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Apache Sitgreaves is open, except for the areas around the Rodeo-Chedeski fire. Mt. Baldy, Escudilla and etc. are ok....Both hikes are over 10k and very nice. The original Los Dos Molinos (aka "hotter than Olesma's") restaurant is in Springerville, just across from the Circle K on Highway 60, which is an additional bonus.

Map showing open/closed areas is at their website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf

Be careful with the bears, as their food sources are scarce thereabouts. There is probably no truth to the rumour that they are all headed to the fire area with bottles of hot sauce chanting some little jingle about their "Baby-Back Ribs", as most of the elk probably got away...

BTW, just spoke with Peaks Ranger District (Flag), whining about how I was too fat to hike at 112 here, and too cheap to buy a gym membership to exercise somewhere with A/C. There was some notable rain there yesterday. The Ranger said to call back Friday before charting a course to Springerville (oh, please, oh, please..)

MaryPhyl, if you don't hold a snake in your mouth, IT DOESN"T WORK!!

-Randy

That's certainly great news!

Maybe now I can push myself out that far. Funny how ones values change


The Coconino NF isn't as much in the daily monsoon patterns. Here's their criteria
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/news.shtml#jul11

speaking of bears...did you guys see this?

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ck-ON.html

Where is Lake Seneca? On the San Carlos IR?

Yup, that's where it is.

-Nealz

Seneca Lake is apx. 32 mile North East of Globe on US 60 and you can see it from the highway. It was a nice place in the late 70's and early 80's and it consisted of the lake, cabins, campground are, boat rental and a general store. It has been closed for awhile and I heard they are planning to reopen the area. Just south of Seneca Lake apx. six miles is a pull off called Timber Camp and it contains several picnic tables and fire rings. Tonto National Forest is planning on constructing a developed campground in the near future (provided funds are not diverted for fire suppression). Wildlife in the area include deer, elk, bear and mountain lion.

Have any of you ever encountered a bear in your travels. I have seven times. Not very many considering all the hiking in the back woods I have done. None of my encounters with bears have been hostile ones, but there's always a first time..... 8O

We've encountered bears 4 times, but never in AZ. Once in Gila Wilderness, Olympic National Park, and brief sightings in VA & WY.

I wonder what prompted the bear to attack the tent of these two fellas? Do you think they may have slept in food smelly clothes? I think they were fishing also. Maybe the fish smell was prominent as well?

Bad encounter nonetheless.

I ran into a black bear in the Pine Mountain Wilderness, and a grizzly in Alaska (now that was scary!). Also, I was staying with my folks at a motel in New Mexico, near the White Mountain Wilderness. They took the dogs out one morning and ran quickly back into the house and slammed the door. There were four large black bears digging into the motel's dumpster.

Lizard

Our travels this summer have been filled with "bear stuff" promulgated by various gov't agencies. Seems everyone is hawking the catch phrase: "It's not a bear problem, it's a people problem." and "A fed bear is a dead bear." Those two guys featued in the article linked above are classic "people problem" people. What self-respecting bear WOULDN'T be attracted to the scent of blood from two steak wrappers? Duh. You might as well leave out "bear perfume!" Yep, it's most always a "people problem" when it comes to bears. If you keep the scent of food and/or the appearance of food or its containers away from bears, they will generally leave you alone. There are exceptions, however.

J&S on the Oregon Coast

PS--Forgot to mention another way to "locate" Seneca Lake is by thinking of the Salt River Canyon and Salt River Bridge. Seneca Lake is at the top of the south side of the canyon. When we worked as a river guide over on the Salt, we learned the canyon is full of bears. The most memorable sighting took place right at the put in just a little ways from the highway at the bottom tof the canyon. Several trips are rigging out their boats and there's boatmen and people everywhere. It's broad daylight. A small black bear ambles up on the sandbar on the far side of the river and stops and looks at the people on "river right." He jumps into the water--relatively slow current and a very large eddy there--and swims directly toward all the people. People scattered everywhere. The bear climbs out of the river and walks slowly through all the rafts and such and then ambles up through the cactus and disappears!