NORTHERN ARIZONA'S
MAGAZINE
Fur, Claw, Wing and
HOPE Endangered Species Projects and Efforts
Fe a t u r i O u r Ba c n g ky Ga rden i a rd O ut do or n g & L iv i n S e c t io n g
Plus Color, Schemes with Artist Robert Zappanti Best Beers with an Eco-Friendly Twist Sandys Canyon Offers Up a Nearby Adventure
$2.95
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Annie, age 70
Your future self will thank you. Now is the time to take charge of your health — and your heart. About 1 in 3 Americans have cardiovascular disease. The good news is, there are many ways to treat it. Your next step? Turn to Northern Arizona Healthcare and a team of cardiovascular partners, your partners in heart health. As cardiovascular experts right here in Northern Arizona, we’ll help you become a key member of your care team. Let’s start with a heart assessment to see where you stand.
Annie, age 45
Today your heart needs answers. We can help.
Call 928-773-2150 to schedule an appointment with a heart specialist. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
Take our free heart assessment online at NAHealth.com/heart-risk.
REG IONAL M EDIC AL CE NT E R AND FOUNDAT ION
presents the 19th Annual
WOMEN’S H EALTH C ONFERENCE SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 AT
10am 11am 12pm 1pm
TORREON GOLF CLUB – 651 S. TORREON LOOP, SHOW LOW
Doors open Charlsye Miller, “PEACE” Lunch Amy Dee, “BLISS”
Bring your friends and sisters and shop local vendors throughout the event. Speaker
Featured Speaker
Charlsye Miller
Amy Dee-Kristensen
“Five Ways you can Overcome Overwhelm and Create a Life of Peace and Joy”
Decide to like more things…like your crabby neighbor, like your dimpled thighs, like those hairs growing out of your chin. Quit trying to squeeze into those size four jeans from high school because your bones got bigger. Celebrate your Bold Woman Bliss!
“BLISS”
This fun, enlightening, inspira onal keynote is full of humor, music, and celebra on. You will be roaring with laughter, wiping tears of inspira on, and dancing with a renewed sense of your own amazing power and greatness as women in this world! Bold Women Bliss is in honor of and to Celebrate Woman - this one’s for the girls!
$20 Conference Fee • Lunch is Provided Limited Seating • To register, please visit www.summithealthcare.net Sound compliments of: de r
RE G ION A L MED I CA L CE N T E R A N D F O U N D A T I O N
a Medicare M Clea By
Denny Shankland
(928) 242-4522 Denny@WelcomeTo65.com www.WelcomeTo65.com
CONTENTS
April 2017 COVER STORY
8 Fur, Claw, Wing & Hope By Emery Cowan and Seth Muller With this year marking the 30th anniversary of the California condor disappearance from the wild—followed by steady and painstaking work to reintroduce the animal and help it in the wild, we look at the work being done locally to help with the condor and other species.
Advertising Special Section:
Backyard Bests
DEPARTMENTS HOME FRONT 18 We share some of our favorite backyards and landscapes from various homes we have visited throughout the region. MATTERS OF TASTE 22 One of the great institutions among restaurants in the Flagstaff area is Horseman’s Lodge, a north-of-town eatery that focuses on steaks. We meet with the crew (horses included) to learn about what makes a good cut. BY THE BOTTLE 25 Our resident beer expert offers up a sudsy lineup of beers that are great and also environmentally friendly.
ALSO
6 EDITOR’S NOTES 7 PLAYING FAVORITES 34 HOW AND WHY
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
THE ARTS 26 Artist Robert Zappanti brings his colorful and distinctive style to the animal world in various paintings, murals and even public art displays. MIND & BODY 28 As the weather warms, we look at ways to get into trail and outdoor running, with some tips from the locals and organizations to join. TREKS & TRAILS 32 Within only a short distance of the city limits, the Sandys Canyon Trail offers a chance to walk among old-growth ponderosas and bask in exposed cliffs and the chance to encounter many animals.
NORTHERN ARIZONA'S
MAGAZINE
Fur, Claw, Wing and
HOPE Endangered Species Projects and Efforts
Feat ur in Ou r Ba ck g ya Ga rden in rd Outdoor g & Livin Sect ion g
Plus Color, Schemes with Artist Robert Zappanti Best Beers with an Eco-Friendly Twist Sandys Canyon Offers Up a Nearby Adventure
$2.95
A p r i l 2 0 17
Free with Arizona Daily Sun Home Delivery
ON THE COVER California condors have long been on the wing at the Grand Canyon. This month marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the captive breeding and reintroduction program to save the endangered species. Photography by Chris Parish, The Peregrine Fund.
Residential single family homes, townhomes, condominiums, vacation homes, vacant land, commercial properties, and property management.
Real Estate Services & Property Management 1900 N. Country Club Drive • Flagstaff, AZ 86004 928-527-3300 (Office) • 888-526-3232 (Toll Free) www.CENTURY21FlagstaffRealty.com
Each office is independently owned and operated
NORTHERN ARIZONA'S
MAGAZINE
Publisher DON ROWLEY
Art Director KEITH HICKEY
Editor SETH MULLER SETHM@NAMLM.COM 928.913.8668
Sales Contributors SAVANNAH BARLOW SHAYNE CAFFREY SARAH DOMBROSKI KIM DUNCAN ZACHARY MEIER LYDIA SMITH
Advertising Director COLLEEN BRADY 928.556.2279 Assistant Editor DIANDRA MARKGRAF 928.913.8670
Graphic Artists CALLIOPE LUEDEKER CANDACE SCHIPPER LAURIE WINN
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine is published monthly at 1751 S. THOMPSON ST. | Flagstaff, AZ 86001 ISSN: 1534-3804
Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine is published by
Copyright ©2017 Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, illustrations and other materials are invited, but will not be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. Publisher assumes no responsibility for lost materials or the return of unsolicited materials. Publisher assumes no responsibility for any materials, solicited or unsolicited, after six months from date of publication. Cover and entire contents of this publication are fully protected. Reproduction or use without prior written permission from the editor is strictly prohibited. Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine is not responsible for scheduled event changes. Any views, opinions or suggestions contained within Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine are not necessarily those of the management or owners.
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EDITOR'S NOTES
M
NORTHERN ARIZONA'S
MAGA ZINE
y eight-year-old daughter, Grace, loves animals like few people I’ve ever seen. She has piles upon piles of small animal figurines. She has multiple books on animals. She knows the names and habitats of animals I’ve never heard of (still not sure what a pangolin or okapi is, but she knows). She has all the birds that come to the yard identified and is always on the lookout for animals she might find on road trips. Her love of animals extends to dogs, cats, bunnies and all manner of pets. Grace does good to remind me that animals are not only some curiosity for us to consider as part of our world—they are important residents and their lives are worthy of our respect and thoughtfulness. Our country, state and city is not only made up of its people, but of its animals that often play a vital role is the natural world. And our stewardship over their success and protection remains important. This makes our special feature this month on endangered species particularly relevant. It might appear like we’re putting a big shine on environmental issues. After all, we only recently featured women environmental advocates on our cover last month. However, recent hard-fought campaigns made the focus important in that regard. As for the animals, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the long recovery for California condors. The last ones were taken out of the wild in 1987. Then, from there, a plan to recover the largest bird in North America took root. In northern Arizona, the California condor is integrated into our environment and culture. It’s a species that draws all kinds of excitement and interest at the Grand Canyon, where the scavengers find homes among the high-up caves in the Kaibab limestone and circle around the skies with their nine-foot wingspans. It also helps that the condors are curious, and they aren’t afraid to get close to watch the tourists as they watch them. Along with the condor, we are taking a look at some other animals that are getting a lot of help to get or keep them thriving. We hope you’ll take the time to get to know and appreciate the fauna of our part of the world and the diversity they bring to the landscape. As we all start to get outdoors more with the big push of spring, it’s a great time to remember and think about them.
Happy Reading!
Subscribe Today Learn more at www.namlm.com. 6
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
Seth Muller sethm@namlm.com www.namlm.com
PLAYING FAVORITES
REWINDING The Reel Compiled by the Staff
1
Everything in the Song Is True
(Directed by Doug Morrione)
For this month, we wanted to put highlights on some of the intriguing films that played at Sedona International Film Festival in February. For anyone who missed them, it’s a chance to take note and watch for their availability on streaming and other release formats. First up—a feature length documentary film about four iconic characters who define the American West, Everything in the Song Is True is a great piece of viewing to consider for our corner of the world. Gary McMahan is a renowned cowboy singer, poet and champion yodeler. Brice Chapman is one of the world’s most talented trick ropers and horse trainers. Yvonne Hollenbeck is a fourth generation rancher and awardwinning poet and quilter. Jeff Nourse is a rancher, singer-songwriter and iron sculptor. Spanning the wide open spaces from Colorado to New Mexico to Texas and the Dakotas, filmmaker Douglas Morrione traveled alongside these characters for nearly two years to capture the sights and songs that are unique to the American experience. www.everythinginthesongistrue.com.
2
Fire at Sea
3
I Am Not Your Negro
(Directed by Gianfranco Rosi)
Winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin Film Festival 2016 and nominated for an Academy Award, Gianfranco Rosi’s moving portrait of the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa—and the humanitarian crisis occurring in the seas around it—is both a stirring work of documentary f ilmmaking and a timely call for urgent action. Situated 150 miles south of Sicily, Lampedusa made headlines as the f irst port of call for hundreds of thousands of African and Middle Eastern refugees hoping to make a new life in Europe. After spending months living on the island and engaging with its inhabitants, “Rosi accumulated an incredible array of footage, portraying the history, culture and daily lives of the islanders,” as noted in the f ilm’s synopsis. The f ilm slowly builds a breathtakingly naturalistic portrait of the Lampedusan people and the events that surround them. Fire at Sea also has received thoughtful praise for its unf linching look at the crisis without offering clear answers or hope. www.fireatsea.com.
(Directed by Raoul Peck)
Also nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, I Am Not Your Negro is all about writer James Baldwin, and it’s told in his own words. The scenes cut between Baldwin’s televised appearances and writings from his unf inished work, Remember This House, about civil rights activists Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers. Samuel L. Jackson reads the text for these excerpts. At the start of the documentary, Baldwin leaves Paris to come back to the United States and join the Civil Rights Movement. Baldwin details a profound sense of disaffection in his own country. As Baldwin makes comparisons to the different approaches of Evers, King and X in the unf inished book that is shared, he also sets himself apart by noting his own kind of intellectual approach to the movement. I’m Not Your Negro is a keenly important f ilm in light of recent racial tensions and for a country that continues to grapple with the issues that arose a half-century ago. www.iamnotyournegrofilm.com. With each issue, we feature our selections of books, films, music and other media as part of a roundup of what’s in the headphones or on the nightstand or generally catching our attention across all media, gadgetry and formats. Some have regional ties or loose affiliations to northern Arizona and some are picks we think are just plain worth checking out. april17 namlm.com
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FUR, CLAW, WING& HOPE Endangered Species Projects and Efforts Part of the Greater Grand Canyon By Emery Cowan and Seth Muller
T
his year marks a number of major milestones for a t wo endangered species that call t he g reater Gra nd Ca nyon region home. The black-footed Ferret, which finds itself at home a short distance from the Grand Canyon in a Seligman-area valley, was named as an endangered species 50 years ago this year. A little more than a decade later, it was announced as being ex tinct before being rediscovered and eventually part of a program to keep the rare species alive.
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
It also marks the 50th anniversary of the California condor, the largest flying land bird in North America, being named a n enda ngered spec ies. A nd 30 yea rs ago this month, the birds were removed from the wild to start a captive breeding and rehabilitation program. With these milestones and the ongoing and changing work to help these particular species, we look at these two animals and two more—the Mexican gray wolf and humpback chub—to learn about the animals themselves and the efforts to save them.
This page: Wolf photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service. (Jim Clark) Condor photo courtesy of the Peregrine Fund and Humpback Chub photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish. Ferret photo by the staff.
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Photo by Chris Parish of The Peregrine Fund. Courtesy.
&
Wings Prayers
W
ith wings that span up to nine feet across, California condors are giants of the sky, catching air currents to rise thousands of feet above the Colorado Plateau then gliding for miles while hardly moving their wings. The birds’ mostly black feathers, save for the white undersides of their wings, end at the neck and their bald heads are colored in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow and light blue. They make their nests in caves high on cliff faces and can live 60 years or longer. Three decades ago, humans brought this species to its knees. In their advancement west, people shot, poisoned, captured and disturbed the condors across their historic range. They also collected the raptors’ eggs and killed off much of their food supply of large game, further crippling the population. In April 1987, the world population of the species had dwindled to just 27 birds and the last wild condor was captured to be put into a captive breeding program. Since then, concerted conservation efforts have brought the birds back and in 2008 they reached an important milestone when the number of California condors in the wild surpassed the number in captivity. Still, the birds’ four populations—two in California, one in Baja, Mexico and one
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
California Condors Continue Flight Toward Recovery
spanning northern Arizona and southern Utah—depend on ongoing human reintroduction efforts to survive. Lead poisoning continues to limit the species’ ability to establish a self-sustaining population. As scavengers, the birds often feed on the innards of big game carcasses left by hunters in the forest. They are dominant scavengers, scouting for places where other animals are congregating for their next meal. But lead bullets, the most common type of ammunition, tend to fragment when they enter an animal, scattering small pieces of lead shot throughout the meat and guts of the animal. For the condors, that makes one of their main food sources a toxic meal. Half of all California condor deaths are due to poisoning by lead fragments, according to the Peregrine Fund, one of the nonprofits involved in the birds’ recovery. Recent studies have found an average of 30 percent of the condors in northern Arizona and southern Utah suffer from extreme lead exposure, the Peregrine Fund reports. Today, the Peregrine Fund and other organizations continue to raise California condors in captivity. Every September in northern Arizona, eight to 12 birds are released into the wild from the Vermilion Cliffs area.
Photo by John Bradley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Courtesy.
T
Returning to the Wilds
The Work to Save and Help the Mexican Gray Wolf
hree decades ago, the future of the Mexican gray wolf depended on just seven animals. Humans had decimated the species through a concerted campaign of extermination in the 1900s and by the time the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser vice began a recover y program, they had just seven unrelated adults to begin captive breeding and reintroduction efforts. Since then, the federal program has made steady progress, with the last counts showing at least 113 animals living in the wild--the highest since reintroduction began in 1998. They do, however, continue to be the most endangered subspecies of wolf in the world. Light gray with darker brown and cinnamon shading, the wolves now roam the forests of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Once they find a partner, they form a breeding pair and then extended family groups, or packs, that includes several generations. Each pack’s territory can encompass up to several hundred square miles. Over the years, the politics surrounding the animals
haven’t gotten any less contentious. Natural predators who feed mainly on ungulates, the wolves occasionally kill livestock or stress them in other ways. That has led to many ranchers as well as the states of both Arizona and New Mexico to push back against further releases of captive adult wolves into the wild, saying they are more prone to killing livestock or having unacceptable interactions with humans. But many conservationists say those releases are the only way to create the diversity needed for the wild population to survive. As it stands, the wolves are, on average, as related to one another as full siblings. In Arizona at least, wildlife officials are hoping another experimental tactic will work. The procedure, first attempted by wildlife managers in 2014, involves transferring wolf pups born in captivity into the den of a wild wolf pack less than two weeks after they are born. The hope is that the wild mother will raise the pups as their own. At least of five of eight cross fosters attempted in the past two years have so far been successful, but the procedure relies on perfect timing and luck.
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Photo courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey.
Back Current in the
B
efore the 1900’s, when Colorado River’s waters still f lowed un-choked by massive dams, the humpback chub roamed throughout the river’s northern basin. The species, distinguished by a fleshy hump that rises from between its eyes, was found in the White and Green rivers in Utah, the Yampa in Colorado and the Little Colorado River in Arizona. Decades later, dams have blocked historic f ish migration routes and turned many stretches of the Colorado from warm and muddy to cool and clear. Nonnative species have spread, competing for food and becoming new predator risks. And the chub, which need warmer waters to thrive, have been backed into just a few tributaries of the Colorado River. The largest population resides in the Little Colorado River, close to its confluence with the main stem. The area has become a focal point for science and conservation efforts related to the endangered fish. In one long-term effort, biologists monitor, scan and electronically tag juvenile humpback chub to monitor
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
Humpback Chub Get Big Help with Relocation Efforts
how water temperatures are affecting growth and reproduction rates. Surprising for scientists has been the fact that humpback chub in the Grand Canyon seem to be coexisting relatively successfully, at least for now, with nonnative trout as well as other natives like bluehead sucker and flannelmouth sucker. Also a positive sign for the species is a long term translocation project that moves fingerling chub upstream in the Little Colorado River to a spot with more available food and fewer predators. The growth and survival rates among the translocated fish have consistently been higher than those of nontranslocated chub, indicating promise for the conservation strategy to augment the species’ populations in Grand Canyon. Those conservation efforts have helped the humpback chub hang on—it’s one of just five native fish that still survive in Grand Canyon today. While fish in the canyon saw steady declines between 1989 and 2001, recent surveys suggest a resurgence: between 2001 and 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the number of adult humpback chub in Grand Canyon has increased 50 percent.
Trying to Find Footing
Black-footed Ferret in Recovery
A
round 75 miles west of Flagstaff is a flat, open expanse that runs wild with prairie dogs. Known as Aubrey Valley and situated off old Route 66 as it heads out of Seligman, the area also has a distinction of being home to one of a handful of Black-footed ferret populations. It’s where Arizona Game and Fish biologists work with the help of volunteers and other agencies to monitor and help this endangered species. “To me, it’s one of the great success stories because the ferret was declared extinct twice,” said wildlife specialist Jennifer Cordova with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It’s a neat story. They’re one of the most endangered mammals in North America and now we’re working to protect them. And the ferrets themselves are cute and curious and it’s fun to see them in the wild.” In 1979, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first declared that the black-footed ferret had become extinct. The loss came as a result of the hunting, killing, poisoning and removal of its only prey: prairie dogs. Two years after everyone thought the animal was gone from the planet, a rancher in Wyoming made a startling discovery. His dog had killed a black-footed ferret. The rancher did not
know what it was, but his wife found it so intriguing she asked him to take it to the taxidermist to get it stuffed. The taxidermist knew it to be a black-footed ferret. And he immediately notified the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Seligman-area population is monitored with the help of volunteers who spotlight the ferrets, set traps and help biologists tag, monitor and vaccinate the animals to help their population thrive. It’s one of around two dozen sites that work with the ferrets, and some are doing better than others. The predators need plenty of prairie dogs for feasting, but they also have to contend with their predators—such as hawks and coyotes—and disease. In Aubrey Valley, the ferret counts in the roundups are going down, dropping by half year over year since 2012. “In 2016, we caught 10,” Cordova shared. “We’re still trying to figure out why. Other sites have had plague, but we have not detected plague in Aubrey Valley. Maybe the drought lowered prairie dogs here, but, really, we don’t know why our population is declining. This is an important year to see how our counts hold up and see if we can find out what’s happening.” Meanwhile, Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for a few good volunteers. E-mail azferret@g f.state.az.us to learn more.
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BACKYARD BEST
Tips, Tricks and Ideas for Gardening and Outdoor Living By the Staff
W
ith April arrives the potential of longer days and warmer weather pulling us outdoors. As the trees bud and the flowers start to bloom, thoughts of boosting our backyards with better gardens, nicer landscaping, better outdoor living and even a chance for some backyard habitat-building along the way with a healthy garden. Here are a few ideas and approaches to think about as the growing and sunning season start to take form.
Gardening Guide Establishing Protection. Let’s face it, Flagstaff has a fickle climate. Freezes that can happen as late as May and as early as September. Snowfall possible in each month. Huge swings in temperature from morning until night and back again. So—before planting that row of bulbs or setting up some raised beds, it’s best to consider the approach of a greenhouse to extend that growing season. Instead of having a growing season that is as short as 60 or 90 days, protection from the elements can push 14
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
the edges of it. Recently, better materials and technology have made greenhouses both more effective than previous varieties and more affordable. Consult local nurseries for best ideas and approaches to a greenhouse setup. Watering Smart. Flagstaff is not a place where people often invest in high-tech irrigation systems. But it doesn’t take much these days to harness simple technology and a little work to bring a functional system to life. Drip-irrigation hoses hooked up to a portable digital water timer can do the trick. A reliable digital watering timer can go for as low as $25. A modest version will allow for the setting of watering intervals and durations with dual dials. The automatic operation conserves water and saves time and hooks up right to the spigot. Consult your local gardening store for best ideas on use. Also, keep in mind the City of Flagstaff ’s watering schedule and any restrictions that might apply. We do still live in an arid climate, so being water-wise is the best bet for conservation and the wallet.
Creating Compost. The excuses for not composting are starting to dwindle, as turning kitchen scraps into compost can be then utilized in the garden. This means less going to the landfill or down the drain, and compost provides vital nutrients to the garden. While it does take up some room and some effort it is well worth it. There are tons of composters out there, but tumblers are favored as an easier option. Compost is decomposed organic matter, made from leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, and fruit and vegetable scraps. Compost is one of nature’s best mulches and soil amendments, helps plants and grasses thrive and is a sustainable substitute for commercial fertilizers. The city of Flagstaff and Coconino County both offer affordable compost bins for their residents. Call (928) 526-2735. No need for the use of the compost? Check in with www.rootscomposting.com for pickup.
Outdoor Living
Best Reads. Along with coming up with creative ways to deal with Flagstaff’s elements through greenhouses, better watering and use of compost, local gardeners also can equip themselves with knowledge. We recommend checking out Lisa Rayner’s Growing Food in the Southwest Mountains: A Guide to High-altitude, Semi-arid Home Permaculture Gardens. As her website shares, this book will “help you grow food under the most challenging of circumstances.” Growing Food in the Southwest Mountains covers dry weather, high winds, intense sunlight, cold nights, summer heat, insect pests, weeds and other challenges of the high-elevation Southwest. As we get out and try to assess the growing situation in our own yards, we might find that one side of the yard scorches plants in the sun, while the other side freezes them. And the challenges with the elements is always in play. So, a handy guidebook is always a good bet. www.lisarayner.com.
Bringing the Light. A patio or outdoor living space first has to feel inviting. It has to set a mood and create a spirit that draws people out for long evenings of wining, dining, entertaining, stargazing or just plain sitting outside and enjoying the peace and quiet. The first element to make this space feel like a welcoming one is to bring in the lighting. There are all kinds of options out there for patio and outdoor lighting, but the end result is the same—the light creates the mood. For one option, we like café string lights that can dress up an outdoor patio to look like the street lights seen in European sidewalk cafés. Bringing the Seats. Patio and outdoor furniture often gets a bad rap. It doesn’t take living it outside through a few years of insane weather before it breaks down. And most plastic outdoor furniture breaks
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after a year or two. One of the better solutions to come along in a while is known as Breezesta furniture. It is 100 percent poly recycled plastic furniture that removes hundreds of thousands of petroleum-based HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic bottles from America’s waste stream. But what’s as good is that it is durable and carried a lifetime warranty. One of the nicer lines in the Breezesta Family is the Adirondack collection. It features seven styles in 20 colors. Prices start around $300. Learn more at www. breezesta.com.
Bringing the Soaks. There is something about mountain living that brings out the urge to consider a hot tub for the backyard. With cool nights, fresh air and always a need to relax and unwind, a spa as part of the outdoor living arrangement always beckons. Extras on spas can add up very quickly, but having a good budget and a good sense of how much luxury is called for can help narrow down the options. Before hitting the sales floors to browse available options, take a look at hot tubs online and decide on essentials and nonessentials. Basic models provide the benefits of hydrotherapy, and that may be all that’s needed. But for anyone who wants the full sensory experience for enjoyment and entertaining, set a budget that allows for the extras. Check out the local www. summitspasaz.com to learn more.
Bringing the Meats. The final, seal-the-deal addition to any outdoor patio space is to have a great grill as preparation for the upcoming grilling season. There are hundreds of grills on the market and price ranges from less than $100 to $5,000 and more for custom outfits. But a great in-themiddle quality alternative is a classic gas grill. It’s a great way to bring food to the outdoor party. Check out local home
improvement stores for the various options and pick the best one for the grilling needs.
You Dream... We Create.
VISTA LANDSCAPES
LLC
THANK YOU, FLAGSTAFF! We’ve been a part of the community since 1981 and appreciate your business.
928-526-4651
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AGASSIZ
LANDSCAPE GROUP, LLC. “Designers Buildersofof “Designers and Builders Exquisite Outdoor Outdoor Spaces” Exquisite Spaces”
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
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HOME FRONT
Lakeside Living
Outdoor Living ELEVATED
Some of Our Favorite Flagstaff Backyards and Outdoor Living Spaces By the Staff
Hillside Street Home
A
lthough the month of April can bring cool temperatures and some wintry bluster, by the end of the month we usually see spring in its earliest bloom. And with spring comes the chance to be outside more and in the backyard more. Longer and sunnier days draw us out of the inside and invite us to prepare for the usually wonderful northern Arizona summers. With this in mind, we wanted to share some of our favorite backyards we’ve seen in recent years in our home visits. As a note, many of our favorites on the backyard front also were part of the Flagstaff Symphony Guild Home Tour, which takes place in August. Learn more by calling call Mary Hostetler at (928) 522-0549 or visiting www.flagstaffsymphony.org.
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
A home we visited on Lake Elaine stands as a stately residence, with 4,650 square feet of high-end but comfortable living. The home sits on about an acre of land that borders the lake’s easement. It has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms on two levels. The upper floor features a grand room, living room, modern and smartly designed kitchen and master suite. Faux-painted walls by Holly Stahl add to the style of the home. However, it’s the extensive outdoor living space, including covered patios upstairs and downstairs, and a rolling lawn that reaches out to the lake, that made this residence especially enchanting.
JANUARY 14—APRIL 10, 2017
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*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 1/14/17–4/10/17 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. For certain rebate-eligible products, the purchase of multiple units of such product is required to receive a rebate. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2017 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.17Q1NPVIC1
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Patio Perfection
Located just up the hill and northeast of downtown Flagstaff, on the aptly named Hillside Street, stands a home with history that has been renovated and updated to create a charmer residence in the center of it all. The home itself is a wonder, but the backyard is its own big draw. It’s well-built out with stone terracing and is beautifully xeriscaped. The front porch looks out toward downtown and the streets, giving a great perspective on a house that’s built upslope from the street level. The home’s outdoors also creates a kind of connection to the adjacent green space, with oldgrowth ponderosa pines, while only being two blocks from downtown.
Water Wonderland
One Flagstaff couple’s home in Westwood Estates has a backyard that’s about as good as it gets on the backyard front—an extensive part of an equally exquisite home. The ground of the residence includes a prominent water feature. It’s not just some trickle of a waterfall over a couple of rocks. Instead, it’s a coursing waterway that flows into different ponds and is stocked with fish. It includes lily blooms in the later summer and the tranquil flow brings a wonderful calm to the backyard. Next to the largest of the ponds is an extensive deck patio and a full-sized outdoor fireplace that makes it perfect for entertaining into the evening. The yard also includes a vast array of landscaping that helps bring vibrant greenery to the two-acre property. It’s the ultimate in outdoor living. 20
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
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MATTERS OF TASTE
BISON BURGER & STEAK FRIES
KINGS — OF —
Sizzle
BONELESS RIBEYE
Horsemen Lodge Steaks a Claim on an Iconic Meal By Gail Collins
TWICE BAKED POTATO
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
CRÈME BRÛLÉE
Steak.
The word brings meat to mind. Not just any beef, but a premium, savored experience. While the term steak defines any fastcooking cut, most of us wouldn’t be so generous. Taste, tenderness and marbling all play a part in making a steak great.
In general, meat is muscle, so the choicest steaks are sliced from lesser-used muscle areas. The loin or backstrap runs along either side of the spine in long, tender muscles outside the ribs. The tenderloin or filet mignon lies on the inside of the ribs below mid-spine. From these two muscles come four ideal candidates for steaks: ribeye, tenderloin, strip and T-bone. In each of these cuts, fine flecks of fat—called marbling—baste the meat with flavor. Though diners may have preferences, there are a few classic culinary rules for achieving steak nirvana. First, apply generous amounts of coarse Kosher salt to meat left at room temperature for 30 minutes. Brush with clarified butter or oil to prevent sticking and use a smoking hot grill. This shortens cooking time for more tender beef, adding a flavorful crust. Lastly, after cooking, let the steak rest for a few moments
to absorb the pockets of juice. Most consider the ideal steak to be an inch-and-a-half ribeye, served medium rare with a pink, warm middle plus sufficient char. Steak is an iconic meal, and northeast of Flagstaff—a few miles up U.S. 89— an icon has been serving them for more than four decades. The Horsemen Lodge Steakhouse opened in 1975 and quickly became a hangout for Babbitt cowboys working on the CO Bar Ranch. The restaurant name pays homage to the ranch lifestyle in its authentic details—Western art, six-shooters, brands, chaps and spurs— and its cowboy-inspired menu, featuring steak. This has won the rustic outpost the Arizona Daily Sun’s Best of Flagstaff Award for Best Steak for two years running. Kudos goes to majority owner Steve Alvin for rebuilding Horsemen’s status and presence in the community. april17 namlm.com
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Chef Justin Bowers specializes in steak and handcuts, weighs and measures each one for consistency in tenderness and marbling. Selected Black Angus from Creekstone Farms are grain-fed with no hormones or steroids and raised in a humane environment with non-stress kill to support a superior steak. “The boneless ribeye, with a minimum of 50 days aged, is the best steak
are a scratch-take on baked beans with molasses and cayenne pepper. They kick it up in a slowsimmered spicy over sweet result. All recipes are house-creations. Game is big at Horsemen. Besides the trophy mounted kind, the bison burger claims a threequarter-inch patty on a griddled pretzel roll, tender and tasty with a simple salad garnish and pickle spear. “The buffalo tenderloin is a
COW BOY TIRAMISU
for tenderness, juiciness and a little fat for flavor,” said Rebecca Wallace, director of operations. Boasting great grill lines, the thick ribeye yields under the knife, revealing pink perfection. The steak can be seasoned four ways: a char-crust of roasted garlic and peppercorns; the Horsemen traditional java made with ground coffee, molasses, honey and cayenne; butter with shallots, rosemary and merlot reduction; or original salt, pepper and garlic— the most popular. Every cowboy needs boots, like every a steak needs a potato. Horsemen’s signature dish is twice-baked. Mixed with seasoning, bacon, cheese and chives, the potatoes are restuffed and baked off. Bust the crust for a fully-loaded bite. Or crunch through a side of crisp fries—cooked in magical oil, said Wallace. The cowboy beans
quality cut available nowhere else in town, and up several notches from beef,” Wallace said. The elk chops are imported from New Zealand. Lean, mean elk has plenty of beef flavor with less fat and more iron. Room for dessert? The cowboy tiramisu is an espresso and cocoa-dusted meld of cream, layered with delicate, soaked lady fingers—a mmmellow indulgence. The most popular finish for a large meal is Crème Brûlée. Crack the glassy burnt sugar to spoon luxurious, golden custard. The Horsemen Lodge’s ambience of iron works and planked paneling is cowboy rustic. Wagon wheels and lantern welcome guests to a hearty meal and a relaxed era. Enjoy a premium steak, and if you’ve a mind, give ponies Bonnie and Clyde’s noses a rub on your way out.
Learn more at www.horsemenlodge.com 24
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
BY THE BOTTLE
Hopped Up
FOR THE EARTH
Breweries Harnessing the Power of Sustainability By Mike Williams
T
he beer industry has long been at the forefront of progressive leaps and bounds throughout human history. Beer halls in Pennsylvania served as organizational hubs for the Revolutionary War and the ancient fields of Mesopotamia gave birth to the very first irrigation systems, the wheel and even the rudimentary concepts that would eventually form math. The Egyptian laborers that built the pyramids were paid a gallon of beer each day to help create one of the greatest architectural works our species has ever seen, and the fermentation process of medieval beers was purified enough to save millions from water-borne disease. Now, as the global scientific community has reached a near universal consensus on the dismal state of the environment, beer leaps in like a knight in shining armor yet again. As carbon emissions have reached historically high levels, access to clean water a daily issue for billions of people and a lack of sustainable energy sources remain at the forefront of our collective psyche, many breweries are looking to how they can help the problem because, simply, if there’s no people, there’s no one buying beer. Locally, pretty much every brewery distributes the heaps of grain left over from each batch to neighboring farms where it’s fed to our state’s livestock. Naturally, some of the largest craft breweries are taking to the next level. America’s biggest “green” brewery is, hands
down, the iconic Sierra Nevada, which dominates as the third largest craft brewery in the United States. Also, one of the most readily available, they got their start in 1979 and were named the EPA’s “Green Business of the Year” in 2010, thanks to their combination of 10,000 solar panels, solid waste diversion programs and onsite water treatment facility. As any brewer will tell you, the most wasted resource that goes into making beer is water, and, by filtering wastewater for reuse on their organic hops and barley, Sierra Nevada is truly an innovator in keeping their beer Mother Earth approved. To check out their best sips, consider the Beer Camp Golden IPA, a 6.5 percent bit of bottled citrus kissed sunshine coming out just in time for spring. Coming in second is Fort Collinsbased New Belgium. New Belgium has a special place in Flagstaff’s drinking culture, as the old school craft beer enthusiasts will remember, Fat Tire used to hold an annual Tour de Fat here, where we drank more per capita than any other stop in the country. It’s been a badge of honor for close to a decade now and our town’s love of craft beer hasn’t wavered in the slightest. New
Belgium is nearly 100 percent wind-powered and, like Sierra Nevada, utilizes an on-site water treatment plant. They even managed to cut their carbon emissions by recycling any methane gas produced into electricity. A highly recommended seasonal release is the delicious Juicy Watermelon. With sweet watermelon, cucumber, and grass notes, the 5 percent ABV makes it a perfect session beer for a summer day. Next up is Brooklyn Brewery, shockingly located out in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. What set them apart from the pack of other ecologically sound breweries is the fact that they’re 100 percent wind-powered. Naturally, the heart of one of the most skyscraper filled urban centers on the planet isn’t able to accumulate enough on the premises on their own, so they circumvent the problem by outsourcing to a site in Madison County, just outside of the city. Granted, this comes with a 10 percent mark-up, but the brewers figure it’s worth the cost and, for the consumer, the price difference is practically unnoticeable. Keep it original for Brooklyn and giving the Amber Lager a try. Now these are just the three biggest. It bears repeating that our local breweries are all dedicated to ecologically sound brewing in every way possible and the simple fact that they’re as close as they are is essential for the simple fact there isn’t nearly as much travel impact. Less trucks carrying the beer less distance equals less pollution, as is the case with pretty much every commodity. april17 namlm.com
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THE ARTS
Color, Schemes
Artist Robert Zappanti Fueled by His Palette and His Imagination By Diandra Markgraf
M
assive fabric peacocks, dragonflies and … aliens? For multimedia artist Robert Zappanti, all manner of beetles, brains and brilliant colors coalesce in his imagination and slip onto the canvas in dedicated detail. And with Earth Day approaching, Zappanti lends a bit of insight into what inspires this imagery, and how donated materials often find life anew within the recycled foundations of his bold, unparalleled pieces. An artist in residence at the Hozhoni Foundation’s art therapy program for adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities, Zappanti notes his brilliant color palette often sets his paintings apart. Even in high school, he said his choices were so unconventional his art teacher once asked if he was colorblind. “Back then, when I first started drawing and then when I found
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
out I could add color to my artwork, people would ask me, ‘Are you colorblind?’ and I’d go, ‘No, I’m not colorblind. Do I look like it? See my artwork?’” he remembered with a laugh. In fact, Zappanti mixes his own palette, a process he discovered with his friend, Chico Ray Cole, who passed away in 2008. The pair would visit hardware stores, picking up free samples of house paint, or snagging stray cans from the recycling center he used to work at. With all this discarded paint, he saw potential in hues that could be. “Van Gogh made paint without water because back then it was all dried powder form. That’s how the Indians did it with their sand paintings because it was all made out of powder,” he explained. “Then somebody eventually added water and that’s how you get liquid paint.”
This vast knowledge, added Hozhoni art instructor Eriko Starley, comes from Zappanti’s voracious appetite for studying and reading. At exhibition openings and during ArtWalk, he schools even fellow artists on form and technique, adding with a knowing smile, “And everything else I’ve studied.” This research heavily influences Zappanti’s paintings and sculptures, where his rainbow palette and intricate linework converge into imagery formed from reference and from memory, pulling viewers into a single painting a dozen times with the promise of catching something new, like Celtic symbols and names in runes—derived from his mother’s ancestry. In pieces he’s donated to the Coconino Center for the Arts’ exhibitions including the recent 10x10, Zappanti calls upon favorite animals. Chili peppers and aliens, too, have been favorite motifs for the artist since he and an instructor friend from Hozhoni visited Roswell, N.M., a few years back. For the Hozhoni artists’ collaborative contribution to the Artists’ Coalition annual Recycled Art Show, this year Zappanti requested plastic grocery bags for his addition to “The State of Arizona.” Here, he’ll insert hot air balloons inspired by a balloon demonstration he once saw at the State Fair. His current practice includes detailed sculptures made of cardboard and masking tape. He used to favor duct tape, but that heavy material weighed down sculptures that are hardly content to rest only on a desk or pedestal. The masking tape coated in Mod Podge sealer glue proved more lightweight to hang or display, and is also more cost-effective for Hozhoni’s donationbased budget. Over the years, Zappanti has applied his creativity far beyond visual arts. In 2016 alone, he and his classmates explored performance on the ground with local artist Frederica Hall, where Zappanti lent a percussive backbeat to a theatrical performance at the center, and in the air with Joanie Garcia and the Flagstaff Aerial Arts performers. Zappanti said he is never afraid to try new things—even dangle from a hoop. “I just go for it,” he added. In his visual work, too, he’s advanced as an artist from studying and fearlessly attempting new media from ceramics to textile works secured with what he’s sure are 1,000 glue sticks. And now, Zappanti is investigating
portraiture, pulling out a recent example painted after the Presidential election in November. These 11-inch by 14-inch paintings show Donald Trump wearing a diaper and shaking “Putin’s atomic bombs” like a rattle, sporting his trademark pucker. “I don’t have anything against him,” Zappanti said. “He just whines too much.” Clinton got her own cartoon, too, where she’s angry after the election—holding a nutcracker with Trump’s head ready to be smashed like a walnut. Here he uses art
as a means of healing to process death or immense emotions. And it is here where Zappanti excels: Inserting humor in a way only an artist can. “That’s part of being an artist,” he added with a laugh. “Life without a sense of humor would suck.” Visit with Zappanti’s work at the Hozhoni Foundation Art Gallery, 2133 N. Walgreen Blvd., Flagstaff, AZ. Visit www.hozhoniartists.org to learn more and see gallery hours. april17 namlm.com
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MIND & BODY
Step Getting in
Build Strength and Muscle to be a Better Runner By Starla S. Collins
S
ummer is just around the corner and if you live or play in northern Arizona, you know this means mountain trails and vast blue skies that beckon us outdoors. Some of us will try new activities like trail running, kayaking and mountain biking, while more seasoned outdoor sports enthusiasts are anxious to return to their favorite summer sports. Whether you are an elite athlete, weekend warrior or somewhere in between, it is never too early in the year or late in the season to engage in conditioning exercises that keep your core strong and your body conditioned. Focusing on whole-body, strength-building exercises not only builds muscle and endurance; it helps protect against injuries as well. If you are thinking about doing some trail, street or track running, consider the following before the season arrives.
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Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
First, runners need a strong heart and strong legs, but they also need to build the often-neglected in-between areas—stomach, back and hips. Think of it this way: just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the body is only as strong as its weakest muscles. Weak muscles can lead to poor performance, injuries and longer recovery times. The stronger your core muscles, the more solid, balanced and stable you are. With the uneven, often rocky, trails in northern Arizona, this kind of stability and strength is especially important. Fortunately, Flagstaff runners and athletes of all levels have access to some of the best trainers right here in northern Arizona. Gary Steffensen has trained elite athletes for decades, including professional and Olympic-bound alpine skiers. He and his wife Tina own Peak Results Fitness in
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“An effective conditioning program gradually increases the intensity & volume of the work, which is what is needed to gain strength and endurance” Flagstaff where they train and coach competitive athletes as well as ‘regular’ people who want to get stronger, be fit and become more active. Steffensen is an advocate of conditioning and strengthening the entire body through workout sessions that include weight-bearing, resistance and aerobic elements. He also said that workout routines need to be changed at least every four weeks. “An effective conditioning program gradually increases the intensity and volume of the work, which is what is needed to gain strength and endurance,” Steffensen said. “Training harder does not always equal a higher return.
Training too often or working out at too high a level can be counterproductive and undermine success in the gym and on the trails. Whether you are lifting weights, running, skiing, biking or just walking, there needs to be the right amount of intensity, consistency and rest. “Every workout should include exercises that enhance range of motion, core stability, strength, endurance, and stretching and muscle release using a foam roller or similar device. This type of training is especially important before hitting the trails on foot, bike or skis.” Steffensen recommends strength and
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the right running shoes should last for
300 400
to running miles
conditioning workouts two to four times a week, with each workout lasting about 45 minutes. Non-strength training days can include walking, light jogging and yoga. Two more important details before taking to the trails and streets? Socks and shoes. Even recreational runners and walkers should get the right socks and shoes. Spare no expense when purchasing
the right running shoes, which should last for about 300 to 400 running miles. Run Flagstaff, a specialty running store, has trained staff who will watch you walk, jog or run on a treadmill and then advise you on the right shoes for the way you run or walk. Be sure to get a couple pair of good socks that will decrease moisture, help minimize blisters and enhance circulation.
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Finally, don’t forget to dress in layers, as the weather in northern Arizona can change in an instant; drink plenty of water before, during and after any activity; and eat fresh, whole, nonprocessed foods. Need a bit of motivation, support and accountability? Check out these local running groups: Team Run Flagstaff offers organized training, expert
Michael Glover, MD Al Such, PA-C
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The Spine and Pain Center specialists restore function in the back and neck, and provide first-class, integrated services. They provided Stephen with exceptional state-of-the-art spine care, helping him return to living and loving an active life again. 30
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
passions and goals, so they can return to activities they love. To learn about our Specialty Centers or to schedule a visit with us, call 928-774-7757 or visit NorthAZortho.com.
coaching, educational workshops and the Step Into Running program. Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association offers group runs ranging from five to eight miles on various trails each Saturday morning— rain, snow or shine. The Flagstaff Summer Series, sponsored by the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association, offers seven runs
that take place between May and August packaged together for a full summer of fun. Biff ’s Bagel Run is Flagstaff ’s ‘underground’ group run that meets at the iconic Biff ’s Bagels every Thursday at 8 a.m. Flagstaff Ultrarunning Club is Flagstaff ’s premier group for long-distance runs in the San Francisco Peaks and the Grand Canyon. Flagstaff Trail Divas is a women’s
trail running group for new and seasoned runners that meets Thursday evenings (in the summer) and Sunday mornings (in the winter). As for me? I bought a new pair of running shoes, am working with personal trainer two days a week, considering working with a running coach and plan to run, jog, trot or walk six 5Ks and one 10K this summer. Who’s with me?
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TREKS & TRAILS
BACKYARD
ADVENTURE
Sandys Canyon Trail — Wilds Near the City Limits By Larry Hendricks
O
(This and next page): Kiril Kirkov surveys Sandys Canyon during a recent trip along the trail system, not far from Flagstaff. The hike offers a chance to explore alcoves, view wildlife and trek along cliffs and outcrops. Photos by Larry Hendricks. 32
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
ld-growth, rusty-bellied Ponderosas scrape a cloudless sky, and they moan a gentle song in the breeze. Our feet crunch on frozen ground. Two red-tailed hawks circle in a thermal overhead. The sun warms the face in the chilly air while patches of snow hunker in shaded areas, hopeful for a few more weeks of existence. Not a typical time for a sojourn into this place, but, with the right conditions, a gem in her own right. A hike just south of Flagstaff on the Sandy’s Canyon Trail to the Arizona Trail and beyond can be a pleasant surprise to quicken the sluggish flow of winter’s blood as spring arrives. We arrive at the trailhead just after 9:30 a.m. during a recent hike, the temperature just above freezing and the parking lot is filled with vehicles belonging to volunteers with Coconino County Search and Rescue. The SAR leader, Sgt. Aaron Dick, tells us the day is ripe for a training exercise. The volunteers will be searching for a couple pretending to be lost. Kiril and I wish them well and head along the canyon rim before making our way down through the old-growth Ponderosas and smaller walnuts and juniper. The descent into the canyon is short, not difficult, and we end up facing a copse of naked aspens on the canyon floor. We head north. The grasses on the canyon floor still lay flat and muddy from the recent blanket of snow. In the spring and summer, the grasses grow lush and green. Boulders of the old Permian Age sandstone cliffs to the east and west litter the landscape, and the San Francisco Peaks jut above the treetops to add contrast to the sharp blue of sky. “A beautiful day to be alive,” I said to Kiril. He agreed, and we talk of the mountains in his homeland of Bulgaria, where the vegetation and landscape may differ, but the sense of wonder at nature is the same. About a mile into the hike, Sandy’s Canyon Trail intersects with the Arizona Trail, which runs about 800 miles the entire length of the state from the Mexican border in the south to the state line with Utah in the north. If we turn right, we head toward Marshall Lake. If we turn left, we’ll head toward Walnut Canyon National Monument and Fisher Point. We turn left and head north. About a mile farther, with the birds out in force singing with heart to the day, we happen across the carcass of an elk. Kiril has never seen this before—the cycle of life played out in nature. We wonder what fate met the elk, apparently young, so early in its life. The canyon floor bends and widens about another quarter-mile on. The sandstone cliffs rise high, and at the base, we are presented with another choice.
Turn left and head toward Fisher Point on the Arizona Trail, which offers soul-calming views of Walnut Canyon and the surrounding forest. Turn right and head toward Walnut Canyon National Monument, where the canyon walls close in, and in the summer, the vegetation grows thick. We stop for photographs, and while we’re there, we hear echoes of people calling out. Turning back, we see members of the SAR team and they approach. The group of volunteers want to know if we are the lost hikers they have been assigned to look for. We tell them we are not. They have entered the canyon from farther up Lake Mary Road from an access point that began near the J.W. Powell Boulevard intersection. The radios they carry bring messages from other volunteers involved in the search. The group moves on to a small cave in the cliff walls, and they search for footprints of their fictional lost hikers. Kiril and I decide this is a good place to turn around. On the way back, we come across another group of SAR volunteers, and one of the members asks us to make impressions in the dirt of our hiking boots. We do so. The volunteer looks at mine, and said, “Ah, there’s the teardrop I’ve been following.” He thanks us and the group continues down the canyon. We head back and out. The day has warmed, and the frozen trail on the rim has slickened. The hawks circle above.
Directions: Take Lake Mary Road out of Flagstaff
for about 5.5 miles, and turn north (left) at the Canyon Vista Campground. The trailhead is a quarter mile beyond the campground. At the trailhead, turn left for Sandy’s Canyon Trail; turn right to head to the popular rock-climbing spot called “The Pit.” april17 namlm.com
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How & Why S
o, we call our parting department of Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living How & Why. Why? Because those two questions are big prompts for questions not answered with a simple yes or no answer. They require some kind of elaboration. For this month, we reached out to Kathleen McGeever, Chair of Northern Arizona University Theatre. The department is coming off a big year of productions that have had various reflections of human nature that have proven both timely and poignant. Kathleen has been with the department for 12 years and, this month, she will close out the season directing Peter and the Starcatcher. Learn more at www.nau.edu/cal/theatre. How would you describe this past season of Northern Arizona University Theatre and what were some of your big accomplishments and achievements? I think our biggest achievement is what we aspire to do with every project; placing a telescope to peer into what makes us tick as human beings. This season, in particular, we asked how faith, religion, science, strength, love and an understanding of others beyond self. The questions the plays propose lead us to different conclusions, and the mix of each play to on overall season, added depth to the debate of human existence. Perhaps, the biggest surprise of the season was how, in light of the new world that we are currently navigating, the plays took on new perspectives. Our season has featured women heroes, scientists, religious leaders—strong women taking a stand, holding fast to their convictions, and those wrestling with their whole self. Why did you decide to direct Peter and the Starcatcher as the last production of the season? How would you describe the show and what kind of audience do you hope to draw? Peter and the Starcatcher, a play with music, is a grownup’s prequel to the timeless tale of Peter Pan. Based on the popular novels by Dave Barry (American humorist) and Ridley Pierson, the play tells the tale of how Peter becomes Pan. You will embark on a hilarious romp on the high seas, through the Neverland you never knew, to the distant island of Mollusk. A dozen actors play a multitude of unforgettable characters and take us on a spectacular journey using the limitless possibilities of imagination. As you prepare for your 2017-18 season, what themes, approaches and ideas do you hope to tackle? 34
Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine
How challenging is it for you to select a season of theatrical programming? It is a huge challenge for the department in planning a season. We have many variables that we have to keep in mind that, at times, it seems impossible to navigate. For example, the department turns over our talent every four years, so we definitely have to think about our student body—actors, student designers and stage managers. We also have to think about what our students need in terms of the learning experience. We ask: is it time for Shakespeare, another classic, physical comedy, American classic, new play or musical? We think of our season as our lab for the students. The lab, where they practice what they are learning in the classroom, is funded by the box office, so in order to keep our lab going, we have to think of what our patrons might enjoy or be drawn to see. Setting aside all the theatre questions, we should talk about the big change that comes around this time. As this academic year comes to a close, what are some emotions that surface for you? How do you handle having to say goodbye to your students? It is bittersweet to say goodbye to the young artists and crafts people whom we have spent four years working with very closely. We are a company of artists in the department, and part of our process is giving our students wings to fly. To that end, we work sideby-side and collaborate with our students in a way that I imagine other disciplines do not … We want our students to go out and make their way—create important and entertaining art that inspires, provokes and yes, makes us laugh and cry. Given that this issue is in April and the end of the month will mean we’re just days away from the beginning days of the summer break. How do you plan to spend your summer this year? What do you hope to accomplish or experience? Summer is my time to gear up for the start of the new academic year, so the warm lazy afternoons are generally busy with designing promotional materials, planning the intricacies of the season, replenishing and refreshing our facilities, getting scholarships to their awardees, writing freshman welcome documents, end of the year fiscal responsibilities and writing reports and documents that need my attention … I am planning to travel a little as well, but it is hard to leave the mountain in the summer. It is my favorite time of the year in Flagstaff. There is so much to do!
Children’s Health & Wellness Fair ass p m i ho e sw
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os w ent d d i k for te an ev le comp assport! p
Saturday April 29, 2017 11am - 2pm Flagstaff Aquaplex Explore all of the fun summer activities and camps Flagstaff has to offer your little scallywags, and get a jump start on back to school readiness before the school year even ends! FREE dental screenings • FREE sports physicals fun activity stations • balloon artists • face painting raffle prizes, giveaways & much more!
For more info, visit http://bit.ly/AhoyToSummer
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