It's just before 9AM on Saturday, September 5, the first day of Labor Day weekend. Volunteer Jim Wilson enters the Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Information Centerwearing the signature forest-green volunteer vest and a name badgethat identifies him as a Friends of the Forest (FOF) member.
Jim is a busy guy. Not only does he volunteer at the information desk, but he's an avid hiker and a docent at V-Bar-V heritage site, which means he knows a lot about the area. He's also my co-coordinator for FOF Visitor Information Services. He handles training; I handle scheduling. I'm joining him today to help out at the front desk and observe the day's activities. Our mission: helping visitors get the greatest enjoyment from their visit to Sedona.
Things start off slowly, picking up around 10AM when the live snake display opens up on the patio. "Friends" volunteers have also set up a table with wiggly wooden snakes that kids can decorate and take home. Many people come in seeking a Red Rock Pass and are happy to learn it's a fee-free weekend and no pass is required. Others have questions about what to see and do and it's gratifying to hear their parting words "Thank you, you've been very helpful" or "I didn't know there was so much to do here." By the time this 3-day weekend is over, FOF volunteers will have served nearly 3,000 visitors. Everyone leaves with a smile.
Sedona is a year-round destination for people from all over the world. The Ranger Station welcomes travelers 363 days a year, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since there aren't enough Forest Service personnel to handle the influx, FOF volunteers help every one of those 363 days. On a typical day, four to five volunteers serve the public in 4-hour shifts, from 9AM to 4:30 PM. They give advice on hiking trails, points of interest, camping, biking, dining options and much more.
Visitor questions are as diverse as the visitors themselves. Some are just passing through and want to know what to see and do in an hour or two. Others are interested in cultural sites or photography, shopping or wine tasting. Still others seek information on Vortex sites or water activities.
Most often, questions revolve around hiking, requiring FOF volunteers to practice a little sleuthing. "How many miles? What degree of difficulty? Have you hiked before? Do you have proper footwear, water, supplies?" It's important to tailor recommendations to the individual’s interests and abilities.
With over eighty system trails in the Red Rock District, there's something for everyone. There are even suggested "easy viewing" trails for visitors with time limitations or physical challenges and for families with small children. Seasoned hikers are happy to learn they can download trails to their computers or cell phones on the Friends-sponsored Sedona red rock trails website. For those who prefer, volunteers can providea paper map for any trail.
Many visitors are unfamiliar with the distinction between a National Forest and a National Park. Questions such as "When does the park close?" or "Where's the entrance to the park?" are frequent. Other queries have more confusing origins. "When does the train leave for Bell Rock?" or "What time are services at Cathedral Rock?" and "Where can I go to see twisted trees?" must be handled with a smile and diplomacy.
One couple who asked me to recommend a hike didn't strike me as hikers, but when I asked them about trail difficulty and elevation gain, the wife said they could do a strenuous hike and had hiked 2,500 feet the day before. Amazed, I asked which trail they had hiked. Fay Canyon was her answer. It turns out they did not understand my reference to elevation gain and were referring instead to the 2,500 steps registered on the husband's pedometer.
"It's just so much fun" says Norm LaDuke," who volunteers three days a week. "I love talking to all kinds of people and sending them away happy." Norm is also fond of leading visitors out to the front patio and introducing them to "Randy the Rattler," a bronze rattlesnake tucked under a large rock. Randy has surprised many an unsuspecting visitor who sat down on that rock to enjoy the view.
Butch Greathouse, a Friday morning regular, greets visitors with a hearty "Good morning! Welcome to the Red Rocks." Each volunteer develops their own style, but ask any volunteer why they do it and they'll tell you much the same thing. They love meeting people, talking about Sedona and sharing their knowledge with everyone who comes through the door. The view isn't too bad, either.
Serving Sedona, written this week by Noreen Lisowski of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.