Eight summer campers and staff members from the Carlos Ortega Teen Center joined SFCT staff Charlie O’Leary and Tim Rogers, along with Lily O’Leary, for a hike up Dale Ball Trails – South to a wonderful rock platform below Picacho Peak. This is our inaugural “field trip” intended to promote the use of city trails by a broader segment of our population. Of the seven 12-14 year olds that came along, only one had ever been hiking before!

Up and away – Climbing up Dale Ball Trails – South on a city trail easement through land preserved by The Nature Conservancy.
We learned about the land and its history, took in the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of nature, and enjoyed a beautiful view of our city and surrounding mountain chains from a height of just under 8,000 ft. I think it’s safe to say that everyone had a good time, and some may not even have noticed that we got a lot of good exercise and fresh air along the way.

Charlie O’Leary, Counselor Kayla, and the rest of the Teen center crew stop to pose at a saddle on the way up.

A forest-thinning crew hired by the City gets set to deploy toward Aztec Springs; Summer Campers contemplate a future career option?
Thanks to counselor Kayla and all the campers, it was a real pleasure to hike with you and we are looking forward to the next group of City campers next week!