Wilderness trip joins forest, coalition crews, veterans reviving North Kaibab trails

Volunteers take a moment to pose for a group photo before beginning their second day of trail maintenance on the Arizona Wilderness Coalition Saddle Mountain Wilderness project, Kaibab National Forest, Aug. 16, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News

FREDONIA, Ariz. — Recreational staff from the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest partnered with the Arizona Wilderness Coalition and a number of veterans who volunteered to spend several days in the forest, Aug. 15-19, working together to maintain trails in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness area.

Volunteers participating in trail brushing, one form of trail maintenance,  in Saddle Mountain Wilderness, Kaibab National Forest, Aug. 16, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News
Volunteers participating in trail brushing, one form of trail maintenance, in Saddle Mountain Wilderness, Kaibab National Forest, circa August 15-19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News

Since the  release of its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, the ranger district’s staff has taken on a “Deliver Benefits to the Public” challenge, implementing various projects throughout the summer.

“For my veteran brothers and sisters,” Army veteran Bill Losh said, “this trip was a good chance to push reality and stress aside and enjoy one of this country’s treasures, meet other veterans and make some new friends.”

During the Saddle Mountain Wilderness project, Arizona Wilderness Coalition coordinator Brian Stultz and ranger district coordinator Denise Carpenter jointly hosted 10 veteran volunteers to three days of trail maintenance and hiking followed by four nights of rest and relaxation, dinners of burgers, pastas, fresh salads and three much-loved dutch-oven entrees cooked by Stultz – and campfire bonding.

“The cord is cut,” mind, body and resilience trainer Nick Manci said, “I felt a disconnect to my world back in Phoenix.”

The trip helped him re-emerge with nature, Manci said. This came from both being cut off from the outside world and the camp’s activities, which included trail time, yoga, trauma release and meditation.

“I’ll return to the city tomorrow a little different man,” Manci said. “I am thankful for my time here on the Kaibab Plateau.”

Others, such as Marine Corps veteran John Morgan, said they enjoyed their time so much they would consider revisiting in the future.

“There was nothing but friendly and professional folks running this program, and plenty of time to myself,” Morgan said. “I think the volunteer program is a major plus and would do it again if asked.”

Wilderness and trails technician Denise Carpenter conducts a morning briefing with crews and volunteering veterans on the North Canyon trail, Kaibab National Forest, Aug. 22-25, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News
Wilderness and trails technician Denise Carpenter conducts a morning briefing with crews and volunteering veterans on the North Canyon trail, Kaibab National Forest, circa Aug. 15-19, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News

Throughout the week, volunteers camped in a water-and-electric free environment alongside Forest Service Road 611, just a few miles from the three trailheads. Each day, the crew began with morning yoga, breakfast and a short hike before the work of cutting trees and trail brushing began.

“I have shed a lot of military skin in the eight years since I got out,” Marine Corps veteran Jeff Glessing said. “Reconnecting with veterans who get it was a great treat for the weekend.”

Throughout the days, the veteran crew worked alongside personnel from the North Kaibab Ranger District and the Arizona Wilderness Coalition. Together they improved about 3.5 miles of the North Canyon Trail, clearing a 10-by-12-foot-wide corridor to accommodate pack horses, and an additional 1.6 miles on the Saddle Mountain Trail.

“This crew did remarkably well for their first time doing this type of work together,”  Carpenter said.

When everything was said and done, Glessing said, the organizations involved in the project were very helpful and knowledgeable about forestry, land management and ecology.

“We had a shared experience that is difficult to find once you leave the military,” he said. “It was fun and I’ll be looking forward to my next AWC trip; hopefully, just around the corner.”

The Kaibab National Forrest is fortunate to have such dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers helping to maintain trails for future generations, Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer Melissa Robinson said.

“All of our volunteers accomplished an exceptional amount of work in a very small time frame,” Robinson said, “and we thank each and every volunteer for his and her commitment to helping make these improvements.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

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