Gulch Blog
Alumni Profiles: Mia JespersenChavez
Mia today Alumni Profiles: Mia JespersenChavez Mia Jespersen-Chavez was introduced to the Gulch through day trips with her elementary school before trekking on the Outfit in 2014 and the Wild Country Trek in 2016. Now a senior in high school, she volunteers at the...
Interview with a SIWI teacher
Saba in action on a 2019 Gulch trek to the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah wilderness Interview with a SIWI Teacher SIWI (the Students in Wilderness Initiative) is a year-long program that combines classroom sessions with field experiences to teach students about public lands,...
“That Was Really Peaceful”
Taking a break from nature journaling to pose "That was really peaceful" I got up Friday morning and prepared to do what I hadn't done in months: work outside with teens. I had the usual nervous thoughts: "Do I have everything in my daypack? Do I have a good backup...
July 2020 Updates
Moving Toward a More Inclusive, Diverse, and Equitable Cottonwood Gulch Cottonwood Gulch is embarking on a strategic planning process that will guide the organization for years to come. As a central part of that process, we are committed to creating a culture that is...
Partnerships that Meet Community Needs
Dead and down wood stacked and awaiting pickup Partnerships That Meet Community NeedsJuly 2020 is the quietest July our Base Camp has seen in decades--no summer treks, no Rendezvous, no school groups--but we've keptourselves plenty busy. In addition to several...
Miller Moth Madness!
Read more about... Army Cutworm aka Miller Moth Euxoa Auxiliaris Here in the high desert of the Southwestern US, May brings with it not only strong winds but as you seek shelter from the wind you may find you are not the only creature seeking respite inside your home,...
Cottonwood Gulch Creature Feature: The Reptiles of Base Camp
Read more about... A couple weeks ago, I found myself taking a break under a large piñon tree at Base Camp. With summer treks cancelled due to the pandemic, a lot of our time has been spent working hard on infrastructure projects such as tilling the farm or preparing...
Gratitude and Reciprocity
Read more about... The day before Albuquerque closed all schools, Monica and I were at South Valley Prep teaching the eighth graders “how to pack a backcountry backpack” in preparation for their upcoming five-day Wilderness expedition. As part of the Students in...
Arch McCallum is Birding and So Can You!
Read more about... I first met Arch McCallum in an RV campground in the center of Las Vegas, Nevada. Camille Torfs-Leibman and I had driven from Albuquerque the previous day, picking up Lee Farnham in Gallup after he had recreated his first trip to the Gulch, hopping...