Page 14 June 2011 By Nicholas Herrle As Camelback Mountain beckons, Fire Station 12 is ready. “If you count all the mountain rescues from Camelback Mountain to Squaw Peak we do close to several hundred a year,” said Phoenix fi re fi ghter Capt. Bobby Dubnow of Engine 12. Engine 12 is located at 4247 N. 32nd St., and has eight fi re fi ghters on call with technical rescue experience. His station is close to Camelback Mountain and specializes in technical rescues, Dubnow said. “A technical rescue is any rescue that requires ropes, or something out of the ordinary,” Dubnow said. “The best way to describe it would be to say a dif fi cult rescue in terms of where the people are located, and the type of equipment it takes.” “The station was strategically placed here to assist climbers on Camelback,” Dubnow said. Arizona is one of the busiest places for mountain rescue, Phoenix in particular, Dubnow said. “We get in a lot of rescue situations because Arizona is unique in the sense it has mountains right in the city,” Dubnow said. “Not to mention, if you come to visit many people will tell you to hike Camelback Mountain ‘cause it is just a beautiful place to see.” There are many contributing factors that come into play that cause people to fi nd themselves in trouble and in need of rescue, Dubnow said. “Common things that happen are sprains, strains, heat trouble, not wearing the right footwear or attire, and maybe the most problematic are people going off the trail without the proper knowledge of what they are doing, this leads to the majority of calls,” Dubnow said. Dana Turner, an Arizona native, said she has been hiking Camelback Mountain since she was a child and said seeing reckless behavior on the mountain is not uncommon. “I see people go off the trails all the time,” Turner said. “I always get disappointed because people are taking advantage of a privilege.” “I started hiking here at Camelback as a family tradition to watch the sunset, it is truly beautiful, but too many times people underestimate it,” Turner said. Dubnow said Camelback is an easy place to go off a trail and get lost. On May 4, Clint McHale lost his life hiking on Camelback Mountain when he and a friend attempted to free climb off trails, and without proper equipment, said Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Tony Mure. McHale lost his grip, and fell about 50 feet total, he died while being transferred to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Mure said. “Camelback can be dangerous for people,” Dubnow said. “Other mountains Continued on page 16 Station 12 there to rescue Camelback Mountain hikers Hohokam ruin offers education By Maria Herrick When visitors come to the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park, a 1,500-year-old Hohokam ruin, they are touring the only designated National Historical Landmark in Phoenix. The museum has been part of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department since 1929, and is committed to providing education on the inhabitants of the Southwest, said Renee Aguilar, visitors- service aid. The 102-acre archeological park is the home to an 800-year-old platform mound that may have been used for ceremonial purposes, Aguilar said. During July the museum will hold summer programs for children ages 3 to 12. The younger children’s summer program involves storytelling that focuses on desert animals and arts and crafts, Aguilar said. Older children can take a summer program that focuses on archeology, art, survival tools and American Indian people, Aguilar said. Gina Gage, an archeologist that teaches the Preserving the Past: Archeology for Kids program said the goal is to teach kids why archeology is important. The program teaches the children about what archeologist do in their careers and what techniques they use for different projects, Gage said. Continued on page 23

Courtesy to the Trade More than of Beautiful Lighting! 1 10 00 0 0 0 Y Y YE EA AR RS S 100 YEARS Available in White (#28415) Brushed Nickel (#28416) Bronze (#28418) Brushed Nickel Bronze White Summer Special! *