Illegal outfitter guides convicted, banned from national forests

[joebartels]

Coco the badass nino™ writes

SEDONA, Ariz., Nov. 20, 2019 — Several illegal outfitter guides in the Sedona area of the Red Rock Ranger District have recently been convicted, banned from national forests, and fined for illegally operating commercial businesses and offering paid tours without authorization or a special use permit.

Mark Truesdell, operating under the business name of Sacred Sites Journey; Georgina Rock of Air B&B Experience; and Kurt Raczynski of Inner Journeys, have all been sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation, including being banned for one year from the national forests of Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, and Apache-Sitgreaves.

Additionally, each was ordered to pay restitution in amounts ranging from $220-$460, as well as a fine ranging from $500-$1,000. They were also ordered to remove any physical business advertisements and Internet advertisements of tours on the national forests within the state of Arizona.

These convictions were the result of effective undercover work performed by Forest Service law enforcement and investigation officers, who continually develop leads about illegal outfitter guides conducting operations on northern Arizona national forests.

Businesses and outfitter guides seeking to offer any commercial activities on national forest land are required by law to obtain a special use permit from the district within which the activity will be provided.

The Red Rock Ranger District currently has 42 permitted outfitter and guide companies which provide guided ATV, equestrian, hiking, hot-air balloon, Jeep, metaphysical, and mountain bike tours. Each of these businesses are partners with the Forest Service in protecting natural resources and are required to meet specific standards and follow specific rules of operating to ensure the beauty of the land remains for generations to come.

Permitted outfitter guides help with road maintenance, are co-stewards for heritage sites, and assist in reporting graffiti, resource damage, and wildfires.

The Red Rock Ranger District estimates that permitted outfitters and guides have grossed approximately $36.5 million in 2019, of which $1 million in fees goes toward district operations such as road and trail maintenance, supplies and tools, and employee salaries.

By ignoring federal regulations, illegal guides have a number of negative impacts, including:
developing and/or contributing to unplanned trails leading to sensitive areas;
causing and increasing resource damage to sensitive soils and animal/plant species;
exceeding road and trail capacity limits;
impeding on the experiences of responsibly-recreating public;
and avoiding Forest Service fees that fund resource stewardship.

[AZClaimjumper]

Considering the expense that must have cost the Forest Service; the financial cost & restriction penalty won't be much of a deterrant for those caught or others operating illegally.

[FOTG]

Would this be a bad time to announce that I am offering low price guided climbs up moderate Sedona multipitch routes?

[Alston_Neal]

@friendofThundergod
Become a Native and you'll make more money. You'll also meet plenty of ladies as ShamanofThundergod

[Tough_Boots]

I wonder what crystal offers protection from federal law.

[Pivo]

@Tough_Boots
Not meth.

[rcorfman]

@friendofThundergod
For a six-pack, I'm in.

[rcorfman]

I'm surprised they found their way out of the vortex

[LosDosSloFolks]

@rcorfman
Much like song lyrics that get misheard and butchered I used to think "harmonic convergence" in Sedona was actually "Harmonica Virgins". I looked for them every time I went up there. :-)

[Alston_Neal]

@LosDosSloFolks
I thought you were going up there for Ear Coning or some Rectal Harmonic Balance Vortex treatment.

[LosDosSloFolks]

@Alston_Neal
The coning is for the ear? I had a hunch they were doing it wrong.

[wildwesthikes]

Not exactly on topic but close: Several hikers with a youtube account are [illegally] flying their noisy pumpkin drones around the Superstition Wilderness. First time I heard one it was at least a hundred yards away and I thought someone was running a chainsaw nearby. An hour later it was hovering over me and my campsite, spying on me while I made dinner. I held a certain finger up and it quickly took off. That's how I knew they were filming me. I'd love to know if there's any way you all think I can deal with that growing problem which is just as bad as this illegal outfitter issue.

[chumley]

if there's any way ... to deal with that growing problem.

nope

[rcorfman]

@wildwesthikes
Probably not any effective way to deal with it. However, if you know the youtube channel, you could flag the videos as illegal activity. Interestingly enough, youtube doesn't have a policy statement about creating content illegally, at least none that I could find. You could also report the channel to the land manager for the wilderness the drone is flying in. If those aren't satisfying, you could always take a shotgun along and shoot it out of the sky, or perhaps train a raptor to take them out. Also, last I knew, it's not illegal to fly a drone in a wilderness area, however it is illegal to launch and land a drone in a wilderness area.

[cactuscat]

@wildwesthikes
Narc on them - turn their youtube accounts into the Forest Service and they will take action if the videos are clearly filmed in the Wilderness.

[wildwesthikes]

@rcorfman
I like the raptor idea. It's easy and cheap too because I already own a couple for around town problems.

[chumley]

@rcorfman
I like the raptor idea.

There are some real feel-good videos on the youterwebs featuring such things. [ youtube video ]

[Alston_Neal]

Full choke 12 gauge.

[hikeaz]

Full choke 12 gauge.

https://kfor.com/2015/10/27/i-did-somet ... -property/

I would also defy the USFS that they have spent ANY extra funds on Sedona roads; they have effectively deeded the roads to the outfitters and UTV rental companies.

[ALMAL]

@wildwesthikes
Happened to me at my Marsh Valley campsite a couple of years ago, except it was super quiet. It was out of rock throwing range.