AMERICA'S BACKCOUNTRY TREASURES LIKE THIS 200 YEAR-OLD CACTUS

 

TREASURES ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS GREAT COUNTRY

By Del Albright

A few years ago, Stacie and I had the pleasure of 4x4 touring the rugged beauty of Arizona with our good friends Bob Levenhagen and Mary Wendt Levenhagen. One memory that still sticks with me is standing beside a towering, iconic saguaro cactus—an absolute giant of the desert. These natural monuments are just one example of the many backcountry treasures waiting to be discovered across this great country.

Did you know a saguaro cactus can live up to 200 years, grow as many as 25 arms, and tip the scales at 6 tons? It’s a living legacy of resilience and survival in some of the harshest terrain imaginable. And it reminds me just how vital it is that we protect the natural and cultural wonders we encounter on the trail.

From the deserts of Arizona to the alpine lakes of the Sierra, the historic mining roads of the Rockies to the deep conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest—there are treasures around every bend. But these places don’t stay pristine by accident.

Here’s the deal: We need to enjoy the outdoors while leaving it better than we found it.

• Park responsibly and don’t block roads or access points.

• Stay on designated trails to prevent erosion and habitat damage.

• Pack out everything you bring in—and then some.

• Respect seasonal closures and local wildlife.

• And most of all, remember we’re visitors in these wild spaces.

Getting outside is good for the soul. It clears the mind, lifts the spirit, and reconnects us with what really matters. So I encourage you—grab your gear, load up the rig, and get out there. Explore, discover, and breathe in the fresh air of freedom. But do it with care, so the next generation can find these same treasures and feel the same awe.

Let’s be the kind of explorers who give back as much as we take in.

See you on the trail,

Del