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

[skatchkins]

So are we supposed to post triplogs right now... or does that indict us?

[CannondaleKid]

One way or another I've been staying home, with nature being my second home.

Speaking about closures, I get a kick out of how many folks I see driving or parked along Bush Highway with Tonto Passes hanging from the rearview mirror... yup, when all the areas which require a pass are closed.
But there is a silver lining... after all it's a donation to Tonto NF.

[chumley]

I get a kick out of how many folks I see driving...

... with masks on. Alone. In their car.

[azbackpackr]

@chumley
San Bernardino County, CA, where I currently reside, just came out with new rules. We are supposed to wear a face covering whenever leaving home, including driving the car alone. Failure to do so could result in $1000 fine or jail. I rode my bike across the river this morning, covering about 2 miles of Needles before I got to a bridge, and saw no one wearing a mask. I wasn't surprised. I had a bandanna handy to pull up over my face if I saw a cop, but doubt they would have bothered me, so early in the morning after the announcement, which was yesterday evening.
http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/wp-content/u ... 714190.pdf

There are news articles and such, easily found online.

[chumley]

@azbackpackr
Welcome to the People's Republic of Kalifornia!

Perhaps the logic is that so many people are doing drive-thru or curbside pickup where "essential" workers are actually exposed to the inside of your vehicle. Or perhaps there's no logic at all!
FWIW:

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

[azbackpackr]

@chumley
Yes. One comment I saw was that since you can easily smell someone smoking cigarettes in a car near yours, maybe the virus can somehow sneak in, too. But I think it's an unlikely route of transmission. I do agree, the ruling is over the top, except when picking up food & Rx's, as you mentioned.

[RedRoxx44]

What I have learned recently--of course on the internet so always true. this virus really likes nursing homes, rehab facilities; SARS was found to have traveled using the plumbing in one apartment complex, and an attack by a Venezuelan navy ship on a cruise ship outfitted as an icebreaker ended very badly for the aggressor. Wearing a face covering even 1-2 months ago would likely of caused you to be the subject of a police action. What a crazy world.

[Tough_Boots]

I do agree, the ruling is over the top,

California is frantically trying not to let any of their populations go the way of NYC right now. The mask is more to prevent asymptomatic carriers from spreading the virus to others rather than for the personal protection of the wearer. With a population that proves over and over that they are incapable of thinking about the well-being of others unless legally forced, this is not at all over the top.

[jochal]

@azbackpackr San Bernardino County's website has clarified you do not need a face covering in a car when traveling alone or with members of your household, as long as the windows stay closed.

http://wp.sbcounty.gov/cao/countywire/?p=5862

[chumley]

@Tough_Boots
I think forcing people to wear a mask when they have no possibility of exposure to other people (in an enclosed vehicle) qualifies as over the top. Many people have more contact with other people in their home than they do in their car.
edit: and according to the post above, apparently SBC thinks so too.

[Tough_Boots]

edit: and according to the post above, apparently SBC thinks so too.

My comment was more about legally mandating behavior (complete with penalty) is not "over the top" in this situation.

I think forcing people to wear a mask when they have no possibility of exposure to other people (in an enclosed vehicle) qualifies as over the top.

Considering we are given new boundaries for the risk of exposure and how to protect ourselves and each other on a weekly basis right now, I don't really think it's very wise to consider caution as over the top.

[xthine]

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.

Agreed.. One could only hope.

————

Last weekend despite closure of popular trailheads tourists started swarming in after 10am. There was a lone city employee handing out these fliers to those accessing the trailhead. Trailheads are barricaded and NO ENTRY signs.

Walked to a trailhead this weekend (ventured to a new trail) and went on a loop with a double diamond rating thinking that would be safer... nope. Ran into a group of mountain bikers all huddled together staring at a downhill section of the trail, no room to pass except shoulder to shoulder.
There was an old couple approaching who went straight instead of going down the switchback.. they looked lost.

There have been reports of people parking illegally and going off trail to access trails. Yesterday I saw an out of state car still trying to go into the turn lane that had cones to mark no entry.

We’ll see what this weekend holds. Doesn’t look like they’ve closed any more trailheads or trails which again leaves the remaining trails open for the hoards of tourists. Some are calling for a complete closure of trails to non locals.

Of course I realize there are a lot of trails here but I choose to stay within my community and avoid unnecessary travel. So that means... alpine start it is!

[DixieFlyer]

Some are calling for a complete closure of trails to non locals.

If they were trails in a Sedona city park and were paid for by Sedona residents, then I could understand and probably agree with that line of reasoning...but it seems to me that most of the trails in the Sedona area are in the Coconino National Forest; as such they are for all of us, not just people who happen to live close to them. If the forest service deems it necessary to close the trails, then they should be closed to everybody.

Should access to the Supes be limited to those living in Gold Canyon or Apache Junction? Residents of GC and AJ might say "yes", but I doubt if anyone else would.

[wildwesthikes]

In case anyone here thinks they are still going to be able to venture from AZ to southern Utah's "Hoodoo Zone" before summer hits...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/us/c ... ation.html

I have no idea how this affects Hwy 89 traffic by Page and/or Hwy 160 into the Monument Valley / Mexican Hat area. But it seems like a bad idea to go out there right now.

[wildwesthikes]

@xthine
See there's your problem! - hiking city trails. I've stopped even trying.

Instead I went and backpacked on the Mogollon Rim this past weekend. The only people I saw were near the Washington Park Trailhead - and only because it was a Saturday. Maybe 10 people total; some of them keeping their distance and some acting like they haven't read the news in a decade. One guy was trail running down off the rim and ran way way off trail like 30 ft to avoid coming near me. Once on the rim there was nobody. Complete ghost town... er, forest. And heading back to the TH on Tuesday there was all of one car parked and no one around.

[xthine]

Some are calling for a complete closure of trails to non locals.

If they were trails in a Sedona city park and were paid for by Sedona residents, then I could understand and probably agree with that line of reasoning...but it seems to me that most of the trails in the Sedona area are in the Coconino National Forest; as such they are for all of us, not just people who happen to live close to them. If the forest service deems it necessary to close the trails, then they should be closed to everybody.

If it weren't for the pandemic access to the local trails would be a non issue.

[skatchkins]

Today someone quoted me that AZ had 1,010 traffic deaths in AZ in 2018 and asked if the virus would even kill that many here. And then went to, "if we would shut down businesses for X, should we shut down the roads for Y?"

[Tough_Boots]

"if we would shut down businesses for X, should we shut down the roads for Y?"

They certainly close roads under hazardous conditions.

[skatchkins]

@Tough_Boots
But only the non-essential ones tho right? Dog Grooming Way can stay open.

[nonot]

Today someone quoted me that AZ had 1,010 traffic deaths in AZ in 2018 and asked if the virus would even kill that many here. "

This is a pretty hard question as it depends on variable factors such as average age, populations with preexisting conditions, population density, degree to which social distancing is practiced, availability of ventilators, etc. However if we model the total death count in Arizona due to coronavirus (modelling statistics and progression of the virus in the state of Washington) it comes out to at least 1000, but in the worst case (modelling on New York) Arizona may have at least 15,000 deaths. This is assuming this virus doesn't have a "long tail", and peters out as quickly as it peaks.

I tend to think AZ has an average population older than Washington, which will make it worse, though of course as the snowbirds leave, the average age gets younger.

So I would say, likely yes, it will be more than the # of traffic deaths. I'll bid 3000, Bob Barker. The worst two weeks for AZ are likely still in our future.