An Unforgettable Weekend in the Rincons

Inner City Outings’ Inaugural Outing is a Success!

by Matthew J. Nelson

On an early Saturday morning in March, a handful of Sierra Club volunteers rolled into the parking lot of Manor Baptist Church on Tucson’s southside. Waiting of them was an anxious group of boy scouts, cub scouts and their leaders. Boy Scout Troop 329 and Cub Scout Pack 329 were the first groups to be taken into the wilderness by Tucson’s newly reformed chapter of Inner City Outings, a nationwide project of the Sierra Club. Nobody really knew what to expect, but after months of planning the outing, everyone was ready for the adventure to begin.

With the help of Southwest Trekking, they traveled east across the desert to the beautiful Rincon Mountains looming in the distance. Most of the youth said they'd never been to the Rincons, despite the fact that they see them every day. A number of activities were planned for the scouts, but before the much-anticipated tour of Colossal Cave, they tackled a challenging service project on the property.

An unmaintained trail that had been badly eroded by flash floods and horse hoofs was quickly covered with scouts, leaders and volunteers. Working together, they cleared the trail of rocks and debris, trimmed overgrown foliage and replanted cactus and agave that had taken route in the middle of the path. The cub scouts worked on making the trail just perfect, while boy scouts got to work building water bars to combat erosion. Large rocks were shuttled up the hill, trenches were dug and the barriers were put into place. During the project the youth learned about erosion, desert ecology and teamwork. One scout even found a large scorpion underneath one of the rocks, giving everyone the opportunity to see this fascinating arachnid up close. Most of the youth had never seen a live scorpion before. After breaking for a snack the group put the finishing touches on the service project, which will soon become part of an extensive trail system throughout Colossal Cave Mountain Park.

Proud of their efforts but still eager to explore, the youth were shuttled to the entrance of Colossal Cave where they were given a complimentary tour of the massive cavern.

Setting up camp at the remote La Sevilla campground was the next order of business, which the Scouts did like seasoned professionals. Jean led groups of youth through the dry arroyos and talked more about the wonderful plant life found only in the Sonoran Desert. Before night began to fall, most of the Cub Scouts returned to town while the Boy Scouts cooked dinner, told stories and enjoyed the serenity of camping out under the stars.

Sunday morning came early, especially for those who didn’t sleep so well. The group assembled after an incredible breakfast and prepared for the day’s hike up and over the rocky ridge just beyond camp. No trails currently exist in this area of the Park, but with help the Scouts found a route up to the ridge and back down the other side. The going was slow but steady, and constant attention had to be paid to the plants and rugged terrain underfoot. Everyone got to know shin daggers very well!

The hike took numerous breaks on the way to the top of the small mountain, and each time Sierra Club volunteers took the opportunity to share information about desert flora, fauna and geology. Scouts learned about cholla, ocotillo, sotol, fishhook cacti and agave, to name a few.

At the top of the peak they all sat silently for a few minutes to listen to all of the wonders of the desert that sometimes hide from view. The buzz of bees, the call of crows and the whisper of wind were a few things that came to life before their ears. After another quick snack the trek continued down a rocky ridge and back toward camp. Along the way, scout leaders encouraged the youth to practice their map-reading skills. It was an arduous hike, and for most, the trip to the top of the peak marked the highest they had ever been above the valley floor.

After camp was thoroughly cleaned, the cars were packed, and the outing was about finished, all of the scouts, leaders and volunteers gathered in a friendship circle. They discussed what they liked about the outing and what they learned from the experience. And while everyone’s answers were different, it was obvious that this trip was something they would never forget.

Before everyone said goodbye and headed back home, the group held hands and passed a gentle squeeze from hand to hand. Once everyone had received recognition of love, they bid the beautiful Rincons farewell.

For more information on upcoming ICO Outings, contact William Drabkin (Spiruman@aol.com) or David Meissner (dmeissner@hotmail.com).