nazSTUFF - Meet Your Host, The Intuitive Hiker

Rascal Inquires, " If You Are Not Concerned About the Future, Then You Haven't Been Paying Attention." This, then is our advertising campaign, to contribute to your well being.

Meet Your HOST

Dear Reader... The energy behind this web site, and most of the artwork, is the product of Mr. Thomas. This page is intended to provide some basic information about him and his passion for this place. Sincerely, John Vroom, Editor

The Intuitive and Interpretive Hiker... JHThomas

Thomas, at his painting easel, during one of his lobby demonstrations.

Thomas has hiked and explored the backcountry of northern Arizona for over 30 years, devoting the last six years to recording and mapping many heretofore unrecorded ancient archaeological sites. A written note from the national forest archaeological office confirms that he has personally discovered and recorded more ancient sites in this vicinity than any other person in history.

He discovered several rock art panels in areas he was told they don't exist, some so old they are classified as archaic, both petroglyphs (pecked) and pictographs (painted). Local rock art recording classes today use many of his discovered sites for their studies.

Thomas is the perfect steward. He is sensitive to the fact that he is visiting places where people once lived, and died. He is insulted by the vandalism, toxic dumping and illegal tree cutting that he finds everywhere durng these times when the national forest service lacks the resources to reinforce the laws against these activities, and the criminals know it.

He has escorted many people to "real" occupational sites. People are used to seeing "stabilized" sites, cleaned up for public display. This photo above is from Elden Pueblo. The photo below is of an actual abandoned "home" in the condition it is found today, if vandals and pothunters haven't damaged it.

It has simply crumbled to the ground. Any roof beams, grass thatch and dawbed mud to create the walls and roof has long since disappeared. Wood pieces used to make ladders and weaving looms, and more, are gone. But much is here. The seemingly dead bushes in this photo are wolfberries, still living here on the site. The wolfberry is the local version of Goji Berries, famous for vitamin C and Omega 3 nutirition. The Sinagua farmed them and Thomas finds them on many sites.

If you accompany Thomas on one of his hikes, you can expect to observe all forms of local flora and fauna.

Contact me if you want to have Thomas accompany you on a local outing. He only goes with small private groups (people in the archaeological field) in their vehicle. Please contact me.

More Info on our BLOG