WILDERNESS PROGRAM
What is the Wilderness Program? Enjoying the beauty of the outdoors facilitates team building, healing, and builds trust. Each year, Rez Refuge staff and volunteers take Navajo youth camping, backpacking, and hiking in the wilderness that surrounds Navajoland. The youth that participate learn how to build relationships by being challenged by the great outdoors. In addition, Rez Refuge attempts to teach the youth respect for nature and the environment through such concepts as leaving no trace. Through your generous support, Rez Refuge was able to purchase backpacking gear to properly outfit each of the kids participating. In the past, we found that the participants did not have proper clothing, footwear, or gear. Now, through a loan program, Rez Refuge can outfit each person with the proper gear and clothing that will help ensure a safe and comfortable wilderness experience. In addition, Rez Refuge assists other programs through a lending library for outdoor gear. This summer, 5 Navajo youth spent 5 days in the wilderness. Here is an account of that trip!
P.O. Box 2016
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504
928-729-2658
Day 1 - July 3, 2008: Caleb Meyer and his family drove our group up 9.5 miles of a very rough four-wheel-drive road. Unfortunately, with light fading, the group fell short of the Endlich Mesa Trail Head in the Weminuche Wilderness Area. Night one was spent along the dirt road. It was a very clear night at nearly 11,500 feet. First day was hiked about 2 miles.
Gearing up and ready to go!
Final checks of the gear
Day 2 - July 4, 2008: Everyone was early to rise and after a good breakfast we were able to hit the trail by 9:15 AM. We hiked 2.5 miles and finally reached the Endlich Mesa Trail head. From the trail head we had a 1.5 mile very steep climb to the ridge line. We encountered a large snow field with a small stream flowing from under it. We set up camp for the second night. While some relaxed in camp, Alex Froom, Shalayne, Shavonna and I hiked about approximately 6 miles round trip to summit Miller Mountain, a 11,760 foot peak. It was monsoon season, but no rain this day so no lightening to worry about. We saw a bunch of "whistle pigs" or mountain groundhogs and a deer. The kids had a blast playing on the snowfield and day two was in the bag!
Resting at the trail head Resting on top of Mt Miller
Leaving the summit of Mt Miller Playing on the snowfield Hanging out at the fire
Day 3 - July 5, 2008: We all had a good night's sleep and woke up around 7:00 AM. We were back on the trail by 9:45 AM. Today, the trail took us across the Mesa with the highest point at 12,280 feet. The elevation and weight of the packs took their toll on some of the group, so Alex, Cyrus, and I shuttled the packs throughout the day. The group took their time hiking across the mesa enjoying the view and the cool weather. After 6 miles we reached the trail to the City Reservoir by 1:00 PM. This was an amazingly steep trail that dropped over 2000 feet in a little less than 2 miles. It was more like sliding down a pole rather than hiking down a trail. We ate lunch about halfway down. By 3:00 PM we reached the City Reservoir. The trip was not without casualties, one severely sprained ankle and my wife was sick. From the reservoir, we had to hike about another mile to a campsite. We camped along the Florida River right beside a beautiful waterfall. Due to the shuttle hiking, Alex, Cyrus, and myself walked about 26 miles. For those who aren't runners, we basically walked a marathon! Because I took on others gear to lighten their load, I did part of that with a nearly 80 lb backpack on!
Brooke & Kellie stop to rest Enjoying a spectacular view
Leon & Brooke resting again Enjoying lunch on a slope! "Mmm food in a pouch again"
Day 4 - July 6, 2008: Woke up very worried. We had a badly sprained ankle and although Kellie was feeling better, she was still pretty sick. Early that morning we met a the world's nicest cowboy from Durango named Hody. He agreed to take any extra gear we had and promised he would send some help due to the ankle sprain. We rested most of the day at the lake and the kids got some fishing in. They caught 4 nice Rainbow Trout and I cleaned and cooked them. They all agreed the fish were tastier than the freezed dried food we had been eating. By 2:30 PM it was raining and we had hit the trail to make slow trek out of the valley to our rendezvous point. I motivated the kids with the incentive of pizza and a hotel room if they got out by the next day. We made the mile trek back to the reservoir, climbed a moderate ascent 1.5 miles to Missouri Gulch. Here we rested, filled up with water and moved on. It was a steep climb over West Silver Mesa, with the high point hitting 12,000 feet again. The group waited for one another as the rain came in again. We descended into Virginia Gulch on a very steep and muddy trail. From Missouri Gulch to Virginia gulch it was roughly 3 miles. On the way down, my fears of another ankle injury came true. Another person sprained their ankle. I put an ionto patch over the injury site, taped the ankle for stability, and ace wrapped it to prevent swelling. Alex, Cyrus, and I took turns carrying the injured the last quarter mile to that night's camp site. Through an answer to prayer we were able to reach our cowboy, Hody, who confirmed help would be on its way at daybreak.
Leon with his prized trout! River crossing in Missouri gulch
Day 5 - July 7, 2008: It rained almost all night, but everyone stayed dry. Early that morning, Alex took the group out while Cyrus, Aaron, and I waited on the horses to take out our walking wounded. Kellie was completely better because a fear of horses has a way of healing you! The trip started with a difficult and potentially dangerous stream crossing. Although with some good team work, a stone pathway was built and by sacrificing my dry legs by falling into the water, we were able to get the group across. By 1:00 there was no sign of the horses so I made the decision to begin getting our ankle sprain victim out. Cyrus and I shuttled the backpacks while our patient made their way very carefully and slowly up the path. After about 2 miles of hiking our radio crackled with the best news ever, "Stay put, the rangers are on their way!" It was the best news I had heard all day! We waited in a meadow near West Virginia Gulch. 45 minutes later the Colorado Mounted Rangers found us. The Colorado Mounted Rangers are a volunteer Search and Rescue group appointed by the Governor of Colorado to assist people in need like us! It is a free service to those who need them. They brought peanut M&M's and Gatorade! The group took our packs and put them on Alice the Mule. Aaron and Makala rode while Cyrus and I walked. I was going to finish walking what I started walking! It was about another 3 miles or so when we reached the Lime Mesa Trail head. The rest of our group we there waiting, well rested and fed by the generosity of the Rangers. The kids felt this was the most exciting way to end a trip! They all got to ride down the mountain on horseback to the staging area. I rode a horse for the trail head to the vehicles. I figured I had walked far enough. It was a ride of a lifetime as the horse and I worked very well with each other. Caleb was there waiting in his truck. A 25-mile dirt road trip down the mountain and we were back in the valley. That night we stayed at a cheap hotel and feasted on Dominoes' Pizza! The kids enjoyed a swim in the pool and I finally got a shower!
Group shot, Virginia Gulch Waiting to be rescued! Makala a natural born rider!
Colorado Mounted Rangers Leon excited to ride! Aaron hitching a ride!
Cyrus glad he isn't riding a horse Hanging out in the pool
Day 6 - July 8, 2008: Spent a great night's sleep at a motel. I forgot a change of clean clothes, so I bought a razor and a change of clothes. After a shower and a shave, I went over to Hody's house to pick up our gear. A big thanks to Hody and the Colorado Rangers for getting us off the mountain! We ate breakfast at Oscar's in Durango and then headed home. In the end, all of our objectives were met. Lessons were learned and the kids all came out being stronger and better people. They accomplished what they thought was impossible. They started a difficult task, pushed themselves harder than they ever had and finished their goal. They had to care for one another and work as a team. The kids had a new sense of self-respect and accomplishment. And they had an adventure they will never forget. Both ankles are healed just fine and there were no broken bones. This trip was the most memorable trip I have ever been on. I have been taking kids into the wilderness for 20 years and this tops everything! I grew in Christ, got to spend time with my wife, and share with Brooke an amazing experience. It was truly a trip that kept with the Navajo teaching of "Walking In Beauty".
Shavonna, Shalayne, Leon, Makala
Cyrus and Alex Kellie and Brooke
Aaron enjoying
breakfast at Oscars
Special Thanks
Rez Refuge Ministries would like to thank the following people for their help in making this trip a reality!
You! Thank you again for your support. Without it this and future trips would not have been possible!
Hody Ewing who demonstrated the true cowboy spirit of helping a group of strangers out. He kept to his word and got us "rescued"! So thanks Hody!
Caleb Meyer for giving up part of his vacation time to drive us up one of Colorado's bumpiest roads with his pregnant wife! Then he helped rescue us by driving 25 miles into the wilderness where he waited over 8 hours for us! Thanks for being part of this trip!
The Durango D-Troop of the Colorado Mounted Rangers! Thank you for being volunteers and for giving of your time to rescue the injured in the beautiful Colorado Wilderness. We will never forget your service.
Thanks to all for "Walking In Beauty"
Did You Know? The Weminuche Wilderness area is the largest wilderness area in Colorado, comprising some 490,000 acres. The area has three 14,000 foot peaks and scores of 13,000 foot peaks. The area is home to two major drainage systems. One helps to form the San Juan drainage which ultimately flows into the Colorado River, the other feeds the headwaters of the Rio Grand. It his home to a diverse species of wildlife and plant life. The Weminuche is named after a band of Ute Indians that lived, hunted, and fished in the area that now has wilderness protection.
This page was last updated: May 25, 2010
