This Comet Walk will focus on fire adapted ponderosa pine forests and how we need to better adapt to the fire-prone forest rather than the forest adapting to us. We'll discuss forest management, including treatment strategies to reduce hazardous fuels, as well as fire-wise home hardening techniques you can do around your property. 

Mark Adams will be leading this Comet Walk. He worked as a Hotshot for 24 years on the Coconino National Forest, working on three crews: Blue Ridge, Mormon Lake and Flagstaff Hotshots. He also served as the Superintendent of the Flagstaff Hotshots and the Blue Ridge Hotshots. He now works for the City of Flagstaff in the Flagstaff Fire Department as a Wildland Community Risk Reduction Specialist.

Information and directions for the meeting location will be provided once registration is complete.

Join Colorado River boating historian Tom Martin for a tour of the historic boat collection at the Museum Collection, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park.

This collection has one of Julius Stone’s 1909 boats, Emery Kolb’s 1911 EDITH, the 1923 USGS boat MARBLE, David Rust’s 1920’s canvas canoes, Norm Nevills 1938 WEN used on the Dr. Elzada Clover Expedition, Alexander “Zee” Grant’s 1941 folding kayak ESCALANTE, Big Ed Hudson’s 1949 ESMERALDA II, and Moulty Fulmer’s 1954 GEM, the first decked McKenzie River dory to run Grand Canyon. That’s not all! See a 1950’s era rubber raft used by Georgie White, the 1960 Jet Boats DOCK and WEE RED, Walter Kirschbaum’s 1960 fiberglass kayak, Pat Reilly’s 1962 dory SUSIE II, Dock Marston’s 1963 Sportyak, and two contemporary plastic kayaks paddled through Grand Canyon by children.

Transportation is not provided. Directions to our meeting location outside the Park, and other event details, will be sent out prior to the date. We recommend getting a folding camp chair to bring along since there is no group seating in the museum.

While this is a free event, each participant will be responsible for their own Park entrance fees. There may be opportunities for some carpooling from the meeting location into the Park.

Come explore the volcanic history of Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve through the eyes of a geologist. From the dark lava flows and cinder volcanoes, to the ancient sea floor of the pale limestone underneath, we'll see examples of the Earth processes that formed the area and how the Rio de Flag continues to sculpt it today.

The 2.2 mile hike will start at the trailhead of Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve and loop along Tom Moody Trail to the Don Weaver Trail where we can see the Petroglyph Overlook and Pithouse, before dropping down into the valley of the Rio de Flag to cross the bridge, and then coming back around to the Tom Moody Trail as it climbs the flank of a dormant cinder cone volcano to a beautiful view of a waterfall on the way back to the trailhead.

Dr. Amelinda Webb has been exploring Earth's history ever since getting hooked on geology in college. From exploring rocky landscapes across the US to researching ancient sea fossils around the world to teaching Coconino Community College students how to listen to the story that every rock tells, Dr. Webb has a passion for the natural world and loves getting to share that enthusiasm.