Coronavirus and hiking

[DixieFlyer]

Now that we are living in the era of "social distancing", it shouldn't be too surprising to see some hiking venues closed.

Here are a couple of examples:
* The Navajo Nation has closed all of their tribal parks: https://navajonationparks.org/public-notice/
* The road up to Kitt Peak is closed to the public...here is a pic that a friend took when he attempted to ride his bicycle up to the top: [ broken link removed ]

It would seem like hiking, especially in remote areas, would be one of the safer things that you can do...but with the frenzy that is going on, I imagine that there will be more closures in the coming days

[sidhayes]

@xthine
So, do not park at the trailhead. Walk in. Keep walking.

[wildwesthikes]

true...but where can you get hand sanitizer at these days?

Keep some Campsuds or a tiny container of dish soap and a full gallon water jug in your car... Just as effective, if not more, according to the experts.

[xthine]

@sidhayes

That’s exactly what I plan to do when they close all trailheads down.

[wildwesthikes]

@xthine
I am also quite curious what the upcoming weekends will bring. My hypothesis remains there is a bell curve to the number of people that are unwilling to put effort in to researching what is still open, what is still car accessible, riding a bike to trails, mapping out less used trails, road walking, etc. Most won't travel very far from home right now. Indeed I imagine a lot of people didn't even read the actual stay at home order and went off of news reports instead - most of which have got it wrong, and made it sound like being outside your home for anything other than a neighborhood stroll and a trip to the grocery store would be met by a class 1 misdemeanor. I think these misconceptions will keep a large number of people away from less popular remote trailheads; opting to do laps in their back yards instead.

[RedRoxx44]

Not a hiking post so can be removed if wanted. I've just about perfected my clean technique for general community travel. Min 3 pairs garden gloves in car, gallon jug of water, rags, small trash bag, 3 neck gaitors ( neighbor also made a nice mask and gave it to me).
Gas pump- out of vehicle with pay card in pocket. Gloves on. Hand that handles keys, pay card, gas cap, door handle is kept "clean". Hand that inputs info on key pad and pumps gas is the "dirty hand". It does not come in contact with clean surfaces ( ie vehicle or person). Once contact is done dirty hand glove removed first inside out, then clean glove with dirty glove tucked into it. For me I just throw the inside out gloves in the floor board. The contact surface is separated from any "clean" or supposed clean surfaces. These gloves will not be reused till I wash them.
Grocery store a little more problematic. again a pair of new gloves for all tasks. A separate single glove in a pocket considered again a "clean" glove. Upon checkout if using a pay card esp not cash, the "dirty " hand glove is removed carefully and the clean glove ( or bare hand) installed to handle pay card so you don't have to remember to clean the card. If you are disciplined reinstall dirty glove to get cart out to car. Clean glove or bare hand to handle keys and open car door. Unload groceries into designated area hopefully trunk or non pedestrian traffic area. Gloves off and inside out again, not to be reused until cleaned. At home unloading of groceries you can use yet another pair of gloves, then wash hands. Upon handling packaging in your house just wash hands after you do so. The virus can live a while on certain packaging but not forever. So plain handwashing should do as long as you are pretty religious about it.
The third pair of gloves in the car for any other not planned tasks along your route. The key is either sanitize or change gloves between interactions then clean them and wash your hands as soon as you can. Same with face coverings, once in an area of people then once you leave that area remove your face cover and plan to wash it. Again do so by trying to not touch the outer surface of that covering.

My .02 cents for the day. The only take away is if you use gloves, change or sanitize them. Sure it's not sterile technique but so far probably doesn't need to be.

[herdbull]

So, do not park at the trailhead. Walk in. Keep walking.

Yepp. Nailed it!

We just spent almost 4 days up east of Payson and didn't really hit any trails. Saw tons of elk and deer and the dog loved it. Didn't meet a soul in the woods.

[hikeaz]

Our state parks are open (for now) but run with it anyway..

[Tough_Boots]

@hikeaz

Equating being told we can't do something with jail time... the worst comic strip of all time found a way (I'm sure unintentionally) to illustrate "privilege" perfectly.

[hikeaz]

Squaw Peak?
Camelback?

Nope...Images from the Huangshan mountain park in Anhui province on Saturday April 4, 2020

[LosDosSloFolks]

@hikeaz
Your photo on the right was taken on a weekday at Pinnacle Peak Park. Must of been very cold though...the women are wearing so much clothing.

[LindaAnn]

@hikeaz
That is insane. Is any hike or park worth dealing with a crowd like that?!

[CannondaleKid]

@LindaAnn
It's probably much better than what they feel boxed up in their smog-choked cities

[hikeaz]

@hikeaz
Your photo on the right was taken on a weekday at Pinnacle Peak Park.......

Or the line at Costco....

[trekkin_gecko]

[ALMAL]

@trekkin_gecko
I thought this was bad... https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/downtim ... p-BB11eUEE

[chumley]

@ALMAL
Is it one of your machines?

[ALMAL]

@chumley
No, but I wish I had thought of that first!

[chumley]

Phoenix City Council is voting on Wednesday on closing all city hiking trails to the public.

So what ever became of this? Was it just one publicity-thirsty councilperson's facebook feed, or something more?

[DixieFlyer]

@chumley
it looks like the council voted to keep the trails open: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/ph ... s-11462731

[chumley]

@DixieFlyer

As Cris Meyer, city attorney, pointed out to council members on Thursday, Ducey's March 23 mandate prevents the total closure of trails, parks, and golf courses — meaning it was never really an option, legally speaking.

I guess I still don't understand why it was ever being discussed at all. Instead of trying to stir up a political firestorm with the public, wouldn't a prudent councilperson assure their voters that such a motion would be illegal, and move on to more important matters?

Yay. Politics!