HikeArizona.COM

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

@DixieFlyer
That's way I am making a sign that says warning coronvias hiker a head! That should give me solitude on the trail.

I already carry hand sanitizer when backpacking, but over the weekend in the mazzies along Deer Creek this is the first time I've taken the time to use it after closing gates behind me. Lots of tourists & out of state travelers hit up Deer Creek TH opening and closing those same gates minutes before and after you get to them.

The Renaissance Festival is done early this year because of the virus. That makes Peralta trailhead access a bit better for the next few weekends and any drive back from Globe in the evening easier.

Hiking alone in the desert or forest is fine, but state/national parks need to at least close contact stations. It's so distressing to see all these people running around acting like everything is normal, touching all the same restroom surfaces, door handles, etc. - while potentially spreading the virus among themselves and to staff and our vulnerable elderly volunteers!
It's officially a national emergency - people need to start acting like it! RV'rs, Spring Breakers, etc need to head for home and stay there for a while.

My tip for the nervous--- garden gloves. Usually cheap and plentiful. Throw some in the car. If you pay at the pump or using door handles use them, then when getting back in the car or where you can wash your hands take off turning inside out and throw in the washing machine later. Also the ones with the nitrile fingers/palm do pretty well on touch screens too.

@cactuscat
An awful lot of us fulltime RVers don't have a home. Thankfully I have places I can hole up for a long time, whether down here in Needles, or if I get the rig to Flagstaff a month from now. Who knows what things will look like a month from now, though? Right now, I have not been within 10 feet of another human for over a week, yet I have been bicycling or paddling every day.

Places like the Peralta TH are a potential hot spot. Maybe a bit extreme but people not taking it seriously is part of the problem right now. National Parks seem obvious to me; I was going to do Bryce Canyon under the Rim at the end of April but that's going to change now - voluntarily. People come from all over the country to just visit Peralta Trail. It's actually one of the most crowded places I visit with any regularity besides the grocery store. One might as well call it a large public gathering of national travelers. I'd reason that for every one of those crowded hiking hot spots there are 20 that see very little traffic at the trailheads. Remote wilderness areas that are a pain in the butt to get to are where I'm going to hike now. You won't catch me out in the PHX mtn preserve let alone camelback for the foreseeable future. I see a lot of retirement age couples hiking from the popular wilderness / NP trailheads and I wouldn't feel right about spreading it to them, especially if they are living the RV life and dealing with that mobile lifestyle.

@azbackpackr
I realize that about full timers, but they are just going to have to find a relative or friend's yard to park their rigs in, or a place to boondock. It was their choice to live in an RV - we can't keep parks open for them, while exposing everyone else!

@cactuscat
Well, if non-householders, such as RVers and van dwellers,
can't find anywhere to legally camp, I'm certain you'll be more than happy to report them to the proper authorities.

Arizona has a population of approximately 7.3 million people. There are twelve active infections in Arizona that have been confirmed. (See very cool map here.) This number has doubled in the last week. Testing has been inadequate and it is likely that the number of infected in Arizona is greater than 12. (Edit: This is now up to 17. I will not continue to update this post, please check the map link for current numbers).

The CDC recommendations for preventing community spread does not mention hiking, and the only outdoor activities it does mention are festivals and parades. It specifically mentions the risk in enclosed places with low ventilation.

The primary method for spreading Covid-19 is "through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes". This is why a 6-foot distance is recommended between people. CDC explains that while the disease may be spread by surface contact, that is not the primary method for spreading.

Please READ the CDC website. Accurate information is vital. Sadly, this in not often something that professional media excels at, and it is something that social media is abysmal at. Research for yourself. Be well everyone.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Arizona Department of Health Services: https://azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemio ... virus-home
Local counties have information as well. In Maricopa County, information is available here: https://www.maricopa.gov/5460/Coronavirus-Disease-2019

I will share this with my boss. It's a little confusing out there. Thank you.

@azbackpackr
Right you are!
(If it's in my park that is - I won't know about anywhere else because I am being responsible and staying home!)

@chumley
We are up to 18 infected today - including a school employee here in my small community, so now we have 166 students under a two week home quarantine. The mayor of Safford is also quarantined and awaiting his test results ... he is symptomatic and tested negative for flu and strep.

chumley wrote: ↑Mar 16 2020 8:37 am ..................... (See very cool map here.) This number has doubled in the last week.

I thought it interesting (albeit a tragedy) that Italy's 'recovered' numbers are nearly equal to the 'deaths'. Whereas many others are in the 90% - 10% ratio range.

@hikeaz
With so many different countries and different ways things are being handled/tested, how much faith can we really put into these numbers?

At this moment, it shows Italy with 2,178 deaths along with 2,749 'recovered'.
As much as I trust the accuracy of the death toll, I wouldn't put near the same trust in the figure of the recoveries... who knows, how many undiagnosed cases had recoveries?

cactuscat wrote: ↑Mar 16 2020 11:53 am @azbackpackr
Right you are!
(If it's in my park that is -

Unless I missed that you bought that Park from the State of Arizona, it is NOT YOUR Park. It belongs to the people of Arizona. And I don't see any problem with RV'ers self quarantining in an RV. It's a self contained house of wheels. Perfect. If the State of Arizona wants to close it's campgrounds, following New Mexico's lead, then so be it. Then you can exert your Authority. Does that mean you're kicking out all of your Volunteers too? They're all in RV's aren't they?

@outdoor_lover ... I live here, I work here, i take care of it - i am not claiming ownership, but calling it my park is pretty normal!
I have no more say in this than you do - just saying what I think, like you are.
Every non-essential thing in the state will be closed within 2 or 3 days anyhow.
I wish the best for everyone in this crisis - which is why I am so passionate about slowing the spread of the virus.

My county, Contra Costa in the East Bay (SF), just imposed mass closures of pretty much every establishment other than grocery stores, drug stores and essential government services. The notice expressly exempts outdoor activities, namely:

To engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Section, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, or running

I don't know if there is anyone here who still believes it is a hoax, but let me assure you that this is not a hoax. It doesn't appear that Arizona is being hit too hard by this, but it will. Things you need to do now in addition to the stuff that Chumley posted above:
1) Work from home.
2) Don't visit restaurants or bars. That sucks, but it's better than dying.
3) Realize that you may have coronavirus even if you don't feel any symptoms. That's why it's important to shelter in place.
4) Avoid anyone who isn't taking this crisis seriously. Avoid anyone who's expressed the belief that this is a hoax driven by politicians or the media. The folks who are whistling past the graveyard will soon be permanent residents of graveyards.
5) Don't be afraid to reach out for help. I'm available to anyone who wants to talk. DM me for my phone #.
6) Realize that this isn't going to be a 2-week thing. Just guesstimating, but in 2 weeks Arizona is likely to be where the SF Bay Area is now, and we're just getting started. Don't think of this as being just like 9/11. The Great Depression and World War 2 seem to be better analogues. Let's hope this doesn't last as long as those do. Of course the Spanish Flu of 1918 is an apt comparison.
7) I can't stress this enough: avoid close contact with other people even if you're asymptomatic. This obviously doesn't apply to family members, but hanging out with your buddies needs to take a hiatus for a while. Think about it this way: think about all of the people you've come into close contact with over the last 2 weeks, and think about all of the people your buddy has come into close contact with over the last 2 weeks. Then imagine all of them meeting at the same time.

Terrified yet? I am. We are going to beat this thing, and it's going to make our country stronger if we learn the right lessons. We need as many people to survive as possible.

Thank heavens the state and local officials here are taking this very seriously.

@JimmyLyding
Great advice! Thank you.