Developing a Trail Stewardship Program through Volunteerism: A Case Study on the

Old Spanish National Historical TrailMark Henderson, Owner, Chupadero Archeological Resources, ElPrado, New Mexico and Chairman, Old Spanish Trail AssociationStewardship Committee

Paul Ostapuk, President, Armijo Chapter, Old Spanish Trail Association(OSTA), Page, Arizona

Diana Hawks, Team Lead for Recreation, Wilderness and CulturalResources, Arizona Strip District, US Bureau of Land Management, St.George, Utah

Presented at the National Historic Trail Preservation WorkshopRiverwalk Hotel, San AntonioMay 2010Sponsored by the Partnership for the National Trails SystemHosted by El Camino Real de los Tejas Trail Association

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Vision Statement of the Old Spanish Trail Association

“The Old Spanish National Historic Trail and its History will become familiar to every American and all other interested

people.”

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How to fulfill the vision?• Get the Old Spanish Trail into School Textbooks (309 Million

Americans, about 60 million students in K-12)• Attract Tourists to the Old Spanish Trail (55 Million

International Visitors in US in 2009, 1.5 billion person trips in US in 2006)

• Think Globally, Act Locally

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If we fulfill the vision how do we protect the resource?

• Get Outdoor Ethics and Trail History into School Curricula

• Encourage Personal Ownership of History in Visitors (“Civic Tourism”)

• Teach Stewardship Ethics (Tread Lightly, Leave No Trace) to all visitors

• Provide Subject Matter Experts as Interpreters

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Visitors Days at Selected Parks in the Vicinity of the Arizona Strip along the Old Spanish National Historical Trail in

2009

National Recreation Areas

• 1.96 million -Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

• 7.67 million – Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Heritage National Monuments

• 78,000 - Navajo National Monument

• 49,000 – Pipe Spring National Monument

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Why Should We Care about the Old Spanish National Historic Trail (1829-1848)?

[Added to the National Trail System in 2002]

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Assume that History MattersPrinciples of Interpretation

(Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage [1957:9])

I. Any interpretation that does not somehow relate what is being displayed or described to something within the personality or experience of the visitor will be sterile.

II. Information, as such, is not Interpretation. Interpretation is revelation based upon information. But they are entirely different things. However, all interpretation includes information.

III. Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts, whether the materials presented are scientific, historical or architectural. Any art is in some degree teachable.

IV. The chief aim of Interpretation is not instruction, but provocation.V. Interpretation should aim to present a whole rather than a part, and must

address itself to the whole man [sic. person] rather than any phase.VI. Interpretation addressed to children (say, up to the age of twelve) should

not be a dilution of the presentation to adults, but should follow a fundamentally different approach. To be at its best it will require a separate program.

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Historic Context of the Old Spanish TrailPrecursor: Northern New Mexico weaving industry

In 1807 at the request of the governor of New Mexico, Juan and Ignacio Barzan were sent from Central Mexico to train weavers and establish “weaving workshops” [or “sweatshops?”] . It is reported that in 1840 alone, over 20,000 textiles were exported to Mexico.

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‘Not a single first hand account of the annual merchant caravan from New Mexico to California has been found from the period 1831-1848. Most information comes from disputes between the New Mexicans and the Californians in the business dealings’ (Hafen & Hafen 1995: 175). One caravan in 1833 with an unknown number of men (& boys) reported 1645 serapes, 341 fesadas, 171 colchos, and 4 tirutas [shawls or throws?]’ (page 179).

‘In 1842 a return caravan of 194 New Mexicans departed from customs at Cajon Pass with 4,150 animals ‘ (page 188) with an unspecified breakdown between mules and horses.

“Crypto – Trade” on the Old Spanish Trail

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A New Ecological Normal: Spread of the European Horse in North America

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Mules and horses driven from California were traded for manufactured goods from the United States along the Santa Fe Trail

• On the Santa Fe Trail in 1822, trade totaled $15,000; by 1860, $3.5 million, or more than $53 million in today's dollars.

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Why Should we Preserve the Old Spanish National Historic Trail?

Main Branch1830-1848

Armijo Route1829

NorthBranch

Approx BoundaryArizona Strip BLM

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Is the “Tragedy of the Commons” Inevitable like “The Grim Reaper?”

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Can You Find the Old Spanish National Historic Trail in this Picture?

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The Arizona Strip Office of the US Bureau of Land Management wants it

Added to the Picture

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Armijo Trail Corridor

Dec 14 – At Ram Creek15 – Water of the Old Woman16 – Coyote Plains - no water17 – Limestone Canyon – water pockets 18 – Stopped: reconnaissance party sent out 19 – Stinking water Canyon – permanent water20 - Virgin River

21 – Stopped: reconnaissance party sent out22 – At the cornfield river23 – At the little gourds arroyo24 – Further down same river25 – Virgin River again; reconnaissance party

sent out26 – Downriver27 - Settlement of Indians with rings in noses28 – Downriver29 – Marsh of the same river30 – On the same river31 – On the same riverJan 1 - At the Colorado River

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16 14

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Jan 1

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Al Rio Grande Vado de los padres (6 deciembre 1829)• “Al rio Grande vado de

los padres en dicho dia reconocio el vado y se encontro bueno, y tres individuos que pasaron vadeando observaron que habia huella de tres individuos muy fresca y la siguieron hasta que las oscurecio sin darles alcance.”

At the Rio Grande crossing of the fathers : on the said day we reconnoitered the crossing and found it good, and three individuals who forded found fresh tracks of three individuals which they followed until dark without reaching them.

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[1829 deciembre] 8 Cruzamos el tren y compusimos la subidadel canon, la misma que trabajaron los padres.

[We stopped the [mule] train and repaired the upgrade of the canyon, the same one that the fathers had worked]

Who Are the Stakeholders?

http://www.nps.gov/glca/parkmgmt/upload/FY%202007%20Superintendents%20Annual%20Report-GLCA-RABR.pdf 19

Rob and Kathi and the Rest of Us

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Explore and Restore

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Wheeler Survey Map (1872) of the Arizona Strip

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[1829 deciembre] 10 Al artenejal de la cejaColorado; en dicho dia se encontro una rancheria

de Payuches y no tuvimos novedad, es nacionmansa y cobarde.

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[1829 deciembre] 14. Al rito carnero

Kanab Creek http://www.desertusa.com/big.html Looking west to Kanab Creek

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[1829 deciembre] 15 “Al Agua de la Vieja”

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• [1829 deciembre] 19. Al canon del Agua hedionda, permanente.

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• [deciembre] 20. Al rio Severo

• [deciembre] 21. Demora: y salio la contada

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[1829 deciembre] 24. Abajo del mismo rio de las milpas

• “below [or down?] was the same Rio de las Milpas [Santa Clara]

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• This portion of the Wheeler Survey Atlas Sheet shows the area of the juncture of the “Main Branch” of the Old Spanish Trail and the “Armijo Route” of the Old Spanish Trail. It is a “significant” segment of the OST because it shows :

Obstacles (Virgin River Canyon which was almost the death of Jedediah Smith in 1827, Mormon Range)

Pinch points and travel ways (Castle Cliffs, Utah Hill, Bulldog Canyon

Named water courses, water sources and water points (Beaverdam Wash, Virgin River

Location of wagon roads and water crossings which may overlay “pack trails.”

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[Armijo 1829 deciembre] 25. Volvimos a caer al rio Severode cuyo punto salio la contada

[ Fremont 1844] May 5 Our camp was in a basin below a deep canon – a gap of two thousand feet in the mountain – through which the Rio Virgin passes, and where no man or beast could follow it. The Spanish trail, which we had lost in the sands of the basin, was on the opposite side of the river.

We are all Trail Stewards

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Leave No Tracehttp://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php

• Plan Ahead and Prepare• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces• Dispose of Waste Properly • Leave What You Find• Minimize Campfire Impacts • Respect Wildlife • Be Considerate of Other Visitors

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Tread Lightlyhttp://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/responsible-

four/Recreation-Tips.html

• TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY• RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS• EDUCATE YOURSELF• AVOID SENSITIVE AREAS• DO YOUR PART

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Trail Stewards must be Evoked and Provoked

Evoked from:• Concern for own and others

safety• Appeal to narcissism • Appeal to altruism (“Civic”

tourism (Dan Schilling http://civictourism.org/])• Work as a team member• Ability to tolerate routine

Provoked by:• Curiosity• Challenge to become

subject matter experts, • Recruiting new participants

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Trail Stewardship vs Site StewardshipArchaeological Site Stewardship

• Archaeological Resources Protection Act [ARPA] 1979

• Primacy of protection (“If I tell you, I will have to kill you”)

• “Archeological Interest”• Inventory, baseline condition and

monitoring is relationship between artifacts (points) or features (polygons).

• Primary skill “reading the artifacts”

Historic Trail Stewardship

• National Trail System Act [NTSA,1968 ], National Historic Preservation Act andARPA

• Balancing use and protection• High potential sites and segments and

landscapes (tread and corridor)• Inventory, baseline condition and

monitoring is a line or sequence of points

• Primary skill “reading the landscape”• Section 110 of the National Historic

Preservation Act [NHPA] of 1966 requires Federal Land Managers to Inventory all “Significant “Historic Properties (Sites, Districts, Buildings, Structures and Objects) 35

Advocacy through Participation in Section 106 Consultation of the National Historic Preservation Act

Section 106The head of any Federal agency having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or federally assisted undertaking in any State and the head of any Federal department or independent agency having authority to license any undertaking shall, prior to the approval of the expenditure of any Federal funds on the undertaking or prior to the issuance of any license, as the case may be, take into account the effect of the undertaking on any district, site, building, structure, or object that is included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register. The head of any such Federal agency shall afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation established under Title II of this Act a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to such undertaking.

36 CFR 800.2 (c) (5)(5) Additional consulting parties.

Certain individuals and organizations with a demonstrated interest in the undertaking may participate as consulting parties due to the nature of their legal or economic relation to the undertaking or affected properties, or their concern with the undertaking's effects on historic properties.

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PUBLIC EDUCATION - IT’S THE LAW: 1988 Amendments to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act

16 U.S.C. 470ii(c), Federal land managers’ public awareness program of archaeological resources(c) Each Federal land manager shall establish a program to increase public awareness of the significance of the archaeological resources located on public lands and Indian lands and the need to protect such resources.

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New Technology allows Unprecedented New Opportunities for Citizen Advocates to Safely

Participate in Resource Inventory, Monitoring and Protection

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Trail Stewards Learn Many Arts: Archeology, History, Geography, Orienteering, Teaching,

Botany, Wildlife Biology, Geology, Hydrographyfor example with a GPS and Digital Camera anyone can contribute to non-destructive Archeological Inventory

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Trail Stewards Learn to “Read the Landscape”

Pack Trails• Find the Hoof Prints -dispersed• Water, forage• Pinch Points and obstacles:

Crossings, saddles, drainages, point source water

• Task Group: Number of mules & horses per person

• Amount of commercial items to maintenance items limited to animal capacity

• Artifact discard low

Wagon Roads• Find the Ruts - channeled• Forage, water• Pinch Points and obstacles:

Crossings, narrows, slick rock• Task Group: Number of people

per wagon• Amount of commercial and

maintenance items limited to wagon capacity

• Artifact discard high

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Stock Trail to Wagon Road

• Ad Hoc Wagon Roads and Stock Trails will approach a slope vertically. As a “dugway.” Constructed Wagon roads will have a constructed grade.

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Trail Stewards Learn the Intricacies of the Law(which makes for better advocacy)

High Potential Sites Defined by National Trail System Act

(1) The term "high potential historic sites" means those historic sites related to the route, or sites in close proximity thereto, which provide opportunity to interpret the historic significance of the trail during the period of its major use. Criteria for consideration as high potential sites include historic significance, presence of visible historic remnants, scenic quality, and relative freedom from intrusion.

High Potential Segments Defined by National Trail System Act

(2) The term "high potential route segments" means those segments of a trail which would afford high quality recreation experience in a portion of the route having greater than average scenic values or affording an opportunity to vicariously share the experience of the original users of a historic route.

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What are “Archaeological Resources?”

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What are “Historic Properties?”

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Read, Explore and Protect Corridor Landscapes

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BLM Arizona Strip Field Office Cooperative Agreement with the Old Spanish Trail

AssociationCooperative Agreement

• Three Year Agreement (2009-2011)

• Develop OSTA Trail Stewardship Manual

• Conduct public workshops (3)• Inventory and monitor high

potential segments and historic sites on the Arizona Strip

OSTA Organization

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A Trail Steward is the First Line of Protection?

• Opportunities to :

• Be an Explorer• Be a Surveyor and Recorder• Be a Site Monitor• Be an Interpreter• Be a Community ambassador

and advocate for the Old Spanish National Historic Trail

• Assist public land managers by:– Performing monitoring

assessments– Participate in discovery of

archaeological resources.

However, a Trail Steward is NOT:

• A law enforcement officer.• A certified archeologist

Trail Stewards must follow OSTA Trail Steward guidelines in documenting archeological sites or trail segments when conducting archeological or historical research according to Signed BLM Volunteer/Hosted Worker Agreements.

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Training (Safety and Team Expertise Development)

• Recruitment (Volunteerism and Compensation)

• Handbook (Policy & Guidelines)

• Workshops (Classroom, Field)

• Specialized Safety Equipment (SPOT II Satellite Messenger)

• Recording Equipment (GPS, Digital Camera)

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Establishing Baseline

Condition (Inventory)

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Stewards Measure Change by Monitoring Condition

Every Threat Is an Opportunity

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You Can Help a Work in Progress

• What should be the “core principles” of Trail Stewardship?

• Is the Arizona BLM and OSTA Trail Stewardship Program doing all the right things? (Delta-Plus)

• Does a formal Trail Stewardship Program work for your Historic Trail? Why or Why Not?

• Is this Program one that can be sustained? Is it “too big to fail?”

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