Fossil Creek Trail renamed Bob Bear Trail #18

[chumley]

The 4-mile trail from the Strawberry side that descends 1,500 feet to the spring area along upper Fossil Creek has been renamed to help avoid confusion with the lower access points (from Camp Verde).

This trail is now known as Bob Bear Trail #18 and lies entirely within the Tonto National Forest.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/n ... 7&actid=50

A parking permit is still required to park at the Bob Bear Trailhead during the summer (April 1-October 1), and can be reserved at Recreation.gov.

The Bob Bear name honors an important cultural figure, according to the forest service, which provided no additional information on who Bob Bear is/was, nor his contribution to culture.

[chumley]

A web search resulted in this obituary. I can't confirm whether or not this is the person the trail is named after, but it's all that came up.

Bob Bear of Claypool, AZ passed away on Monday, February 17, 2014 in Cottonwood, AZ. He was 80 years old. Bob was born on February 21, 1933 in Camp Verde, AZ to Jim Bear and Sadie Francis. He grew up and attended school in Camp Verde, later joining the U. S. Army and serving in the Korean War. Bob worked at Enchantment Resort. He has been self-employed, worked for Bylas Station and had retired after 35 years with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. He enjoyed being an auto mechanic and a tour guide. He liked storytelling, exploring outdoors, fishing and hunting. He was a spiritual leader. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Sadie Bear and his brothers, Lasky George Evans, Guy Evans, and Paul Bear Sr. He is survived by his sons, Raphael (Mary), Spencer and Javvis Bear, all of Fort McDowell, AZ; his nephew, Rick (Sue) Evans of Camp Verde; his nieces, Anna (Gabriel) Jackson of Camp Verde and Linda Evans of Clarkdale and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ ... =179180485