Four Peaks, AZ. Pickup February 9th
- Thread starter SOAZ
- Start date
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
FlyingWen said:
WOW Wen you rock. Oh wait you guys know that! :bike_rider:
We will do it again and again. I think the best attitude is to just assume that each bad area will need at least one cleanup per year. (I think we'll change SOME minds in the process) But I agree, there will always be trash to pick up. Talk about job security.... or volunteerism security...
Unyielding pursuit of cleaning and teaching responsible use is the only way to go!!!
Thankfully poor Allen Cross (FS) was out there over the last couple days cleaning that particular mess up.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
I couldn't seem to get the word document to upload so its pasted below. The word copy has the pictures inserted etc. Nena is a MUCH better writer than I so I'm glad she found it of interest to cover and spend her time to write.
1leglance,
Do you think this would be a good article for that new FJmagazine?
Clean Up Our Land, One Trail at a Time
By Nena Barlow
Photos by Tim Huber
A Chinese proverb states "It is possible to move a mountain by carrying away small stones."
Tim Huber, a banker from Scottsdale, Arizona, moved a 7-ton mountain of trash from Four Peaks Road in six hours. No, he didn’t do it alone—he had about 250 helpers. So, how did Huber find 250 people to just drop what they were doing on a beautiful Saturday and go pick up trash that others had left?
Huber’s story is an inspiration to any of us who have ever shaken our heads at litter strewn along a road wondering what we, one person, could possibly do about it.
In early January, Huber went for a drive in his SUV along Four Peaks Road in the hills north of Phoenix. He was stunned and angered by what he saw along the way—not only the usual sprinkling of bottles and cans, but appliances, computer equipment, furniture, spent ammunition casings, and construction debris. He was tired of just shaking his head in disgust. He decided to do something.
His first inclination was just to set a time for himself to go pick up some trash, but one of the many pieces of debris that really shocked him into action was the burnt-out hulk of what had been a brand new Toyota FJCruiser. He knew he would need some help to haul that out, so he talked to a few friends, thinking “no one is going to want to do this.”
To Huber’s pleasant surprise, everyone he asked responded enthusiastically. He set his clean-up date about one month out to give everyone time to plan. He had never organized a clean-up before, or even attended one, but suddenly, people he barely knew were saying “Great! I’ll be there!” Before he knew it, a small army was forming.
His next call was to the local Forest Service to find out if any special arrangements needed to be made. Again, he was met with enthusiasm. The local district of the US Forest Service not only sanctioned the event, but provided trash bags and a 4-ton capacity dumpster on the day of the clean-up.
Then he expanded his call to aid by reaching out to other people who enjoyed the Four Peaks area—hikers, mountain bikers, 4x4 clubs, shooting clubs—anyone he could think of. Huber searched the web for local clubs and recreational groups, and posted information about the clean-up effort on as many sites as he could find.
“I spent about four-hours every night just surfing the net, joining forums, posting the information and answering questions. Everyone just started jumping in!”
Huber contacted some local business owners to see if they would help in any way. Once again, vendors jumped in with donations of food, cleaning supplies and equipment, and raffle items.
As the date of the event drew near, Huber drew from the talents of other volunteers to help create maps and signs, staff supply stations, and continue to spread the word throughout the outdoor recreation community.
A great break in public awareness came when a local news channel caught wind of the rapidly growing clean-up event, and called Tim for a broadcast just two days before the event.
On Saturday, February 9, people flocked from all over the state to help Huber pick up trash along Four Peaks Road. With smiles and determination, the attendees removed every scrap of visible trash, including the burnt out Toyota.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who wanted to instigate a clean-up effort, Huber replied, “Just do it. You pick your trail, you pick your date, and then just run with it. Others will follow.”
Will the trash come back? Unfortunately, yes, but maybe next time, it will be a little less, and a little less after that, until dumpers are too ashamed to just blatantly throw their refuse into a once again pristine desert. “I will definitely do another one, but I will just start over with no expectations,” says Huber.
One person CAN make a difference. One person brought two-hundred fifty people from all walks of life together with minimal lead time and media exposure. One person effected the removal of 7 tons of trash from public land, and encouraged any of us who have ever shaken our heads in disgust at a littered stretch of road that we CAN make it better, one trail at a time!
Huber cannot express enough his gratitude to the following sponsors and supporting clubs: Racer Offroad, The Good Gun Foundation, SDHQ Offroad, Total Chaos Fabrication, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Overland Journal, Overland Video, Sierra Expeditions, REI, The Daybreak Deli, Tyson Crews Development, Stardust Country, Hunter Offroad, M&I Bank, Copper State Cruisers, The AZ Virtual Jeep Club, AZ TTORA, the AZ Xterra Owners Club, AZFJ, FJ Cruiserforums, Bman, Elvota, BioD 60, Danica, AZLane, the Forest Service, AZ Fish and Game, and the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. The generosity and enthusiasm of these businesses and clubs helped to launch the event to a resounding success.
Do you want to organize a clean-up of your own favorite trail or site? Here is a basic checklist to get you started:
Action list:
1. Identify an area that is significant and meaningful to you. Don’t look for the area you think needs the most help—think of a place that you like to spend time, for which you have a passion.
2. Build a team: if you are active in a local recreation club, start there—ask questions about the site you have in mind. Gather input about a date that is likely to attract the most participation. Ask for referrals to other interested clubs and businesses.
3. Contact the local land management authority. Arizona is managed primarily by BLM or USFS. Tell them where and when you want to do a clean-up. Often, they will lend resources like trash bags or dumpsters. There may be limitations to the size of group permitted in an area at one time.
4. Gather support: ask businesses to provide resources in exchange for sponsorship exposure. Resources donated may range from raffle items, to clean-up supplies like rakes and gloves, to snacks for participants. Remember to give them as much public thanks and exposure as possible so that they will have a positive result from helping.
5. Write a press release: one page that clearly states when, where, what to bring, and who to contact with questions. Distribute it to news media; outdoor-interest publications, outdoor-oriented non-profit organizations, websites, and clubs.
Tools:
• Shovels--large, flat-head shovels are the most effective at scooping up small debris.
• Rakes—leaf rakes and rock rakes can be equally useful.
• 5-gallon buckets with handles work well for hauling glass or metal scraps that may cut through a plastic trash bag.
• Heavy-duty trash bags—though these are often provided by a sponsor, there can never be too many.
What to wear:
• Long pants
• Long sleeved shirt
• Work boots or heavy leather shoes with thick soles
• Heavy work gloves
• Sunscreen
• Eye protection
Communication:
• Cell phone list
• CB, FRS, or HAM Radio.
Basic human needs:
• Water
• Restrooms—For large events, it may be a good idea to have porta-potties brought in—check with the public land management agency.
• First Aid—nasty cuts, scrapes, and punctures can occur, as well as the common sprained ankle or insect bite. Have basic first aid on hand, and invite law enforcement or EMS personnel to attend.
1leglance,
Do you think this would be a good article for that new FJmagazine?
Clean Up Our Land, One Trail at a Time
By Nena Barlow
Photos by Tim Huber
A Chinese proverb states "It is possible to move a mountain by carrying away small stones."
Tim Huber, a banker from Scottsdale, Arizona, moved a 7-ton mountain of trash from Four Peaks Road in six hours. No, he didn’t do it alone—he had about 250 helpers. So, how did Huber find 250 people to just drop what they were doing on a beautiful Saturday and go pick up trash that others had left?
Huber’s story is an inspiration to any of us who have ever shaken our heads at litter strewn along a road wondering what we, one person, could possibly do about it.
In early January, Huber went for a drive in his SUV along Four Peaks Road in the hills north of Phoenix. He was stunned and angered by what he saw along the way—not only the usual sprinkling of bottles and cans, but appliances, computer equipment, furniture, spent ammunition casings, and construction debris. He was tired of just shaking his head in disgust. He decided to do something.
His first inclination was just to set a time for himself to go pick up some trash, but one of the many pieces of debris that really shocked him into action was the burnt-out hulk of what had been a brand new Toyota FJCruiser. He knew he would need some help to haul that out, so he talked to a few friends, thinking “no one is going to want to do this.”
To Huber’s pleasant surprise, everyone he asked responded enthusiastically. He set his clean-up date about one month out to give everyone time to plan. He had never organized a clean-up before, or even attended one, but suddenly, people he barely knew were saying “Great! I’ll be there!” Before he knew it, a small army was forming.
His next call was to the local Forest Service to find out if any special arrangements needed to be made. Again, he was met with enthusiasm. The local district of the US Forest Service not only sanctioned the event, but provided trash bags and a 4-ton capacity dumpster on the day of the clean-up.
Then he expanded his call to aid by reaching out to other people who enjoyed the Four Peaks area—hikers, mountain bikers, 4x4 clubs, shooting clubs—anyone he could think of. Huber searched the web for local clubs and recreational groups, and posted information about the clean-up effort on as many sites as he could find.
“I spent about four-hours every night just surfing the net, joining forums, posting the information and answering questions. Everyone just started jumping in!”
Huber contacted some local business owners to see if they would help in any way. Once again, vendors jumped in with donations of food, cleaning supplies and equipment, and raffle items.
As the date of the event drew near, Huber drew from the talents of other volunteers to help create maps and signs, staff supply stations, and continue to spread the word throughout the outdoor recreation community.
A great break in public awareness came when a local news channel caught wind of the rapidly growing clean-up event, and called Tim for a broadcast just two days before the event.
On Saturday, February 9, people flocked from all over the state to help Huber pick up trash along Four Peaks Road. With smiles and determination, the attendees removed every scrap of visible trash, including the burnt out Toyota.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who wanted to instigate a clean-up effort, Huber replied, “Just do it. You pick your trail, you pick your date, and then just run with it. Others will follow.”
Will the trash come back? Unfortunately, yes, but maybe next time, it will be a little less, and a little less after that, until dumpers are too ashamed to just blatantly throw their refuse into a once again pristine desert. “I will definitely do another one, but I will just start over with no expectations,” says Huber.
One person CAN make a difference. One person brought two-hundred fifty people from all walks of life together with minimal lead time and media exposure. One person effected the removal of 7 tons of trash from public land, and encouraged any of us who have ever shaken our heads in disgust at a littered stretch of road that we CAN make it better, one trail at a time!
Huber cannot express enough his gratitude to the following sponsors and supporting clubs: Racer Offroad, The Good Gun Foundation, SDHQ Offroad, Total Chaos Fabrication, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Overland Journal, Overland Video, Sierra Expeditions, REI, The Daybreak Deli, Tyson Crews Development, Stardust Country, Hunter Offroad, M&I Bank, Copper State Cruisers, The AZ Virtual Jeep Club, AZ TTORA, the AZ Xterra Owners Club, AZFJ, FJ Cruiserforums, Bman, Elvota, BioD 60, Danica, AZLane, the Forest Service, AZ Fish and Game, and the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. The generosity and enthusiasm of these businesses and clubs helped to launch the event to a resounding success.
Do you want to organize a clean-up of your own favorite trail or site? Here is a basic checklist to get you started:
Action list:
1. Identify an area that is significant and meaningful to you. Don’t look for the area you think needs the most help—think of a place that you like to spend time, for which you have a passion.
2. Build a team: if you are active in a local recreation club, start there—ask questions about the site you have in mind. Gather input about a date that is likely to attract the most participation. Ask for referrals to other interested clubs and businesses.
3. Contact the local land management authority. Arizona is managed primarily by BLM or USFS. Tell them where and when you want to do a clean-up. Often, they will lend resources like trash bags or dumpsters. There may be limitations to the size of group permitted in an area at one time.
4. Gather support: ask businesses to provide resources in exchange for sponsorship exposure. Resources donated may range from raffle items, to clean-up supplies like rakes and gloves, to snacks for participants. Remember to give them as much public thanks and exposure as possible so that they will have a positive result from helping.
5. Write a press release: one page that clearly states when, where, what to bring, and who to contact with questions. Distribute it to news media; outdoor-interest publications, outdoor-oriented non-profit organizations, websites, and clubs.
Tools:
• Shovels--large, flat-head shovels are the most effective at scooping up small debris.
• Rakes—leaf rakes and rock rakes can be equally useful.
• 5-gallon buckets with handles work well for hauling glass or metal scraps that may cut through a plastic trash bag.
• Heavy-duty trash bags—though these are often provided by a sponsor, there can never be too many.
What to wear:
• Long pants
• Long sleeved shirt
• Work boots or heavy leather shoes with thick soles
• Heavy work gloves
• Sunscreen
• Eye protection
Communication:
• Cell phone list
• CB, FRS, or HAM Radio.
Basic human needs:
• Water
• Restrooms—For large events, it may be a good idea to have porta-potties brought in—check with the public land management agency.
• First Aid—nasty cuts, scrapes, and punctures can occur, as well as the common sprained ankle or insect bite. Have basic first aid on hand, and invite law enforcement or EMS personnel to attend.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
First off its great to see the sponsors getting some press and print. They deserve every bit of it.
Secondly, I've signed up to be a member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. You get the magazine they send out, the latest with the cleanup in it, and it makes you feel great.
BRC and Tread Lightly are just great and I want to support them. Enough talking.
The link is below to the digital version of the BRC magazine about the clean-up. Enjoy!!
Tim Huber
Four Peaks Pickup in the Blue Ribbon Coalition magazine.
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/article.php?id=1563
Secondly, I've signed up to be a member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. You get the magazine they send out, the latest with the cleanup in it, and it makes you feel great.
BRC and Tread Lightly are just great and I want to support them. Enough talking.
The link is below to the digital version of the BRC magazine about the clean-up. Enjoy!!
Tim Huber
Four Peaks Pickup in the Blue Ribbon Coalition magazine.
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/article.php?id=1563