Most people understand that being a volunteer means you are freely offering your time, talent, or labor to benefit a cause, community, or others without expecting financial compensation. People volunteer for a multitude of reasons, and everyone has a different experience. Recently, Friends of the Forest asked their volunteers to share some of those experiences, from the funny to unbelievable to warm fuzzy exchanges. As you’ll read, volunteering is never boring!
—We were on the Baldwin Trail, 10 minutes from the trailhead, and came upon a woman sitting on a rock clearly shaking. She had a few people talking with her. I got at eye level and asked what was going on. She said that she was afraid to hike. We encouraged her to eat and drink, as she seemed dehydrated and maybe had low blood sugar. She started to calm down, and we asked if she would walk with us as slowly as she wanted. She agreed and eventually led us to the trailhead. Her friend asked for our name and address. Not only did we got a thank-you note for being trail angels, but we got a note a few years later that she came back and confidently did that (and other) trails again!
—As I’ve installed trail signs, many times I’ve been asked if I am changing the directional arrows to confuse people or send them off track. At first I thought they were kidding or asking in jest. But many times, hikers were seriously concerned that I was trying to lead them astray.
—I love being a docent at Palatki. I meet the most interesting people and it gives me the opportunity to share the history and heritage of the area and its earlier inhabitants. I’ve even had visitors ask for my contact information so they can keep in touch or reconnect the next time they visit Sedona.
—“What trails would be best for me to put my one-year old grandchild on a mule?” This “mule” was a type of rear-bed extension on the back of a 4 x 4 vehicle. Our volunteer told her no trails would be safe for that young a child on the back of such a vehicle.
—Gotta love the irony of bears damaging the Bear Sign Trail sign. What’s better than actual bears damaging the signs on Bear Sign Trail? Maybe it’s when you go out to remove the damaged signs and install the new ones, and encounter a lot of signs of bears on the trail… bear scat, bear tracks, gouges from bear claws, and even bear hair on the Bear Sign Trail signs!
—While working at the Visitor Center, a caller stated they had an emergency. After being directed to hang up and dial 9-1-1, the caller responded it wasn’t that type of emergency. The emergency was that she was an influencer and dropped her phone while on Devil’s Bridge. She requested someone come out and “rescue” her phone. After being informed that wasn’t something the Forest Service or volunteers would do, she hung up. Two minutes later, she called back and asked if someone would bring her a rope so she and her friend could rescue her phone. That didn’t happen either.
—I really enjoy being part of the Graffiti Removal Team. It gets me out on the trails, many of which I do not normally hike, plus gives me the good feeling of keeping our wonderful area beautiful and giving something back to the trails.
And here are a few memorable quotes our volunteers have heard:
“Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness areas.”
“Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.”
“The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.”
“We’re here for my buddy’s bachelor party and the stripper just cancelled. Do you know where I can find a replacement?”
“I’d like a refund for my [Red Rock Daily] parking pass. I didn’t like the hike – the trail was steep, rocky, and it made me sweat.”
Want to create your own memories and volunteer stories? Visit www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org for volunteer opportunities and how you can join in on the fun.
For happy trails this summer, implement a survival mentality ahead of your hike, which will help you prepare well and stay safe!
Author, Melissa Pontikes
Serving Sedona, written this week by Melissa Pontikes, volunteer with Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.