About this Event
The Work
With help from The Nature Conservancy and Arizona Land and Water Trust, SIA is making improvements at springs in the Mule Mountains to improve water quality and availability for all the wildlife that use the landscape.
During this trip we'll be completing a new, wildlife-friendly fence around Abbot Spring so that it can recover from overuse by cattle. The work will require heavy lifting, walking on uneven terrain, bending, pounding of T-posts, and working with barbed wire.
In the future we'll also be installing a new water trough so that cattle still have access to water at this location without disturbing the spring.
What to Expect
We will be dispersed camping at a site in Abbot Canyon for the duration of the weekend.
Bring your own meals for the weekend — a minimum of two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners, with snacks.
- SIA will provide potable water, and folks are welcome to bring their own as well.
- There are no restrooms onsite. Please be prepared to dig catholes.
- Be prepared to unplug — there is limited or no cellphone or internet service where we'll be camping and working.
- Bring work clothes and appropriate close-toed shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and potentially torn.
- Bring sturdy work gloves if you have a pair you like: we'll be working with barbed wire, after all. SIA will also have gloves available for anyone who needs them.
- We have extra camping gear available to borrow. Please contact our staff listed below if you would like to use some of our equipment.
Location
Our worksite is located on the 47 Ranch off Davis Road between Tombstone and McNeal, AZ; it's about two hours southeast of Tucson. We will be dispersed camping at a site in Abbot Canyon another hour or so along a dirt road accessable only to high-clearance vehicles.
Getting There
A high-clearance vehicle is required to reach the campsite as the dirt road south from 47 Ranch is very bumpy with large rocks, deep ruts, and washed-out channel crossings. Also, the site is beyond locked gates so participants must meet at the specific times and places listed below to either caravan in to camp or to jump into one of our vehicles for a ride.
Option 1
Meet at the SIA office at 3127 N Cherry Ave. to caravan or carpool to our campground at 1:45 p.m. on Friday. We will head down to Tombstone (and a bathroom break) before heading south to 47 Ranch.
Option 2
If you would like to meet us out at the 47 Ranch, please meet us at either 4 p.m. or at 7:30 p.m. on Friday to either jump into one of our vehicles, or be guided through the gates and back to camp in your own high-clearance vehicle (meeting location will be sent to registered participants).
From Tucson: (98 miles) Take I-10 east to Benson exit 303 for AZ-80 South toward Tombstone. Continue south on AZ-80 past Tombstone and then turn East (left) on Davis Road. Our meeting spot on the 47 Ranch will be shared with registered participants.
Trip Logistics
- Friday, 1:45 p.m. — Meet with SIA staff at our office to carpool to the camping area.
- Friday, 4 p.m. — If you would like to meet SIA at 47 Ranch, you may arrive at 4 p.m. on Friday to ride with us or follow us in to the campsite.
- Friday, 7:30 p.m. - If you need to meet SIA later, you may arrive at 7:30 p.m. on Friday for a second shuttle/caravan back to the campsite.
- Saturday, 7:30 a.m. — Be prepared to go over the day's work and head out. We will work throughout the day with a break for lunch.
- Sunday, 7:30 a.m. — Get started on a couple more hours of work. We will finish up after lunchtime and then head back to Tucson and return to our office by 6 p.m.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on this trip.
If you have further questions, please email Bryon Lichtenhan at [email protected] or Sarah Truebe at [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
O.K. Corral, 326 East Allen Street, Tombstone, United States
USD 0.00
