Trails System, there�s something for trekkers of every level. But if you want to hike outside the box; seek out the Payson Packers. The hiking group is a loose-knit, motley band of year-round and seasonal residents with a repertoire of classic and under-the-radar treks. Hikers make the final scramble to the top. They�ve been exploring around Rim Country and beyond for nearly 40 years. Payson Packers working their way up to the ruins � There are probably about fifty or sixty folks who hike regularly with the Packers,� says Randy Cockrell who leads weekly hikes for the group.   The club�s 250 or so members communicate and plan hikes through...

"A MISSION to GERRY�S GOINT":  Arizona Trail Passage 15 THE FRIENDLIEST TOWN ON THE ARIZONA TRAIL Ray Mine near Kearny seen from the Arizona Trail Uncle Scary hasn�t shaved since 1976. His white whiskers, gravelly voice and commanding presence scare the tar out of toddlers.   But everybody else in his adopted home town of Kearny loves the vociferous old-timer who is sort of a one-man chamber of commerce for the tiny Pinal County community (population 1,950).   �We are The Friendliest Town along the Arizona National Scenic Trail�, boasts Gerry Kaufhold whose trail name is Uncle Scary. �We want to be the next Moab, only smaller�, he adds.   Uncle Scary a.k.a Gerry Kaufhold Kearny is a proud Arizona Trail Gateway Community that provides respite for long-distance hikers in need of a hot shower, a cold drink and a good meal while taking a �zero day� (rest day without hiking) from the 800-mile trek.   Business owners and residents alike have also been known to assist ...