Wilderness Waters: Labor Day in the Galiuros

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BACKGROUND

SIA has taken on a project to help the Coronado National Forest inventory and assess water resources in the Galiuro, Miller Peak, Rincon, Chiricahua, Mt. Wrightson, Pajarita, and Santa Teresa Wilderness Areas. This weekend, we will be working to assess springs and other water resources in the Galiuro Wilderness Area.

You should be comfortable hiking off-trail (bushwhacking) in very rugged and steep terrain. Some assessments will require hiking all day (perhaps 12 miles or more) both on and off trail. You should be a strong and experienced hiker to accompany us on this trip. We will have spots for 3-5 people in the SIA vehicles, but after these fill up, you'll need to bring your own high clearance, 4WD, vehicle. The roads into our potential campsites are rugged, please contact us to check if your vehicle is suitable.

FOR MORE INFO, OR TO REGISTER, FOLLOW THIS LINK: https://skyislandalliance.givezooks.com/events/wilderness-waters-labor-day-in-the-galiuros

TRIP SCHEDULE

Friday 1:30 pm: Meet SIA staff at our office (406 S. 4 th Ave, north side of SW corner of 4 th Ave and 14 th St). Drive out to camp in the southern Galiuros. Set up camp and enjoy the evening.

Saturday 8:00 am: Breakfast with a quick refresher on use of spring assessment equipment. Then split up into teams and work through the day, returning to camp around 5:00 pm.

Sunday 8:00 am: Continue assessment work throughout the day, returning to camp around 5:00 pm.

Monday 8:00 am: Continue assessment work until lunch time, then pack up camp and head back to Tucson. We should arrive back at the office by 6pm Monday evening.

THE WORK

At our work sites, we will be recording data such as water quality and quantity, taking photographs, documenting the flora and fauna, and assessing the condition of the site. These assessments will require hiking off-trail, potentially in steep terrain. The sites are usually up somewhat steep drainages, so we may be clambering over and around boulders at times. Each team will hopefully be able to assess 2-3 sites per day. We may hike as much as 12 miles in one day with part or all of that being off-trail. For these assessments, no special skills are necessary, but we are looking for strong hikers, and tracking skills, plant identification skills, invertebrate identification skills can be helpful. Volunteers do not need to have prior training to participate.

CAMP LOCATION

Camp location has yet to be determined, but it will almost certainly be a wilderness campsite.

WHAT TO BRING

• All tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pad, stove, etc. that you might bring on any multi-day backpacking trip.
• Please bring a larger backpack in which to carry shared springs assessment gear.
• Re-usable water vessels such as bottles or bladders, a water filter, or disinfecting method, plus all the food you’ll need for a minimum of 9 meals out, plus snacks.
• Sturdy footwear (ex. hiking boots, sandals) plus clothing for wet and cold weather, binoculars, field guides, etc.
• Long, tough pants are strongly recommended. If you have gaiters, bring them!
• Anything else you would normally bring for a dayhike.
• If you need to carry an EpiPen, please bring it.
• Transportation to and from trail heads will be provided by SIA staff members and volunteers with suitable vehicles.

PROVIDED BY SIA

Assessment tools and equipment, cameras, GPS, data sheets, maps, first-aid kits.

Due to the sensitive nature of springs, dogs are not allowed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This trip will be led by Bryon Lichtenhan and Sami Hammer. However due to the nature of their field schedules, questions should be directed to Carianne Campbell at carianne@skyislandalliance.org.