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PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONProtecting Pima County’s Trails since 1987

www.pimatrails.orgVol. 27, No. 2 Fall 2014

President’s Message

Sue Clark, President

Come for the meeting, stay for the brownies!

It’s fall and time to hit the trails. I hope you all enjoyed and/or survived the monsoon rains. We’ve been busy getting set up on Facebook so go check us out and “like” us at Pima Trails Association. We also are going to be sending you news occasionally via the Mail Chimp email service. It’s a quick and effective way to keep you up on the latest information.

Pima Trails is a member of the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) and you can help support the ATA when you shop at Amazon. Information about how to make your shopping help fund the ATA appears in this newsletter.

As in the past, we gave a grant to the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department to update and print a new Trailhead Guide which contains a map and description of the Pima County trailheads. The guide is free and available at the Parks Dept. building at 3500 W. River Rd. or you can get one from us.

The Pima Trails Association annual dinner will be on November 18th at Mimi’s restaurant, Oracle and Wetmore (same place as last year). You will receive RSVP and menu information along with a ballot for electing officers and board members in a separate mailing. Please plan to join us for dinner at Mimi’s on November 18th. It’s always a lot of fun. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR NOVEMBER 18.

Pima Trails Association

Annual Dinner & Election of Officers

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Mimi’s Restaurant4420 N Oracle Rd

Northeast corner of Wetmore & Oracle Roads at Tucson Mall

Doors open at 6 pm

Dinner served at 6:30 pm

$20 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity,

payable at the event

RSVP by November 13at 577-7919 (please leave a message),

or by email at bevshowalter@comcast.net with “RSVP for

PTA Dinner” in the subject line.

Members will receive ballots and dinner information in a separate mailing.

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PTA Statement of PurposePima Trails Association is a nonprofit, 501(c)3, all-volunteer trails advocacy

organization comprised of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers working together to protect and preserve trails in Pima County.

PTA Goals 1. Establish an integrated multi-use

public trails system.

2. Assure permanent access to trails on public lands.

3. Promote cooperation with land owners and developers to preserve access to traditional-use trails on private lands.

4. Foster cooperation and communication among all trail user-groups.

5. Communicate and cooperate with government agencies on trail matters.

6. Keep the community informed about trail issues and opportunities.

7. Facilitate the safe and harmonious multi-use of trails through trail education, community programs and fund-raising activities.

8. Encourage the development of new recreational and historic trails.

9. Expand the effectiveness and influence of Pima Trails Association.

2014 PTA Board Members Sue Clark, President

Terri Gay, Vice President Bev Showalter, Secretary Chuck Cook, Treasurer

Directors Daphne Madison

Jon Shouse Mike Studer Jim Terlep

Sharon Urban

Pima Trails Association Newsletter

is a publication of Pima Trails Association,

P O Box 35007,Tucson, Arizona 85740 Phone 520-577-7919

www.pimatrails.org

Story copy reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily

reflect the views of PTA. Story copy is subject to editing as needed.

Editor: Terri Gay Contributors: Sue Clark, Terri Gay,

Jim Terlep© Pima Trails Association 2014

All rights reserved. Articles or parts thereof may be reproduced with permission if acknowledgment is given to

Pima Trails Association.

PTA Events

To our business and organization friends:Due to the expense of printing a six-page newsletter, we are now opting to remove ads and reduce page count to four. All supporting business and organiza-tions will still be listed in our Members and Supporters column. We appreciate your support and hope you can understand our need to economize.

PTA Expands Web PresenceFind PTA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pimatrailsassociation and watch your email for an invitation to receive our E-News. Both of these tools will keep you informed and up to date on trails in our area!

Business & Organization Members

County Line Riders of CatalinaEpic Rides

Fair Wheel BikesGentleman’s AcresThe Magic Garden

Town of Marana ParksPima Co. Sheriff’s

Mounted PosseSaddlebrooke Hiking Club

Sonoran Desert Mountain BicyclistsSouthern Arizona

Hiking ClubSummit Hut

Tucson Saddle ClubWhite Stallion Ranch

We endeavor to include every new member and current

business/ organization in this listing, and we apologize if we have missed you or misspelled your name! Let us know and we will correct the spelling and acknowledge your membership in

the next newsletter.

November Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 pm

ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AND BOARD ELECTION

Mimi’s Restaurant at Tucson Mall 4420 N. Oracle Road

November 13 RSVP Deadline

December Tuesday, December 9, 7 pm

PTA BOARD MEETING REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

January 2015 Tuesday, January 27, 7 pm

PTA BOARD MEETING REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

Shopping Online at Amazon.com Can Benefit the Arizona Trail

The next time you decide to shop online, your purchase can benefit the Arizona Trail at no additional cost to you. The Arizona Trail Association is now a registered nonprofit through the Amazon Smile Program, and every purchase you make will result in a donation of 0.05% to the ATA. Just connect to Amazon.com through the link at the bottom of this column.

Then, enjoy online shopping for books, music, electronics, outdoor gear, and much more. You can get there from here: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-0762149

–from Arizona Trail Association

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Historic Bowen House Trail DedicationPima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation dedicated the Old Stone House and the Bowen Trail in Tucson Mountain Park on Friday, June 20.

Sherry Bowen brought his wife, Ruby, to Tucson from Rockford, Ill., in the late 1920s in hopes that the climate would improve her health. Bowen was a typesetter and later city editor at the Arizona Daily Star. The Bowens homesteaded in the Tucson Mountains and began living in a cabin there in 1931 while Bowen built the house of native stone. They expanded their claim to 2,000 acres. Their homestead became part of Tucson Mountain Park in 1983.

The Old Stone house is about 1.5 miles from the trail entrance on Starr Pass Blvd., near the JW Marriott Resort. For more information about Pima County parks and trails, please visit the Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation website.

TucsonHikers - Southern Arizona’s Hiking Network

Tucson Hikers is an on-line forum and network for hikers, backpackers, and peak baggers who love to explore the sky islands and canyons of the Sonoran Desert. We are more of a hiking network than a hiking club. Members are encouraged to use our message board to plan hikes and share experiences and information about the trails of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Hike reports are welcomed and members may post their digital images in our “Photos” gallery. Those seeking trail partners may propose outings and invite others to attend. We are an informal group so don’t hesitate to ask questions, offer suggestions, and start dialog on our message board. After all, the success of this group depends upon your participation.

Be sure to visit our “Links” library for a wealth of hiking resources including links to over twenty local hiking clubs.

The Tucson Hikers Network Linkhttps://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TucsonHikers/info

The map below shows the Bowen Trail as it leaves the Starr Pass trailhead and winds through Tucson Mountain Park to the ruins of the Bowen Homestead.

Trails UpdateCDO River ParkThe river park path along the CDO from La Cholla to La Canada is in the final planning stages and will include a paved path and a soft path as well as an equestrian staging area at Overton Rd. and a future car parking area on the west side of La Canada near the CDO. The Pima County Department of Transportation is working out the details of a safe trail crossing at Overton Rd. Now that the bridge is finished at La Cholla and the CDO, the car parking area on the west side of La Cholla near the water tank is open again.

Marsh Station RoadThe Union Pacific Railroad required a canopy under the railroad tracks for the AZ Trail and the canopy is completed. We are now waiting for the guard rail to be opened up for an expedited safe crossing of Marsh Station Road. Pima County Department of Transportation has approved this as well as trail crossing signs and road markings.

La CanadaIf you have been watching the news in the last few months, you are aware of the controversy about the La Canada road widening project and how long it is taking. There is a trail along the west side of the road and we are monitoring its progress as construction continues. So far, the work that has been done on the trail looks good.

Hope CampWe are still waiting for the County to work out the details of connecting the Hope Camp trail through Rocking K with its owner.

CienegaDiscussion continues with Pima County about whether there can be a connecting trail along the Cienega from Colossal Cave Road to the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon trailhead.

Sun Corridor TrailThe Sun Corridor Trail Project is a multi-agency effort being led by several county and city agencies to link together some of the most scenic and significant regional trails in the southwestern United States from Las Vegas to Douglas. A portion of this trail would encircle the Tucson metro area. This project is in the early planning stages; we will keep you informed as it progresses.

PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONP.O. BOX 35007TUCSON, AZ 85740

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New multi-year memberships are available. Save time and effort! 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARSTrail Booster................... …$15 ...$45 …$75Trail Booster, family....... …$20 ...$60 …$100 Trail Advocate* ..............…$50 …$150 …$250 Trail Guardian* .............. …$100 …$300 …$500 Any membership over $100 receives a PTA t-shirt. Please indicate size desired: M L XLTrail Supporter*………………..$_____________

Name(s): _____________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ___ Zip: ___________ Phone: _______________________________________________

____ *Please list this Trail Advocate/Guardian/Supporter membership as a business/organization membership. Business/organization name:__________________________ Website : _________________________________________________

Support Pima Trails...become a member or renew!PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATION is a nonprofit trails advocacy organization of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers work-ing to protect & preserve trails in Pima County.

Yearly membership runs Jan 1 - Dec 31. No memberships are prorated. Join online or print this form and return to the address below.

1. MEMBERSHIP: …NEW …RENEWAL2. Date: ______________ 3. E-mail: ______________________________________ Please be sure e-mail address is current!

You’ll receive your newsletter digitally at the e-mail address above. If you need a print copy, please notify PTA. We do not sell or share our membership list. 4. …Yes, I will volunteer5. I use the trails as a …Hiker …Mountain Biker …Equestrian …Other____________ (please check all that apply)

Join online and pay with PayPal or return this form with check payable to: Pima Trails Association. Mail to: PTA Membership, PO Box 35007, Tucson, AZ 85740