Joel Hazelton | Tempe, AZ
Why does wilderness matter to you?
As cliche as it sounds, wilderness is the only place where I feel grounded and at-peace. Everything make sense in the wilderness. There is no crowding, rushing, judgement, deadlines, or deliverables; the chaos of the city is replaced by the rhythm of nature's systems working together. Simple pleasures, such as a colorful sunset or a pack of coyotes yipping in the distance, become hugely significant. I can remember trips from years ago because of an encounter with a skunk, or a band of light that appeared at the horizon just before sunset, or a downpour of monsoon rain that came as I was swimming in a river. These experiences are simple but meaningful, and represent a connection with nature that's impossible to find anywhere else.
Why does wilderness matter to your community?
For many people, exercise and fresh air are how we destress at the end of the day or a hard work-week. Life can be vicious and soul-sucking. Having access to a quiet plot of nature where we can run, hike, climb, or swim is rejuvenating, and it can be the difference between a healthy vice or descending into uncontrolled use of alcohol and drugs. Some people need to be able to retreat away from the city in order to achieve balance and peace.
Share a story about a special experience you have had in wilderness.
A few years ago, I backpacked Tonto Creek in the Hellsgate Wilderness with my friends, Jonathan and Todd. This creek is notorious for being deep, narrow, and extremely rugged. There are no trails, and all travel requires bushwhacking, wading, scrambling, or swimming. There was a narrow s-curve in the canyon I wanted to see that was a mile downstream of where we set up camp. While Jon and Todd went their separate ways for the afternoon, I made my way to my s-curve. On my way there I counted 12 wall-to-wall pools that I had to swim, which involved shoving my camera gear in a drybag inside of my backpack, and back-stroking across the pools. I finally arrived to an even more stunning scene than I anticipated, of which I made several photos under a beautiful sunset. The most memorable part, however, was the return. It was mid-summer in the desert, so reversing my route and swimming those pools on a warm night while looking at a sky full of stars above me is something I will never forget.
What are your hopes for the future of wilderness?
My hope for wilderness is that it continues to be respected and recognized as a protected designation for public lands. As much as I would love to see more land achieve wilderness status, I will be happy to simply not lose what we already have.
