44? Hikers Rescued from Lost Dutchman State Park Overnight

[skatchkins]

That number can't be right...
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-centr ... -overnight

[chumley]

@skatchkins
It's correct. Sort of.

It was a group of 44 from Kansas. I believe only 2 of them took the helicopter option down, while SAR personnel "guided" the others back down under their own power.
https://www.azfamily.com/news/hikers-fr ... 35227.html

[ALMAL]

@skatchkins
Another source says they were all the same group from Kansas. Several of them tried clicking their heels together 3 times, but nothing happened, so they called for rescue.

[chumley]

Way to go Minneapolis!! By far the most detailed news article I've seen so far!
http://www.startribune.com/dozens-of-to ... 558021392/

[skatchkins]

Fitness coordinators lol.

[AZLumberjack]

I drove out to the LDSP to talk with the source but that was a waste of time as she said she couldn't release any details... "Watch it on the news".

[skatchkins]

Good movie

[wildwesthikes]

We aren't in Kansas any more...

[Nighthiker]

Another example of people doing things in a group that otherwise would not do by themselves.

[DarthStiller]

So at some point these people must have left LDSP and crossed the boundary into the wilderness. Shouldn't the 15 person limit come into play somewhere? Looks the priority of that rule is very low.

[DixieFlyer]

So at some point these people must have left LDSP and crossed the boundary into the wilderness. Shouldn't the 15 person limit come into play somewhere? Looks the priority of that rule is very low.

If they went all the way to Siphon Draw they would definitely be in the Superstition Wilderness

[AZLumberjack]

So at some point these people must have left LDSP and crossed the boundary into the wilderness. Shouldn't the 15 person limit come into play somewhere? Looks the priority of that rule is very low.

The FS personnel at the entrance to the park don't seem to care about the group size limitations, after all, there's money to be made.

[chumley]

@AZLumberjack
The FS makes no money from people entering the forest or Superstition Wilderness. It would be nice if they educated visitors and enforced the rules.

[SuperstitionGuy]

It's a State Park and I don't think the U.S.Forest Service has anything to say who enters the park.
Actually are they even there?

[ALMAL]

@chumley
I was on the Mormon trail Saturday morning and on the way back down a heard a lady go off on another lady for short-cutting the trail. I thought maybe she was employed by the FS. Another hiker defended the woman saying the trail has many splinters and it's hard to tell which is the actual trail. All of them were blocking the trail to argue so I had to step off the trail to pass, ooops. I was waiting for a response but nothing.

[Tough_Boots]

It's a State Park and I don't think the U.S.Forest Service has anything to say who enters the park.

Siphon Draw is in federal wilderness outside of the park.

[sajor75]

You would thunk that out of the 44 one of them would have common sense and know their capabilities.

[DarthStiller]

@AZLumberjack
I wouldn't expect them to stop a large group. My point is that, once it's brought all the attention from being in rescue mode, it would seem reasonable that it might at least be brought up that by the way, your group is also beyond the legal size limit in the wilderness area you deliberately entered. Or maybe the FS would give some guff to the LDSP staff for allowing a group that large once they told them what they were going to do, hot weather or not. It doesn't surprise me that it hasn't been brought up, though. The 15 person limit has been debated here before, I think this almost gives credit to the idea that it's not a priority. Maybe considered outdated or irrelevant now? Was this originally for restricting mining activity and the like?

[chumley]

@DarthStiller
I think it's probably just not a priority for the FS and their limited resources. But they do try to pass the responsibility on to the user. I wish this would be emphasized more.

To avoid over-regulation, wilderness management must rely on the wilderness user to assume the responsibility to practice appropriate back country techniques. For example, large groups are particularly disruptive to the quality of solitude. Even day use by large groups (15 and over) can sharply reduce other users' solitude.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/sp ... rdb5163403

[trekkin_gecko]

I would like to see some follow up on this story