The Desert Highlands: Peaks, Plateaus, and People

This 8-day course, planned with our guides from the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation of Albuquerque, NM, explores first-hand the unique people and places of the desert Southwest of Arizona and New Mexico. We begin in the Sky Islands region of southeastern Arizona, where big-horn sheep, saguaro cactus, and Douglas firs are more common than people. In the rugged Galiuro Mountains Wilderness, we will head into the backcountry for three days of backpacking, camping, and mountain hiking. Standing at 7,663 feet above sea level, Bassett Peak will be an imposing challenge for us.

From the ponderosa pines and steep cliffs of the Galiuros, we will head north into New Mexico to see the high desert mesas and plateaus of the Navajo Reservation, the largest and most diverse Native American reservation in the United States. Here we will spend two days visiting with friends of Cottonwood Gulch on the Reservation. Options, which will vary with the weather and the group's particular interests, will include camping at a family ranch and participating in a Navajo sweat ceremony, living in a traditional Navajo hogan and hearing sacred story-telling, working on a joint project with local students, or exploring traditional and contemporary art at trading posts in Gallup, New Mexico.

Day 1—Saturday, 3-12-05
Fly into Tucson, Arizona, where we will meet Gulch staff and drive the two to three hours to Safford Ranger District in the Coronado National Forest. We will establish camp and participate in a backpacking orientation session.

Day 2—Sunday, 3-13
We will pack our bags and start on the trail, hiking 4 or 5 miles before we establish a backcountry campsite.

Day 3—Monday, 3-14
Our toughest day, we will attempt the climb up Bassett Peak! Bassett Peak, the highest peak in the Galiuro Mountains range, is 7663 ft., and is at 32° 30' N; 110° 17' W.

Day 4—Tuesday, 3-15
Our last day of backpacking, we will exit the wilderness area and return to the base camp, where we will reward ourselves with some R&R.

Day 5—Wednesday, 3-16
Today is a moving day, as we drive about six hours north to the Cottonwood Gulch Bas camp and nature Reserve with various brief rest and play stops along the way. In the evening we will decide our activities for the next two days.

Day 6—Thursday, 3-17
Whatever we decide to do, we will at least visit a Navajo Reservation today and tomorrow.

Day 8—Saturday, 3-19
We'll make the two-hour drive to Albuquerque where we will visit Old Town, if time permits, and then fly home to Chicago.