Over 250 Volunteers Gather for the Four Peaks Clean Up
by Tim Huber,Contributing Writer
Volunteers pose in front of some of the refuse hauled from the site. Behind them are the majestic peaks that give the area its name. The idea to do something about the mess came to a group of local outdoor enthusiasts recently. The Four Peaks area, northeast of Phoenix, is a beautiful natural area that hosts all sorts of outdoor lovers. The sight of burned-out cars, water heaters, TVs and computers, in addition to loads of smaller trash, prompted them to act.
Groups from all walks of life were contacted and the response was nothing short of amazing! Clubs, companies, online forums and enthusiasts offered their support to make a difference. Included in the volunteers were groups of responsible four wheelers, shooters, hunters, hikers, mountain bikers, dirt bikers, and general outdoor enthusiasts.
The day started out with over 250 volunteers signing in and heading out to one of ten pre-mapped targeted clean-up areas with trash bags in hand and trailers in tow. The support kept pouring in all day! There were even a few Harleys and Mercedes that made the trek out the dirt road to the clean-up! The dumpsters were filled and a large pile of trash began to form at the clean-up headquarters.
After hours of filling bags, loading up trailers, and meeting great people, the volunteers headed back to the pickup headquarters for burgers donated by Border Construction Specialties.
Not long after, the give-away commenced. An impressive array of prizes from concerned companies were handed out including items from: Racer Offroad, The Good Gun Foundation, SDHQ Offroad, Total Chaos Fabrication, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Overland Journal, Overland Video, and Sierra Expeditions.
The Forest service was able to donate the use of dumpsters for the event and even provided trash bags! Also, several Maricopa County
Some of the scenic beauty that so many came together to protect. On behalf of the volunteers and organizers, we would like to thank all of the sponsors including REI, The Daybreak Deli, Tyson Crews Development, Stardust Country, Hunter Offroad, M&I Bank, Copper State Cruisers, The AZ Virtual Jeep Club, AZ TTORA, AZ Xterra Owners Club, and everyone already mentioned above!
For future cleanups, information is available on the world wide web (www.fourpeakspickup.blogspot.com).
—Questions or comments regarding this article should be directed to the BlueRibbon Coalition: Phone: 208-237-1008, Fax: 208-237-9424. Email: <brmag@sharetrails.org>.