December 18 dawned sunny, with a perfect temperature, and memorable for 12 hikers as they entered Catalina State Park to hike the Alamo Canyon trail with SaddleBrooke Hiking Club Guide Walt Shields. The morning was memorable because, after 20 plus years guiding Club hikers, Walt had decided to retire his boots as a Club Guide.
Walt grew up in Tucson in the 1950s when The Old Pueblo was much more of a sleepy town than it is now. Early in his professional career as a board-certified periodontist, Walt obtained a research grant at the University of Zürich and he and his bride, Tiggy, spent 2 years living in Switzerland and traveling throughout Europe. Afterwards, Walt and Tiggy spent almost 30 years in Colorado Springs where Walt continued his private periodontal practice. Walt says one of his proudest accomplishments is that he has summited 36 of Colorado’s 54 ‘fourteener’ peaks. In addition to mountain climbing, Walt also loved hiking, rafting, golfing, and skiing. Walt was an avid instrument rated pilot and enjoyed 20 years of flying around the U.S. as well as into Canada and Mexico.
Webster’s definition of the word ‘Pioneer’ is ‘Someone who goes before to prepare the way, a trailblazer.’ Over the past 20 years, Walt helped in pioneering a startup SaddleBrooke sanctioned hiking club with few members into what today has grown to over 550 members. That takes devotion and commitment with a vision, qualities which Walt certainly exemplifies.
Walt’s contributions to our Hiking Club these past two decades have been considerable: hiking guide 2006 to present; Board of Directors member 2010-2012; the Chief Hiking Guide 2012-2014; with Ruth Caldwell and Frank Earnest, creator and instructor of the annual Emergency Preparedness Course for hiking guides 2012-present; creator of guidelines for guide training and procedures for leading hikes; and finally designer of an annual field course for members on the proper use of hiking poles.
In addition to leading hikes in our Sonoran Desert terrain, Walt organized historical walks in downtown Tucson, which are popular and informative for members. From 2017 until recently, he organized the Club’s civic semiannual Catalina Hills roadside cleanup, a volunteer activity that has been recognized positively by Pinal County.
Among the numerous well-deserved recognitions Walt has received, perhaps the one that best summarizes his value to the Hiking Club was being chosen for our 2020 Trailblazer Award, given annually to a member for ‘Meritorious Service Above & Beyond Simply Being a Member, for Performing Duties Greater Than Expected and for Exhibiting Leadership That We All Admire.’
As Chief Guide, Walt has mentored several other prominent hiking guides, including past Chief Guides and Presidents Tim Butler and Ruth Caldwell.
The Club thanks Walt for all he has done to help make our Hiking Club the success that it is today and for safely leading our hikers for 20 years in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Happy Trails and all the best in Guide retirement!
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