Bandits, drug runners, and vigilantes

vagabond · Post by **vagabond** » Dec 11 2002 9:59 am

This has probably been discussed in this forum before, but I'm going to ask anyway. Have any of you been approached or threatened by, or otherwise had an incident with bandits, drug runners, illegal aliens, or vigilantes in the border ranges of Arizona, New Mexico, California, or Texas? My mother-in-law just moved to Tucson, so I'm planning on spending a lot of time in the border ranges now that I have a handy base of operations. Should I take any precautions? What particular areas (if any) should be avoided?

Lizard · Post by **Lizard** » Dec 11 2002 11:07 am

It depends a little bit on where you hike. The best hiking areas in Southern AZ are huge mountain ranges like the Chiricahuas, and these areas offer some tough walking over ridges and canyons. This appeals mostly to hikers. Most illegal aliens are looking for an easier route than that, so they head mostly for flat areas like the Cabeza Prieta and the Tohono O'odham reservation.

Now, that said, illegal aliens have intruded upon some areas. I have seen signs of them in the Huachucas for example. However, they seem to be in the minority in those areas, and I worry about them to the same degree that I do bears and mountains lions.

I've seen problems with this in California too. The year I hiked the PCT, two thruhikers were accosted in their tent by illegal aliens. The PCT in Southern Cali heads through some fairly easy terrain that is also popular with illegals. Most thruhikers end up hiking a 20 mile day their first day to get to Lake Morena, where there are campgrounds, civilization, and some measure of safety.

Lizard

vagabond · Post by **vagabond** » Dec 11 2002 1:52 pm

Lizard,
My wife and I did a three day trip in the northern Chiricahuas last April. We didn't see anyone besides other hikers/backpackers. We really enjoyed it and hope to go back, maybe this April. Incidentally, my wife was 6 months pregnant at the time. She's a real trooper!

vagabond

BoyNhisDog · Post by **BoyNhisDog** » Dec 11 2002 2:11 pm

Here's a little piece on Organ Pipe, one the 10 most dangerous Nat'l parks according to this article.

http://www.rangerfop.com/dangerousparks02.htm

I was mapping a road there a couple of years ago and the surveyor was frantic for me to fly the thing. He said hundereds of illegals were coming through every day and tearing up his markers.

I use to go back in there and never see another soul. Now it sounds like a highway for illegals and smugglers.

shy · Post by **shy** » Dec 25 2002 6:16 am

This year there is a lot less pressure upon the easier access sites of the Border. Nogales district alone has lost about 50 Border patrol agents to the potential war. These folks are army reserve. I can tell you that there is TONS (literally speaking) of evidence of aliens crossing the valleys west of the huachucas (remote) and east of the Chirichuas (yes, my spelling is wrong but I am so tired I just don't care). You might ask how I know, well I have some land close to the chirichua monument, and have come upon groups sitting under my trees. Now I have to say that this has very, very little to do with drug traffic that far north. Simply persons trying to get from point a to point b. It is really more unsafe for them to be there than you...at least you get to go home in a few days. The Huachucas, on the other hand, have a somewhat bad reputation for the local folk. Great for day hikes, but I would stay away from the more remote areas and give up entirely the idea of overnights. I hate to say that. They are beautiful. But unsafe.