A Tribute to Art Wells
I am much saddened by the passing of Art Wells, a great loss for his family and for the Southern Arizona Hiking Club. Art was a very strong & a very talented hiker and a good, dedicated hiking guide. He was also the best four-wheel driver in the Club.
Art loved peakbagging and he helped many peakbaggers by putting peaks in the Bulletin that they needed for peakbagging awards. I climbed many peaks with Art over the years. Several years ago, we climbed Darnell & Pothole Peaks from Sulphur Draw, and --in just this one bushwhack-- Art completely destroyed a brand new pair of hiking boots. Art returned them to the store the next day for a refund!
Art also liked to carcamp and he preferred to sleep in his vehicle, but he would not rest
(literally) until he had his SUV perfectly level, front to back, left to right! In these carcamps
in the evening Art would spare no effort to get up a roaring campfire, and next morning he would always douse the smouldering ashes, first with water, then with dirt.
Those who knew Art quite well shall always remember his stories about "outgassing" his new
SUVs before he would drive them. For those among us who might have missed it, Art Wells
was an Arizona original. Without Art's contribution of his time & energy, the Southern
Arizona Hiking Club would not be the great hiking club that it is!
If I could speak to him right now, I would say: "Art, you will be sorely missed."
AND he will.
Ray Chance