Why do we hike? Some hike for physical activity, and walk so fast they don’t see the beauty in front of them. Some hike for birding, and go slowly so they can see every bird. There is no wrong way to hike, we each have our own.
I fall between these extremes because I’m always looking for conservation factors. What wildlife is along the hike? Does it have streams or waterfalls? Does it have scenic views? Does it have beautiful trees or flowers? Is this land that should be preserved, and why? What types of recreation should be available, such as hiking, camping, fishing, rock-climbing?
The Glassford Summit Trail in Prescott Valley is a moderate hike of about five miles round trip, and climbs about a thousand feet, with the summit providing beautiful views.
But that’s a small part of the story. My beloved pronghorns are here, but in declining numbers. Pronghorns also range near my house in Chino Valley — I’ve seen herds off Reed Road and near Territorial Elementary School. Some have wandered into my neighbors’ yards. I’ve been within 25 feet of them, and they are majestic. Given how often cars slow or stop to admire them, it's clear any feel the same way.
Walt Anderson, with the recently formed Central Arizona Wildlife Alliance, spoke about the declining pronghorn population during a Sierra Club-sponsored hike on Glassford Summit Trail. Jenny Cobb from the Sierra Club led the hike.
Cobb pointed out that the grassland habitat is being replaced with houses and roads. Anderson said if something is not done soon, the few remaining pronghorns on and around Glassford Hill will die out. The planned Granite Dells Regional Park and Preserve is important habitat, but is already isolated by roads and other development.
“The key is municipalities need to work with the state and all landowners to solve this problem,” he said. “Pronghorns need more connectivity for more habitat. More wildlife corridors are needed.”
The Prescott Valley-area grasslands are the prime habitat for these beautiful animals, but Arizona Game and Fish has relocated some from here to other areas where they are decreasing.Joanne Oellers of Save the Dells and the Central Arizona Wildlife Alliance encouraged the hikers to engage with agencies and municipalities to keep wildlife protection a high priority in road-building and development conversations.
There were 21 hikers on this Sierra Club outing, more than most hiking clubs get for most hikes, illustrating the widespread interest in saving our pronghorns.
I recently hiked a section of the Prescott Circle Trail with the Prescott Hiking Club, led by Ken Paris, who probably knows this trail better than anyone. On a cool Saturday morning we covered this five-mile section at a fairly quick pace. Paris did not talk much about the trail, letting us just see it for ourselves. The hike began at Willow Lake, always a great place to explore for birds and wildlife.
Another reason for hiking is exploring. Sedona’s Bell Trail is one of my favorite hikes, and I recently led an Arizona Trailblazers hike there. My fellow hikers were ecstatic because while they’d been on it before, they hadn't seen some of the parts I showed them.
The trail is best known for an area called the Crack, a diving area that college kids love to visit on spring break. It’s a great place for lunch and snacks, ands well worth seeing for West Clear Creek and the rock formations they jump from.
But there are other, less traveled places worth seeing as well. About three quarters of a mile in you can make your way down to West Clear Creek, where it’s as wide as a river, and you can hear the cascading water while sitting among big cottonwoods and sycamores.
About 2.5 miles in you come to the wilderness sign, and this is where Bell Trail starts to climb. The Weir Trail branches off to the right; this short trail is well worth taking, leading to a mini-dam, where the USGS has a water-monitoring station. Most hikers don’t find this serene space, with great places to sit and enjoy the creek.
Just a little further down Weir Trail you can fight through some brush to get to the creek and see the spring feeding it.
Stan Bindell is always looking for a good hike. If you have one, contact him at thebluesmagician@gmail. com
