Dear Elderhostel
Friend,
We are enjoying a pleasant summer here in the
high-country and were blessed with an early monsoon season in
Northern Arizona. Thanks to many brave men and women, we have
seen our fire season come and go with minimal damage to homes,
businesses, and the unique landscape of this area. As you may have
seen or heard, the areas of Sedona, Flagstaff and the Kaibab Plateau endured a few fires but Sedona and the Southwest remains as beautiful as ever. Read more about
the Brins fire in Sedona in this
issue.
Traditionally, this time of year is
when we see fewer hostelers so we have been using the summer months
preparing to provide you with the best experience during the upcoming fall
season. We hope you are having a wonderful summer and look forward
to seeing you this fall.
In this
issue we feature:
- Meet Bruce Banker -
coordinator with a passion for the Southwest.
- "Get Active" this fall season!
- Sedona - a landscape of unparalleled
beauty survives yet another
fire season.
- News, Tips & Ideas, and Recommended Reading.
As
always we love hearing from you! Please don't hesitate to contact us if
you have a story or photo you would like to share, or think of a topic you would
like us to cover. Just send an email to:
elderhostel@nau.edu
If you do not wish to receive this newsletter in the future you will
find information on unsubscribing at the bottom of this page.
Best wishes,
The Staff at NAU Elderhostel |
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NAU Elderhostel
Coordinator - Bruce Banker |
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 Bruce has a long time relationship with
NAU Elderhostel. He started in 1992 as a naturalist guide and over
the years his work grew into a full time position. For the last 7
years he has been a program coordinator. He has taken
Elderhostel participants to many of the far reaching corners of the
southwest and has many good stories to share.
Bruce grew up in the desert agricultural
town of El Centro, California and later attended Northern Arizona
University in Flagstaff where he graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences
and Geology. His work experience includes working for the National
Park Service as a Naturalist on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Chaco
Canyon National Historic Park and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to
name a few. Bruce also serves as an outdoor educator for the Grand
Canyon Field Institute. Today he lives in Flagstaff and has called
Northern Arizona home for the last 25 years.
Bruce continues to expand his understanding and love of the
southwest's natural and cultural history.
When asked about his work with
Elderhostel, Bruce says, "I have enjoyed the company and insights of the
smooth seasoned hosteler but have also enjoyed inspiring confidence and
fostering strengths of the reluctant or first time traveler. It is
gratifying to see these hostelers overcome physical challenges, years of
traveling alone or embracing new cultures and peoples".
Check out the programs that Bruce will be
coordinating this fall.
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Active
Outdoor Programs this Fall |
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Exercise your body and expand your
mind as you explore many of North America's most treasured places.
What could be a better natural environment for challenging oneself than the
stunning Southwest. This fall season we are offering a wide
selection of "Active Outdoors" programs. Choose from backpacking,
hiking, tennis or golf. Elderhostel programs are designed with a
rating system that describes the degree of physical activity so that you can
better judge what program is best for you. Our experienced staff
will guide and support you through your journey.
The Premier Grand Canyon Backpacking Adventure, #2113
Dates: Sept 17-23, Sept 24-30 Price:
$890.00, Single +$50.00
Lake Powell: Hiking the Slick Rock, Slot
Canyons & Red Rocks, #6114
Dates: Oct 15-20, Oct 29-Nov 3 Price:
$650.00, Single +$140.00
Sedona
Hiking: Connecting with Nature, #2117
Dates: Oct 15-20, Nov 5-Nov 10 Price:
$695.00, Single +$200.00
Grand Canyon: Hiking Along and
Below the South Rim, #6112
Dates:
Oct 22-27, Oct 29-Nov 3, Dec 3-8 Price: $640.00, Single +$125.00
Golfing and a River Trip on the
Colorado River, #7680
Dates: Oct
1-6, Oct 15-20 Price: $655.00, Single +$120.00
Red Rock Golf and Southwest History and
Culture, #4803
Dates:
Sept 17-22, Oct 29-Nov 3, Nov 5-10 Price: $695.00, Single +$160.00
Tennis and
Hiking in Sedona's Red Rock Majesty, #8721
Dates: Oct 8-13, Oct
22-27 Price: $731.00, Single +$200.00
Read Bob Mead's
feedback of
"Connecting with Nature", our Sedona hiking program. |
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Sedona
Remains Spectacular |
 As you
may know, forest fires are
part of life in Northern Arizona. After an extremely mild winter and a very dry spring,
numerous fires were sparked throughout this part of the
country. Sedona, one of the most visually stunning and spiritually healing
places in the world, was one area effected by this very dry season.
The Brins Fire,
started in June by an escaped transient campfire, burned 4200 acres and was the
most serious fire in Sedona in many years. However the forest burned in
areas were there were few trails and fire in the primarily ponderosa, pinon and
juniper forest burned in mosaic pattern and can only be seen from a plane or
helicopter, not by the casual driver or hiker. Scenic Oak Creek
Canyon was closed and evacuated
during the fire fighting operation which affected many homes and businesses, but
none were damaged by the fire. Highway
89A was used as a fire break through Oak Creek Canyon and the fire was stopped at
Slide Rock.
In Sedona itself,
it's hard to see evidence of what burned since most of the fire hit canyons,
rugged rock outcrops and mesa tops facing away from town.
Thanks to the
Fire Fighters who came from across the country to rescue this American treasure.
They did a fantastic job of preserving
this beautiful area. There were signs and banners all over Sedona thanking them for their brave efforts.
Sedona remains one of our favorite places to share
with hostelers so we wanted to reassure you that although there was a fire,
the treasured landscape remains, and Sedona is still in the business of
welcoming travelers. For more
information on and photos of this fire, visit the
Coconino National Forest website.
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