March 17, 2003
Group
leaders were Dave Stones and late additions Brandy Fyffe and Courtland Quinn (a
battlefield commission), and the latter student leaders were nothing short of
outstanding. Others participants were
Kevin Anderholm, Matthew Darby, Anita Fernandez, Sara Gray, Jade Hatley, Kijun
Hong, Phaedra Jackson, Chris Jones, Jen Lovell, Sergio Machado, Neal Mann, Bao
Thu Nguyen, Claire Phillips, Sal Richie, Fanny Tang, and Brooks Wilson. Kevin, Sara, Brooks, and Jen planned the
initial menus, and Courtland, Fanny, Jade, Laura Davis (who was unable to go),
Brandy and Brooks helped with shopping.
Their work allowed non-perishables to be purchased a week before
departure – a big improvement.
Courtland and Brooks acquired needed equipment, Neal and Kijun served as
medics, Jen and Sara worked as on-site quartermasters (food allocations), and
Kevin, Brandy, Claire, and Fanny were photographers. Sergio, Jen, and Claire agreed to produce the trip journal.
Friday,
February 28. Food purchase of
non-perishables. Food stored later in
Dave’s office. Brooks and Courtland
delivered ice chests (3 from SIRA) and tents.
Friday,
March 7. Food shoppers and Bao Thu
carried 20+ boxes to Sergio’s dorm room, then shopped for a couple of hours.
Saturday,
March 8. A group of 9 Gilans and 5
others ate dinner at Dos Salsas. Our
bus departed SU at 7:30 PM. We watched
some VCR movies en route, and had a brief stop in Ozona. Drivers switched at Fort Stockton (1:30 AM),
and Leroy Johnson was with us for the rest of the trip – an excellent
driver. Most got at least a little bit
of sleep.
Sunday,
March 9. We gassed up in El Paso at
5:30 AM and breakfasted at Denny’s in Denning (achieving anomatopeia
(sp?)). Skipping Silver City, we met
Trail Supervisor Mike Carr at the Mimbres Ranger Station and proceeded directly
to our campsite – Woody’s Corral (1.25 miles from the Cliff Dwellings and 1
from the Visitor’s Center, and perhaps 6000 feet above sea level) at 10
AM. It was warm, but that was a
trick! Larry Koble, who was to camp
with us and provide direct supervision for our service project, was there with
some tents, a cooking fly (not Drosophila Malanogaster!) and a trail version of
a chuck wagon, including propane stoves.
Camp was set up (including 2 tents from SIRA, 1 from Kevin, a couple
from Courtland, and several from Dave.
Dave also brought a 3-burner Coleman stove, a folding table, a couple
Igloo water containers, and two tubs of cooking equipment. After set-up and lunch, we hiked to the
Cliff Dwellings, where volunteer Jean Denney gave us a thorough introduction to
the Mimbres culture and artifacts – nice to get this first! Finished at 4:20, some made a quick hike to
the Visitors’ Center, while others gathered firewood. We had foil dinners, but
suffered for the lack of sufficient good coals, which delayed dinner for some –
more charcoal next year? Some s’mores
over the campfire. Quite cold. 3 slept outside under stars. No complaints, though, even from the novice
campers! Amazing!
This
year, almost all chose the camping option, and the other two agreed to try
it. This kept the group together and
greatly simplified things. The campsite
had a nice (but non-flush) toilet, and running water. We had access to the “dormitory” showers, but had to drive 2
miles to reach them. Dave was provided a Forest Service truck (which started
60% of the time), and Larry did most of the shower runs.
Monday,
March 10. Courtland (who slept outside
and must have been cold), started a fire at 5 AM, and Brandy (with her
wonderful laugh) joined him there.
Temperature was 17 degrees (very hard freeze), so oatmeal, coffee, hot
chocolate, and cider went well, as did fire-toasted Pop Tarts (sigh). In fact, nobody ever ate any of the cold
cereal and milk initially planned.
(Several were cold this first night.
Dave’s three extra sleeping bags and 6 or 8 more Larry got from Forest
Service equipment provided double bags for the sufferers for the rest of the
trip). Tool safety class at 8:30 AM,
and we hit the trail at 9:30. Mike Carr assigned and reviewed our project of
trail maintenance on what I believe to be the EE Canyon Loop – it was the
hiking and horse trail beginning at Woody’s Corral. Work the first day was fairly close, concentrating on the first
couple hundred yards, which were fairly steep, and in much need. At the end of the day, while cutting
Junipers for steps, Courtland saw a Bobcat.
We
worked four full 8-hour days (times 19).
Most of our work was in the first 1.5 miles of that trail, and consisted
of building steps and various erosion control constructions. Because of the horses, we had to plan on a
2000 pound load, so rock steps had to be set about 18 inches into the ground
(which meant they had to be big – and this implies heavy!). Constant direct
supervision was provided by Larry Koble.
There could not have been a better choice for trail supervision, as he
educated, motivated, and corrected in a very positive way. When work had to be redone, he explained the
reasons and the methods so the crew maintained a positive attitude throughout –
and they really put out the effort for Larry and Mike. I was proud of our accomplishments. Larry also camped with us the entire time,
and Mike and Gilbert came by frequently.
This did much to make all 19 participants active ambassadors for the
Gila. I fully expect at least four of
our group to apply for trail work this summer.
The
trail work was very rewarding. We used such tools as picks, pry-bars,
pick-matics, Pulaskis, shovels,
hatchets, 2-man cross-cut saws,
Ninja saws, ice picks, and McCleods (sp). We expect as many as four of our group to obtain summer
employment there doing this type of trail work. (Indeed, Allen Landon worked
there Summer 2002).
Larry
taught much, and gave of his own time.
He and Mike told many stories about the parks, forest service,
wilderness areas, and their people and lore.
Food
was plentiful. Lunches were packed in,
and typically consisted of trail mix, fruit, tuna, lunchmeat and peanut butter
sandwiches, granola bars, dried fruit, fig newtons, and crackers/cheese/summer
sausage.
Monday
evening, we had fajitas (beef, chicken, and veggie-burger) and beans, which
were wonderful. Many had showers. Later, a nice campfire, and Dave’s peach
cobbler.
Tuesday,
March 11. 18 degrees. Courtland and Brandy seem to have solved
their early arising problem, but Sara
arose early (today and later) to help Larry and Dave . Bacon and eggs for breakfast, plus hot cereal
and drinks. Also some Dutch oven
cornbread. Trail work was heavy, up to
1.5 miles away. Saw wolf and coyote
scat.
Very
tired at the end of the day, but we left at about 5 PM to hit the hot springs,
about a half mile up the Gila River.
Unfortunately, the sun was behind the mountains by then, and the two
river crossings were pretty cold. Hot
springs were nice, although the incumbent bathing couple was perhaps not happy
to have our company. Spaghetti, green
beans, salad, and hot French bread for dinner.
Wednesday,
March 12. 24 degrees – a hot
spell! Breakfast mainly hot cereal
and bagels, plus Dutch oven biscuits. On trail at 9 AM, working at roughly the
same distant places as Tuesday. Heavy
rock work, building steps, water dams, and new footing for trails where there
was only air before.
Dinner
was Sara Gray’s rice and curry -
chicken and non-. Very good, so the
strains of Amazing Gray-S played in
many minds. Brooks fixed baked apples
(with brown sugar and cinnamon) for dessert.
Larry took loads for showers.
Jade’s
leg hurts where she tripped over a log on same spot where she had an earlier
bruise. Ice packs and elevation
attempted.
Thursday,
March 13. 24 degrees. Simple breakfast, with few early risers, but
more sleeping under the stars. Lots of
re-working on closer part of the trail, including more water dams and cutting
more Juniper logs. Larry and Mike
reviewed all work, and were very complimentary. Mike took many pictures to use as good examples in his trail
classes. Hot afternoon, and most
sported sunburns.
Dinner
of pancakes, sausages, corn, macaroni & cheese, apple sauce. Mike joined
us. Showers later for many. A ring around the moon signaled rain. We had late cobbler – a peach and a double
recipe mixture of pears and fruit cocktail (with cherry pie filling base). Nice campfire. Late night.
Friday,
March 14. Around 30 degrees. Ate breakfast, including oatmeal and more
pancakes. Rolled sleeping bags, struck
tents, cleaned kitchen (Neal Mann was great!), took down equipment tents and
cooking fly. Sorted food to leave
leftovers with rangers. Bus arrived
early (11:15 rather than 1:00). Loaded bus, which then drove the group to Visitors'
Center. All ate lunch and toured
facilities. Many bought t-shirts, postcards, and souvenirs. Talked with Steve Riley, John Kramer, Mike Carr, and Larry
Koble. Forms for Jade’s injury, which
is still troublesome. Jean Denney (our
Sunday tour guide), obtained Gila posters for all.
Departed
1 PM (an hour early), but stopped 27 miles later to see work done previous year
on Continental Divide Trail. Brief stop
at Mimbres Ranger Station for paperwork on way out. More VCR movies – thanks, Kevin! Dinner at Oriental Buffet in El Paso (North of I-10 at Airlines
exit) at 6:30, off again at 7:30.
Driver switch in Fort Stockton at 11:30, after driving through hard rain
and hail.
Saturday,
March 15. Brief stop in Junction. Most slept.
We arrived back at SU at 5:30 AM.
All were gone by 6:10, but equipment clean-up remained.
Great
group and a great trip! I enjoyed
getting to know all of the students, and was highly impressed. Looking forward to 2004!
Dave
Stones