Ever really think about how that trail we love, that leads us to explore sites, sounds, and environment that amaze, came into existence? One that can stand the
test of time, weather, environment to be enjoyed now and into the future for all.
Mark Flint, the owner of Southwest Trail Design, based here in the Tucson area will join us on Wednesday, November 15, at 4 p.m. in the HOA #1 Activity Center – he will pull the curtain back on the important aspects that go into developing a successful trail system, that can sustain.
Mark and his colleagues (project lead Sirena Rana of Trails Inspire and trail builder Matt Roberts of Flagline Trails) recently were engaged by the Amerind Museum, to enhance their 1600-acre campus. Located in the ancestral homeland of the Chiricahua Apache. The team was challenged to develop a functional and sustainable trail network exploring the spectacular rock formations in the Dragoon Mountains of Southeast Arizona, known as Texas Canyon.
Mark is completely at peace and at home in nature! Mark has been designing, building, and maintaining trails since the early 1990’s. He began in Oregon and moved to Southern Arizona in 1998, where he was involved in the design of the Arizona Trail. Since 2008, he has worked on sustainable trail design with his company. Other trail systems he has designed in Southern Arizona include a reroute of the 50-year Trail, 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo Race Course, Tucson Mountain Park, Robles Pass, and the Sweetwater Preserve!
Mark describes his passions this way - “I’m a mountain biker, I’m a horseback rider, I’m a back packer, I’m a volunteer with the AZ trail veteran program - I see our trails, and the value they provide, from all different perspectives.”
Back in April, The SaddleBrooke Hiking Club was invited to experience the newly developed hiking trails at the Amerind Museum campus. Tom Stafford, Jeff Love, and I met Mark to explore some of the newly groomed trails. We were able to hear firsthand about the process of developing a trail where none existed, coupled with the unique opportunities and challenges that the Amerind location presented!
These trails are planned to be opened to the public in October 2023, and will enhance an exciting Amerind Museum visit. Located just off the 1-10 between Benson and Wilcox, is just short of a two-hour drive from SaddleBrooke.
To learn more about Amerind, visit the website at
https://www.amerind.org
To learn more about Southwest Trail Solutions, visit the website at
https://setrailsolutions.com