The third annual Arizona Highways Travel Show came to the Phoenix Convention Center, Hall F on May 14 and 15. About 100 exhibitors packed the hall with information on places to go and things to do and see in Arizona. Two stages hosted seminars on travel, photography, hiking and birding, parks, events and things to do in Arizona.
- Paul Yaffe built the Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper.
The Travel Show displayed the “Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper” built by Paul Yaffe. Yaffe’s bio next to the “Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper” reads, “Designer and builder of world-class custom motorcycles, setting industry standards since 1984. Opened Legend Motorcycle Company in 1990.” The sign also discloses the speed of the custom motorcycle at 125 mph. This custom motorcycle serves as the prize in a drawing sponsored by the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation.
- Travel Show visitors gathered at booths like Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department.
Exhibitors like Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department gave out information on the county parks, maps, brochures and sheets for children to color and play games. They also made the public aware of their new online reservation site for campgrounds and picnic facilities. Gus, the gopher snake, drew in a lot of children and their parents, and Ranger Bill “Doc” Talboy answered their questions and put on a seminar on stage 2 about venomous creatures in the Sonoran Desert.
- Ranger Bill “Doc” Talboy holds Gus, the demonstration gopher snake.
Talboy told the crowd that snakes try to avoid wasting their venom on people, and the rattle on a rattle snake warns people to go away. Scales cover snakes on top, but scoots cover snakes on the bottom and help them to move forward. Snakes cannot back up, so if they get into tight spaces, they can’t back up and die. They feel us clumping around, and snakes see color and motion, but not a sharp outline of things. They also hear very well. Two holes under their eyes, pit vipers, serve as heat sensing apparatus. Finally, they possess a great sense of smell through their tongue, which goes in and out 250 times a minute, says Talboy.
If bitten by a snake, Talboy tells the crowd they probably won’t die immediately, but they will become sick right away and die within about 72 hours. He says, ”If bit, sit down and relax so the venom pools at the bite sight. Do not buy a snake bite kit. It doesn’t work. Call 911 now.”
- Ranger Bill “Doc” Talboy displays examples of possibly venomous creatures.
The talk also included information on scorpions, tarantulas, centipedes, tarantula hawks, spiders and Palo Verde beetles. Talboy showed everyone examples of the creatures and gave helpful hints to avoid them and their bites and stings. He answered questions and left everyone look at Gus and the display.
Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve talks about his new "Arizona Highways Hiking Guide."
On stage 1, Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve told the behind-the-scenes stories about doing the 52 hikes to fill his new book “Arizona Highways Hiking Guide.” He took a year and a half to do the book, and the time became longer when he injured himself on one of the early hikes.
Stieve said the magazine promotes travel, and travel is made up of history and culture, something the magazine’s been doing since 1925. Photography ranks number one in Arizona Highways, and photographs make up the entire Christmas issue. He says they never use Photoshop on their photographs. Hiking represents the second most popular thing in the magazine, so it features a hike of the month in every issue and the entire June issue becomes the summer hiking guide.
- “Arizona Highways Hiking Guide” is set up by seasons.
“To kick it up a notch even further, we put out this new hiking book,” said Stieve.
This book is great because all of the talented men and women photographers illustrated the book, said Stieve. The book is set up by seasons-spring, summer, fall and winter- and the 52 hikes in the book are spread out around the state. Geared toward moderate hikers, the book contains explicit directions with most hikes on public lands. In the front of the book, Stieve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts.
Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve tells stories about the hikes for "Arizona Highways Hiking Guide."
“You never know what you’ll see on the trail,” he says. About 65 percent of the hikes are in wilderness areas and are considered day hikes. ”When I hike, it’s what you see, but some trails hit all five senses.”
Stieve says one of his private missions at Arizona Highways is to undo the myth that Arizona is this flat, hot place like the Gobi Desert.
Photos by Janice Semmel
