Promoting An Outdoor Recreation Ethic Attitude

August 2014
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
The Constitution of Babbitt
Ranches
highlights
the characteristics and values by which the organization operates. Articles of
the Constitution can be found
correlating with the news stories
in the Babbitt Times Review.
C LEARNING—UNDERSTANDING w JOINING—SHARING w BECOMING A PART c
Cattle, Runners, Riders,
Campers Share Landscape
The Flagstaff Nordic Center, the latest things on trails.”
primarily known for its 25 miles Johnson says the popularity of
of premier cross-country skiing fat bikes has grown exponentrails, is meeting year-round de- tially in the last two years. “They
mands from recrework well when we
ationists including
don’t have great
keeping up with
like last year,
Article III snow,
the latest trend in
and still offer the
mountain biking—
opportunity to enCowboy
fat bikes—while
joy being out in the
Essence
sharing the outwoods. You could
doors with runride on the snow
Section 4.
ners, campers and
and also hit secCooperation tions of rock and
Babbitt Ranches
livestock, that have Listen if you want to be dirt.”
been grazing at the heard. Be interested in
Skate skiing is
base of the San finding the best way, not also a popular
Francisco Peaks in having your own way. trend, he says of
for 130 years.
the shorter skis.
“The CO Bar
“As the name imruns cattle out
plies, you move in a
here, typically on a three- skating motion. It’s a faster style
year rotation self-imposed by of skiing than cross-country skithe Babbitts to give the land ing.”
a break,” said Nordic Center Meanwhile, traditional snowOwner Wendell Johnson. “For a shoeing and cross-country skilot of our visitors, seeing cows ing continue to grow nationwide,
is exciting. Many have never he says. “The unique thing to
seen cattle before. They have our area is a lot of people have
the same kind of reaction that never seen snow. Being close
I would have if I were to see a to Phoenix, there might be 40
herd of large bull elk.”
percent of our customers who
Johnson rents skis, snowshoes, are experimenting with snow for
cabins and bikes. The trails the first time. Snowshoeing and
are also used for distance run- cross-country skiing are less
ning events such as Gaspin’ daunting than downhill skiing or
in the Aspen and the Flagstaff sledding.”
Marathon.
Educating recreationists about
Fat bikes, also known as snow outdoor etiquette is part of the
bikes, are mountain bikes with job, says Johnson. “Most of the
wide, under-inflated tires that people are pretty good and most
float on the snow. “Some peo- have the desire to do the right
ple are more comfortable on a thing, but there are people who
bike than on classic skis. You just don’t know what that is.
can ride a fat bike around like a We get a lot of first time everymountain bike. They are a little thing—campers, skiers, bikers
bouncier, a little cushier and are – and we’re out there every day
relatively easy to ride. They’re talking to them.”
Flagstaff’s Original Tourism
Adventure Retraced
Ultra Runners Follow Historic Stagecoach
Route to Grand Canyon
the Arizona Trail, and to run all
the way to the Grand Canyon
from Flagstaff, it can’t get any
better than that,” said Arizona
Trail Association Executive
Director Matthew Nelson.
Hosted by Babbitt Ranches,
the Kaibab and Coconino
National Forests
and the Arizona
Trail
Association, ultrarunners
braved high altitude climbs, subfreezing overnight
temperatures and
rocky forest trails
by the light of an
almost full moon.
Aid stations, featuring relics from
a century ago such
as wagon wheels
and restored cabins, dot the landscape every eight
miles or so at historic points. The
Nature
ConserMichael Versteeg is congratulated by Ian Tor- vancy’s Hart Prairence.
rie Preserve was
to the Grand Canyon. Pub- an original stagecoach stop,
lic relations efforts included a as was the CO Bar’s Cedar
free trip for travel writers, who Camp and the Moqui Stage
praised the journey and the Coach Stop Interpretive Site
views, and even an appearance in the Kaibab National Forest.
Another stop, the
by Buffalo Bill!
1884 Hull Cabin,
That
historic
is the oldest standroute – through
Article
III
ing cabin on the
majestic ponderTusayan Ranger
osa pine forests,
Cowboy
District.
alpine meadows,
Essence
“The
whole
aspen
groves,
Section 14.
stagecoach route
the
wide-open
is like a step back
spaces of the BabConfidence
in time,” said Neil
bitt Ranches CO
Demonstrate respect
Weintraub, KaiBar Ranch, and
without fear. Being
bab National Forthe south rim of
prepared and keeping
est archaeologist,
the world’s largall things in proper
distance
runner
est canyon – has
perspective creates selfand Arizona Trail
been
rediscovassuredness.
volunteer. “There
ered by historians
hasn’t been much
Dick and Sherry
change
except
Mangum, Arizona
more trees that
Trail blazers and
now, extreme runners. The first have grown in. Runners get a
Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100 feel for what it was like to live
Mile Stagecoach Line Ultra & here 125 years ago.”
Relay occurred the weekend of Dick Mangum says most of
Oct. 19 and 20, 2013 and will the stagecoach trips of the late
1800s left Flagstaff early in
happen again on Sept. 27.
“This is one of the most beauAdventure continued on page 2
tiful spots in the state and on
It may well have been northern
Arizona’s first ultimate wildland
adventure for tourists and the
start of organized tourism in
Flagstaff. In 1892, the Flagstaff
Board of Trade in partnership
with the railroad promoted the
Stagecoach Line from Flagstaff
Promoting An Outdoor Recreation Ethic Attitude
Early hikers, the CO Bar crew, take a break after hiking to the top of Humphreys Peak around 1900.
Overview
ues and principles associated that emphasize respect and
with Awareness, Responsibil- appreciation for the larger land
ity, Obligation and Account- community.
ability. These core values and History of Recreation
principles foster and encourage on Babbitt Ranches
individual recreation activities When pioneers began inhabiting the West, neighbors relied
on shared values, respect for
others and self-regulation to
maintain harmony in a region
where law enforcement officers
were scarce. Thus, the Code
of the West was an unwritten agreement that centered on
Character, Nature and Community have been bred into
hospitality, fair play, loyalty and
Babbitt Ranches for more than a century. The values that
respect for others and the land.
have made the people of Babbitt Ranches who they are and
The Outdoor Recreation
the characteristics that have shaped the organization into
Ethic Attitude is a return
a lasting legacy are captured and articulated in The Conto the Code of the West as
stitution of Babbitt Ranches. It defines the organizaBabbitt Ranches encourages
tion’s Multiple Bottom Line, Conversation Council Creed,
opportunities for people to
Cowboy Essence, Cowboy Essence Character Qualities,
enjoy and appreciate the land
A Land Ethic, Sustainable Community Principles, Human
through activities such as: scenic
viewing, bird watching, wildlife
Dimension and Science, Equity Model Fundamentals,
viewing, camping, snow sports,
Priceless Values and Constitution Commitment. These
hiking, hunting, fishing, rock
guide Babbitt Ranches’ organizational, ecological, ecoclimbing, bicycling, picnicking,
nomic and community decisions.
distance running and environmental education outings.
The Outdoor Recreation
Ethic Attitude is a community-based, self-imposed recreation management strategy.
It calls for develping core val-
Outdoor Recreation
Ethic Attitude
Defined
Aldo Leopold famously wrote
of the need for a land ethic
in his novel, A Sand County
Almanac, advocating for an
ecological conscience. He
wrote:
“All ethics so far evolved rest
upon a single premise: that the
individual is a member of a
community of inter-dependent
parts. The land ethic simply
enlarges the boundaries of the
community to include soils,
waters, plants and animals, or
collectively the land.”
Drawing on the ideals of Leopold’s land ethic, we adopt an
Outdoor Recreation Ethic
Attitude; a conscience to
guide the outdoor recreational
conduct of individuals in a
manner responsible to the land
and its many uses and users.
Today, on public lands, there
Recreation continued on page 6
Gaspin’ in the Aspen
First SP Crater Marathon
with Cattle
Runners and cows shared the
landscape as the 9th annual
Gaspin’ in the Aspen 5K and
15K runs took off on Saturday,
Aug. 23 from the Flagstaff
Nordic Center.
“It’s part of the feel of running
here in Flagstaff,” said race director Ian Torrence. “I think it’s
fun to see cows grazing nearby. I grew up back east on my
Attracts 102 Runners to
Babbitt Ranches
Cinder cones, lava flows, where the Apollo astronauts
… Gaspin' continued on page 6 grazing cattle, roaming coyotes, trained is cool,” said 21-year-
miles of grassland and a majes- old Will Sabin, an athlete on the
tic view of the snow-covered San Francisco Peaks
are some of the sights
runners experienced Saturday, March 8, in the
first SP Crater Marathon
north of Flagstaff.
One hundred and two
runners, some from as
far away as Alaska, joined
in the race. In less than
three hours, 37-year-old
Adidas-sponsored Flagstaff runner Jason Wolfe
won the marathon that
Jason Wolfe of Flagstaff’s Adidas Ultra
took runners across the Team displays his prize, a Babbitt Ranches
shoulder of SP Crater and Pendleton blanket, in front of SP Crater.
World-class runners Ian Torrence, Emily Harrison, Kate Papen- alongside lava flows.
Wolfe won the first SP Crater Marathon
berg and Michelle Wessen mark the end of the race.
“It speaks well of the with a time of 2:56:18.
running community in
Regis University Men’s Cross
Flagstaff for showing people Country Team who was pardifferent places,” said Wolfe ticipating with family members.
finished in 2:56:18. “I saw “Also, this is a good bonding
Cowboy Essence is the self-satisfaction in know- who
a coyote dash across the trail. experience.”
ing you did your best to become the best you are capable
He, no doubt, was running a lot “It’s a great way to get out
of becoming.
faster than I was.”
in nature,” added 19-year-old
The cowboy culture has long been admired for many wonA team from Kids Run Flag- Thomas McCullough.
derful characteristics: hard work, integrity, ambition, selfstaff also participated. “The Coconino County Health Inreliance, family values, confidence, honesty, loyalty, having
wind and the washboard roads spector Eric Boehn of Flaga relationship with the seasons of the year, and perseverwere tricky,” said 11-year-old staff, a Salomon-sponsored
ance through hard times as well as gratitude during the good
Alexandra Zavala who ran the runner, won the half marathon
times.
5K race in 25 minutes. “There in 1:34:00. “I liked the hill in
We are fortunate to have the cowboy culture to remind us was nice scenery and it was fun the middle and the wide open
to see cows galloping across.” spaces,” said the 32-year-old.
of Cowboy Essence. But no matter who we are or where we
The course was
“The vastness is
are in our lives, we all have the opportunity to demonstrate
completely
on
pretty unusual.”
these qualities.
Babbitt Ranches
Proceeds from
Examples are everywhere as the spirit of the American land some 30
Article III the SP Crater
cowboy filters into all aspects of our communities, culture
miles north of
Marathon benefit
Cowboy
and society whether we’re a schoolteacher, physician, fireFlagstaff. “Races
the Flagstaff Ulfighter, law enforcement officer, businessperson, civil service
Essence
like this give us
trarunning Club.
worker, outdoor recreationist, student or family member at
the opportunity to
Event organizers
Section 15.
home.
participate
with
Scott Bajer and
The character qualities that make up Cowboy Essence the community and
Competitive
Ludo Pierson beare defined in The Constitution of Babbitt Ranches
promote healthy
gan scouting the
Greatness
and reflected in the Babbitt Ranches core values. They have
activities,”
said
area last fall. “The
Be at your best when
guided the lives of Babbitt Ranches owners and employees
Babbitt Ranches
Babbitts
have
your best is needed.
for more than a century.
President Bill Corbeen
great
to
work
Enjoy a difficult
with,” said Bajer.
Cowboy Essence creates that peace of mind that comes dasco. “It’s wonchallenge.
derful to be able to
“We have a lot
from knowing our heritage and that we are at our best.
integrate geology,
of pro runners in
The definition of Article III Cowboy Essence in The Constitution
wildlife, scenery,
Flagstaff and this
of Babbitt Ranches was inspired by the leadership philosophy of
ranching and recreation.”
run means having another local
Hall of Fame Coach John Wooden.
“Running around a crater race.”
C ow boy E sse n ce
Through our efforts of learning and understanding, Babbitt Ranches, a family business and
pioneering land company, raises livestock, manages natural resources, promotes science and
participates in the broader community in order to join, share and do the very best we know how.
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
page 2
Babbitt Ranches
Community Prayer
We thank you Lord, for this place in which we live;
for the love and friendships that unite us and for the
peace accorded to us this day: for the hope with
which we expect tomorrow—for the health, food and
the bright skies that make our lives happy—for our
friends everywhere.
Let peace abound in our families. Purge out of our
hearts the hidden grudge. Give us the grace and
strength to practice self-control. Give us the will to
accept and to forgive each other. Give us brave, joyous and peaceful minds. Bless us in all our honest and
sincere endeavors.
If it may be, give us the courage to face that which
is to come—that we may be brave in risk, constant in
difficulty—temperate in anger—and in all changes of
fortune; loyal, true and loving one another.
August 2014
A Yellow Rose
The presentation of a single yellow rose is a tradition of Babbitt Ranches.
This tradition allows us to reflect and to embrace our passed loved ones and to share this embrace with their families.
Our thoughts are with those lives lived well, who will forever stay in our hearts.
A Yellow Rose
Its gentle beauty reminds us of the love our family and friends have for us… Its soft yellow hue symbolizes the
hope and joy that comes with tomorrow’s sunrise… Its loveliness lives on in our hearts and reminds us of
those who have wonderfully graced our lives and who will always remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Norman Sharber
Article IV
Cowboy
Essence
Character
Qualities
Section 8.
Integrity
Purity of intention.
1925 – 2013
Flagstaff businessman and active community member Norman Griffith Sharber
died peacefully at home on Oct. 28, 2013. Mr. Sharber grew up in Flagstaff,
attended Emerson School, Flagstaff High School and Arizona State College. He
enlisted in the Navy in 1943. When he returned to Flagstaff, Mr. Sharber renewed
his childhood friendship with Rayma Babbitt, daughter of Viola Passey and J. R.
Babbitt, Sr. They married on Dec. 28, 1951. After his father’s death in 1955, Norm
assumed the Texaco distributorship. He expanded the business, Arizona Trails,
Inc., throughout northern and eastern Arizona under both Texaco and later Shell brands. One
of his proudest honors was his appointment to the Arizona Board of Regents by Gov. Samuel
P. Goddard. He enjoyed picnics in the woods, collecting firewood with family, hiking, playing
golf, photography, classical music, rafting the Colorado River and having coffee downtown in the
mornings with his friends.
Mary Simpson
1946 – 2013
Mary Phyllis (Nelson) Simpson of Flagstaff passed away Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013
in the arms of her husband of 50 years in her beloved Grand Canyon following a
boating accident on the Colorado River. Mary Phyl was born in Winslow. Her parents operated the Park Service concession for the Thunderbird Lodge and Trading
Post in Chinle. She and her sister, Jeanie, lived in Flagstaff during the school year
with their grandparents, Joe and Viola Babbitt. During the summers, Mary adventured in the
canyons of northern Arizona. In 1976, Mary and her husband, Robert, began operating the family grocery store in Cameron. She knew most of the community members by name. Mary Phyl is
remembered as a person who lived life with gusto, both in her love of family and love of adventure,
She loved to read, and she loved to teach children and adults alike.
The community of Babbitt Ranches fondly remembers beloved friends
© 2012 Chris Couture
Poores Open Eastside
Medical and Dental Clinic
with Community Support
Bilby’s Work with
Fountain House Honored
by Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton 171 in the U.S. Fountain
Foundation has awarded its House reports that the num2014 Hilton Humanitarian ber of people impacted by
Prize to Fountain House/ the organization, including
Clubhouse International, a family members, are in the
pioneering organization that millions.
has
created
“They have
a
successful
found sensitive
model to help
ways to provide
Article III e m p l oy m e n t ,
those suffering
from mental illtraining and,
Cowboy
ness to reclaim
above all, comEssence
their
lives
munity,” said
and
realize
Crossman.
Section 12.
their potential
Other groups
Ranch Spirit who have been
through work
and the sup- A genuine consideration granted
this
port of a caring
award include
for others fosters an
community.
Doctors witheagerness to sacrifice
“This
is personal interests and out
Borders
the work to glory for the betterment and
Heifer
which my dear of others. It is not about International.
I but We.
brother, Ralph
“It is a great
Bilby (of Babhonor and carbitt Ranches),
ries with it a
has devoted his
$1.5
million
life.” said Meg Crossman.
dollar grant. More than the
Fountain House (begin- money, the recognition of
ning in New York City where this fine program will make
Bilby served) has been a truly significant differworking since 1948 along- ence for a population that
side people struggling with is often ignored or stigmachronic mental illnesses. tized,” said Crossman. “We
Today, the organization are so tremendously thankdirectly impacts more than ful to see this valuable work
100,000 people through (and by extension, Ralph
more than 340 clubhouses himself) receive acknowlin 32 countries, including edgment!”
Adventure continued fromfrom page 1
the morning and arrived at the
Grand Canyon in the evening.
Travelers could purchase the
excursion for about $15 when
they bought their train tickets
at stations in Chicago and other
big cities or their way to and
from Los Angeles. Guests rode
in, and on top of, elegant Concord coaches.
“These were the stagecoaches
you’d see in old Westerns,” said
Mangum. “They were considered quite elegant with wood
finish and plush, upholstered
seats. The ride was probably
fun for about the first hour.
Passengers were dealing with
intense sun, rain at times,
bugs flying into their eyes and
a lot of dust. Also, the wheels
were wooden and suspension
Coconino Plateau
Forecast
National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Klimowski, Ph.D., is predicting another beautiful fall season for northern Arizona.
“Storms in the fall are typically few and far between,
and don’t have a great impact,” he says. “A weak El
Niño is likely to develop, which may bring a bit of an
increase in our precipitation, but most of the time it
takes a strong El Niño to make a significant difference.”
Klimowoski’s forecast calls for the normal variance of
conditions typical of autumn but skewed slightly toward
wetter conditions. “There’s not too much out there to
tip the scales, but near normal or slightly wetter than
normal is a good bet.”
Babbitt Ranches is a Community within a Community
integrated with broadly diverse groups of individuals with
varying thoughts, interests, skills and history. With yourself,
with family and friends, with the community and with the
environment, one way or another and in the end, relationships
are all there is. Thus, it’s simply not just about things and
doing things, but about the meaning of things. With a genuine
consideration for others, LifeScapes provides a venue through
which Babbitt Ranches participates with the community.
Open Hands Country Beef
Supports Northland Hospice
A few went home as successful Country Beef is to provide the
bidders on legendary Hashknife opportunity for the entire comhorses on Saturday, July 12 munity to participate and enjoy
during the Annual Colt Sale at healthy food. During this event,
Spider Web Camp. Many more some $1,500 was raised for
went home with a package of Northland Hospice.
“Babbitt Ranch
Babbitt Ranches
has been helping
CO Bar beef and
our organization,
the
satisfaction
Article IX as well as the comknowing the price
munity, by their
they paid served
Priceless
significant contrias a donation to
Values
butions that they
Northland Hoshave raised,” said
pice.
With yourself, with
Through
the family and friends, with Northland Hospice
LifeScapes Open the community and with CFO/Interim CEO
Russ Anderson.
Hands
Country
the environment, one
“These charities
Beef
program,
way or another and in
the end, relationships
allow Northland
more 300 pounds
are all there is.
Hospice to guide
of the grass-fed,
community
hormone-free
— Bill Cordasco the
through end-of-life
ground
beef,
care with quality
wrapped in oneand compassionpound packages,
were made available with the ate hospice services along with
theme, “Your Price Not Ours.” bereavement counseling.”
The premise of Open Hands
was just non-existent. You felt
every bounce in the road. You
can imagine by the time they
got to the Grand Canyon after
12 hours in a stagecoach, they
were whipped!”
It was a great honor, says
28-year-old Michael Versteeg
of Prescott about winning the
inaugural Stagecoach Ultra. “I
was very emotional at the end
of the race, not just because
I finished first, but because
I finished at all. Whether it’s
100 miles, 50 miles or a 5K,
each race is a huge, personal
accomplishment for each individual.”
“This is a wonderful event
for ultrarunners, history, the
Arizona Trail, Babbitt Ranches
and the Forest Service. We’re
highlighting the very landscape
that everybody’s working to
preserve,” said Weintraub.
Babbitt Ranches President
Bill Cordasco says the Stagecoach Ultra 100-mile run is
an extremely difficult race that
requires a great deal of personal commitment from participants. “It’s a top notch event
that will continue to encourage more people to experience
the area. Through the Babbitt
Ranches Foundation and our
Open Hands program, we’re
able to share this awesome
countryside with others.”
Cordasco had long hoped for
a race across Babbitt Ranches.
He worked with Ian Torrence,
an accomplished ultra runner,
coach and event director, Weintraub and Nelson to make the
vision a reality.
“Without Babbitt Ranches’
support and permission, this
event would have never happened,” said Torrence. “You
cannot get from here to there
without setting foot on Babbitt
land. They provide ideas on
aid station locations and access
points, and also sponsor the
event.”
“Babbitt Ranches is one of
the best land managers in the
state,” said Nelson. “At the Arizona Trail Association, we work
with every land manager you can
imagine. Babbitt Ranches is an
exemplary steward of the land.”
Cordasco says he hopes the
Stagecoach Ultra will become
as much of a signature event for
Babbitt Ranches and visitors as
the annual Colt Sale.
928.774.6199
P. O. Box 520
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
www.babbittranches.com
three rooms with dental chairs
and equipment, along with two
medical examination rooms.
The building and all the equipment is completely paid for and
owned by the nonprofit organization.
“It is one of only three dental/medical clinics in Arizona.
With dozens of volunteer doc- We’ve been open a month and
tors, dentists, nurse practitio- already we’re busy,” he says.
ners and student dental hygien- Each year, the Poore’s host
ists rotating through, Dr. Henry the Beans and Rice Fundraiser
Poore believes he has one of the to support the health care clinic
and services. The Sunday, Sept.
best medical staffs in town.
Poore, who with his wife, 7 event was an evening of muNina, have been operating the sic and storytelling with Henry
Poore Medical Clinic on Hum- Poore & the Poore Boys (Henry
phreys and Fine for three years, plays guitar, mandolin and banopened a satellite clinic on Isa- jo), plus special guest Tony Norris. There was also a silent aucbel Street this summer.
“We have known that there tion and a live auction conducted
was a group of people on the by Col. Russell Mann.
east side of town, in Sunnyside, “We packed the Orpheum.
who did not have access to They had to open the balcony,”
healthcare. They are uninsured said Poore. “Babbitt Ranches
and below the poverty level,” always supplies us with a steer,
said Henry. “We’ve been trying quartered, vacuum packed and
ever since we opened on Hum- frozen. We auctioned it off for
phreys to find a decent place $2,800. With all the donations,
for another clinic. We’ve also we are able to make enough on
Beans and Rice to
known that there
carry us for a long
is no place in the
time.”
county that a perArticle III
The name, Beans
son without insurand Rice, is a carance or money can
Cowboy
ryover from a tradiget dental care,
Essence
tion started by the
so we’ve thought
late Dr. Charles
about that.”
Section 5.
Sechrist. He had
The new clinLoyalty
kept a 50-pound
ic, across from
Coconino
High Be devoted to yourself sack of pinto beans
and a 50-pound
and to all those who
School, is called
sack of rice, along
depend on you. Keep
the Sid Davis
your self-respect.
with a stack of
Memorial Dental
paper bags at his
Clinic, named afpractice. “He said,
ter the late dentist
‘Help
yourself.
who owned the
building and died in a motor- That’s for my poor people,’”
cycle accident. He had provided said Poore.
dental care for hundreds of pa- Henry says the Poore Medical
tients between Flagstaff and the Clinic and Sid David Memorial
Dental Clinic are indeed comHopi Reservation.
Through the generous sup- munity facilities. “Everything
port of the Davis family, private we do is community based,
donations and help from lo- supported financially by the
cal dentists, the new clinic has community.”
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Helping Wildlife
Babbitt, the BabThrough commubitts have always
nity support, the
been good workRocky Mountain
Article III ing partners with
Elk Foundation is
wildlife,”
said
Cowboy
able to continue
Britt.
“They
are
with wildlife conEssence
very respectful of
servation projects.
Section 3.
wildlife’s place on
Its annual fundthe land, which
raising banquet,
Friendship
has carried on all
held on Saturday,
Aug. 9 raised Mutual esteem, respect through the genand devotion are the
erations.”
some $63,000.
ingredients of an endurFormer RMEF
RMEF projects
ing friendship. Like
include
water marriage, it must not be Flagstaff Chapi m p r o v e m e n t s ; taken for granted but ter Chair Darren
agrees.
freeway corridor requires a joint effort. Choate
“The people of
projects; juniper
Babbitt Ranches
woodland thinning
are great stewards
projects; and, preof the land and their heart is in
scribed burns.
Flagstaff Chapter committee the same place as ours. They
member and retired Arizona donate something every year
Game and Fish Department to help us raise money. This
Region 2 Supervisor Tom year it was their Pendleton
Britt credits Babbitt Ranches blanket.”
for being a longtime friend of The RMEF also teaches
hunting education camps and
conservation efforts.
“Since the day of David recreation land ethics.
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
August 2014
Exploring SP Crater Volcano
SP Crater is one of hundreds
of basalt cinder cones in the
San Francisco Volcanic Field
north of Flagstaff. Although
scientists say it likely erupted
70,000 years ago, it’s famous
because the lava flow is so
big astronauts can see it from
space, 300 miles away!
But SP Crater may well have
been an important landmark
for prehistoric people who
likely were searching for obsidian (volcanic glass) that
they could use for knives and
spear tips. Archaeologists
say they hunted here, where
pronghorn roam.
Early ranchers also were
familiar with SP Crater, as
the grassland is desirable
for sheep and cattle. Babbitt
Ranches purchased the land
around SP Crater in 1921 to
become part of the CO Bar
Ranch where grass-fed cattle
still graze.
Biologist Greg Goodwin
says SP Crater, some 30
miles north of Flagstaff, is
located at the southern tip of
the Colorado Plateau. “The
thing about the grassland out
here is it’s not pure grassland. It has a shrub component – small woody plants
and sages – mixed in with the
grass. It’s an unusual convergence of plants from the
Great Plains, like you’d see in
New Mexico and Texas, and
plants you’d expect to find
in the Great Basin, in places
like Utah or Nevada. And it’s
particularly important food
for pronghorn.”
Other grassland creatures
like rabbits and mice are
found here, too, and attract created the Antelope Prairie
golden eagles that prey upon Ecological Research Area
them. More than a hundred near SP Crater.
“Babbitt Ranches has alyears ago, the black-footed
ferret lived among the prairie ways demonstrated this
dog colonies. That particular strong desire to integrate the
ferret is now the most en- best and most current science
dangered mammal in North into day to day management
America and is being reintro- activities,” said Goodwin.
duced on Babbitt Ranches’ “It’s really quite remarkEspee Ranch to the west of able the amount of scientific
studies occurring on Babbitt
SP Crater.
Today, recreationists of all Ranches, from plants and
types blend with the fabric of animals to wind energy and
the landscape. The SP Cra- climate change.”
Goodwin has been inventoter Marathon attracts worldrying
the plant life on Babbitt
class distance runners in the
spring. Bird watchers, hikers Ranches for several years and
and mountain bike enthusi- has found several rare species.
asts also enjoy
“Out there, I
the open range.
am just so im“We encourage
Article VII pressed with
people to come
the area, how
out and appreHuman
unique it is and
ciate the land
Dimension
what good conthrough differdition it is in.
and
Science
ent recreational
I’m hooked. I
activities,” said
Section 1.
just have to go
Babbitt Ranches
out there every
President
Bill
Ensure that Babbitt
Cordasco. “As
Ranch land and natural so often for the
resources are managed feel of it, the
more of us parquietness and
in accordance with
ticipate with naBabbitt Ranch values.
the surprise of
ture and the outwhat you might
doors, it’s only
see
including
natural to want
the
rare
saw
to care about the
land and develop what we call phacelia that grows in the
an Outdoor Recreation Ethics cinders.”
Goodwin discussed the
Attitude.”
Scientists also can be found volcanic field, grassland,
conducting research in the science, history and wildlife
grasslands. Through the during a Flagstaff Festival of
Landsward Discovery Coun- Science field trip hosted by
cil, Babbitt Ranches has Babbitt Ranches.
Greg Goodwin
Recreation Activities Trending
in the Forest
While improved technol- Poturalski. “Downhill biking
ogy is driving some of the lat- is done on very steep terrain,
est outdoor recreation trends, places that are hard to walk
activities that require the least down. Usually a vehicle, like a
amount of gear continue to pick-up truck shuttles the bike
rank among the most popular. and the rider up to the starting
One of the
point. Also, this
activity is popular
newer
outdoor
at ski areas where
activities is canArticle III ski lifts are used to
yoneering,
says
transport mounBrian Poturalski,
Cowboy
tain bikers up the
Coconino National
Essence
hill.
Forest
RecreUtility Task Vehiation Staff Officer
Section 7.
for the Flagstaff
cles, or UTVs, are
Alertness
becoming
more
Ranger District.
“It’s a form of rock Observe constantly. Stay common on the
climbing. It’s high- open-minded. Be eager landscape, as well.
“They are more of
end hiking with
to learn and improve.
a small car or jeep
gear that you use
when you need to
than you’d think of
for an All-Terrain
climb.”
Another growing sport is Vehicle (ATV). They used to
downhill biking, an offshoot of be used in farming, but they are
mountain biking. “The bikes getting bigger and faster. They
are beefier, almost like a motor- come out in hordes. Hunters
cycle without an engine,” says are using them a lot more now.”
But many forest users don’t
require a lot of gear. Results
from a recent survey about the
Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills
trail system by the Northern
Arizona University Forestry
Club reveal that walkers and
hikers far exceed any other type
of trail user, including mountain
bikers, horseback riders and
rock climbers.
Further, some 70 to 75 percent of survey participants say
they are using the trail system
for recreation with friends and
family, and for health and exercise.
Regardless of the kind of
activity, Poturalski says the
biggest challenge forest managers face with recreational
use stems from user-created
and unauthorized trails. “A lot
of activity happens in remote
areas where there are no trails,
which can negatively impact
wildlife and sensitive plants.”
page 3
Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfits
Recreationists
Keith Harris, owner of Bab- the top selling items at
bitt’s Backcountry Outfitters, Babbitt’s Backcountry
has been in the business of Outfitters are for sun
outdoor recreation for nearly protection, such as hats,
30 years. He’s experienced shirts and sunglasses,
changes in the recreationist, Harris says products
activities and gear.
that use the sun are the
“The recreationist has defi- latest trend in recreation
nitely changed, as far as the gear.
type of user,” said Harris. “A “Creating energy is so
good example is camping. big right now – anything
When the recession hit, over- that can charge an elecnight camping became more tronic device. There are
popular. A lot of folks stay-cat- power pots that transfer
ioned. They bought tents and the heat from a cookwent traveling. We saw that stove surface to electransition with the
tricity. They have
family back in
USB ports on the
the woods. It’s
side so you can
so much cheaper
Article IV charge a phone.
than the European
We’re seeing this
Cowboy
vacation.”
solar panel techHe says the
nology in kids’
Essence
industry
has
backpacks. EvenCharacter
seen a shift from
tually it will be on
Qualities
long backcountry
tents.”
overnight
hikes
Harris said the
Section 6.
to quick outings
recreationists he
Reliability
such as day hikes,
sees have a good
mountain biking,
understanding of
The consistency and
snow shoeing, disc
outdoor recreation
trustworthiness that
create respect.
golf, cross country
ethics like stayskiing and rock
ing on trails and
climbing.
picking up after
While some of
pets. He credits
the Forest Service and local
groups for educating people
about the outdoors.
“What really helps is that
companies that sell outdoor
gear are committed to the environment. If an employee buys
from a brand we carry, they
receive a discount but it’s also
mandatory that they donate to
a cause that helps the environment.”
Harris says last year’s bestselling Christmas gift purchase
from Babbitt’s Backcountry
Outfitters was the $14 inflatable solar powered light. He
expects this to be popular
again during the 2014 holiday
season.
Arizona Trail
Growing in Popularity
long-term partnerOne of only
ship in which we
three completed
can support each
National Scenic
Trails in the counArticle III other’s missions.”
The
Arizona
try, the Arizona
Cowboy
Trail, completed
Trail continues to
in February 2012,
attract hikers, runEssence
was 30 years
ners, backpackers,
Section 9.
in the making.
mountain bikers,
Nelson calls it
cross country skiIntentness
“record-breaking.”
ers and equestriSet realistic goals.
It was the vision of
ans. Although the
Concentrate on
Flagstaff resident
trail covers 800
achievement by
and educator Dale
miles from Mexresisting temptations.
Shewalter, known
ico to Utah, only
Be determined
as the “Father of
about 1 percent of
and persistent.
the Arizona Trail.”
trail users attempt
Shewalter died
to complete it all at
two years and 50
once.
“It takes up to three weeks miles before the trail was finon a bike, two months on foot, ished. His favorite section was
and four or five months on the passage through Babbitt
horseback,” says Arizona Trail Ranches. When the Arizona
Association Executive Director Trail Association created its
Matthew Nelson. “So, 99 per- stewardship program, Shewalcent of trail users are day users. ter adopted this portion.
They’ll do a small segment of “Most long distance
the trail at a time and it might trails begin as a contake them 10 years to complete. cept. Then they rely on
It’s on a lot of peoples’ bucket federal dollars spread
out over a hundred
lists.”
Because there are many trail- years to slowly build the
heads accessing the trail, even trail,” said Nelson. “In
remote areas such as stretches Arizona, we have always
on Babbitt Ranches are experi- done things differently.
encing an increase in the num- The Arizona Trail was
built primarily by volber of day users.
“Babbitt Ranches is unique. unteers and through
It’s the only stretch of private handshake agreements
property that the trail traverses. with federal agencies
The rest of the Arizona Trail and ranchers alike. We
is on public land or right-of- have a huge community
ways held by the county. The of people who believe
trail would not exist without in the trail. They put in
the support of Babbitt Ranches many hours of time to
and we’re looking forward to a make sure this resource
is available for future generations.”
Meantime, trail running is
exploding as the fastest growing outdoor sport, says Nelson.
And the Arizona Trail Association is establishing distancerunning events such as the
Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100
Mile Stagecoach Line Ultra &
Relay to highlight the best parts
of the trail and introduce people
from outside the area to the
natural wonders of Arizona.
“From Saguaro National
Park, through the Sky Islands
of southern Arizona, up the
Mogollon Rim, across the Colorado Plateau and the wide open
skies of Babbitt Ranches, and
through the heart of the Grand
Canyon, you would never see
the types of landscapes that are
featured along the Arizona Trail
anywhere else in the world.”
More Black-Footed Ferrets to be Released on Espee Ranch
With elected officials, wild- ret research and recovery
life managers, scientists and efforts; and, managing prainews media representatives rie dogs by incorporating
in attendance, some 25 to 30 Sylvatic plague vaccine impleblack-footed ferrets, North mentation and research.
Jennifer Cordova, a wildlife
America’s most endangered
mammal, will be released on specialist who leads norththe Espee Ranch near Tin ern Arizona’s black-footed
House Camp on Wednesday, ferret release program with
the Arizona Game and Fish
Oct. 1.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department says the plague is
Department, along with the generally transmitted by fleas
and can have devU.S. Fish and
astating effects on
Wildlife
Serdog colovice and BabArticle VII prairie
nies.
bitt Ranches are
“We use a kibworking together
Human
ble-like bait laced
in an effort to
Dimension
with the vaccine
return a missing
and Science and we have evipart of the grassdence that the
land ecosystem to
Section 4.
prairie dogs are
northern Arizona.
The project also Communicate activities eating it,” she
to other agencies and
said. “There has
includes field trilandowners with whom
been plague on
als to determine
Babbitt Ranches has
the Espee with
the effectiveness
relationships, and
prairie dog dieof an oral Sylvatic
to the owners of
offs in the past.
plague
vaccine
Babbitt Ranches.
If you don’t have
on prairie dogs.
prairie dogs, you
If proven effeccan’t have blacktive, the vaccine
footed ferrets.”
potentially could
Other animals can contract
thwart the spread of plague in
human populations in develop- the deadly disease by eating
infected prairie dogs. Blacking countries.
The three main goals of footed ferrets are highly susthe release include: inte- ceptible to plague, as they live
grating collaborative land- in the dens of prairie dogs and
scape-scale
conservation; prey on them, as well.
Babbitt Ranches Presiconducting black-footed fer-
dent Bill Cordasco says the
October release is a perfect
example of interagency and
nongovernmental cooperation.
“This represents the foundation of the things we do: work
with volunteers, demonstrate
good stewardship on private
land, participate with the community and advance wildlife
conservation. It’s important to
recognize when these efforts
have been successful. Also,
this is an economical way
to address plague with possible global impacts on human
health.”
To date, more than 70 ferrets
have been released on Espee
Ranch.
Wide and Varied Science is promoted, supported and
acknowledged by Babbitt Ranches across the Coconino Plateau. The goal remains to affect a land ethic so that private
and public land managers have science-based knowledge and
technologies to support the sound stewardship and conservation of their lands and natural and cultural resources. Focus
areas include:
Community and Relationships ◆ Sustainability
Land Use Ethic ◆ Cross-Disciplinary Programs
A Blend of Natural and Social Sciences
Science and a Sense of Art ◆ Information Dissemination
Regional Planning.
Conservation Projects support efforts to reintroduce the
nearly extinct black-footed ferret: establish a golden eagle
conservation area; and develop habitat for pronghorn antelope and other wildlife species.
Conservation Easements preserve open spaces for the
enjoyment and participation of generations to come.
◆ Cataract Ranch, 34,000 acres to The Nature Conservancy
◆ Cataract Ranch 6,000 acres to Coconino County
◆ CO Bar, 640 acres to Coconino County
page 6
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
Moving Cattle with
a Click on the Computer
Colt Sale Offers More Than
Horses
For Babbitt Ranches
Colt Sale fans, the annual
event is not just a day
of doing business. The
whole western experience,
including the barbeque
and panoramic views, is
treated like a holiday by
cowboys, equestrians and
spectators.
Nina Ronstadt blogs about the Colt Sale.
Nina Ronstadt of San
Diego visits Flagstaff often to ranchlands. Driving from Flag
see her sister, Cathy Jolma. For around the north side of the San
the past year, the
Francisco Peaks,
two of them have
you drop in elevabeen planning their
tion from fir trees
trip to the Spider
Article III to a high prairie
Web Camp. On her
of dried grass.
Cowboy
blog she writes:
The Painted Des“Since my daughert sits off in the
Essence
ter and I started
distance.
The
Section 10.
horseback
riding
sky was blue and
together a yearConditioning huge and white
and-a-half ago, I
puffy
clouds
think about horses All aspects of our lives floated across it
must be developed:
about 20 percent
as picturesque as
mental; spiritual; and,
of the time. You can
physical. Rest, exercise it was cliché and
call this a mid-life
it was like stepand diet must be conobsession, I guess, sidered and moderation ping right into
crisis seems too
a postcard of a
must be practiced.
harsh a word. The
ranch.”
Hashknife Ranch
Every year, hunColt sale has given
dreds of spectame more to think
tors like Ronstadt
about.”
come out to see the latest genShe says Babbitt Ranches eration of proud, strong, spirencompass some of the pretti- ited Hashknife horses. Some of
est country she knows. “Last them are buyers and some, like
year when we took the train Ronstadt, dream about being
to the Grand Canyon, I fell in buyers.
love with the sweeping yel- “That day I learned that the
low grassed mesas and rolling most desirable physical traits in
hills of the northern Arizona an (American) Quarter Horse
Babbitt Ranches is a Family Business, as such, the work
of business and the complexity of relationships have had a
significant impact on each other. Through the years, Babbitt
ventures have included cattle, sheep, trading posts, grocery
stores, department stores, lumber companies, a livery stable,
an automobile dealership, mining operations, farms, an ice
plant, a funeral parlor and many others. As the 21st century
organizational community carries on the spirit of adventure,
exploration and love for the land, the CO Bar, Cataract and
Espee Ranches remain bustling with activities that bridge
the business ventures from the pioneer age to the space age
with a commitment to quality and long-term decision making. Cowboys ride, rope and brand while researchers study
climate, explore renewable energy and simulate conditions of
the moon.
ŠŠ 730,000 acres of grazing land
ŠŠ 275,000 acres deeded
ŠŠ 7,500 head; mostly Hereford cattle
ŠŠ 150 American Quarter Horses;
carrying the historic Hashknife brand
are a big butt, clean, upfront
neck and a horse that sits up
high on its legs.”
Mike Tulloss, his wife Kelly and
their three daughters love the
Colt Sale as well. “They have
horses of their own,” Tulloss
says of Canon, 14, Maci, 12 and
Carson, 9. “We are completely
pleasure riders. They are in the
Pony Club and 4-H.”
Tulloss says the Colt Sale
gives his family a chance to
enjoy a day together, mix with
friends and see the babies.
“Babbitt Ranches is such a big
part of Flagstaff,” he says. It’s
a fun social event with a lot of
nostalgia behind it. So far, I
have precluded my wife from
making any more indulges
here, but there could be one in
future.”
Ronstadt, too, considers the
possibility of a Hashknife colt in
her life someday. “Ever since I
was a little girl I wanted to wake
up and find a horse in my yard.
Not some ratty bike. I tell my
husband this every Christmas.
That is why he was very afraid
when I went to the Hashknife
Colt Sale.”
Nina Ronstadt’s blog can be
found at www.ninagarden.com.
She writes about the Annual
Colt Sale on her July 15 and
July 30 submissions.
Babbitt Ranches CO Bar Beef Available at New Butcher Shop
Not since the late 1950s
has Babbitt Ranches locally
grown, grass-fed beef been
available to northern Arizona. But with the opening of
Proper Meats + Provisions in
downtown Flagstaff, beef lovers are able to once again purchase CO Bar Hereford beef.
“We are so excited about
Proper Meats providing
quality products from local
agriculture,” said Babbitt
Ranches President Bill Cordasco. “This is a great opportunity for Babbitts to participate with the agriculture community, joining in the effort
to promote healthy foods and
healthy lifestyles.”
Babbitt Ranches Hereford
beef is free of hormones, steroids and antibiotics. “I think
it’s wonderful to be able to
offer this finest-quality beef
to the locals,” said Jim Bab- butcher in the Flagstaff meat
bitt, who tells the story of how packing plant, marking three
his grandfather, C.J. Bab- generations of Hilkins butchbitt – one of the original five ers.
brothers who began Babbitt
The plant opened around
Ranches – brought a young the turn of the last century, in
butcher to Flag1899 or 1900,
staff to work in
on Leroux Street
the Babbitt Meat
and Birch AveArticle III nue where the
Packing Plant.
“When
they
Old Town Shops
Cowboy
were
opening
are now. “The
Essence
that
operation
meat
would
there
weren’t
arrive with carSection 1.
any local butchcasses on hooks
ers that he knew Industriousness from the Babof. St. Louis was
bitt
slaughter
There is no substitute
one of the centers
house,
where
for work. Worthwhile
for meat packSCA
Tissue
results come from
hard work and
ing so he went
is today. Varicareful planning.
to St. Louis and
ous cuts would
found a young
be
wrapped
man interested in
or ground and
coming to Flagmade into saustaff to become a butcher.”
sage,” said Jim Babbitt.
Babbitt says C.J. hired him.
The Babbitt Meat Packing
“He offered to pay for him to Plant also rendered and sold
go to school to learn the meat- large buckets of lard. Under
packing trade, which he did. the label, Silver Pine Pure
He worked his entire career Lard, it was sold all over the
as a Babbitts butcher. ”
Southwest.
C.J. also paid the educational
“The company was served
expenses for the man’s son, with a copyright infringement
Herbert Hilkins, to become by Swift, which had the label,
a skilled butcher. Herbert’s Silverleaf Brand Pure Lard,”
son then followed the family said Babbitt. “The court
tradition and also worked as a found that Babbitts couldn’t
Recreation continued from page 1
are regulations in place exploitive uses of nature withintended to balout regard for
ance these uses in
the health of the
order to preserve
land. Some forms
the resources for
of recreation can
Article V
the
enjoyment
be exploitive and
and use by all. On A Land Ethic env ironment a lly
ranches, lands are
damaging. BabSection 3.
primarily
manbitt
Ranches
aged for livestock,
maintains that the
The land ethic then
but many have
Outdoor Recrereflects the existence
diversified beyond
ation Ethic Attiof an ecological
the
traditional
conscience, and
tude will reduce
this in turn reflects a
intent to maximize
negative impacts
livestock
yield, conviction of individual to the land by
responsibility for the
and now manage
creating awarehealth of the land.
for other interests
ness and sensiincluding ecologi- Health is the capacity of tivity, and conthe land for self-renewal.
cal integrity, hunttinue to provide
Conservation is our
ing, fishing, out- effort to understand and opportunities for
door access and preserve this capacity. people to interoff-highway vehiact and connect
cle (OHV) use.
with the natural
Leopold opposed
environment.
August 2014
The Internet has revolution- men doing work with Babized the business of buying and bitt Ranches and the rancher
selling cattle as companies like controls the shipping date and
RoundupCattle.com offer live- the weighing condition,” said
stock marketing and bidding Nelson. “However, with Interfrom a computer screen.
net technology, our customers
Through photos and video, have the opportunity to buy
Babbitt Ranches, which runs and sell cattle every day of the
nearly 4,000 head of horned week on Roundup’s silent aucHereford cows, sells multiple tion or on the monthly live aucloads of yearling cattle by both tion, where the sale is called by
the live and silent auction meth- an auctioneer that is broadcast
ods provided by the online com- over the Internet, maximizing
pany. While this is happening, the energy and excitment of the
anyone interested can watch, competative bidding process.
which allows for greater partici- So we’re able to have the best
pation from the public and Bab- of both worlds.”
bitt Ranches board members.
RoundupCattle sells approxiRou ndup Cattle
mately
50,000
General Manager
head of cattle per
Chris Nelson says
year with some
Article I
the company offers
500
ranching
customers. “The
a daily cattle marPhilosophy value added is in
ket with unlimited
and
the buyer feedback
buyer
exposure
and
dedicated
Babbitt Ranches
Multiple
personal service.
from what
Bottom Line receives
customers want,
“With online auction technology,
which makes the
Section 1.
we can offer a Through our efforts of cattle more valupotentially much
able and more
learning and
broader
market understanding, we are people want to
than the ranch has better able to join, share bid on the livestock. With their
experienced in the
and be a part of the
premium vaccinapast and connect
Babbitt Ranches’
organizational, ecotion program and
with buyers all
logical, economical and long-standing repover the country.”
community decisions.
utation for quality,
Nelson
says
grass-fed cattle,
another benefit to
Babbitt’s
cattle
the online technolare a premium
ogy is that the cattle don’t have to leave the ranch product.”
and ranchers don’t have to be Babbitt Ranches has been
concerned about them becom- doing business with Rounduping stressed or losing weight in Cattle.com since the company
began in 2010. The Roundup’s
the process.
“Essentially it’s a country management team has been in
deal setting because our rep- the cattle marketing business
resentatives are Arizona cattle- since 1999.
Babbitt Ranches President Bill Cordasco and Ranch Manager Victor
Howell watch the live auction from Babbitt Ranches conference room in
downtown Flagstaff as bidding on the ranch yearlings takes place.
use that name. That’s when
they decided to get out of the
lard making business in 1923
or 1924.”
The meat packing plant
closed in the late 1950s.
Since that time, John Winnicki and Mario Mendoza
of Flagstaff Custom Meats,
along with Babbitt Ranches
employees Fred Diumenti
and Rick Jones, expended a
great deal of energy trying
to develop a Babbitt Ranches
beef program for Flagstaff.
“There were certainly many
challenges ahead of us,” said
Cordasco.
Others who helped in the
effort were Northern Arizona University finance and
accounting professors Lisa
Majure and Kathy Savage
who took on the beef program
as a business case study to
identify the
market, as
well as the
hurdles
and challenges
associated with
such
an
endeavor.
“From all
that effort
and all that we’ve learned,
today, along with our LifeScapes Open Hands Country
Beef program, which makes
beef available to the community for whatever price people
determine for themselves,
and through the Proper
Meats butcher shop, Babbitt
Ranches is able to offer quality, local beef to the community,” said Cordasco.
Proper Meats + Provisions
is located at 110 S. San Francisco Street. Brix and Criollo
Latin Kitchen restaurateur
Paul Moir, along with his wife
Laura and Executive Chef
David Smith, are transforming the early 1900’s historic
building into a butcher shop
and 10-seat eatery to showcase Arizona’s finest farmraised meats, poultry and
cured products.
Gaspin' continued from page 1
grandparents’ active dairy said Torrence. “One of my
farm, so I’m really comfort- sponsors fell through for
able
around
the awards so
Babbitts supcattle. We let
plied four of
the
runners
Article III their Pendleton
know about it
in the pre-race
blankets, which
Cowboy
literature.”
were key to
Essence
making people
Some
425
happy.”
people signed
Section 11.
up for the event
Torrence says
Skill
and 300 finhe’s a big believBe prepared with
ished. Andrew
er in tradition
knowledge and the
and is thrilled to
Benford
set
a new men’s ability to properly and be able to conquickly execute the
record for the
tinue the race at
fundamentals.
Cover
course while
the Nordic Cenevery little detail.
Emily Harrison
ter. He’s making
set a new womplans for the
en’s record.
next
Gaspin’
in the Aspen
“Babbitt
Ranches came to my aid and scheduled for Saturday,
I really appreciated that!” Aug. 22, 2015.
Keeping America and
Babbitt Ranches Beautiful
information about
As more people
where to camp
move to Arizona
and how far from
for its wide-open
Article
IV
the road campers
spaces and recneed to park.
reational opporCowboy
Ethic-based rectunities, Arizona
Essence
reation
behavior
State Parks’ chief
includes avoiding
Character
public information
driving on muddy
officer says the
Qualities
roads. “This ruins
outdoor recreation
Section 4.
the roads and
ethic continues to
there are no funds
grow along with
Honesty
to repair them.
the number of volDoing
the
things
we
One of the bigunteers eager to
know are right.
gest problems we
protect the natural
see is people drivresources.
ing on extremely
“Sightseeing,
wet roads, which
driving
around
looking at things, always has creates ruts.”
For hunters, Bilbrey emphabeen at the top of public recreational activities,” says Ellen sizes understanding and pracBilbrey. “People like to stop ticing the rules of fair chase.
and look at plants and all kinds “Trail cameras used to scout
of animals such as elk, deer and the location of game animals
or track their daily movement
birds.”
She says birding is becoming reduces the opportunities for
a strong national trend. “We’re other hunters. Permanent
in a bird migratory area. Birds blinds near tanks also should
come from Mexico and fly over be taken down right after the
the lands all across Arizona to hunter finishes using them as
go north. People love to see all well as trail cameras.”
kinds of birds, especially eagles Bilbrey reminds recreationists that anything harvested on
and herons.”
And mountain biking con- public lands requires a permit,
tinues to grow in popularity. including picking up antlers,
“People can ride mountain gathering firewood or cutting
bikes in the parks on some of down a Christmas tree. She
the trails. Also, the Great West- also encourages recreationists
ern Trail, a motorized 4-wheel to be aware of fire restrictions
drive road, goes up through and make sure campfires are
Babbitt Ranches. Many OHV out, coals are cold and rock fire
groups ride together and then rings are taken apart.
riders are not afraid to take off “We need everyone to take
and ride many of the trails. It’s personal responsibility of carvery challenging but popular for ing for the land,” says Bilbrey.
“Take a garbage bag with you
many ages.”
Bilbrey says Off-Highway on every road trip and pick up
Vehicle (OHV) activity also is trash wherever you encounter
increasing statewide. “Off high- it. We should all keep Arizona
way does not mean off road. beautiful, including the scenic
With the Forest Service Travel Babbitt Ranches.”
Management Plans you
have to be sure you are
on a designed road,
and be careful to use
the new maps.”
She advises recreationists to pick up a
new map specific to
the National Forest
they are visiting, which
will have very specific
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
August 2014
page 7
Toledo Steam Car Revisits Babbitt Ranches After 112 Years
Powered by steam, carried
on bicycle tires and fueled
with a British sense of humor,
Nick and Chris Howell accomplished what they set out to
do. The brothers, ages 63 and
61, drove their 1901 Toledo
Steam Car roughly 70 miles
from Flagstaff to the Grand
Canyon on Aug. 26 and 27.
The English gentlemen had
never seen the Moqui Stage
Route or the Grand Canyon
before, but the vehicle had.
Nick bought the steam car at
auction in 2004. It was made
by the American Bicycle Company of Toledo, Ohio, and
used a boiler to heat water and
create steam to move the pistons. Upon extensive research
he learned last November that
this was not just any cool old
car, it was the very first automobile to successfully make
the journey from Flagstaff to
the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon in January 1902; Los
Angeles photographer Oliver
Lippincott was the driver.
Upon learning this, the Howells knew what they had to do.
Nick had spent eight years
restoring the car, but now,
with an invitation to bring it
to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, he decided
to also re-run the 1902 trip
to the Grand Canyon. In May
they teamed up with folks who
could help them plan the route
like Matthew Nelson from the
Arizona Trail Association and
Tom Martin of the Grand
Canyon Historical Society.
Like the first journey 112
years ago, this one had its
challenges including running out of steam, catching
on fire and needing a tow for
Wildlife Photographer Focuses
on Babbitt Ranches
Darren Choate spent much
of his childhood as a young
hunter in the White Mountains
of Arizona. He continues hunting and collecting antler sheds,
but for the past 10 years he has
enjoyed wildlife photography.
He has a special affinity for
Babbitt Ranches.
“There’s the allure of the
ranches. They’re intriguing
and they have always drawn
me to that area,” said Choate. rocks and
“It’s difficult to explain. I enjoy and saw a
interacting
with
the past—the history of the ranch
Article IV
and the people
who have been
Cowboy
there before—the
Essence
present, and the
Character
future.”
Choate’s favorQualities
ite wildlife photo
Section 9.
shoot happened
u n e x p e c t e d l y.
Patience
“I was out with
The ability to wait and
another photogcalmly persevere.
rapher,
Randy
Servis, in an area
covered with huge
the final 15 miles (in 1902 it
was towed by horses for the
final stretch). The brothers
endearingly referred to the
antique as “temperamental”
and as “an old lady whom we
had to treat with respect.”
The Howells took the trip in
stride, driving from Highway
180 and Forest Road 151
through the pines the first day,
hauling the car back to Flagstaff for the night and taking it
back out again in the morning.
“Our second day started at
Babbitt Ranches and at first
it looked similar to the terrains, which we had crossed
the previous day. However, I
was soon proved wrong,” said
Chris. “We dropped gently
down from the heights and
entered an open plain, stretching out into the distance, with
a few cattle here and there
looking very uncertain at Chris said the Toledo drove
the approach of this spindly along happily on the open
vehicle puffing away gently plains. “It was almost as if
and then accompanied by a she knew she was back home,
gentle intermithappy to carry
tent shrill of the
us along to our
burner injector.
final
destinaArticle III tion. However,
This was country we had never
the flat open
Cowboy
experienced and
trail ended with
Essence
my
thoughts
a rocky twisting
went straight to
climb and then
Section 8.
Al Doyle’s 1902
the little car ran
Initiative
description of the
out of puff. So I
route (Doyle was Cultivate the ability to jumped out of the
make decisions and
Lippincott’s local
car and placed
guide).
‘Then think alone. Do not be the wood block
afraid of failure, but
you take off
behind the rear
learn from it.
across the desert
wheel and then
and follow the
waited for a head
old sheep trail
of steam to build
till you get to the
up. I selected
mouth of Red Horse Canyon.’ other rocks to place behind
Well, here we were, retracing the other wheel as there was
the footsteps, or rather the a real danger of the car not
tire treads of history. It was a making progress forward and
moment where we pondered running out of control backour solitude and gazed in wards to a rocky destruction.
wonderment at this vast open Nick pressed the single conspace, whilst we sedately pot- trol forward. Lots of steam
tered along.”
and no movement. I heaved
Martin, who documented the and pushed to rock the car
trip and served on the sup- back and forward. More
port team, said three cowboys steam enveloped me and I
from Babbitt Ranches caught feared the car would overrun
up with them. “They (the the block and on to the rocks.
Howells) got them out of their I thought, ‘would they stop
truck and were showing them her in such an event?’ Another
how the steam works, how huge effort and then with one
the burner works. Anyone gasping chug, she moved forwho was interested, they were ward, chug........chug..chug.
right there with them. They chugchugchugchug. I was left
are very personable people.” gasping in the road as Nick
The Great Christmas Tree Hunt: A Firefighting Family Tradition
Article IV
Cowboy
Essence
Character
Qualities
Section 11.
Gratitude
The art of being
grateful for all things.
© Darren Choate
cliffs. I looked up
bobcat perched on
the rock above me,
watching us. I took
several shots of it.
It’s something I’ll
always remember.”
Wildlife photography is one way
Choate says he can
express and document his love for
the outdoors. “It’s
about the beauty of
that day and knowing you are interacting with what
will be moving forward as well.”
It’s as much a part of the holidays as going to church and
Christmas dinner for Fire Captain Ray Gonzalez and the firefighting families of the Flagstaff
Fire Department.
For nearly two decades, Gonzalez, his wife, Amy, and their
three sons Trent, Todd and Trey,
have headed to the woods with
their Christmas Tree cutting
permits from Babbitt Ranches.
Sometimes there are as many as
100 people joining in the tradition with them.
“We just get up in the morn-
ing, meet at the country store
on Highway 180, everybody
loads up on coffee and drinks
and we head out,” he says. “We
circle the wagons and build a big
fire in the middle. We have hot
chocolate and tables full of food,
and we play Christmas music the
whole time.”
The great Christmas Tree hunt
happens on Babbitt Ranches
through November and December. Some camp out. Others
make it one big day, even driving
from Phoenix.
“I just remember all the faces
Hunters Seek Challenge, Time with Nature
Hunting is about appreciating
nature, spending time with family
and friends, passing along a skill
to the next generation, roasting
marshmallows over a campfire,
unplugging and decompressing.
It’s also about matching wits
against wildlife, but longtime
hunters say tagging an animal is
not the measure of a great trip.
“As I get older, I don’t feel like
I have to be successful at bringing home an animal. We love
the meat, but 99 percent of the
experience is enjoying the sheer
beauty and wonder of nature,”
says Jeff Wilson of Phoenix,
a
longtime
northern Arizona hunter.
Steve Vargas
has been hunting on Babbitt Ranches
for some 30
years. “Being
able to enjoy
the outdoors
is a gift,” he
says. “It’s the
way for me to
recharge with
fresh air and
the wonders of nature, but also
it’s appreciating the lives that we
have each day and not forgetting
where we came from.”
Like any sport, hunters say
they enjoy the challenge. “I enjoy
tracking animals and trying to
figure out where they might be,"
says Wilson. “You're using your
instincts and your brain in a way
you don’t use every day, tapping
into your senses of sight, smell
and sound. You try to improve
your game, improve your shot
every time. It’s an individual
thing. You’re not in competition with anybody else. And it’s
a challenge to get everything
together that you’ll need."
moved forward, up the hill
and over the rise to crest the
ridge.”
Martin said they had estimated the journey would take
two days. “After two-thirds of
the second day, we realized
we weren’t going to make it.
We had to tow the car for the
last 15 miles by a 400-horsepower car. We got to the
South Rim, just at sunset.”
The Howells say re-creating
the historic event in the original unmodified vehicle was a
real challenge, not appreciated at the time they came up
with the idea.
“So would we do it again?
No, because the car is really
too valuable for us to do it
for our own egos. Perhaps
a future guardian will do it
in 2102. Who knows, but
I would like to lay down the
challenge now to whomever
that may be…go on!” said
Chris.
The brothers say they had a
lot of fun and are grateful for
those who took up the challenge with them.
“Too many people gain their
possessions and then hide
them away from the rest of
the world,” said Chris. “Babbitt Ranches has been truly
gracious in allowing strangers to traverse their land in
an astonishingly designed and
robust vehicle to re-run this
historic trip and for this we
extend our heartfelt thanks.”
Wilson has been on hunting
trips since he could walk. In his
game room are javelina, deer,
pronghorn and elk. “Most of the
reason for stuffing an animal is
to remember the trip and the
people you were with,” he says.
“When I look at the wall in my
house, I’m not seeing the deer,
I’m thinking about my dad, and
the adventures we had together,
what he taught me. And now I
can have those experiences with
my children.”
He also enjoys walking in the
woods and looking for antlers.
“It’s kind of like an Easter egg
hunt, or finding a
shiny rock. Some
people
make
chandeliers and
tables out of the
horns. I like to
look at them, like
any collection.”
Wilson shares
a story about
camping
with
his family. It was
archery season
and he had gotten up early to
hunt. His young
daughter, Teresa, woke up and
wanted to go, too. They came
across some deer and watched
as a buck pushed a fawn out of
the way. “I had been practicing
for that very shot. I knew I had it,
but Teresa tugged at my jacket
and said, ‘He’s got a kid. Let that
one go.’ So I did. And the memory of seeing the animals with my
daughter on that early morning
in the woods is what counts.”
Longtime hunter Tim Cordasco
of Flagstaff has been hunting
with his 14-year-old son, Nicholas, for four years. His son, Justin, age 10, has just passed his
hunter safety test.
“Taking the kids out and show-
ing them what it’s all about – a perspective others may have
true respect for animals’ lives about hunters tearing up the
and appreciating nature – it’s land and abusing the privilege.
an experience I couldn’t have We pick up after others, give
imagined ever having. You set directions, help others when
up camp, hang out with friends, they need help. We work hard to
sit around a campfire and really change that perspective by demonstrating the right
talk,” he says. “The
way to treat the
kids learn a skill,
land and others.
the social aspect of
Article IV It’s our responsihanging out. When
bility.”
they have to deal
Cowboy
“I hope my kids
with a problem,
Essence
remember the fun
they know where
times they had with
they can go if they
Character
their dad, apprecineed a break. And
Qualities
ate the work that
they learn respect,
goes into hunting
not just for nature,
Section 2.
and remember that
but respect for othSincerity
they can go out
ers. They bring it
The genuine earnestness and have a really
back to society.”
good time just with
that binds friendship.
Vargas agrees.
nature,” said Cor“Time together is
dasco.
key.”
On a recent
Wilson, Cordasco
and Vargas all talk about the northern Arizona antelope hunt,
importance of fair chase and the Wilson is reminded of why
relationship hunters have with he takes the time to leave the
ranchers. “It’s a big partnership. city behind. “We were driving
You have to respect their water around Sunday morning. It was
holes, their tanks, gates and an overcast day. The sun was
beaming through one hole in
fences,” says Wilson.
“It is absolutely critical to the clouds. It’s out here in the
respect the land,” says Vargas. rain and the fresh air. This is my
“Being a hunter you fight the sanctuary.”
every year,” says Gonzalez.
“We’d always get a little tree
for the upstairs where the boys’
rooms were. They would pick
it out, dig in the dirt and cut it
down. That was always really
special.”
Longtime friends and fellow
firefighters Scott McDonald and
Dave Ondrejech are part of the
tradition. Their annual Christmas Tree event has a name:
McGonzoJech X-mas Tree Cut,
a combination of the three last
names posted on a sign, which
marks the turn to Cedar Ranch
for the day.
Gonzalez says the ritual is
all about family values and the
importance of carrying on traditions. “Christmastime is such
a busy time, but this annual
gathering is very important for
our family and extended family,
especially in our line of work.
After years of working together,
we still call each other ‘brother.’
And every year, Babbitt Ranches
supports the Flagstaff firefighters with a great experience. It’s a
tradition of family and Christmas
that will stay with us forever.”
Rock Climbing Encourages
Healthy Living, Goals
Rock climbing is a good rea- business was “bursting at the
son to be outside and a good seams,” he says. So he opened
reason to be healthy, says Main Street Boulders on the
Flagstaff Climbing owner John east side of town last DecemDoskicz. “It’s a
ber.
Flagstaff
pretty low-impact
Climbing also prosport
because
vides a guide seryou’re pulling your
Article IV vice and conducts
own body weight
courses for NAU
Cowboy
around. It helps
Outdoors.
with mobility and
“We
educate
Essence
is a full body workpeople
about
Character
out. You set goals
climbing etiquette
Qualities
in climbing and
and sharing the
the way to reach
outdoors
with
Section 3.
them is if you live
other recreationAdaptability
a healthy lifestyle.”
ists. Of course, we
Since the 1990s, The ability to adjust to stress the Leave
Doskicz has seen
No Trace ethic,
any situation.
rock
climbing
making sure we’re
evolve and grow.
packing out every“More and more
thing we pack in.
people are being introduced Beyond that we teach how to
to the sport at a much younger respect the other users, not just
age. We’ve had kids as young climbers we’re sharing the cliffs
as 2 climb the walls
and members in their
60s. So you see the
difficulty of the grades
being pushed. Folks are
climbing today what was
thought impossible 20
years ago.”
Doskicz came to Flagstaff to attend Northern
Arizona University and
for the rock climbing
opportunities in the
area. “We certainly
see more and more
of the college population already being climbers. with. We’re aware of our noise
In 1995, when we opened our and our visual impact.”
doors, we were always devel- Flagstaff rock climbing is still
oping the climate for climbing. under the radar on the national
Now college students expect to scene, says Doskicz. Climbers
have an indoor climbing gym often find out about places to
go on the National Forest or
nearby.”
Doskicz bought the downtown on Babbitt Ranches by word of
gym in 2003. By 2013, the mouth.
BABBITT TIMES REVIEW
page 8
It’s an
Outdoor
Recreation
Ethic
Attitude!
Babbitt Ranches
Flagstaff, Arizona
928.774.6199  P. O. Box 520, Flagstaff, AZ 86002  www.babbittranches.com
Gaspin' in the Aspen Photo by J. R. Biggs
August 2014