Photo: Wally Pacholka / Astropics.com
Dark Sky Park: Service at Natural Bridges,
Utah Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08080A Price: $425 Deposit: $50 Capacity: 14 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: National Park Service Located on a remote mesa in southeastern Utah, Natural Bridges is home to some of the finest and largest natural bridges in the world. It is also home to ancient puebloan ruins similar to those found at Mesa Verde. At an elevation of 6,500 feet, this national monument encompasses two deep canyons and a number of hiking trails and archeological sites. Natural Bridges is also unique because of its designation by the International Dark Sky Association as the first “Dark Sky Park.” The park is making special efforts to preserve this natural resource and educate the public about the harmful effects of light pollution. The Project  Photo: National Park Service Natural Bridges is a small national monument with a limited staff. Our work will be critical in maintaining this precious resource, first designated as a national monument by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1908. We will rehabilitate the trail to Horse Collar Overlook. This will include delineating routes across slicrock, painting handrails, and building a retaining wall. The project will also include a significant educational component led by the park archaeologist and astronomers. In addition to our work projects, we're planning to explore nearby archaeological sites and hiking venues including Grand Gulch and the overlooks to the canyons along the San Juan River.
We will meet in the park campground no later than 3 p.m. on day one, for a brief orientation, camp setup, and dinner. Service work will be conducted Monday through Friday with a day off during the week to explore the surrounding area. This includes Cedar Mesa, Goosenecks State Park, the San Juan River Valley and the more distant Capitol Reef National Park and Monument Valley in Arizona. Following breakfast on Saturday, May 10, we will break camp and head to our respective destinations. Getting There Natural Bridges is located 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah at the end of Highway 275 on Cedar Mesa. It sits in the heart of the Colorado Plateau and four-corner region and is surrounded by some of the finest scenery and national parks in the west. Flight connections will likely be through Grand Junction, Colorado (a three hour drive from Blanding); or Salt Lake City (a five hour drive).
We will camp in a secluded spot about 1.5 miles from the main visitor center. The area is surrounded by pinion-juniper woodland and includes picnic tables, a fire ring, and tent sites. There is no running water, flush toilets, or showers. We will use pit toilets and transport water from the main campground. We will also set up a privacy area for solar showers. There is no vehicle access. We may have campfires, but gathering firewood is prohibited, so feel free to bring a small supply if you have room. We will establish a central kitchen and eating area in the campground. You must provide your own tent, sleeping bag, and mat. A folding camp chair is also recommended. Individuals may also choose to sleep in their cars, trucks, or campers. Leaders will prepare breakfast and dinner with assistance from participants. Food will be laid out after breakfast each day so you can pack your own lunch. All meals will include options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. If you have special dietary needs, please discuss these with one of the leaders before signing up to be sure we can accommodate you.
This trip is rated moderate, although those without experience at working at higher altitudes (6,500 feet) may encounter some difficulties, such as shortness of breath. Be prepared with sun hat, sunscreen, long shirt, and pants. You will be urged to work at your own pace and to choose a job that match your abilities. The primary dangers are likely to be dehydration, so bring at least two quart-size water containers. Rain is unlikely, but when it comes, it can be a gusher. We can expect plenty of sunshine, so bring your solar shower. Daytime temperatures will likely range from the 70’s to the 80’s; nighttime lows range from the 40’s to 50’s. While no particular training regime is necessary to prepare for a service trip, everyone is expected to be in good physical condition. If you are unaccustomed to physical labor, make the extra effort in the months before the trip to increase your daily exercise and get those muscles ready for a new level of activity. All participants should have an up-to-date tetanus shot. Work and hiking experience at altitude is highly recommended.
The park service will provide all work tools for our projects. Please bring sturdy work boots, work gloves and a bandana. This is a high desert setting so the risk of sunburn and dehydration can be minimized by wearing long sleeves and pants, and using sunscreen. A detailed list of what to bring will be given to all participants. The list will include tent, sleeping bag, eating utensils, and water bottles.
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Conservation Short of going to the outback in Australia or the mountains of Peru, our visit to Natural Bridges will provide one of the best opportunities to view what so many can no longer see – a nighttime sky free of light and air pollution. Our visit to National Bridges will coincide with a new moon on May 5, so conditions for stargazing should be excellent. Nighttime lighting may not be high on the list of priorities among many conservationists, but there is a growing awareness among scientists and the general public of the harmful effects of excess lighting. It not only wastes billions of dollars worth of energy, but scientists tell us that it can affect everything from migrating birds to sea turtles to insects. Even our out-of-the-way parks are affected. As David Owen in his 2007 essay in The New Yorker noted, “…for someone standing on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on a moonless night, the brightest feature of the sky is not the Milky Way but the glow of Las Vegas, a hundred and seventy-five miles away.” Conserving the cultural heritage of ancient puebloans is also an important part of the mission of Natural Bridges and of this trip. Briefings from park staff and visits to sites will focus on the three different periods of occupation of the Cedar Mesa area by indigenous peoples, particularly from 1060-1270.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Recently retired, James Mingle is an active hiker and canoeist. For the past several years, he has led groups on long-distance walks in Great Britain (he considers his “best” walk to be the 200 mile trek that transported him along the entire length of Wales). He is a longtime resident of Colorado and a frequent visitor to the San Luis Valley and the mountains and canyonlands of the Southwest.
Jim Geltz has spent over 20 years trekking, mountain biking, and leading a wide variety of trips in the West, including vision quests and Sierra Club service trips. Jim’s background includes leadership positions in corporate life, local Sierra Club outings, experiential learning outings, Outward Bound, and aboriginal arts and life skills trainings.