Like good health, it’s easy to take water for granted until you don’t have what you need. Since we’ve been walking through some pretty remote places we’ve been aware of how much water we need to have on hand just for drinking, and in the summer heat we can polish off a gallon of water in an hour or two.

It’s one of the big reasons we’re walking to try to help save Oak Flat – because no ore is more valuable than water. When you get really thirsty, nothing is better than an ice cold cup of water. 

We’ve walked by a number of streams running at a trickle and a few reservoirs that were completely dry. Our route has taken us along stretches of the Oregon Trail, and walking down the century old road I can’t help but imagine what it must have been like to be there a century ago. People of that era certainly had no illusions about the value of a cool clear stream. 

Our relationship to water has become just another transaction. Forty years ago kids didn’t stop playing to come inside for a drink, they would just turn on the hose in the yard and wait a minute for the water to run cool. Then the hose was passed around and everybody drank as much as they wanted. We carry our plastic water jugs around so we can keep them filled, but water for sale is so much more plentiful than a public hose or drinking fountain. When we ask to fill up our water jugs people often say, “Well, you can use the hose but I wouldn’t drink from it!” I am never quite sure if they won’t drink that water because it’s actually not good water or because they are post hose-water sharing generation.

A few days ago we stopped for ice cream and the woman behind the counter said we could fill up from their kitchen tap if we left through the back door, which we did because what do we care, but what an odd requirement. I haven’t seen anyone else trying to actually refill a water jug rather than just buy more water since 1982. Maybe she’s afraid we’ll start a trend.

Now go get yourself a nice tall glass of ice water and think about the water at Oak Flat and in Gaan Canyon. It really is worth defending.  

  
Hello!

I woke up today to some life changing, wonderful news that the Supreme Court has ruled that same sex couples have the right to marriage. This example of Justice prevailing in the face of large opposition gives me hope for the future of Oak Flat. With a bill in the House and the increasing spread of awareness about Oak Flat, our odds of victory are looking good. But there is a lot of work yet to be done. 

If we want to save this sacred area, we must each take personal responsibility. It’s clear that we have plenty of passion, anger, and motivation. Let’s use that energy to move the Oak Flat issue into a national spotlight. 

HR 2811, the Save Oak Flat Act, is currently sitting in the House Committee on Natural Resources. To move forward it must have a hearing. This committee has a lot of bills to manage, so the Save Oak Flat Act will only get a hearing if there is a groundswell of support from around the country. Let’s make sure our voices are heard. Please take a look at this list of members of the committee. Whether or not your representative is on the list, now is the time to call and email your representive and ask them to co-sponsor and support HR 2811. You can look up who your representive is and their contact information here.

Thank you, and keep on fighting! 

-Emma

We’ve been trekking through another beautiful national forest, so forgive us for the lack of updates these past few days. Yesterday we got our first taste of rain in weeks, which was incredibly refreshing. There’s no better smell than fresh rain on pavement!

As we walk we see all kinds of people enjoying our country’s national parks. Folks of all ages, from children to senior citizens, come out here to enjoy the great outdoors. Politics have no place in nature, and we’ve met both conservatives and liberals who agree on the importance of the great outdoors. People drive out from all over the place in their RVs, motorcycles, and minivans to get lost in nature. Though there may be no internet out here, there’s a plethora of activities to suit everyone from hiking to birding to swimming. And despite our differences, people from all walks of life can come together to share and enjoy all that our national forests have to offer. 

These lands are here for everyone to enjoy, regardless of where they’re from or what they believe. We invite people down in Arizona to come up north to see the national forests of our state, and we can’t wait to see the national forests of Arizona. 

It’s hard to even imagine these pristine areas being destroyed forever, but that could happen at Oak Flat if we don’t pull together and fight to protect this precious natural area. Please remember to call your representative and tell them you want them to supportive Save Oak Flat Act, which you can read here. Let’s make sure that our national forests are protected for generations to come.

-Emma

PS sorry but no photos today, the wifi I am using is too weak to upload photos 

Here’s a link to Pechanga.net with details of the new repeal bill, and here’s the text of the bill:

Save Oak Flat Act

Now we have a clear direction, get ready to put the pressure on your congresspeople. Visit How You Can Help to find your congressional representatives.

We’re excited to share the news that today Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva introduced a bipartisan bill called the “Save Oak Flat Act,” which repeals the recent congressional giveaway of sacred Native American land to a company called Resolution Copper. This news is hot off the press so we don’t have details on the bill number or its text but you can read a press release from Rep. Grijalva’s office with the latest.

We’ll need a groundswell of interest to be sure this legislation gets the full attention of our congressional representatives, stay tuned for updates as they become available. Together we are stronger.

Congressman Grijalva

Here’s a link to the press release: Grijalva  Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Giveaway of Sacred Arizona Native American Land

Okay Moms, we need your help. We want to see 100 Moms help us spread the word and stand up against mining at Oak Flat. Show your support to save beautiful, pristine sacred spaces for your children – and their children – before it’s too late. Use #Hundredmoms to show you stand with the moms occupying Oak Flat. Like this post on Facebook and Share it with other moms you know. Let’s get the word out to more people! Together we are stronger. -Sally

Crossing the bridge into Oregon this morning I thought about all the surprising and wonderful things we learned about our home state as we walked. Walking really does offer such an up-close and personal look at everything, in both the natural and human realms. 

Many times we were up at 4AM and needed ice for our cooler and the only place open was the local WalMart. It was surprising to see so many people already up and into their work day. At the same early hour we’d pass men in the apple fields and wheat fields, doing the work required to feed us all. 

Our thanks and gratitude to the many Washingtonians who work hard every day and were always willing to help us find our way across the state.  

Hey folks!

The heat wave seems to be passing as temperatures get a bit cooler each day. It’s pretty incredible how much easier it is to walk in 90 degrees than in 100 degrees. We’re getting excited because we’ll be crossing into Oregon in just a few days! 

I thought I’d take a moment to talk about a pretty basic aspect of life on the road: the food. I am vegan (I don’t eat animal products) and a few people have asked me “but Emma, what in the world do you eat?” Well, it’s not as hard as you may think. We eat a lot of canned veggies such as beans and chickpeas, and we’ve also got a stash of ramen. Granola bars are a staple item as well. My mom and I really enjoy fresh produce and so we try to buy fruit and veg when we can go incorporate into our meals. And, now and then, we’ll treat ourselves to a meal out- veggie burgers are my go to food in that case.

Walking so much evey day had a strange effect on my appetite. I find that junk food and sweet drinks are MUCH more appetizing after a long day of walking (I’m not normally a soda drinker but wow, I love soda now!) 

   Ramen 2.0 feat. Avocados, peppers, and mushrooms

Lovely granola from my dad and stepmom! ❤  

 Cooking a pop tart over the fire… Did Ii mention I love junk food?

Anyway, if you have more questions about food or veganism, check out  http://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/ and feel free to email me at walktosaveoakflat@gmail.com .

The passionate activists who are currently occupying Oak Flat also have to think about meal planning and getting food to all the occupiers. If you’d like to help them fund basic needs like food and camping supplies, you can donate here. 

Thank you as always and keep spreading the word about Oak Flat!

  
Goodnight!

-Emma 

We received a very touching video the other day from a good friend of ours. This film is a good reminder that the fight to save Oak Flat isn’t just about those who love that area today; it’s also about protecting the environment for our children and generations to come. Unless we do everything we can to preserve the natural spaces on this planet, the children of the future might never experience what it’s like to camp in the forest, to see wildlife in their natural habitats, or hike in an area untouched by man. Oak Flat is just one of many breathtaking and special places on our planet that deserve to be protected.

This film is also a reminder that we must speak up against this injustice. Let’s follow in this young activist’s footsteps and write to Congress telling them to repeal the legislation that privatized this sacred space. Check out our how you can help page to find a sample letter and an easy resource to look up your senators.

The future is in our hands, and we determine what kind of a future our kids will have. Let’s stop the destruction of Oak Flat, not just for us, but for them.

As temperatures continue to hover at or above 100 degrees each day, we’ve been taking extra precautions to stay cool. My mom and I are both Pacific  Northwest women who thrive in an overcast and rainy environment, so total sun every day is quite a change. 

The most obvious way we keep ourselves safe from heatstroke or exhaustion is by drinking lots and lots of water (shoutout to our camelback!)  As I mentioned before, we’ve also been getting up with or before the sun because by noon it is truly a challenge to keep moving. We also have some cooling vests that we keep in our cooler and wear as we walk. 

Our dog Waldo got a haircut the other day and we keep him hydrated and cool in our car during the day.  

Waldo gets a haircut   
As we continue to walk closer and closer to Oak Flat, I reflect on that area’s importance as not only a spiritual site, but as a sanctuary from Arizona’s  heat. Residents of the near by town of Superior often praise Oak Flat as a place where community members of all kinds can go to escape high temperatures. The bubbling spring in Gaan Canyon is another area that gives relief from the heat. If Resolution Copper has its way, these beloved areas will be no more. In a time when climate change is causing record high temperatures around the globe that are literally killing people, we can’t forget the importance of protecting shady sanctuarys like Oak Flat. 

  
Gaan Canyon photographed by Elias Butler

Remember to take action by signing this petition and writing to your Congresspeople. As always, thank you for your support.