Service at Audubon's Appleton Whittell Research Ranch

The Trip

Established in 1968 by the Appleton family, the Appleton-Whittell Audubon Research Ranch is set in a vast swath of semi-desert grassland between southeastern Arizona's Huachuca and Santa Rita mountain ranges. The 8,000-acre ranch is a cooperative partnership among the National Audubon Society, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Appleton family, and the Research Ranch Foundation. The goal of the ranch is to maintain the biological diversity of plant and animal species in the grasslands, oak savannah, and oak woodlands within its boundaries.

The surrounding area is no less fascinating. Some of the earliest Anglo settlements in Arizona were in this area. The histories of nearby towns -- Patagonia, Sonoita, and Elgin, Arizona -- are as colorful as their sunsets. Over the past 1,500 years, various Native Americans groups, early Spanish explorers and ranchers; Jesuit and Franciscan priests and many other miners; ranchers and tradespersons have all inhabited this land. Today, the ghost towns of Harshaw, Mowry, Washington Camp, and Duquesne bear witness to the boom days of yesteryear. Cattle ranches, though no longer the vast spreads of the early days, remain a vital part of the economy and culture here. Fourth and fifth-generation ranchers and miners still live in the area, as do newcomers such as artists and retirees. Wineries have sprung up around the area, making it the wine center of Arizona. Residents have restored historic buildings, and many are in use today.

The Project

The Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 trips will likely focus on Fire Wise projects and rebuilding the man-made pond behind Headquarters. Fire Wise projects include creating defensible perimeter space around buildings to eliminate/minimize fire risks, an ever-present danger in the Southwest. We will be doing the work of vegetation removal, pruning, rock work, grading, among other tasks. The HQ pond project will include rebuilding the structure of the pond and restoring habitat for endangered species, such as Desert Pupfish and Chiricahua Leopard Frogs. Depending on the needs of the AWRR, our work may also include other maintenance and improvement projects. In the past, we have constructed and installed AWRR identification signs for visitors and firefighters, gabions, road signs, and trail markers; helped with water conservation landscaping and protection of native plants; assisted in surveying sections of the ranch searching for specific elusive land animals; as well as other projects. Our projects will provide opportunities for people with a range of physical capabilities and varying interests. No skills or experience required -- all are welcome! The Ranch will provide all tools, supplies and equipment, including instruction on tool safety. Bring broken-in boots, work gloves, work clothes you can get dirt on and a hat that can keep the sun off.

Getting There

Participants are responsible for getting to the meeting point at the Audubon Research Ranch. Sonoita is 48 miles (approximately one hour) southeast of Tucson, Arizona, and about three hours from Phoenix. Driving directions will be provided to registered trip members. As soon as a list of participants is available, the leader will forward copies to all trip members to facilitate their transportation planning. Carpooling is encouraged and appreciated, as parking at the ranch is limited. Please e-mail any questions or concerns you may have to the leader; please do not contact the Audubon Research Ranch.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader

Accommodations and Food

The ranch housing is set up with rooms for two or three persons and shared bathrooms. Linens, blankets, pillows, and towels will be provided. Participants should bring their own personal toiletries. Internet access is available. Cell phone coverage is generally poor.

Meals will be provided from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. All participants can plan on one or two days of helping with cooking and cleanup. Reasonable dietary requests -- especially concerning food allergies -- should be noted on your questionnaire. Please contact the leader if this is a concern of yours. We will pack up our lunch each morning and ride or hike to our work site. Generally, we will be eating lunch at the worksite.

Trip Difficulty

If you have always wanted to do a service trip but are wary of camping, this trip may be for you. This will be a moderately strenuous trip. Be in good shape and prepared for lots of hard work and fun.

Anyone who doesn't live in the mountains or high desert environs must have a healthy respect for the altitude. At 4,700 feet, lowlander lungs must work harder to get extra oxygen. This accelerates water loss, even before you add a little healthy perspiration. The physical impact of high-altitude exertion cautions all of us to work at our own pace and rest when necessary. No one will be pushed past their limits -- the need to accomplish a goal does not preclude doing so safely and in an orderly manner.

If you haven't seen your doctor in the last five years, you will need to get your physician's signature on the medical questionnaire. All participants must have a current tetanus shot. 

Equipment and Clothing

Trip members are expected to furnish their own day pack -- comparable to a student’s bookbag, not a fanny pack. The Ranch will provide work tools. Bring and expect to carry at least three one-liter/quart water containers, and your own supply of moleskin and bandages, sunscreen, insect repellent, and lip balm. A wide brim hat will be your best protection from the sun. Bring boots that are comfortable, rain/wind gear (jacket and pants, NOT a poncho; we have been unexpectedly deluged in the past), and clothes that are broken-in (but not worn out) and can be easily layered for warmth and removed as the day's temperature increases. During our Spring trip, temperatures in this area can range from 30 degrees at night to 80 degrees in the mid-afternoon. During our Fall trip, temperatures can range from 45 degrees at night to 90 degrees in the mid-afternoon. While we hope for warm, clear days, rain can sweep in. The only special item you must bring is a good pair of gloves. Gloves, like boots, serve best when broken-in early. Bedding and towels will be provided for you.

Please avoid the temptation to be casual about necessary items -- come prepared. Because the Ranch is in a remote area, once we have settled in, it will not be convenient to drive anywhere for necessities. Elgin and Sonoita are small towns with limited amenities.

References

Books:

• Bock, Carl E. and Jane E. Bock, The View from Bald Mountain: Thirty years in an Arizona Grassland.
• Hait, Pam, Day Trips from Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.
• Peterson, Roger Tory, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America.
• National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southwestern States: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah.

Websites:

• Audubon Research Ranch
• Sonoita, Arizona
• Patagonia, Arizona
• Kartchner Caverns
• Cochise Stronghold
• Chiricahua National Monument

Conservation

One of the goals of the Research Ranch is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems. A second goal is to facilitate the research needed to maintain and enhance this critical habitat and the native species resident there. The ranch's research focuses on grasslands and the changes that have occurred over time from the introduction of exotic plants and by the overgrazing of cattle. The ranch also supports studies of insects, mammals, and amphibians, and of course birds and other resident wildlife.

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.