HikeArizona.COM

Let's see, we now have 110+ degree temperatures in the Valley, so many of us who hike, bike,etc are doing so early in the morning or in the evening. Unfortunately, our authoritarian governor has now dictated that, with few exceptions, we cannot be outside of our residences after 8:00 PM or before 5:00 AM. Amazingly, this edict is statewide.

It looks like we will soon be in a perpetual state of martial law.

https://ktar.com/story/3214482/ducey-is ... il-june-8/

i find it interesting that he didn't discuss with the mayors of tucson or phoenix beforehand
wonder if i'll get stopped on my way to work?
i might try driving over to mormon trail anyway tomorrow
it will be almost light at 0430
isn't hiking an essential activity?

And just like that, your democracy died.
Look at the fine print.

@trekkin_gecko
about the only essential activities now are going to be working or going to get food...exercise during the curfew hours, or traveling to get to an exercise venue, is no longer deemed to be "essential" and you would be subject to arrest and prosecution...you will be ok driving on your way to work, although they might stop you...but I guess that you could be thrown in jail if you were caught driving to get on a hiking trail early in the morning

Ironically, backpacking (my favorite way to hike) is now the only way to circumvent this order while hiking during curfew hours without getting caught.

Not because law enforcement wouldn't arrest me if they were there.

But because most of them are not in good enough shape to hike in and come get me.

Too bad the general public is seemingly doing everything they can to signal to the forest service that it's about time to close all of that too.

Don't worry though, golf courses are still open!

Seriously though, isn't this what the whole "moderated discussion" was created for?

DixieFlyer wrote:I guess that you could be thrown in jail if you were caught driving to get on a hiking trail early in the morning

This is what I pay my taxes for. Excellent use of law enforcement.

What a drag that you are all so terribly inconvenienced. I'm sure it's killing all of you to try to help alleviate some immediate problems in our communities. What for maybe a whole week? But you know, if you were just recommended to do something, you wouldn't do it. Kind of like the mask thing and the social distancing thing. Maybe if your house gets burned down by protesters, you'd feel differently. There are businesses that are literally on the edge of going under and this looting might just be the nail in their coffin. At least pretend to have some empathy while you're breaking the curfew to go hiking.

I am fitness hiking, tomorrow, and the next day, if not hungover. Out of state plates may help.

Well, nuts for Nighthiker.

mostly being facetious, deliberately mixing up restrictions
but i do think it's overkill
no need for a scolding
i can always say i'm going to the store to buy toilet paper
or hike at 0520 instead of 0500

And part of my point for those that decide to be out between 8 and 5? You are distracting Law Enforcement, because they don't know you from anybody else or what your intent is. Law Enforcement needs as few distractions as possible right now so they can focus on the people that need to be focused on. With the exception of working, I really can't see why most people can't do what they want to do between 5 am and 8 pm for what is likely to last only a week. But if enough people break curfew then it's all for nothing and the curfew will most likely be extended. Just like anything else. Don't pay attention to it or rush it and it will only make it worse or make it last longer. I just get sick of the whining. Be grateful that you live in a country that didn't weld your friggen' doors shut. Instead, some will risk other's lives, so they can have their freedoms.

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall within the conference room to determine who the parties were that put a strangle hold on our Governor to make this decision. It smells of Socialist planning and intrigue to me!

@outdoor_lover
Not whining, but it did not work for me before, with "shelter in place," and all of the other manifestations and this will not either.

@wildwesthikes
Yes, that is how it works. Always a "reason."

@outdoor_lover
House burned down? Assaults? That's a job for the second amendment

@outdoor_lover
You know, we're not all #covidiots. I haven't seen my extended family in over 3 months. My 50 y/o cousin who was a stone's throw away died of pancreatic cancer about a month ago and we couldn't have a service. My other uncle out of state just died of similar circumstances a couple months ago as well and his wife two days ago died of covid-19. All were terminally ill for a long time. My 'other' other uncle who is still alive was denied heart surgery during the period of time when it was considered non-essential. Later on when Ducey changed the order, he got his heart surgery, but a that time they found liver cancer had metastasized within that 2 months where treatment could have begun. So the writing, for him is on the wall. You'll have to excuse me if I'm skeptical of local government having seriously considered the opportunity costs of what they are engaging in recently. Yes it's been a bad year for my family. But that's not my point in saying all this.

It's not lost on most of us how serious this all is. There are several friends I refuse to see because they go to bars and gyms. I haven't seen the inside of a grocery store since early March. So really I need to take you to task for the finger pointing that people don't listen to recommendations. It's just that the ones not listening are very visible. I spent $50 on hand-made masks by local business owners on Etsy that I was happy to send the money to. My actions are voluntary and the vast majority of people in my life - friends, family and coworkers are doing the right things by choice. The ones who think it's a hoax, "rules don't apply to me but do to everyone else", yeah that bugs me. But that's what you get with a free country. Freedom isn't free, as they say. It probably has led to a lot of deaths that didn't need to be.

But since you said the "F" word: I was talking about freedom, and it's important. Hiking & the outdoors is to me an expression of freedom. Sounds cheesy - true. I don't like this idea that it's occasionally a negotiable that will have to be given up for however long this one guy that got elected to state office is telling us we need to, because of the crimes of a few. That is the problem I have. That's not effective policing in my opinion... It's collective punishment. Even if it's just for a week. It's not in the least about inconvenience; we're well accustomed to that by now. My issue is with how these orders are written with so little forethought that they open the door to abuse.

My gut tells me that Ducey doesn't want this to go on any longer than you or I. But I think it sets a dangerous precedent. That is all I intended by calling it out earlier. I think it's little more than a band-aid. Scottsdale PD should have been on the scene last night. The videos and pictures are shocking - it gives you that "stuff like this doesn't happen in my town" kind of feeling. Any sane person has empathy for the victims; it's a travesty that businesses and homes were looted. Having concerns for our freedom AND empathy for fellow citizens and business owners are not mutually exclusive ideas.

I don't think we as hikers have much to be concerned with. If the Governor is concerned with rioting and looting, then it is just another tool to use in those situations, not one that is designed to prevent the fitness crowd from hiking. Maybe the Preserve will be closed to prevent,...I don't know....cactus defacing, but for most situations we'll be fine. We do not live in a police state, and just as Phoenix PD ignores people running red lights or speeding, a hiker during curfew is probably not their top concern. The enforceability of these sort of thing tends to be low for the average person.

My original response when I received a text informing me of this, was, "Am I drunk?". I thought it was covid related and knew nothing of the riots. Then I learned it was because Scottsdale Fashion Square was looted. Now, I know, I know, it's terrible as they have top quality merchandise at rock bottom prices for the permanent leisure class of world travelers, and their selection of jewelry and exotic leather hand bags is world renown, but if outside agitators are taking advantage of a situation for their own goals, regardless of other more peaceful individuals, it's probably not something that will be directed at us. Well, except for those deals!

EXEMPTION - "Individuals traveling directly to and from work; attending religious services (In the wilderness like the native population does - especially since church services are halted); commercial trucking and delivery services; obtaining food (And maybe something to wash it down would be in order); caring for a family member, friend, or animal (That needs exercise in the wilderness); patronizing or operating private businesses (Like restaurants and brew-pubs, for example) ; seeking medical care or fleeing dangerous circumstances (Does an over-reaching governor count?); and travel for any of the above services.”

A good percentage of the non-urban police/sheriffs have already said they will not enforce.

In Tempe, Mitchell, the lame-duck mayor says "Homeless individuals will not be considered by Tempe Police to be in violation of the curfew order solely for being without shelter." (backpacker loophole? )

Jim_H wrote: they have top quality merchandise at rock bottom prices for the permanent leisure class of world travelers, and their selection of jewelry and exotic leather hand bags is world renown,

One time I was buying an overpriced macbook for video editing at the fashion square apple logo (for the status it would gain me, of course) and a skinny white guy wearing a white fur coat, lots of gold chains, mucho facial hair and a man bun was walking out of there. His look was that of non-plussed, unimpressed, at most.
I thought to myself that I'm really not the target demographic and I immediately felt very uncomfortable and very much lower class.
I'm still paying off that overpriced and mediocre performing piece of brushed aluminum, but seeing man-bun guy was worth it.