DOLAN SPRINGS TRAILS NEWSLETTER – SPRING 2016
www.dolanspringstrails.com

Dolan Springs Trail System

President: Sue Baughman, Vice President: Ian Greenberg, Secretary/Treasurer:
Lynn Rosati, Directors: Marie Hedrick & Tom Love


NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

On January 13th, the new board of directors was sworn in by Lee MacWilliam. After the ceremony, there was a delicious potluck dinner. The new Dolan Springs Trail System Board of Directors for 2016 is as follows:

Sue Baughman – President: Sue "Itchy Foot", a retired Marine and resident since 1980, founded our trail system of 480 acres in 2008. Her passion for the great outdoors motivates many to go and explore all of the great trails here in Dolan Springs and in nearby towns. Sue is also the Honorary Mayor of Dolan Springs.

Ian Greenberg – Vice President: A native of South Africa, moved here from Atlanta three years ago looking for a healthier lifestyle. Ian worked as a Software Engineer for a start-up company before taking early retirement. He is enjoying the quiet desert beauty and slower pace of life. He enjoys writing, hiking and working on the trails.

Lynn Rosati – Secretary/Treasurer: A native of Long Island, moved to Las Vegas about 5 years ago, then moved here almost 4 years ago, looking for a warmer, drier climate, and a peaceful lifestyle. An avid photographer, artist and hiker who runs our Facebook page. Lynn is involved in many volunteer activities around town.

Marie Hedrick: Marie, Sue's Mom, moved here reluctantly from Indiana in 1979 to follow her husband's dream. When she was able to move back 15 years ago, Marie found that she had become a native and decided to stay. In addition to looking after our group's finances, she is an artist whose pictures are inspired by the local landscape.

Tom Love: A snowbird from Ely, Nevada. Tom worked as a mechanic and a correctional officer. He enjoys ATVs, horseback riding and the great outdoors.


A BYLINE FROM ITCHYFOOT:

Welcome all members and friends of the Dolan Springs Trail System. We have had a very successful first 3 months. With the help of Lynn Rosati and Donna Wickerd we submitted a grant to the American Hiking Society and put in for an awards recognition for our 2015 Recreational Trails Project (RTP). Shawn Blackburn submitted our trails to be included in the new trail booklet for Arizona State Parks, of which the top 100 will be included for 5 years.

Last month, we were featured in the Arizona Republic as one of four NW Arizona trails. We had a very successful Spring Equinox celebration, led by Rebecca Smith, who I would like to thank for her service to our trail system since she will be moving soon. We also hosted an Easter Sunrise Service at our 15th street ramada.

Cookbook sales are doing great and we now have them in the Indian Trading Post. We completed 3 re-routes on the Cholla Trail despite VOAZ having to cancel, thank you to everyone for their hard work. Thanks to Lynn and Gloria for hosting a successful earth day, a great time was had by all. On April 28th I am planning Mt. Tipton National Trails Day, and on June 4th Ian Greenberg is planning National Trails Day (American Hiking Society). Thanks to all of our members and friends for a great 1st quarter and we hope to see you at our events for the rest of the year.


SPRING EQUINOX CELEBRATION/EARTH DAY:

On March 20th, Rebecca Smith led us in a heartwarming ceremony at the meditation circle to celebrate the coming of spring. Everyone shared insights and then enjoyed some food and drink under the red ramada. On April 16th we celebrated Earth Day, starting with a road clean up and then met at 14th street for gold panning, a gardening workshop, guided hikes and delicious hot dogs, a good time was had by all.


THE MEGA TRAILS :

All over this great nation, avid hikers dream of completing one of our mega trails. In the west, we have the Pacific Crest Trail, 2663 miles running from California to Washington State and in the east the Appalachian Trail, 2174 miles running from Georgia to Maine. Both trails were recently featured in two great movies: "Wild: From Lost to Found on The Pacific Crest Trail" and "A Walk in the Woods". Both movies use hiking as a metaphor for overcoming life's difficulties, rising to the challenge and then finding oneself through the pursuit.

Both movies show that there is nothing glamorous about either pursuit, just rough and rugged hiking over difficult terrain with dangerous conditions testing the limits of human endurance. Not to be taken lightly, each trail demands a high level of fitness and tenacity and can take half a year to complete. Most people don't finish, choosing instead to call it quits at one of the towns along the way, going home in defeat or promising to come back next year. Some do it in increments, staying at motels along the way, sometimes taking several years to complete.

Even the best planned trips come up against the unexpected. In recent years, technology has make it easier since constant contact is now possible and advanced access to weather and trail conditions can avoid danger. The longest national trail is actually the North Country Trail (NCT) which is still being completed, wondering 4600 miles through America's rugged northern heartlands from New York to North Dakota. Only a few of the toughest hikers have attempted to hike the whole trail in one shot, which can take over a year, so don't even think about it!


HELPING OTHERS AND BEING ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY:

Volunteering is a simple way to help others, but it's also a powerful way to help yourself. Beyond the good feelings you'll get from donating your time, and the potential to develop new, meaningful relationships with people in your community, volunteering has a significant impact on your physical health, including a boost to your heart health.

In one study, people who volunteered for at least 200 hours a year were 40 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who did not. People who volunteer for altruistic reasons, i.e. to help others rather than themselves, may even live longer than those who volunteer for more self-centered reasons.

The benefits of being active in your community are particularly pronounced among older adults, a population that tends to slow down once retirement hits. There's a definite social aspect, as if you're socially isolated you may experience poorer health and a shorter lifespan.

Volunteering also gives you a sense of purpose and can even lead to a so-called "helper's high," which may occur because doing good releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin in your body while lowering levels of stress hormones like cortisol.

Giving back is about so much more than even that, though, as it will help you to connect with your community and contribute your time and/or talents to promoting the greater good. The Dolan Springs Trail System has many opportunities for volunteering. Writing grants, fundraising, trail work and taking pictures are just a few examples.


 CONTACT INFORMATION:

  1. Visit our website at www.dolanspringstrails.com

  2. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dolanspringstrails

  3. Join our google group to get regular email updates of our activities by going to https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dstrails and clicking on the "join group" button.


UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 28th - Mt. Tipton School National Trails day celebration.
June 4th – National Trails Day Celebration (American Hiking Society), 8am to 12pm at the 14th street ramada.


CARTOON:


Cartoon by Boots McFarland, www.bootsmcfarland.com


POETRY:

The Mohave County Spoken Language Group meets at 12:30pm on the second Saturday of every month. We gather to share poems, short stories and essays and everyone is welcome to attend. Here is a recent poem about a topic close to our hearts:

TRAIL WORK
By Ian Greenberg

Annoying beeps wake me from peaceful slumber,
It's Saturday, time for trail work,
A surge of excitement runs through me.

Just enough time for cereal and caffeine,
I get in my car and drive to the red ramada,

Sue stands proud on her sacred ground,
A Marine Sergeant waiting for her troops.

A cheery "good morning", she opens the back of her truck,
Gardening tools vying for my attention,

I hoist a shovel over my shoulder,
Time to hit the trail.

My eyes survey the scene,
Significant erosion from recent storms,
Instinctively, I start shoveling dirt onto the trail,
My friends behind me already pounding it into the earth and raking it smooth.

I'm starting to sweat,
The satisfaction of manual labor,
Adrenaline kicking in,
Pushing forward, lots to be done.

Take five, a long drink from my water bottle,
Shoot the breeze with my friends,
Back to work, Sue calls for a reroute,
Need to move the trail onto higher ground,

She asks me to replant the cactus,
Memories of tiny spears piercing my skin,
Would rather destroy the SOB,
But a good soldier always follows orders.

The sun is now high in the blue sky,
Sue calls for an end to the day's work,
Relieved, hungry and tired, I am happy to retreat,
We walk back, reviewing our work.

Back at the starting point,
I'm glowing with pride from a job well done,
So long my friends, till next week! 


    Copyright 2016 – Dolan Springs Trails Group, www.dolanspringstrails.com

Previous Newsletters:
Holidays 2015
Spring 2015