From the NPS website... http://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm Hope that helps. I don't think as many HAZ'ers get up that way. It says you can camp anywhere undeveloped in the park for free so maybe just print out a backcountry road map and pick a dirt road that heads towards the water.

Well, have fun. I encourage you to consider a Mountaineer's Route summit. It's very doable, and with this winter's sad precipitation totals, you're guaranteed a dry and relatively safe trip. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=17771 If I remember correctly the Mountaineers Route on Whitney is on...

Well the person who named it did not name it after himself. Its not good etiquette in science to name a new species after yourself. In this case the person who described the scorpion named it after the discoverer. There is an ant in the rainforest called Pheidole harrisonfordi as well as a few other...

@johnlp

Yes my point is that it needs to be in a somewhat controlled situation. There should be adults camping near by, if only for the kids to say "My dad is camping 1/4 mile away" when a hiker approaches them as to what they are doing alone in the backcountry.

I just feel like if this does work out it would be a great experience for the boys. However, it takes more on your part then just dropping them off for 48 hours. You should camp nearby for the entirety of the trip. If other hikers run into two 13 year old boys alone the woods questions will be asked...

So am I the only one on this forum who has met multiple 13 year olds?? Lots of recent posts on HAZ have me thinking "Natural Selection". Sorry guys but 13 is not coming of age, I can say this looking back at 13 year old rally_toad. There is a world of difference between 13 and say 16. Wait...

In response to the Rep from Utah's comments.... Does he even understand how the real world works? Just wow. Keep in mind the parks are already underfunded and have been trying to deal with budget erosion for years. Now a 5% cut at a real weird part of the year and he expects the roads to clear thems...

Yeah there is a road to the base of it on the western side of the park. I've never been out on that road, so I have no knowledge of the conditions. I hiked it from the Painted Desert Inn Trailhead. It is quite a trek to the base and you have to go straight north and then when you are due east of Pil...

Also regarding camping I must say that backpacking in Petrified Forest is a truly remarkable experience. You have to carry a bunch of water and there's no where to hang a hammock, but its just awesome. To tell the truth you don't have to walk that far to camp for free in the park.

Yeah based on the archaeological resources there it really qualifies for National Park status even if it had absolutely 0 petrified wood.

I'm glad to see they are offering these great back country hikes. The thing about this park is that people just breeze through it on the road and never really have an understanding of how scientifically important it is to geologists and archaeologists. I don't think the park helps this by not having...

The thing is we don't leave things as they are soley for archeologists and scientists, but also for other people who enjoy being outside and enjoying our natural and cultural heritage. I couldn't care less if an archeologist "wouldn't give a rats pumpkin" about those arrowheads or other ar...

Regarding "bringing them out there and hiding them better" or "outdoor museum", in archeology context is everything. Any archeological resource that is taken out of its place or moved is useless to archeologists. Enjoy it, take pictures, and then put it back exactly where you fou...

http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/fhpl_archrsrcsprot.pdf As quoted from The Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (link above) The purpose of this Act is to secure, for the present and future benefit of the American people , the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are ...

They're only paid overtime if they actually work overtime. Now you may be right about them working overtime for a few days to try and close the park down, since it does take alot of work to close down a park, especially one like Grand Canyon where there are thousands of visitors there at one time. B...

The law enforcement rangers left behind to guard the parks after all "non-essential" personnel are sent home will be making mega overtime. [-X Not true. Many workers will continue to work for free, they don't know how long this shutdown will last and if they will ever get paid for that ti...

@paulhubbard While what you mentioned may be a good idea in theory think about the risk that this puts OUR National Parks in while they are closed. I think the best example would be AZ's own Petrified Forest National Park. Imagine leaving the public to "use at their own risk" for a week o...

Tough_Boots wrote:That's what the preserve reports though no one else will ever know.

This is all just too classic!!
dun dun dun!! (dramatic music)

CAT-GATE the scandal of the decade!!!

I call for an immediate resignation of all Riparian Preserve Staff immediately!!

@Tough_Boots In you're previous post you claim that Save the Cats was ready to remove all the cats at any time, the quote from the director and the large number of cats that remain at the preserve past the deadline says otherwise. only one view was offered at the start of this forum. Is there anoth...

@Tough_Boots Just because you know someone who works for Save the Cats does not mean you have the whole story. Regardless as to whether or not removal of the cats WAS the goal is irrelevant, that IS clearly the goal now and the cat people had until today to do just that. Since there were still seve...