HikeArizona.COM

I just went to Fossil creek first time this year<The Place is Trashed,Diappers Glass,Cans Etc<we picked it up for Hour,Then bunch of Gun Carrying{Rifles } arrived.I think it is Time to close Fossil creek for at least a couple of Years.Give Nature chance to Heal.The publicity is the Problem too many now know about It.
SENATOR Mc Cain You got it Wilderness designation, MAYBE as its almost your back yard you can help Save it from so much Love.

writelots wrote:harder to get to (that really is key)

Seems reasonable to me, it obviously works.

I spoke with a Forest Ranger last year while I was up @ Fossil and since they started the revitalization of the creek, trees and fish, its been heavily advertised as, "look what we did." and its because of that "accomplishment" that its brought in huge crowds. I don't have any specifics on the details other than what the Forest Service guy said. He also said there were different agencies and organizations working together to come up with a plan to manage the crowds. You can already see some of the progress with their sign posts and rules that have shot up(and will probably be shot up) all over and down Fossil Creek. Some of the things he said that were being discussed was analyzing the area to see how much people and traffic it can handle and then setting up reservations and designated Camping spots along the creek. Essentially turning the whole area into a managed camp ground. Again this is all hear-say from a Forest Service guy last year.

one possible solution would be to organize a clean-up day, where several of us HAZ'ers actually spent a day trying to clean up the area. Just an idea.

I would be up for that. Perhaps we could put something in the hiking events section for sometime this summer. Kinda like a meet and greet for the HAZ ers while giving back to the community, and get to do some swimming too! It is smack in the center of the state, so no one can say its too far away! Maybe even go as far as letting coconino know what we are doing (if Joe is down with that).

Sometimes our actions speak louder than words.

great ideas also a good way to get together for some of u s who have not met.

backcountrybob wrote:great ideas also a good way to get together for some of u s who have not met.

Very true! I would be love to do this before the school year starts up again in august! Great way to make a positive impact on an are we all use, love and enjoy, and to get to know some of our fellow HAZers!

base871 wrote:I would be up for that. Perhaps we could put something in the hiking events section for sometime this summer. Kinda like a meet and greet for the HAZ ers while giving back to the community, and get to do some swimming too! It is smack in the center of the state, so no one can say its too far away! Maybe even go as far as letting coconino know what we are doing (if Joe is down with that).

Sometimes our actions speak louder than words.

I agree! Lets put it together! What part of the week is usually good for people? Weekends, probably.

Depends for me. Im a victim of the economy, so whenever I get work I take it. But weekends are usally OK.

jaysmith wrote:one possible solution would be to organize a clean-up day, where several of us HAZ'ers actually spent a day trying to clean up the area. Just an idea.

Yeah, sounds great in theory. We tried this back in March. Does the term, "catclaw Revenge" sound familiar to anyone? We promoted this for 2 months in advance and LOTS of people said what a good idea it was and how "IN" they were with it. Over a 4 day period, only NINE people participated and four of them weren't even HAZ members, but Hank's (Grasshopper) friends who volunteered their time.

Lots of talk here... very little action.

the reasons for this effort should help and even if 2 people show up and get an area clean then its good.I have various times free.And can plan ahead.

snakemarks wrote:
Lots of talk here... very little action.

True, but like Bob said, it only takes a few people to help. Seems to me that a lot of people are pretty upset about the condition of the area, so hopefully that will bring a few more people around.
I just hope someone who knows the area better than I do shows up! (I've only been there twice!) Not sure where to camp with a group.
I just posted this in the Events Section, I set it up for August 7-9 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), hopefully that's enough notice for everyone. (its still a month away!)

Anyone who has ever scheduled a group hike online knows that 2/3rds of all people hike, clean up, or revenge on catclaw, only from the comfort of their computer chair.

nonot wrote:Anyone who has ever scheduled a group hike online knows that 2/3rds of all people hike, clean up, or revenge on catclaw, only from the comfort of their computer chair.

AMEN - BROTHER! :-({|=

SuperstitionGuy wrote:

nonot wrote:Anyone who has ever scheduled a group hike online knows that 2/3rds of all people hike, clean up, or revenge on catclaw, only from the comfort of their computer chair.

AMEN - BROTHER! :-({|=

Allow me to add my voice to those of my bretheren...

Halleluja.

and I don't give a flip how you spell it.

deleted

Jeff MacE wrote:When I hear about someone who hikes all week long, or every weekend, all weekend it conjures up an image of a fifteen year-old kid on summer break or some bum who drives from place to place in his car-slash-apartment, A.K.A. - a Volkswagen Bus; or, worse yet - a trust fund baby. Most people have families, careers, school, volunteer work, military reserve drills, all kinds of commitments. This prevents them from hiking whenever the heck they please and generally limits the time they can devote to it when they do get out. Argue with me all you want, THEY are the norm - not people who hike constantly and bag on those who can't do the same.

Agreed, but you forgot another explanation for the perma-hiker: they make their living by hiking. There are few on this site, such as rally_toad (and sometimes myself).

I'm going to work hard not to take that one personally.

No matter how one might interpret my lifestyle, I still have every right to be frustrated as hell when the 15 people who have clamored to participate in an event I've spent hours planning all back-out, often leaving me holding an empty permits, permissions and expectations. And thanks to the glorious anonymity of the online interface, it happens all the time - the death of personal responsibility by toggle button.

And, I would hope, that this is somewhere I can continue to turn to for fun-spirited discussions with like minded individuals, many of whom have similar experiences to my own. That's what I come here for. It's certainly not for the nachos.

deleted

In response to writelots:
if it makes you feel better, my Oct Canyon permit went to 50% full within a 2 day period thanks to some personal issues, job issues and other adult concerns... and that's in a group of friends, let alone a social group with no real entanglements

I think I've got em refilled, if not.. to quote my dad.. Defecation occurs.


edit: With a wife, 3 kids, dog, cat, scout commitments, 80 hour/wk job etc.. things just don't always work out the way I'd like them to. I guess the best action then is to simply not plan on any group outings

deleted