the story of baboquivari

by Scotty Bob Morgan

By KAVU

March 12^th, 2019

respect

The Tohono O'odham people of the Sonoran Desert recognize Baboquivari Peak as their most sacred place and the home of their creator, I'itoi.

According to legend, I'itoi inhabits a cave below the base of the mountain, which is regarded as “the navel of the world – a place where the earth opened and the people emerged after the great flood”.

legends of the past and present

When we researched the mountain, we found out that in the O'odham language, Baboquivari Peak is referred to as Waw Kiwulik which means, “narrow around the middle”.

According to local legend, “at the beginning of the Spanish conquest of what is present day Arizona, a certain Spanish officer and his men tried to dig their way into Baboquivari. Suddenly, the ground under them opened and Baboquivari swallowed them”. The O'odham Nation believes that I'itoi continues to watch over their people to this day.

It's been said that Baboquivari holds some of the best backcountry rock climbing and adventure in Arizona.

Hearing that Jaguars have been sighted there over the last several decades and, that it's well known as a place to find arrowheads and flint from cultures of the past added to the mystery and intrigue of the peak. It was clear that this mission...... to climb and wingsuit BASE jump from it's summit would be special.

kavu days ahead!

I have so many impacting memories from BASE jumping adventures in the dry, but beautiful, desert environment within the state of Arizona and yet, this feature has always eluded me.

Just seeing Baboquivari Peak evokes a sense of inspiration so, when I called my friends to express my desire to go climb the peak (with hopes of flying from it's summit), I couldn't have been more stoked when their reply was a resounding

“Yes, Please”!

Wing suit BASE ninja, Pat Walker drove down from his home in Salt Lake City while film maker and photographer, Scotty Rogers came from sunny Moab to help us by climbing and capturing what were sure to be life highlights. Julia, the ever positive Jon Verbeck and myself all hit the road from California to converge on this one, singular dream of flying off the top of this desert icon.

find the exit

busy livin'

It's hard to convey how incredible this experience was.

Mountains don't care what we want or how good or bad we are. And yet, we still “ask them to let us in”.

Baboquivari didn't disappoint us. As with all of life, hard work generally equals impacting rewards. For us, flying safely off of this monolith was a prize defined by strong friendships, solidarity and working toward an unknown.