Mark your calendars! The 59th Annual Diablo Trail Ride is coming up August 26-29 at Canero Lake near Green’s Peak Mountain. The timing's a change from past years. But it's not the only change coming to Trail Ride.
Our committee's goal is simple: remove barriers that make attending difficult and make it easier for more Diablos, Angels, and their families to be part of one of our organization's greatest traditions. We want to create a wonderful experience for everyone and why we encourage you to join us for TR 59!
Here's what we're working on:
RVs Made Easy Don't own an RV, camper, or tent? No problem. Diablo Chris Duncan is coordinating RV rentals that will be delivered directly to the site and picked up when we're done. All you have to do is show up and enjoy the weekend. RVs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and sharing with another Diablo or two can help keep costs down.
A Bigger Family Day - Something New This Year!
Saturday's Fun 'n Games is moving to Saturday afternoon at the Bork's ranch [thank you, Steve and Tina!]. Now, families won't have to make the 45-minute drive on a Saturday morning from Pinetop to Green's Peak Mountain. We're making Saturday afternoon a big family cookout filled with games, great food, adult beverages, and plenty of time to socialize. Everyone's invited!
Angels Help
We're looking for assistance from any interested Angels to help with ideas and planning for Family Saturday and Angels Friday night. These moments are important to the success of any trail ride and key to building greater connections between new members and veteran members. If any Angels are interested in helping, please let Bill Ottinger know.
A Different Kind of Trail Ride
After much discussion, we've decided to give the horses a rest this year. Rising rental costs, increased liability, and the reality that many of us aren't regular riders made this the right decision. While we won't be on horseback this year, the Trail Ride traditions remain very much alive.
Angels Friday Night For the ladies staying in Pinetop or coming up for Saturday's cookout, many of the Angels traditionally gather on Friday evening for dinner, wine, and good conversation. It's a great opportunity to get to know one another. We're looking for an Angel or two to help coordinate the evening.
Casino Games Return We're trading saddles for cards and chips because casino games are making a comeback at Trail Ride 59.
TV Under the Big Top We're also looking at bringing TVs to camp so everyone can catch ball games, play cards, or simply relax and enjoy each other's company.
The Chuck Wagon Gang Returns Good news for your taste buds. John DeGraaf and Les Glaser have signed on for another year as our amazing camp chefs. One thing's for sure: Trail Ride 59 will be a deliciously good time.
Why August? This year's ASU football schedule is packed with big games, including a trip to London, and Labor Day falls early. We considered October, but temperatures get much colder in the mountains, so August 26-29 became the best fit.
Many of us love the trail ride for different reasons. The weekend’s made for hanging out with friends, making new friends, and building new traditions. As John DeGraaf said, "We’re pretty good at that."
More info to come including schedules, sign-ups, and details. Thanks!
