Phoenix Parks and Recreation removed the 2016 tree and issued the following explanation:
"We deal with these kinds of things throughout the year: Christmas trees, flags, religious symbols. Our concern is these can present a safety hazard bringing them up the trail. They could easily fall down off the trail and hurt someone. We must protect the natural state of the mountain preserves in desert parks."
If they are leaving trash afterwards that seems like a pretty crappy thing to do. If you are going to haul it up there, take care of it yourself dangit! Seems like the tree was not that large in the years past that I have seen it, the last one I saw I though was about 7-8' or so. Camelback stopped being 'wilderness' a long time ago, better it get done there than in places like the Superstitions. The yoga pants tree is an enticing idea...
Hopefully they get arrested and barred from all Phoenix parks, then. Follow the rules or GTFO. I'm tired of people thinking that their moral and philosophical stances outweigh written rules and settled laws.
I get it, I speed, but if I get a ticket for speeding, I deserved it.
Follow me on Instagram: hikingjason
"It's not the mountains that we conquer, but ourselves"
@chumley
Very good point to make! Probably some better ways to make the holidays better in the Phoenix area, or to spread holiday cheer for that matter...These self-righteous yuppies think they are championing some great cause, by starting a petition to leave piles of trash on top of a mountain in Phoenix and take pictures next to some delusional man who dresses up like Santa, get real, its just selfishness disguised as doing good IMO. I wonder if it crossed their mind that not everyone who hikes C.B. wants to see a Christmas tree planted on the top?...Let's all throw our used Christmas decorations/trash in the ring-leaders yard and see how he likes it..
"In the spirit of the holiday season, we've come to an agreement to temporarily allow a non-decorated natural tree on Camelback Mountain through January 1, 2017," Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Gregg Bach said in an email.
"Members of that group will remove decorations and monitor the site for debris on a daily basis, with help from park ranger staff. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board will work to find a permanent solution for future years and welcomes public input."
"In the spirit of the holiday season, we've come to an agreement to temporarily allow a non-decorated natural tree on Camelback Mountain through January 1, 2017," Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Gregg Bach said in an email.
"Members of that group will remove decorations and monitor the site for debris on a daily basis, with help from park ranger staff. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board will work to find a permanent solution for future years and welcomes public input."
Good luck keeping it undecorated!
This is why these milennial bros get away with this crap. They know they don't have to follow rules, create a social media stir and a vocal minority of idiots will cry for them.
Does the tree mean or affect me in the slightest? No. But the culture of moral and philosophical rule following does. And I'm sick of it.
Follow me on Instagram: hikingjason
"It's not the mountains that we conquer, but ourselves"
I was just up there a couple hours ago and there is a decorated Palo Verde now. Pine tree or no pine tree, people are going to decorate something it seems.
I voted "I don't care." If Camelback was a wilderness area I would have an issue with it. Camelback is in the middle of a metropolis, I don't have any expectation of a wilderness experience. Idk, just my two cents, others might care that its up there. The trash aspect sucks.
I think they should just take a fake one up there and when January 1 comes, they should take it down and stick it behind some rocks just off summit, to pull out for next season. Or, like that one year we don't talk about back home, it will remain up all year, to be taken down on the following Christmas morning: a Christmas miracle!
If only Phoenix Parks and Rec were as gung ho about following the laws themselves. How many years did it take for them to even START removing their illegal signage prohibiting firearms?
Then there's the inconsistency of park hours. Squaw Peak... go ahead and hike after dark, they don't care (assuming you get in before the gate closes.) Camelback... deputy bojangles threatening hikers with citation if they're not out the gate before sunset.
I'm pro-tree (provided the people putting it there do indeed clean up afterwards.)
Saw a blip about this on the news this morning. Plenty of time to plan a glorious 'civil disobedience' action between now and xmas. Obviously, it'll be bringing a tree to the top and the defense of said tree thereafter.
Route Editor
Route Scout
This is why these milennial bros get away with this crap. They know they don't have to follow rules, create a social media stir and a vocal minority of idiots will cry for them. 
