In response to bryanmertz's reply: I've only been a few miles -- maybe three or four -- north of Sheep's Crossing along the Verde River. It's fairly easy hiking; little elevation change and open country. Lots of ruins, good fishing (smallmouth bass), interesting geology. There's a hotspring in the ...

I've had a couple of encounters that made me suspect "rabies" -- one that really sticks in my mind was a bat that ATTACKED my step mom in broad daylight, actually landed on her jacket and was biting the jacket. Fortunately, it couldn't actually bite her THROUGH the jacket ... we tried to k...

It's probably a viable business, given the location -- they probably sell a small fortune in bait, beer, and gas. As long as you could get reliable employees, you could probably make money at it. They own the buildings, but not the land -- it's a forest service lease. This means when the forest serv...

Could it have been a large animal with paralyzed vocal cords, rasping on both in and out as it breathed? Rabies causies paralysis/spasm of the throat muscles and vocal cords; that's why it's called "hydrophobia" -- because even the THOUGHT of swallowing causes very painful throat spasms. (...

Dangit!

I should check this website more often.

I was down in Fossil Creek on the same day -- were you the group with the baby and some dogs carrying packs? That was the only group I saw of any size.

Leva

Several years ago, I was looking to buy some land, build a house, and live rural. One of the places I looked was in Sunflower ... and the developer bragged about the good hiking in the area. I asked about trails in the area. (I knew what the trails were, I was just feeling him out.) He indicated tha...

Re: apples -- there was a bad storm around march of this year or so right when everything was blooming. The freeze probably killed most of the blossoms.

Leva

I'm a minimalist camper ... I've done too much battle with tent poles and tent stuff sacks, and I've gottena severe aversion to putting up tents. I have a goretex bivvy (no poles, just a big bag) that I can sleep inside if it's raining. Mostly, I just sleep beside the truck with a bedroll. If it's r...

Pretty much, if it's not posted, it's legal to camp there ... the problem is that sometimes land is posted in a fashion that makes it difficult to see, particularly state trust land. National Forest land is usually well marked where it's legal and where it's not to camp ... But I've always simply go...

Uhh ... having seen the damage a javelina can do, I suggest you NOT underestimate the danger. They are one animal I give a wide, wide, wide berth ... I've seen first hand what a javelina can do, and I don't particularly desire to be on the receiving end of those teeth myself.

Leva

I debated not answering this one because every time I mention this anywhere, I get shot down, flamed, and generally told I'm lying, but what the hey ... I saw one in the spring of 2002 -- after that winter with NO rain -- crossing a dirt road in Hidden Valley, south of Phoenix about 30-35 miles, and...

My experience is -- with a few notable exceptions -- is that cheap motels are often better than the expensive ones. So what if the carpet is a bit faded, the furniture's from the 70's, and the fixtures are from the 50's? Who cares if it's clean, the staff is polite, and the TV works? If it's $30 a n...

Okay. I might very well be interested, then. I'm used to slaloming through the occasional spot of sand. I'm also well aware that the roads out here turn rather ... deep ... after a good rain, having been stuck more times than I care to count or reflect upon.

Leva

In response to dcornelius' reply: I tried to register on AZH when HikerinGilbert suggested it ... It says I'm banned. I suspect ya'll must have had a troll that used the same ISP that I do, or something of that nature? I sent an email but have had no response. (I've got to get some of the goat pics...

My dad has a cabin up there-- I've probably driven that stretch twenty times this summer alone, and I've camped and hiked all over there before then. The worst stretch of 260 is between Payson and the Rim for elk, in my experience, though "your mileage may vary" ... it's not a hundred mile...

I need to correct myself, I misremembered and just looked it up. The bounty on mountain lions of $50 was in 1919. A bounty remained on them thru 1970. (Though I swear a bounty was offered from the territorial govmn't as well, I just can't find a reference.)

Leva

Whoever wrote that article is not aware of some basic facts. First off, I'd like to know which disease they're referring to. There have been no reported cases of brucellosis in this state in a very long time, CL is unusual, tuberculosis requires more than casual contact, and all three of those would...

In response to Cakewalk's reply: I'm interested -- I live in Hidden Valley so this is in my stomping ground. How bad is the road? I have an S10 and I drive on dirt roads every day, but the S10 is a pretty crappy vehicle in really rough terrain. If there's deep sand or mud, it will never make it. Th...

In response to Rileydog's reply: Just keep your dog on a leash in Fossil Creek -- there are javelina, coyotes, porcupines, and mountain lions in there, all of which can do a number on a dog. I saw a porcupine on my last hike in there, near the big falls. That said, Fossil Creek is a fantastic hike....

In response to sherileeaz's reply: I don't think I've ever hiked Horton during the monsoon and NOT heard thunder in the afternoon, including today. (Did a short hike with the goats and my dad, not all the way.) Lovely creek, one of my favorites. A tip to get away from the crowds: stay down by the w...