Arizona Hikers Work Weekend at Hart Prairie

We've talked of a weekend at Hart Prairie just for Arizona Hikers and friends. Neil Chapman, manager, has offered the weekend of August 15-17 just for us. This poll will be up for a week, if we get ~10 or more rather firm commitments, we'll pursue it, if not we'll release the date for someone else.

Hart Prairie is a very beautiful facility just west of Mt. Humphrey's. There are plenty of pictures in the gallery if you are unfamiliar with it. We'll have cabins (bring your own linens and towels) and a kitchen, so we'll need to appoint volunteer scullery slaves, plan a menu and collect some $$ for the food.

We can arrive Friday afternoon or evening, work starts at 8 AM Saturday, we usually stay at it till about 3:30 or so, with a short break for lunch of course, then 8-12 Sunday. We usually have run of the place till sometime later on Sunday afternoon.

Work varies but lately it's been fuels reduction, which is a nice way of saying loading pickups with tree rounds and slash and hauling it out to a clearing to be burned when it's safe. Good hard physical labor to counteract days in the cube. Lighter fare is wild plant seed collection.

So if you are interested and able to make the commitment, sign up here and we'll see if we can muster a chain gang.

PS Don't be expecting the organizational abilities of cruise director Susan, this is leadership light.

More info about the preserve: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/art15233.html

threedogz · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Chandler

I have seen that type of incision heal up really well. He did a great job with the screws, nice handy work!

Good luck with your recovery!
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You can never eat too much candy...

Shawn · Posted: 9/6/2008, 7:58 pm Post subject:

I snuck back up to Hart Prairie last night. Neil, Anne and I burned a few piles, then hauled trash logs from across the drive and thru it on the fires. Also cleaned up the duff and the fire wood haulers rejects where the rounds are piled. Then ran three tanks of gas thru the chain saw. Keeping with the cardiac health attack, grilled a big t-bone for dinner, now off to bed to let it attach to the inner walls of my arteries.

Life is good . . . .
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

That is disgusting!

oliverr99 · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 632 Location: Glendale

Shawn, are the leaves changing yet? Take a picture for us! Have fun!!
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Anne
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" -- Dr. Seuss

Shawn · Posted: 9/7/2008, 6:10 am Post subject:

No changes quite yet but getting real close. There was a little frost in places this morning.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Shawn · Posted: 10/10/2008, 8:26 am Post subject: How spontaneous can you be?

There is a VOAz work weekend at Hart Prairie this weekend, but light snow is predicted and there have been many cancellations. Check the VOAz website or PM me if interested. I'm leaving around 3 or 4 this afternoon, coming back Sunday about the same time.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

beckett · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 1066

I wish I could join you. Our last trip to Hart Prairie was so awesome. Say hi to the gang up their for me.
Linda
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"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

-- Walter Winchell, American newspaper commentator

Shawn · Posted: 10/10/2008, 11:04 pm Post subject:

It was after dark when I finally got here, took an hour to get from Indian School to New River, slow traffic. But those who got here earlier said the trees have started to turn. Maybe I can post a photo or two tomorrow.

The moon is great, enough lite to walk around with, and there is a cloud bank above the moutain picking the moon lite up. Strong wind but clear, supposedly some precip tomorrow. Cinnamon rolls are in the oven, when they come out I can go to bed.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

beckett · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 1066

Ooooooo....cinnamon rolls!
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"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

-- Walter Winchell, American newspaper commentator

Shawn · Posted: 10/19/2008, 7:05 am Post subject:

One more time!

Up here for TNC's last event of the year, and found another one of our own here as well! Beautiful weekend this time, wind blew like mad and it got cold last weekend. I doubt there will be spectacular color this year, a lot of the trees froze before they turned. But there are some green ones left so maybe . . .

We're looking at July for AZH's weekend here next summer. It'll be here before you know it.

Great food, great friends, great times . . . seems to be the norm at this special place.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

oliverr99 · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 632 Location: Glendale

I hope you had a great time. I will have to keep my eye out for next July!
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Anne
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" -- Dr. Seuss

jdahling · Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 233 Location: East Valley

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

Excellent Shawn! If I am in the country next July, I am in ( No I am not leaving AZ -- might have 8 weeks of paid vacation to burn ...I do not know what my plans are just yet.)
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Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream!

Randal Schulhauser · Posted: 10/21/2008, 12:26 pm Post subject:

Shawn - count me in for Hart Prairie WW 2009...

RANDAL

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

I don't think I will be able to make it back from Italy for this Sad