In the spring of 1987 two good friends from New York (let’s
call them Maureen and Rob) arrived in Flagstaff to seek, well, to seek nothing
really. We just were here for a
visit. We had no idea that Flagstaff
would have such an impact on us as to have us form a mutual and immediate agreement
to move across the country and settle here.
We camped in the forest as we sought jobs and housing. Neither search was easy, but the accommodations
in the trees were superb. If it hadn’t
been for the minor detail about needing money for food, we were perfectly
content to continue our life in the forest indefinitely. We had the luxury of traipsing all over the
city in search of homes and jobs and all over the forest for contentment. The area we finally decided to live in was in
Timberline.
Over the course of the next 25 years we lived in various
homes, held various jobs, lived separately and together, but always we were in
the Timberline area. That was home to us. We knew “our” side of the mountain intimately. We knew individual trees. We named our favorite hiking
destinations. We walked our dogs daily.
We rode our horses up to Schultz Pass tank in the summer. We had our own wonderland of cross country skiing
in the winter. We knew where to go when
one of us said to the other, “I’ll meet you on: ‘Sally’s path,’ or ‘Mikey’s
trail,’ or ‘Lover’s Lane.’”
We were not runners when we moved to Flagstaff, nor were we
lovers. The forest was a source of where
these seeds of desire where planted in our beings and where they took root. The deer hill trail and the Waterline road
were only a couple of our favorite and easily accessible trails for running. I was
happy enjoying my Shrub Oak running status, while Rob was practicing his
Ponderosa Pine endurance. Our love for
each other deepened and our veneration of the forest never waned. We married and bought a house with a view spanning
from Mt. Elden to Sugar Loaf, and we never took it for granted.
The view alone was inspiring, but the need to be outside and in the forest is almost a necessity. Running fulfills this requirement beautifully. We both were training for Team Run Flagstaff’s Snowbowl Hill Climb on the morning of June 20, 2010. We were heading out the door to drive up to Schultz Pass tank and run the Waterline road, as we discussed the night before. On a whim, I asked Rob if he minded if we changed trails and drive all the way across town and run up Elden Lookout road instead. We did, and saw other TRF and NATRA runners on the road. It was the longest run I had done in quite some time and although I was ebullient about the distance I had just covered, I was also weary and looking forward to a nice rest once we got home. Driving back through town we spotted the smoke and sped home.
A deserted campfire and relentless wind are a powerful
combination in their destruction. My
pleas to the forces of the wind to take my house and leave the forest went
unheeded. A week later a torrential
rain fell on the burn area and the mountain wept rivers of ashes and boulders
through the surrounding neighborhood areas.
Countless millions of trees were destroyed. Untold numbers of animals were killed,
injured or displaced. At least one human life was claimed. Our hearts were broken.
I vowed to the forest that I would protect and nurture its rebirth. Now, almost 2 years later, a great opportunity by the Forest Service has opened up. The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is inviting volunteers to help replant the Schultz burn area. I would also like to invite anyone who would like to share in this opportunity to help plant these seedlings of hope. I would like to give back to the forest the peace and love it germinated in us. I will plant with the hope that this new generation of trees will take root and become strong so that future generations of people will love, cherish and abide harmoniously in their presence.
The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National is hosting a volunteer event each Saturday in April – 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 and 4/28. Volunteers interested in signing up for one of these events should contact Brienne Magee at the Flagstaff Ranger District by calling 928-527-8290 or emailing bmagee@fs.fed.us.
