The Faces of Arizona Wilderness

Arizona is home to a splendid array of wilderness, from craggy mountain gems in the Sonoran Desert, to plunging red rock canyons, forested plateaus, and lush riparian waterways of the Colorado Plateau. As varied as the flora and fauna, so are the faces of those who find themselves exploring these 90 wilderness areas.

Share your story! Send us an email and your photo for a chance to be featured as a Face of Arizona Wilderness!	Julie Polovitch As a work study student with AWC I've been transferring all the wilderness steward field data on invasive species and recreation impacts into spreadsheets, and learning about wilderness areas that I had never heard of before. Subsequently, my 'places to visit' list is ever-expanding. It feels wonderful to be involved and to know that these databases will be a useful tool for the future management of Arizona's wilderness areas.	Brian Stultz Being a wilderness steward has given me a great excuse to spend even more time in wilderness areas – and in ways that are so meaningful and rewarding. All the staff at AWC have been an incredible resource during my time at Prescott College. I have AWC to thank for helping me get “out there” to enjoy some of the great wild land and wild river treasures our state has to offer.
Allyson & Nick Pacini We love camping, hiking, and backpacking in all sorts of terrain, and Wild Stew is a great way to help while we're enjoying wilderness. We get to know different areas that we haven't visited before. And it makes me feel like we're giving back, ensuring that Arizonans today and in the future will be able to enjoy wilderness.	Jeri Edwards I feel most at home in wilderness areas, where one can find more animal tracks than human, and discovery is never ending. There is always something to marvel over; I never want to stop marveling.	Winnie Liang & Jon Atkins Getting involved with AWC has been a great experience! The various group events in the wilderness areas around Arizona have opened up our eyes to how much there is to explore in this beautiful state - and the importance of preserving it's nature splendor.
Judie Jackson I have been an avid backpacker and outdoor enthusiast all of my adult life. Volunteering with AWC, I have learned more about the flora and fauna of my adopted Arizona, and have made contributions to keeping our wild backcountry healthy. I recommend everyone find their passion and try volunteer work to give back.	Kathy & Larry Lopez It’s the sound of the wind in the pines, the trickle of the meandering streams, dusty trails, imposing boulders, the azure sky, the twinkling starry nights, the chance encounters with God’s furry creatures, and so much more. - Larry It’s like: ‘Ahhh . . . wild.’ - Kathy	Brian Haas It amazes me that people have been wandering the Southwest for more than 10,000 years. When we're outdoors (and often in wilderness areas), we tend to follow the same paths that people did prehistorically, we camp in the same spots, and we drink from the same springs. If we look around, we can see the evidence that they were here. You just have to look.