Tom Hyde
Tom Hyde has a deep-rooted connection with the Gulch. His dad went on PT in 1938-39, so growing up, Tom’s family always stopped by Basecamp when they were driving by the area. Tom was impressed by the older kids who were there. When he was finally old enough to attend the Little Outfit in 1963, he rode out to New Mexico on the train. His parents had told him that if he felt sad, he could talk to his counselors about it, but Tom says, “I never felt sad. I loved it. It’s the community of people. There is something about Basecamp that feels like home. When you get there, you think, this is where I belong.”
Tom attended Little Outfit for two years, then Group 2 and Group 3 before becoming CGE staff. Tom always wanted to hike and explore everywhere, and he really appreciated his group leaders for letting him do that. Tom recalls, “On the Prairie trek, you are with a group of people that depend on each other for two months. You had to get along. If you were going to have fun, you had to do it together.” This built his confidence and taught him about the importance of being able to work things out and get things done in a group—skills he still uses today to be a good employee and a good communicator.
Tom also spent three years as a staff cook and treasures his memories of cooking over a wood fire. He remembers once making 20 loaves of bread in the horno at Basecamp and often making enchiladas in the Dutch oven. Once, the trekkers were unhappy with him because he didn’t have green chiles for the enchiladas and had to use jalapeños instead. They turned out to be too hot!
Then, in 2019, Tom was a board member when the Executive Director resigned in the middle of the busy summer season. Tom and the other board members had to be more hands-on at Basecamp while they looked for a new Director, which turned out to be a great experience. “Overcoming adversity and working together to make things successful for the kids was very satisfying. We had to figure things out ourselves.”
Tom shares this advice: “Now that you have experienced how wonderful it is to spend all that time outdoors in the wilderness, do what you can to make sure others can have that experience.” The importance of supporting the Gulch is clearer to him now than ever before. Donations have allowed the Gulch to add “wonderful and miraculous” school programs, offer many different treks, hire year-round staff, and increase the planning horizon. Speaking about the school programs in particular, Tom says, “They take kids who have never been outside and go on walks to wild places and engage them—it’s so good for the kids.”
Dr. John Bloch
Dr. John Bloch is a geologist with a long history of connection and service to the Gulch. He participated as a trekker from 1963 to 1965, then returned as a board member (2004), a Visiting Scholar (2009), and a leader of Rocks & Flocks (2017-2019), as well as participating in various reunion treks and activities. He is also a proud recipient of the Silver Buckle Award.
As a teenager from the East Coast, John notes, “The Gulch was a great experience for me. It really helped me grow up, in a way. The Trek was eye-opening. What a landscape, and what a lot of fun!” In particular, he learned the importance of planning and doing your homework to prepare for a trek, noting that every time, there was some kind of gear missing that they had not thought to bring or left behind.
John stepped away for 30 years before he moved to New Mexico and joined the board. He was glad to help keep the Gulch going through tough times, and the board spent a lot of effort bringing the Gulch into the 21st century—an experience that put him in touch with how the Gulch makes the treks so successful and unique. “We had to reinvent some things,” he said. “It was a huge investment from many people, including staff, board members, and donors. Making that work was very gratifying.”
When asked what keeps him coming back to the Gulch again and again, he quipped, “It’s like Hotel California, man. You can never leave!” John continues to have fun and maintain connections to the Gulch, including meeting groups out on the road and having them come out to his property. He notes, “It gets harder and harder to sleep on the ground, though!”
Deb Korol
“The Gulch was a life-enriching experience for me,” says Deb Korol. “We’re happy to support it.”
Deb Korol grew up in Baltimore, learned about the Gulch from a friend, and went on the Turquoise Trail Expedition in 1962. She has great memories of that time, including riding in the back of pickup trucks, using water bags to collect drinking water, and attending a Navajo coming-of-age ceremony at Basecamp. Deb urges future trekkers to be present in the experience. “Just be present. Appreciate the silence. It’s the one thing that you can’t control anywhere else.”
In 1991, Deb and her husband brought their two kids out for a family trek. It was her husband’s first time in the Southwest. She recalls, “We were near Telluride and had a square dance with someone who had a guitar. Just one guitar and we were out dancing under the stars.” They ended up retiring in Nevada, regularly hiking and biking at Red Rocks Park in Las Vegas. But Deb notes, “I’ve always wanted a New Mexico license plate!”
Deb and her husband began providing annual support for the Gulch in 2014—particularly the endowed scholarship fund. It was a natural extension of her belief in the importance of a place “where kids can have unbelievable experiences, because you just don’t know what will resonate there and change the course of their lives.”
Wenda Trevathan
"I just love it,” says Wenda Trevathan when asked about the Gulch. “It is the most important thing in my life. Nothing can replace it. We even put the Gulch in our will. We believe in providing as many opportunities for people to go there as possible and to diversify the kind of people that can come."
Wenda’s connection to Cottonwood Gulch runs deep. Her uncle attended the trek in the 1930s. Her mother never had the chance because it was only for boys at the time, but she vowed to send Wenda if and when the opportunity arose. In 1962, Howie, the Gulch’s leader, initially hesitated to accept Wenda due to her Southern background. Luckily, he relented, and Wenda embarked on a journey that would define much of her life.
She worked her way through several summers, saving money and eventually securing a quartermaster position. Wenda’s persistence led to 11 years on the Turquoise Trail, including trailblazing moments such as leading all-women treks with her sister, Sue, in the late 1970s and challenging the gender norms of the time by learning to drive the com vehicle (a task previously reserved for men). Wenda proudly recalls, "Monty taught us all to drive, and after that, it was all women."
Wenda’s lifelong dedication to the Gulch shaped her academic and professional pursuits. She earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology and settled permanently in New Mexico, a place she fell in love with during her time on the trek. Over the years, Wenda has worn many hats at the Gulch, from being on the board to serving as acting Executive Director during challenging periods. Her involvement extends beyond personal passion—she has an unwavering commitment to the mission of the Gulch, whether through board service, hands-on contributions like helping save the office building, or sending future generations of her family to participate.
Wenda’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the preservation of the Gulch’s traditions and values. She remains a steadfast supporter, ensuring more diverse groups can experience the transformative power of the trek.