Solitude Monitoring Training: Superstition Wilderness

The Arizona Wilderness Coalition will be conducting a training day to teach volunteers how to conduct surveys for Opportunities for Solitude. Opportunities for Solitude is one of the criteria needed for an area to become designated Wilderness. Participants will learn how solitude monitoring affects wilderness, how to conduct monitoring sessions and how to sign up for individual monitoring dates in the Superstitions Wilderness.

The event will consist of a morning instruction session (approximately 30 minutes) followed by a day hike into the wilderness to practice what was taught. We will be hiking Dutchmans Trail 104 to the junction with Black Mesa 241 and Boulder Canyon 103. Participants need to be prepared to hike up to 5 miles. Please bring the proper gear plus food and water for the hike. Also, participants should bring something to sit on, pad or chair, for the instruction session.

Directions to trailhead – From Mesa follow Highway 60 East to Idaho Road. Turn North onto Idaho Road which is SR88 and follow North 2.2 miles. SR88 bends right just past Scenic St. and Idaho continues north. Be sure to go right and stay on SR88. Follow SR88 5.2 miles to the signed turnoff for First Water Trailhead, this is FR-78. Turn right on to FR-78 and follow 2.6 miles to the end.