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Roving Ranger Events
August 30- September 2, 2024
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Who Are the Roving Rangers? | The Flagstaff area Roving Rangers is a partnership team comprised of both rangers and volunteers from the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The Rangers' mission is to provide fun and free ranger programs in and around the Flagstaff area, in the three Flagstaff Area National Monuments, and the Coconino National Forest. The Rangers bring understanding and inspiration to all ages, prompting visitors to cherish our natural world, and conserve natural and cultural resources. Check out Our Webpage and follow us on Our Facebook Page to stay up to date with what we're doing! | |
Here's what's going on this week: | |
Every week the Roving Rangers provide special programming around the Flagstaff area. You are receiving this email because at some point in time you expressed interest in learning more about us. | | |
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Friday 8/30-Monday 9/2 (Labor Day) | ARIZONA SNOWBOWL: The Scenic Gondola Ride is open every day, weather permitting. On Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, Roving Rangers are there from 10am-4pm to greet you up top, and to provide interpretation and short presentations. Contact AZ Snowbowl @928.779.1951 for Scenic Gondola Ride details. | | |
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Critter Corner for All Ages!
Dispersed Camping Area FS RD 237, 4:00pm
Come join Ranger Barbara to explore and learn about the critters and other things that live in the forest! This will be fun and interactive for kids and adults of all ages! Bring chairs or plan to sit on the soft pine needles for part of the time! Looking forward to having fun with as we learn together!
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Macro Photography w/ Guest Speaker William Bodine!
Pine Grove Campground 7:30pm
Amateur photographer William Bodine will share pictures and information of the plants and animals in our campground and tips about macrophotography. This is a kid/family friendly presentation. There will be items for kids and adults to touch, smell and look at.
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Fatman Loop Family Walk
Elden Trailhead off Hwy 89, 9:00am.
Start September right! Short walk on Fatman loop with Ranger Barbara to see what you may have never seen before?! We plan to go 3/4 of a mile to the mystery tree and discover wonder along the way. Continue on yourself. One hour. If parking lot full, park at the Forest Service Ranger Station/ Visitor Center and walk down.
Jr. Ranger Program
Bonito Campground, 4-5:30pm
Ranger Barbara will be ROAMING Bonito Campground from 4-5:30pm with Jr. Ranger booklets and badges. This is a fun family activity on becoming a Coconino National Forest Jr. Ranger AND learn about the forest and what there is to discover!
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Roving Ranger Karen
Taking Care of Business!
Why are you a Roving Ranger?
I retired from the Coconino National Forest in 2011 after a career as an Engineering Technician, then Deputy Public Affairs Officer. Educational outreach was a favorite part of my job. I was an advisor to the Interpretive Partnership almost from the genesis of the program, so I knew I wanted to volunteer in that capacity as a retiree.
What’s your favorite part about being a Roving Ranger?
Volunteering as a Roving Ranger keeps me connected with the landscape and with people who value and manage the land. I'm still learning about local natural and cultural history and the art of interpretation and it's rewarding to share with visitors.
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Anything else you'd like to add or share with folks?
Our Roving Ranger cadre is a great group of people, committed to sharing their passion for our public lands. If you're a Flagstaff local who values our public lands and would like to share your knowledge and experience with visitors, consider volunteering for the Roving Rangers. Typical commitment is 5-10 hours a week, Contact Mike Kruse (michael.kruse@usda.gov).
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Every week the Roving Rangers consult with experts in the area to cover a pertinent topic of interest and publish it the Arizona Daily Sun on Thursdays. If you have a question that you would like to submit, please email: askaranger@gmail.com. | |
Oak Creek Canyon III: The Upper Canyon
by Richard McGaugh
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My special spot in Oak Creek Canyon is the Cave Springs Campground area.
Cave Springs was originally homesteaded by Civil War veteran Oliver Pain Harding. Harding came to Flagstaff in 1884, and then homesteaded in upper Oak Creek Canyon. He was a stone mason and an early Flagstaff contractor; Harding was responsible for all the stone work on the McMillan Building, at the corner of Railroad and Gold Avenues and other downtown Flagstaff buildings. He was called Colonel Harding, but truth be known he had achieved the rank of Brigadier General.
Harding’s 60-plus acre homestead stretched from Cave Springs Campground north to Chipmunk Lodge. Originally a rancher, Harding turned to his orchard, and grew strawberries and vegetables. He and his wife Mattie lived on the Homestead for many years. To get to Flagstaff for his political endeavors, delivering produce, or to deliver fishing reports, Harding ascended the canyon via one of two trails East Rim trails, the Harding Springs Trail or the Cookstove Trail. He would leave his wagons on the top of the rim and use the horses to pack his produce out and supplies down the steep trails of the canyon. My father still recollects the old wagons that were abandoned at the top of the Harding Springs Trail.
When the Hardings grew older, their trips to Flagstaff became less frequent. A 1911 Coconino Daily Sun article noted that Col. Harding, Oak Creek rancher walked up from that famous stream last Saturday. The Colonel has not visited Flagstaff in 15 years. (And I can only imagine walking out of Oak Creek Canyon and on to Flagstaff in my seventies.)
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During his later years, friends in Flagstaff helped the Colonel file and receive his belated retirement pay for his Civil War military service.
After Col. Harding passed away on June 12, 1915, Mattie sold the property to George Babbitt Jr., who continued to improve the land. Taking care of the orchard, and adding fishing ponds (known as Troutdale Ranch), and in 1949 subdividing the Chipmunk Lodge area on the upper Harding Ranch.
| Flyer advertising TroutDale Ranch fishing. Courtesy Peter Mourtsen. | |
Another Upper Canyon homesteading family, the Todds, first came to Happy Jack in 1922, but moved to Oak Creek the following year. After trying his luck at ranching, Frank Todd planted an orchard and built and operated Todd’s Lodge. The Todd’s were famous for their hospitality. In the early 1970’s they sold the lodge to the Garland family. Today you can still visit this wonderful place called Orchard Canyon. | |
Fishing the Trout Dale ponds, 1950's. Courtesy Author's Grandma | |
Slightly farther up-river, Frank Pendley homesteaded and planted an orchard and garden in the early 1900’s. Pendley built one of the most advanced irrigation systems of its time, which is still in use today. The Pendleys tended their orchard until the early 1980’s. Their property was one of the last large parcels of private land in Oak Creek Canyon. When they considered selling their property, Governor Bruce Babbitt created the Arizona Parklands Foundation to raise funds and purchase the land, creating Slide Rock State Park. Bruce—like all of us growing up in Flagstaff—have a special place in our hearts for Slide Rock. It's a wonderful State Park, still holding on to the Pendley Family touch. | |
Slide Rock, 1925. Courtesy NAU Special Collections | |
The final taming of Oak Creek Canyon and its backwaters was the creation of Highway 79, connecting Flagstaff to Prescott, with the southern portion finished in the 1920’s, and the stretch from Sedona to Flagstaff finished by 1931. A gravel road originally, after improvements Highway 79 became US-89A in 1941. The once-remote canyon now had easy access to move fruits and vegetables to markets in Flagstaff and beyond, and turned Oak Creek Canyon into one of the most popular recreational areas in the state. | |
The one-lane tunnel on the Oak Creek highway, 1920's. Courtesy NAU Special Collections | | |
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Richard McGaugh was born in Flagstaff, grew up in Fort Valley, and worked for a few decades for the City of Flagstaff. When he’s not being a Roving Ranger, Richard’s favorite hobby is Northern Arizona History. | | | | |
