|
Posted: February 14, 2012
Building the Desert Mountain Trail System One Step at a Time
On November 4, 2011, the Desert Mountain Master Association opened the Sunset Summit Trail, the first of five trails planned for the brand new Desert Mountain Trail System. Approximately 500 Desert Mountain owners, members and their guests attended the Grand Opening and hiked the new trail. Since then, word has spread throughout Desert Mountain about this exciting new amenity: on any given day, there are several Desert Mountain residents enjoying the Sunset Summit Trail and the magn ificent views it provides.
With that success as a backdrop, the goal now is to build even more trails on the Northern Properties. The Trails Master Plan, pictured right, calls for an additional 15 miles of trails throughout the Northern Properties that will be built primarily through sponsorships received from Desert Mountain owners and members. While more than $30,000 has been received in sponsorships thus far, there is still quite a bit of fundraising to do. This is where you can help.
Imagine being able to take in breathtaking views while enjoying a picnic at sunset at the Trailhead...or being able to show your grandchildren the bench you sponsored in their names on a trail...or being able to sponsor a trail in memory of a loved one and see that sponsorship memorialized on the Desert Mountain Trail System Donor's Wall?
All of thi s is possible - and can be completed more quickly than you might have thought possible - with a single contribution of just $300 from each member of the Desert Mountain Master Association. That small, single contribution would result in a grand total of $720,000 that could not only go to the development of the entire trail system, but also towards the building of shade structures, benches, and other amenities that everyone - both current and future Desert Mountain residents - will enjoy.
Why is the Desert Mountain Trail System so important? Because this new amenity will help Desert Mountain remain on its path of being a sustainable and vibrant community that continues to attract new owners and members. Interestingly, there are several trends impacting second-home golf communities right now that having a private trail system in Desert Mountain helps address...
- Increased Interest in Fitness: As they adopt healthier lifestyles, home buyers are looking at a wide range of fitness techniques (imagine working out on a hiking trail rather than on a treadmill);
- Popularity of Non-Golf Activities: Home buyers are interested in alternatives to golf for the non-golfers in their families and among their guests; and
- Non-Traditional Services and Amenities: A private, 15-mile trail system located right on property will certainly help attract and entice new home buyers interested in outdoor pursuits to Desert Mountain.
There is much talk these days in the second home golf community about sustainability and differentiation. Having a private hiking system on property not only helps Desert Mountain remain exciting and interesting for current residents, but it also makes this community appealing and attractive to prospective residents who are looking for something new and different in the next (and hopefully) last place they call home.
For more information on how you can help contribute to the development of the Desert Mountain Trail System, please contact Bob Borsch at ,Troy Gillenwater at or Ann Melsheimer at .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2011 
Thank You!
Many thanks to everyone who attended the Grand Opening of The Desert Mountain Trails on Friday, November 4, and for the kind feedback we have received! Almost 500 Desert Mountain owners, members and their guests attended the event and enjoyed the company of their friends and neighbors, the warmth provided by firepits placed in the dining area, and the meals served throughout the day. Many thanks also go to everyone who helped contribute to the success of this event: our colleagues at the HOA, our patrol staff, and our colleagues in catering, engineering, maintenance and retail at the Desert Mountain Club.
Opening Remarks, Navajo Blessing, Ribbon Cutting
The event began with Opening Remarks given by Desert Mountain Master Board President Bob Borsch, Desert Mountain Club Board President Paul Wutz, Desert Mountain Club General Manager Bob Jones and Desert Mountain resident Troy Gillenwater,  who also serves as the Team Leader of the Friends of the Northern Properties. Following the Opening Remarks, the Desert Mountain Trails and those present were blessed by Red Wing Nez, a Navajo Indian. Once Opening Remarks were concluded, Bob Borsch and Troy Gillenwater participated in the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, which officially opened up the Desert Mountain Trails to event attendees many of whom began their very first hikes on the Northern Properties.
Hiking Helpful Hints
Now that the Desert Mountain Trails are open, please keep these helpful hints in mind...
-
Be Prepared! Remember to bring food, water, and clothing to protect you from the cold, heat and rain.
-
Bring your cell phone with you in case of an emergency.
-
Always hike with a buddy.
-
Let others know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
-
Pack it in, pack it out: put all litter in plastic bags and carry it home.
-
Keep your pet on a maximum six-foot leash to protect it, other visitors and wildlife.
-
Remember to bring plastic bags with you to pick up your pet's waste and pack it out to a garbage can.
The Desert Mountain Trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Please be sure to plan your hike to arrive back to the Trailhead before it gets dark. For directions to the Desert Mountain Trails, simply click here for an easy-to- read map. The Northern Properties are located above Saguaro Forest and Cintarosa Ranch and the Trailhead is located to the left of the Ranch Lot Overlook. Parking and restroom facilities are available at the Trailhead.
While the first trail in the Desert Mountain Trail System -- the Sunset Summit Trail -- is complete and open for use, there are plans to develop a variety of other trails with varying levels of difficulty through a phased-in approach. These trails will be developed through sponsorships received from Desert Mountain residents and members, so the estimated completion of the Trails depends on the sponsorships received. This Desert Mountain Trail Map and Brochure provides some excellent information for hiking the Sunset Summit Trail, as well as plans for future development.
Sponsorship Information 
There are several options under consideration for funding the further development of the Desert Mountain Trail System. Please click on the following link for The Desert Mountain Trails Master Plan Map; it lays out the plans for the phased-in development of four additional trails in the Desert Mountain Trail System, all of which will be funded and completed through the sponsorships of Desert Mountain owners and members.
The Desert Mountain Trails Sponsorship Program outlines what trails and trail amenities (resting/viewing benches, trail signage, shade structures, etc.) are available for sponsorship. Interested sponsors are encouraged to contact Bob Borsch at or Troy Gillenwater at for more information. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have!
In the meantime, if you have any other questions about the Desert Mountain Trails, please feel free to contact Karen Angelo at .
Happy Trails to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATED : Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Thanks to everyone who has RSVP'd for the Grand Opening of the Trails this Friday, November 4! Due to the overwhelming response to this event (more than 400 attendees!), we have made some adjustments to our programming and have some suggestions below that we believe will enhance everyone's enjoyment of this fun "Grand Opening" event.
If possible, we strongly suggest that you carpool to the Grand Opening with your friends and neighbors. While we do have designated parking areas for our attendees, parking will be at a premium for this event. Therefore, it would be great to manage the number of cars as much as possible. This is primarily a convenience concern; carpooling will help reduce delays.
To best manage traffic flow, parking will be organized and shuttle buses will be utilized. These shuttle buses will begin s ervice from the parking areas at 7:00am. Please drive to the Village of Saguaro Forest and follow signs to the designated parking areas, and we will take it from there. Shuttle buses will transport attendees between the parking areas and the Trailhead throughout the event.
Hiking can begin as early as 7:00am for our early birds. The official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and traditional Navajo blessing will begin at 8:30am sharp.
As noted in previous correspondence and on our invitations, our original plan was to have two guided hikes, one at 8:30am and one just before noon. The sheer number of attendees has led us to believe that the best approach will be to simply allow our guests to hike the trail at their own pace; guides will be dressed in light blue shirts and located along the way to answer questions.
Food will be served throughout the event, starting with breakfast that will be served between 7:30am and 10:30am. Earlier in the morning, attendees can enjoy fresh fruit, trail mix and power/protein/granola bars before their hike. A hot meal will be served shortly thereafter, and will consist of a breakfast sandwich and potatoes, and assorted Danish, bagels and muffins. Juice, coffee, tea, water and Gatorade will be served throughout the morning.
After the breakfast service, which will conclude promptly at 10:30am, our remaining morning guests may begin boarding shuttles back to the parking areas. This will ease congestion, limit wait times and help make your departure from the event as expedient and organized as possible.
 Guests who have RSVP'd for the later hike are now requested to begin arriving to the parking areas at 11:30am (at the earliest) and begin their hike at 12 noon. Again, our goal is to make arrivals and departures from this event as organized, efficient and stress-free as possible, which will enhance your enjoyment of the time you spend on the Trail and at the Trailhead on Friday. This slightly later start time (30 minutes) will help a great deal and your cooperation is very much appreciated! A BBQ lunch, consisting of burgers, hot dogs and salads will be served starting at 12:30pm and will continue until the event concludes at 2:30pm. Beverages will include soda, water, iced tea and lemonade.
While leashed pets are normally welcome to hike the trail with their owners, the number of attendees at this event makes the bringing of pets prohibitive. Additionally, for insurance reasons, the shuttle buses transporting guests between the parking areas and Trailhead also prohibit pets on board their vehicles. We kindly request that you come to this event on your own and bring your pet with you the next time you hike the trails when it is not as crowded or busy.
We understand from weather forecasts that it may be a little cooler than it has been recently on Friday morning, so we are advising attendees to dress in layers so they are comfortable during the time they spend at the event. We have also received a number of questions regarding restroom facilities at the Trailhead. Please be advised that there will be four of these temporary facilities on-site during the event.
We look forward to seeing you all on Friday! Please click on the following link for an informational brochure and map that will be handed out at the event. In the meantime, if you have any questions, or need additional information, please feel free to contact Karen Angelo at or 480/595-4225.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted: October 25, 2011
The Grand Opening of the Demonstration Trail on the Northern Properties will take place o n Friday, November 4 between 7:30am and 2:30pm. There are several events scheduled that day, so we hope you will be able to attend! If you have not received your invitation in the mail, please click here to review it and RSVP to Karen Angelo at by Friday, October 28.
Getting to the Grand Opening
To attend the Grand Opening event, please drive to the Villages of Saguaro Forest and Cintarosa Ranch and follow signs to the designated parking area. There will be a shuttle available to take guests from the parking area to the Trailhead throughout the day. Desert Mountain security will be on-hand to assist with parking, and we are suggesting that guests carpool with their friends and neighbors if possible to help maximize the amount of parking available. Thank you!
No Pets (at this Event), Please!
While leashed pets are certainly welcome to hike the trail with their owners, we have about 200 attendees coming to this event, and a shuttle bus transporting guests from the parking area and Trailhead, which may be a little chaotic and overwhelming for your dog. We recommend coming to this event on your own and bringing your pet with you the next time you hike the trails when it is not as crowded or busy.
Schedule of Events
There will be an Early Risers breakfast at 7:30am to kick off the event, which will consist of Trail Mix, fresh fruit, juice and Protein, Power an d Granola bars. The first guided hike of the brand new Demonstration Trail will take place at 8:30am. This three-mile loop trail will take about an hour or so to complete to give everyone a chance to enjoy the breathtaking and spectacular views along the trail and at the Summit. Staff will be located throughout the Trail to provide additional information and answer any questions you may have. Look for the folks in the light blue shirts!
Some of the places you can rest or take some time to take in the scenery are the stone benches located on the Trail and at the Summit. These benches were made possible through sponsorships by the Desert Mountain Master Association's property management company, CCMC; the Master Association's legal counsel, Ekmark & Ekmark; and Demonstration Trail Builder, Okanagan Trails. Be sure to ask about other sponsorship opportunities when you return from your hike; infomation will be available at the Trailhead!
Brunch will be served at the Trailhead after the 8:30am hike, and will consist of assorted danish, bagels and muffins and Chorizo and Egg Burritos with breakfast potatoes and roasted salsa. Juice, coffee, tea, water and Gatorade will also be available.
The second hike of the day will take place at 11:30am and will be followed by lunch consisting of grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken sliders and vegetarian wraps with potato chips and granola bars. Soda, water, and other beverages will also be available.
Other Grand Opening Events
Pristine desert wilderness and magnificent panoramas are not the only things you will experience  at the Grand Opening event! We are excited to announce that there will be two artist workshops taking place during the Grand Opening. There are only a few open spots left in each workshop, both of which are being led by local professional artists and are open to those who wish to participate.
This is a great opportunity for budding Desert Mountain artists and photographers to take advantage of the beautiful, expansive and lush scenery at the Northern Properties and to express their creativity! There is no cost to partake in these workshops, but participants will need to bring their own supplies and equipment if they wish to participate. Information on these workshops is below:
- Tom Haas Plein Aire Oil/Acrylic Workshop, 9:00am-Noon, Max: 8 Participants
This workshop, led by local artist Tom Haas, will be a combination of Tom giving demonstrations and individual pointers to participants. It is open to Beginning to Advanced-level painters. Tom Haas' oil paintings have appeared in many shows and museums throughout the U.S. and his work has been exhibited at the C.M Russell Museum in Montana and the Clymer Museum in Washington. For more information, log on to http://www.tom-haas.com/.
- Alan Lowy Photography Workshop, 8:30am-11:00am, Max: 12 participants
This workshop will be comprised of two hours of tips on shooting nature and will be followed by a short hike where participants can learn what to look for in terms of composition and metering using what Lowry calls the "Sunny 16 Rule:" getting great shots using the camera's off "Auto" or "Program" modes. This Workshop is ideal for intermediate and advanced photographers who have a DSLR (interchangeable lens) camera, not a "point and shoot" camera. Alan Lowry has been teaching photography workshops and seminars for more than 30 years and has lectured throughout the country. He has won numerous awards for his portraiture, fine art figure studies, photojournalism, nature and creative images. For more information, log on to http://www.cavecreek-photo.com/.
Again, only a few spots remain for these free workshops! Please respond directly to Beth Wolthius at if you wish to sign up for either of these programs. More detailed information will be shared with workshop participants once available spots are confirmed.
Sponsorship Information
The Master Association's trails builder/consultant has walked the  Northern Properties end-to-end and has crafted the best trail system he could design into a Desert Mountain Trails Master Plan. This Plan will result in the development of five trails in phases that will offer a wide variety of both family-friendly and hiker category trails that Desert Mountain residents and members will enjoy for a lifetime. There are about 14 miles of suggested trails in this Master Plan and, when complete, it will give Desert Mountain the trails equivalent of its unmatched six golf course complex with the variety of choices owners and members have come to expect at Desert Mountain!
Sponsorships by members of the community are a great way to accelerate the build out of this Master Plan. The Desert Mountain Trails Sponsorship Program will give you the opportunity to select and sponsor what interests you most.
Why sponsorships for this Master Plan? The Desert Mountain Master Association is very mindful of keeping dues manageable for members and owners, and there will be some very important and exciting competing priorities in the community that will also need funding. The HOA has largely put up the seed money for the first trail, and, fortunately for both Club members and property owners, the Desert Mountain Club donated the otherwise undevelopable property to the cause. It could take several years to deliver this plan without help from trail lovers like you. And, as most of you know, this approach is widely used in building trails all across the country already. Now that we have a taste of what we can do, it would be great to get it done as quickly as possible.
More information on sponsorship opportunities will be available at the event. Be sure to ask about it at the Trailhead when you complete your hike!
If you have any other questions or would like more information about the Grand Opening Event or the Demonstration Trail, please contact Karen Angelo at . |
