Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Kvidera has been named Trail Angel. Photo by Mila Besich
Mary Jo Kvidera, better known as MJ, is a local resident and Trail Angel in Superior. MJ was recently awarded the “Trail Angel of the Year” award by the American Long-Distance Hiking Association at its annual gathering in California.
Mary Jo found Superior after caring for her parents in east Mesa for many years. Trips to Superior and enjoying the Boyce Thompson Arboretum inspired her to consider making Superior her home. Originally from Minnesota, she left the frozen and cold winters to live Arizona. Her children and grandchildren still live in Minnesota and she enjoys visiting them in the summers.
“I tell my family I will be here in Superior, till I can’t physically help a hiker,” she said.
After finding a home she loved in Superior, she was enjoying a late afternoon on her porch at her house and saw a hiker carrying a fully loaded hiking backpack walking through her neighborhood. He saw a friendly face asked for directions to the local Family Dollar store. She gave him directions and explained he was very close. That hiker was Steve Goobic, who is a well known long distance hiker and has made several trips back to the Superior area to celebrate her annual Trail Angel anniversary in March each year.
That interaction with Steve in late March, seven years ago, changed her life in Superior. After helping him along, and getting to know his story as a long distance hiker, she set out to become a “Trail Angel” helping those hikers and bikers who are doing long distance trails in and around Superior.
Her assistance to these long distance adventurers include providing a safe and comfortable place to sleep, and she prepares meals and has supplies that they may need. She shared that some hikers will stay a few days and many have contributed to art in her home as a trade for her services. These adventurers often leave reviews about her services and hospitality and especially her homemade muffins and baked beans.
Throughout her seven years of serving as a Trail Angel, she has helped hundreds of hikers going northbound and southbound on the Arizona Trail. She has hosted dozens of cyclists who are traveling across the United States using the highways of America and she has supported many hikers on the Grand Enchantment Trail which travels east and west. The Grand Enchantment Trail is a bit more challenging for hikers as it is not fully aligned or well marked yet. These nomadic adventurers stop in Superior for a respite and her hospitality, and her never-ending kindness has been rewarded.
She often helps hikers travel to further away trail heads like Pine, Oracle and Tucson trailheads. She helps them to get to local shopping, and encourages her guests to experience the community. She connects with other Trail Angels from Roosevelt and Kearny who also support through hikers. This network helps to create a larger network of support services to those enjoying the long distance trails. Trail users often find these Trail Angels by using a variety of apps and networking groups. The word travels quickly of those who are willing to provide “Angel” services in each of the communities.
MJ was nominated by several of the adventurers that she has hosted for the Trail Angel Award. She is the first Arizona recipient of the American Long-Distance Hiking Association West. Her hospitality and kindness was the key commentary of these nominations.
MJ’s car and home displays her signature trademark purple angel wings. You will see her busily moving throughout town serving others. When she is not busy helping these visitors to Superior, she enjoys leading hikes with her hiking group. Her favorite hikes in the Superior area are Arnett Canyon and enjoying the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.