Helping to protect

National Forest Lands

It has been a busy couple of months since thelast newsletter and the future looks to be more ofthe same.

Thanks go to Joe Landholm, Rick Zabor andthe Trail Crew for their efforts on the first phaseof the Big Park restoration project. Dale Robert-son is leading the effort to as-sist the Forest service in plan-ning the next phases of theproject.

Thanks also go to DeanCampbell and the Cultural Re-source committee for their ef-forts in preparing V-V for theactivities of V-V Days. Thisyear V-V Days features anagave roast with Coconino NFArchaeologist Peter Pilles andWendy Hodgeson from theDesert Botanical Gardens.

Kudos go to Helen Campbell, our Ambassadorat Large, and Dean Campbell for their efforts insetting up and hosting the recent Southwest Re-gion Partnership Conference. It was interestingto me to listen to the many success stories con-cerning partnerships and volunteering and yethearing also about areas where partnering is stilla “hard sell”.

On March 4th we said goodbye to Ken Ander-son as he departed to his new job in Oregon.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find anote from Ken expressing his thanks to theFriends of the Forest. Recently we learnedthat we are losing another long time partnerand friend, Jerry Bradley, who is moving tothe Prescott National Forest. As we saygoodbye to these longtime friends, new

friends are coming in totake their place. Pleasetake an opportunity tosay hello to the interimDistrict Ranger, LarryLesko, who wants tomeet as many volunteersas possible and to get afeel for all that we do.

And lastly, let’s give thanks for the precipita-tion that we received inMarch. Hopefully the on-set of the likely severe

fire season has been pushed back for severalweeks.

Be safe in your volunteer activities. I con-tinue to be very glad that we are all Friends.

Chuck Jenkins

From the President Chuck Jenkins

Volume 2006, Issue 2

Continued on the next page.

Friends of the ForestApril 2006

Chuck Jenkins and Helen Campbell greet LarryLesko at the Partnership Conference

Page 2 Branching Out

Dear Friends of the Forest,

How does one say goodbye to such an adven-ture? I have so enjoyed working with the FOFas an organization, but more so all of you asfriends. You have been so encouraging to me.You created energy in me to make more oppor-tunities. Thank you.

Thank you so much for all the ways you haveexpressed your appreciation in my leaving therental of the Elks hall for the party, the pin, thelifetime membership, and most of all, the spe-cial thoughts and kind words you have ex-pressed as an organization and as individuals.

One of the things I enjoy most is that you speakof personal delight and satisfaction in your in-volvement in FOF and its projects. I will enjoyhearing in your newsletters how that continues.

Best wishes to the FOF and to all the friends inFOF. Ken Anderson

Visitor Information ServicesBarb Zeschke & Susan Vitek

By the time you read this, hopefully we will beworking out of our new modular office on thegrounds of the old Beaver Creek Ranger Station.Some of our Visitor Information volunteers will betransferring to Beaver Creek, some will retire, andothers will transfer to the South Gateway office inThe Village of Oak Creek.

Friends of the Forest who worked at the RedRock Ranger Station on Brewer Road weretreated to a picnic lunch on March 24th to sharefavorite stories and say goodbye to their oldstomping grounds. We understand the need tohave our beloved little office in a high visibility lo-cation with more parking for visitors and locals.Won t it be great when the new Ranger Stationwill be opened in Woods Canyon just before youenter the Village? You Betcha! Susan Vitek

Arletta and Ken Anderson at his Farewell Party

Weed & Seed Crew

This committee is undergoing re-evaluation as tohow it can be more effective. One option is to in-tegrate ourselves into a bigger entity workingover a larger area. At this point it would be helpfulto me to get feedback on who within the Friendsorganization is interested in helping.

You can send me your name, phone number oremail to: Justine Kusnerjwkusner@earthlink.net or call at 284-0714.Thanks for your input.

Justine Kusner

Weed and Seed Committee

Justine Kusner

I am pleased to announce thatChuck Jenkins has agreed to bethe Co-Editor of the newsletter.Thanks very much, Chuck. Darl

TrailsJoe Landholm and Rick Zabor

Page 3Volume 2006, Issue 2

exit of the culverts needed rock walls to preventerosion. The FOF crew moved some rocks forthe walls that took up to 6 people to position.The pathway was reopened, the temporary andsocial trails closed by revegetation and all re-worked areas were seeded with native plants.

The FOF Trail Crew worked 13 days, accumu-lated over 407 hours with an average of 4 to 5people per day. The volunteers were: SusanAmon, Al Gilson, Kevin Harding, Wil Flight,Chuck Jenkins, Jan Lisowski, Buck Packard,Gene Rector, Mike Vitek, Wendall Waybright,Joe Landholm, Rick Zabor,and Bob Tener,who attended every day!!! You might wonderwho Wil Flight is- - he is a friend of Kevin s, andhe worked two Fridays!!

Allens Bend was the next trail for Friday morn-ing. There we removed two trees, made about36 feet of retaining walls and did a lot of brush-ing as well as closing social trails. Grasshopperwas our next project where Forest Servicewanted new steps constructed to better accesslower levels for people carrying coolers or chil-dren down to Oak Creek. This was a pretty ma-jor project as to move some of the boulders, wehad to use the grip hoist to help us.

Volunteerism is alive & prospering!! If you wouldlike to join us, call Rick at 284-4762 or Joe at284-1299

Since the last newsletter, the Friday Trail Build-ing and Maintenance crew has worked on sevendifferent trails. Baldwin was the first and much ofit has been rerouted because part of the old trailwas on private property.

Next was Doe Mountain. This included consider-able new drainage to keep water from washingthe trail as well as other new drainages andbrushing. Following was Brins Mesa from VulteeArch road where we constructed new checkdams and a considerable distance of rock path-way which was previously a wash. Lime KilnTrail from the lower Red Rock Loop road cross-ing, was our next project where we constructednew berms, steps and drainages .

Then came Bell Rock Pathway, which has beenin terrible condition for over a year. It receives ex-tremely high usage by visitors to our community.Forest Service hydrologist, Jack Norman, di-rected the renovation at the south end of BellRock Pathway. He led the teams to revegetate,and contour the landscape to overcome andeliminate further erosion. First, the pathway wasclosed and a temporary trail was established.This allowed safe access of the equipment; abobcat, ATV, Sweco, frontend loader and trucks.The bobcat dug out the silted drainages, and thefront end loader removed the small culverts, re-placing them with much larger ones. A low fencewas part of the plan to remind the users wherethe boundary of the pathway exists. This required300 wooden posts to be drilled with 2 holes eachto accept the wire to be strung between them.Mike Vitek & Chuck Jenkins spent over 42 hoursdrilling those 600 holes. A power auger dug

holes in the ground while the crew placed theposts with rock and concrete. The wire camenext, all 6300 feet of it. This provided a high andlow wire to "guide" the users. The entrance and

Fancy Rock work on the Bell Rock Pathway Project

Page 4 Branching Out

As chairman of the Friends of the Forest’s Cultural Resources Committee, Dean Campbell has trained20 people to be docents for the Heritage Sites inthe Red Rock District at Palatki and V-V. Docent’s are volunteers who protect these archeologicaltreasures.

“I’ve been fascinated by Native Americans, espe-cially the Puebloans of the Southwest, ever sincemy parents gave me a small book called, Indians ofAmerica,” Campbell said. “Each page described a different tribe. I’ve had it for over sixty years.” Campbell says his work at the sites is most reward-ing when he speaks to people who have never hadan archeological experience. He loves introducingvisitors not only to archeology, but also to what webelieve happened here in prehistoric, protohistoricand historic times.

Born in Iowa, Campbell’s family moved to Califor-nia in 1950. He attended the University of Califor-nia’s School of Dentristy in San Francisco before becoming a dentist in the Navy. While serving inthe Navy, he was Chairman of Endodontics at theNaval Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland, andSpecialty Advisor for Endodontics to the SurgeonGeneral of the Navy. After retiring from the Navy in1991, he practiced Endodontics in Rancho Mirage,Ca. Campbell and his wife, Helen, former Presidentof Friends of the Forest, retired to their home in theVillage of Oak Creek in 1998. Dentristy’s loss was the Friends of the Forest’s gain.

“Our mission as docents is to support the Forest Service in protecting these Native American Heri-tage Sites. Once they are gone, they are gone for-ever,” Campbell said. He uses a training manual developed by different committee chairs over manyyears. Campbell adds that after a training session,all day for Palatki and two hours for V-V, new train-ees can be overwhelmed by the information. “I tell them that their main goal is to protect the sites, and

that imparting information will later come natu-rally, and the written manual will now meanmore to them. No one has to be a publicspeaker to do our protective service,” he added. Campbell’s teaching style resembles that of a painter in the open air, quietly placinglayer upon layer on the canvas of a new do-cent’s mind. His speech is soft, his humor is swift. His memory is phenomenal, and hepasses on that knowledge with kindness. Whata world this would be if everyone had such ateacher in all fields!

Palatki was acquired in a land exchange in1975. The Forest Service brought 115 acresunder their management and control. Someprevious uses were a 2,000 fruit tree orchardand vineyard practicing dry farming. Later, itwas used as a cattle ranch. The Palatki Heri-tage Site was opened for visitors in 1996.

When fully staffed by Forest Service employ-ees and volunteers, people can visit the cliffdwelling, the grotto, the bear alcove, the agaveroasting pit and the visitor information displays.Friends of the Forest approached DistrictRanger Ken Anderson for his approval of aseven-day a week reservation system imple-mented in 2003.

“Before the reservation system, the site would be overloaded and was beginning to showphysical damage,” Campbell said. “We used to get as many as 320 people in just one day atPalatki. With reservations, we get about 70-85visitors a day depending on the time of year.Spring break and fall are our busiest times.”

V-V was also acquired through a land ex-change in 1994 from the V-V Ranch. The For-est Service received 150 acres including thenearby riparian area and the 1,032 imagepetroglyph site that opened to the public in1996. Cont. …..

Friends of the Forest Protect Indian HeritageSites By Susan Vitek

Page 5 Branching Out

Trail Patrol

John Moore, Gene Rector and Jeff Dunn

in 1996.

The Cultural Resources Committee currentlyhas 45 members. Thirty-five are very activeand the others volunteer for special events.Most are members of Friends of the Forestand three are with the Verde Valley Archeo-logical Society. Members contributed 3,700hours during fiscal year 2005.

In addition to his volunteer work as a docent,Campbell has been the treasurer for Friends ofthe Forest since 2000 and also is on severalother committees including Trail Patrol, WeedCommittee and the Orchard Committee.

“Dean is a walking encyclopedia of historic, cultural and archeological information,” said Noreen Lisowski, who took the docent trainingfrom him last year. “If I can pass on just a little of this knowledge to visitors, they are sure tocome away with a greater appreciation for thesignificance of these precious sites. It’s a privi-lege to have been trained by the master.”

Wendell Waybright (student) and Dean Campbell

At Palatki

A meeting of the Trail Patrol Committee wasconducted at Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) onTuesday, February 28, 2006 at 9 a.m. Twenty-two Friends were in attendance along with guestsfrom the Forest Service, Terry Adams, DaveCoryn, and Justin Loxley.

Jeff Dunn discussed the newly-revised Trip Sum-mary Report and explained the changes to theform. Out of the ensuring discussion, it wasagreed to add telephone and e-mail addresses tothe form so patrol members could report seriousproblems with the trails immediately. The newforms will be sent out around the first of April.

Dave Coryn took a few minutes to discuss withthe Friends the possibility of forest restrictions orclosure due to the extremely dry conditions thepast five months. He agreed to stay in communi-cation and let us know if our assistance isneeded.

Terry and Justin led a discussion regarding anumber of items that affect the members of Pa-trol. Specifically, three forms were distributedand the Friends were invited to assist with the fol-lowing: Outfitter Guide Observation, Memberswere encouraged to report activities that appearto be in violation of Outfitter Guide permits and beon the look out for illegal tours. Low Flying Air-craft, Members were encouraged to report thedate and time of low flying aircraft. Wildlife Ob-servation Form, Friends were invited to recordsightings of unusual wildlife while on patrol. Theforms are available from Terry or Justin at theRanger Station or, give me a call and I’ll send one or more along to you, 282-4561.

The statistics for fiscal year 2005 have been com-piled by Jeff and the highlights are as follows:Worthwhile Website:

www.sinaguasunwatchers.com

Page 6Volume 2006, Issue 2

Volunteer Patrol Hours 4665.5

Volunteer Patrol Miles 7540.5

Litter Removed 336.4 pounds

Day Hikers encountered 11, 799

Mountain Bikers encountered 1,062

Back Packers encountered 56

Thanks again to all of you for assisting with Pa-trol of the more that 100 trails on this district ofthe Coconino National Forest. I look forward toseeing you out there.

Cheers ! John Moore

Terry Adams speaking to the Trail Patrol Group

Trail Patrol HotshotsThe Patrol Hotshots have also been busy over thepast two months, putting in a total of 147 hours inaddition to working on the Red Rock Pathway Pro-ject. Woods Canyon Trail needed a lot of mainte-nance. The cat claw was ferocious there and tookseveral days of brushing, in addition to time spenton drainage structures. The crew, consisting ofKevin Harding, Bob Tener, Rick Zabor, Al Gil-son, John True, Buck Packard , Gene and DarlRector, also worked on Sterling, Vultee Arch, DryCreek, Bear Sign, Secret Canyon, Brins Mesa,Long Canyon and Wilson Mt Trails. Gene Rector

Buck Packard really getting into the cat claw

USFS Southwest Region Partnership

Conference

Last year I was offered the special opportunityto work with Denise McCaig, USFS, Region3’s Partnership and Collaborations Coordina-tor and Vincent Picard, USFS, Tonto NationalForest Public Affairs Officer to assist with theplanning, preparation and execution of the2006 Regional Partnership Conference. Theplanning began in June 2005 and came tofruition March 21, 2006. Tucson and Phoenixwere suggested as possible venues. Then Imentioned Sedona. And Sedona it was.

The day before the conference I had the ti-tanic task of assembling 40 binders with infor-mation sent to me by the presenters. If not forsome wonderful Friends I would still be as-sembling! Thank you Judi Reichenberger,Susan Vitek, Darl Rector, Carol Wirkus,and new member Chris LaVoie. The focusof the 2006 conference was to improve forestand regional coordination with the Forest Ser-vice partners, develop partnership skills and

Ambassador At Large

Helen Campbell

Page 7 Branching Out

provide a forum for feedback from Forest Servicepartners and practitioners. The conference is at-tended by Forest Service personnel who have theopportunity to hear and network with partners andvolunteers from all over the region. A few examplesof the partners who addressed the conference arethe Clifton Ranger District’s Ranger who spokeabout water restoration partnerships; The presidentof the Salt River Tubing (yes they are a partner!) theCoconino (county) Rural Environment Corps(CREC)gave an interesting presentation; The Quivia Coali-tion held me rapt as I listened to the concept of“Grass Banking”; and the Forest Service’s NationalPartnership Office had a representative from Wash-ington to update the audience on national happen-ings.

As your Ambassador at Large I had the opportunityto speak about the Friends of the Forest and I wasdelighted Terry Adams, accepted my invitation toalso speak about the Friends. Terry’s wit, wisdom and down-home matter of delivering a message iscaptivating, energizing and very amusing! He defi-nitely gets the message across!

The evening reception, which Friends of the Forestgraciously helped underwrite, was festive, deliciousand well attended by Forest Service and Friendsalike.

Al Cornell entertained us as he demon-strated the primitive skills of weaving san-dals from yucca leaves. He wanted to dem-onstrate how to make a fire but I simplycould NOT convince the hotel staff to allowus to do so on their lovely carpet!

Following the reception, Dale Robertson,lifetime member of the Friends and 12thChief of the Forest Service delivered thekeynote address to an attentive audienceand in no time had us glued to his everyword. Dale is an exceptional speaker, hasthe ability to keep the the audiences atten-tion, seriously address the topic but injecthumor and fun with stories of his days inWashington. Did you know that Dale was aDistrict Ranger in his twenties, Forest Su-pervisor on two national forests in his thirtiesand Chief by the age of 47! That’s impres-sive. And you have never met a more hum-ble man. Thank you, Dale, for being thehighlight of the conference!

As the morning the conference began I hada small flotilla of Friends ready to do any-thing to make registration run smoothly.And they did! Dean Campbell and MikeVitek collected the registration fee andtook orders for sandwiches for the fieldtrip. Susan Vitek, Judi Reichenberger,Buck Packard and Darl Rector distributedbinders and other information to the regis-trants. Chuck Jenkins talked to folks aboutthe field trip and answered questions relatedto the Friends “Big Green Display” that was .

Carol Wirkus and Judi Reichenberger assemble

Binder contents for conference

Page 8Volume 2006, Issue 2

V Bar V Days

The month of March 2006 was ArchaeologyMonth in Arizona. The Red Rock RangerDistrict hosted the public to an open house atthe V –V Heritage Site on March 25th and26th. The Friends were asked to provide do-cents for this event. Serving as docents forthis event were Ken Zoll, Dean Campbell,Justine Kusner, Jan and Noreen Lisowski,Joe and Sonya Landholm, Fred and JoyShinn, and Rosalyn Kraft. Assisting incooking and cleanup at the evening barbe-cue for the docents and exhibitors wereNancy Zoll, Shermane and Larry Frei. Inpreparation for V –V Days, the Friends wereasked to help rake dry grasses in certain ar-eas to reduce the fuels on the ground andlessen the danger of fire. Helping with theraking were Louisa Connell, Dean Camp-bell, Jan Lisowski, John Sturgis and KenZoll.

A traditional agave roast was held during V –V Days. Digging and preparing the pit wereMike Vitek, Al Cornell, Roy Julian and FSWill Hill. After the pit was dug, it requiredgathering of basalt lava rock to line the pit.Being so close to Wet Beaver Creek, we allthought that the creek would be the closestsource. Al Cornell gently informed us wecould not use creek basalt, because whenheated they would explode, due to havingbeen exposed to water. So gathering basal-tic lava rock elsewhere to line the pit were AlCornell, Roy Julian, and Mike Vitek. Build-ing the fire, placing the agave into the pit andcovering the pit with soil to make an under-ground oven were Al Cornell, Mike Vitek,Roy Julian and Sherman Loy.

When you have an agave roast, of course

beautifully redone by Bill Kusner, just for the con-ference.

A special note of appreciation to Dean Campbelland members of his Cultural Resources committeewho put together a beautiful sunny day and an fieldtrip. Excited adults climbed aboard the big, yellowschool bus so reminiscent of years gone by. Weseemed to revert to our childhood and laughed,talked and giggled all the way from the Hilton Hotelin the Village of Oak Creek to Palatki! The buswas graciously provided by Ken Anderson andthe Red Rock District. The sun was shiningbrightly and had melted the snowfall from the daybefore. As we rounded the corner behind theranch house we were greeted by the green vestsand smiling faces of Chuck Jenkins and SusanVitek who had been busy all morning collectingpreviously ordered sandwiches. Chuck and Susanbrought ice chests full of sodas and water, and thesandwiches. They then delivered the feast toPalatki and spread colorful tablecloths on the threelarge picnic tables. Also with enthusiastic warmwelcomes were Fred and Joy Shinn and Sonyaand Joe Landholm. Fred, Joy, Sonya and Joehad volunteered to assist Dean as docents for thisspecial tour. I can assure you the attendees of the2006 Partnership Conference had nothing butpraise for the people of the Friends of the Forestand our enormous contribution to a very successfulmeeting. All were mightily impressed and did nothesitate to say so.

Helen Campbell

Cultural Resources

Dean Campbell

the main ingredient is the agave. After hiking toa ridge overlooking the Beaver Creek RangerStation, where there was a site of cultivars(cultivated by prehistoric peoples), two agaveswhere harvested using a traditional digging stickby Dean Campbell, Mike Vitek, Al Cornell,Roy Julian, and Joe Landholm under the guid-ance of Wendy Hodgson of the Desert BotanicalGarden in Phoenix. Some of the group thenwent to the Page Springs area where agave of adifferent species was also harvested. In additionto the previous agave, a different species washarvested from the slope of Sacred Mountainand Wendy brought an agave specie from theAqua Fria area.

.

On Saturday, March 25th, the roasting pit wasopened and the visitors to the V –V HeritageSite were treated to roast agave Serving agavefor tasting were Noreen Liskowski, RosalynKraft and Justine Kusner. Docents and visitorsenjoyed tasting and comparing the flavors of thedifferent species of agave. As part of the activi-ties and demonstrations at the V –V Days, AlCornell and Roy Julian demonstrated many ofthe primitive skills that they have mastered.

The preparation of the roasting pit and the sub-sequent roasting and serving of the agave wascompleted under the guidance of Albert Abril, anexpert on fibers, weaving, textiles, and the roast-ing of agave.

I extend my sincerest thanks to all those on the

Cultural Resources Committee who so unselfishlygave of their time to be a part of this great event.

Other Activities

Committee member Ken Zoll has completed hisyear long study of the V –V panel and has pub-lished a book, Sinagua Sunwatchers. The bookdescribes the study which confirms and docu-ments the presence of an agrarian and ceremo-nial calendar on one of the panels. The first pub-lic viewing of the new 90 page book was at the V–V site during V–V Days open house. You mayalso view his findings on the website,www.sinaguasunwatchers.com. I believe you willfind the book and the website very interesting andthought provoking.

Ken Zoll has completed the new Palatki/RedCliffs Heritage Site Tour Guide and the trail guidebooklet will soon be available at the Palatki and V–V Heritage Sites.

New members Angela Lefevre and WendellWaybright have completed their training as do-cents and both are actively serving as docents atthe Palatki and V–V sites.

April 2006 will be a busy month for the CulturalResources Committee as the site hosts atPalatki, Friends members Cathie Lynch andBen Bartmann will be leaving the end of March.The committee will be asked to provide additionaldocents until the new site hosts arrive.

Floydeen Kendall and Harry Bruce, site hosts atV –V will be leaving site on April 10th. So theFriends docents are being asked to fill in each ofthe remaining days in April.

If you wish to learn about our great Heritage Cul-tural Sites and be a docent to assist in the protec-tion and interpretation of these sites, call or email:

Dean Campbell

928-284-0527

redrockdean@earthlink.net

Or

Craig Johnson

928-204-2262

shortshrinksj@yahoo.com

Page 9

Helping to protect

National Forest Land

The Friends of the Forest, Inc. is dedicated to assisting the U. S. Forest Service in maintaining, protecting, and restoring thescenic beauty and natural and cultural resources of forest lands for the enjoyment and use of present and future generations.The objective of this nonprofit, volunteer group is to work in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service in tasks it does nothave the manpower or the funds to accomplish on its own.

PO Box 2391Sedona, AZ 86339-2391

Friends of the Forest

Wednesday, April 19 - 9:00 AM - KSB Building

FOF Quarterly Board of Directors and Members meeting

All Members are welcome

Future Board of Director Meetings:

June 14, 2006

September 20, 2006

December 13, 2006

****************

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage PaidSedona, AZPermit No. 6

See Branching Out in color

www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org