Giving a little back

[Sredfield]

"Trip" Report for a Volunteer Weekend With Volunteers for Outdoor Az

I could title this "An incredible and well-kept secret at Hart Prairie"

This was a (very well) organized group event with Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona. We were treated to a weekend at The Nature Conservancy’s cabins, lodge and hospitality at the western foot of the San Francisco Peaks. In return, we did a few hours of manual labor helping with maintenance. This trip included some “fuels treatment”—a deceptive forest management euphemism for hauling wood out of the trees and piling it up for a future controlled (we all hope) burn come first snow. My son calls it "farm boy" exercise.

I arrived Friday evening about 9:00 PM after chasing around Flagstaff forgetting things at one store and heading off to another. The welcome committee met me in the dark and directed me to a spot for the night.

Breakfast was at 7:00 the next morning, in the rustic main lodge. Several of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. They date back to the homestead days circa 1890. The weather was cool, but warming quickly as the sun cleared the peaks. The view of the peaks from the front porch is to die for, and changes constantly. I felt more than well-paid for the work I did just looking at the peaks. By about 8:30 we were all organized and briefed on safety, the history of the preserve, the housekeeping, etc., and headed off across the meadow for work.

No way around it, fuels treatment is hard work. TNC staff used the chain saw; we hauled the logs and brush and piled it out from under the trees so it can burn safely without damaging any. Many hands make light work, and sections of aspen groves that were impassable with dead and down trees were soon cleared and almost park-like. Several of us volunteered to come back this fall for the big weenie-roast. (There’s a little pyromania is all of us.)

You shouldn't work volunteers too long or too hard, so we broke for lunch around noon and walked back to the lodge for sandwiches, chips, drinks, fruit etc. A few hours toting and hauling work up the appetite, and we did the lunch justice. Then back for a few more hours of work. We knocked off at 3:30 and several of us made a bee-line for the shower cabin; what a treat to rinse off the sweat, dirt, and dust.

Happy hour with Mississippi Caviar was next. As we all hung around the front porch snacking and watching the light rain, Mother Nature offered up a special treat. The sky darkened and a light rain picked up a bit. A little thunder rolled around the peaks and we watched the distant lightening. Then it wasn't distant, the flash and the crack were simultaneous, it hit very close. Later we found the bolt’s exit (or entry) point at the back door of the lodge. It had made a small hole and sprayed dirt all over the back porch. A bit of hail, a little more rain, then the show was over and the sun came out. It didn’t delay dinner--VOAz goes over the top with the food, and this was no exception. Salmon, rice, beans, bread, salad, etc. etc. etc. All just great. Several of us foundered ourselves.

Day two was pretty light fare compared to the logging work. The deep snows on the prairie wreck havoc on the fences, and they need occasional maintenance. After breakfast we loaded up tools and equipment and headed off to the north boundary. The fences had to be disassembled, damaged posts replaced, wire stretched, and then all put back together. Since I was the only one who recognized the funny looking multi-purpose fencing tool, (remnants of childhood on the farm) I was appointed “expert.” Little did they know . . . . We did three sections of fence, totaling just under 1,000 feet. It was very rewarding to change the dilapidated pile of wire and posts to a tight, upright, functional fence. So nice to see the fruits of one’s labor. Everyone headed back to the lodge about 5:00 PM for another great meal-pasta, sauce, sausage, bread, salad, ice cream, etc.

Monday morning was very light, breakfast, a few minor chores, cabin cleanup, and then time to bail out. Some stayed on a day more but my reality was calling.

A great trip for a good cause, I'll be back for more.