HikeArizona.COM

Edit: Now it's official and it's only near Pinetop, Lakeside, Show Low and Vernon, mostly on the south side of 260. Not much!

Original post: I heard this through the grapevine from someone living in Show Low. I will follow up with a real news report when I can find one. My friend said "entire forest." Just don't make any camping plans until you know for sure.

I have camping plans in the Coke (Coconino NF) in a couple of weeks, so I will be watching carefully, and I will also have a Plan B.

I have a friend who is planning on spending the weekend of the 14th in the forest. When he called the Ranger District a few days ago they said they had no plans to close maybe things changed. I just sent him a note to check again.

Yeah, I'll update as soon as I have confirmation (or if I find out it was a big fat rumor). But just for now, just have a Plan B.

I find it to be a great disservice to people to post rumors publicly without confirming.

Much like the Slide Fire thread where there were posts about people who knew that the West Fork had been completely obliterated by fire. :roll:

chumley wrote:I find it to be a great disservice to people to post rumors publicly without confirming.

What? Like the world is going to end tomorrow?
Ok, that's a bit much, but it WILL end tonight... and in the morning we'll wake up to a new tomorrow, somewhat like Groundhog Day except it won't be a rerun... unless you're in a rut, of course. ;)

Not sure it's actually a rumor, but you can take it as such right now. I posted it because people might like to think about contingency plans. I've got a pretty good Plan B for my Coconino trip.

If you are not sure and you haven't verified it then it is a rumor.

By definition.

Chums, would you like an ice bag for your forehead? Seems like lately you've been doing a lot of self-injury. Maybe you should seek professional help for that!

The most important issue, though, is whether it is Apache-Sitgreaves, Apache-Sitgreave's, Apache-Sitgreaves', or Apache@Sitgreaves.com. Let's please use HAZ for things that matter, people

I'm ignoring that. I got hold of the woman who made the declaration about the closure. She backpedaled only a little bit, saying, okay, "rumor has it" but that she had heard it from a "reliable source." She doesn't work for the media. So, I'll just hang on until the work week and see what unfolds.

Tough_Boots wrote:Let's please use HAZ for things that matter, people

Like what, as a replacement for social media? Or getting a life? ;)

Hmmm, makes me think I should be out hiking instead of sitting here at the Mac (yes, it's worse than a PC!) on HAZ.

But at least I'm composing descriptions and posting photos and triplogs while I'm on 1-hour standby and therefore can't be hiking.

Rumor has it that azbackpackr started this rumor so she can have the whole Apache-Sitgreaves Forest to herself next weekend.

@Tough_Boots

Thank's for that! ;)

gummo wrote:Rumor has it that azbackpackr started this rumor so she can have the whole Apache-Sitgreaves Forest to herself next weekend.

Hmmm, not a bad idea. I haven't been over that way in about 7 months, might be nice, as long as there are no people around!

I took an exorbitant amount of my personal time (almost 3 whole minutes!) to call the Lakeside Ranger District.

Since I now have first-hand factual information directly from the forest service, I'm going to post it here.

There will be a partial closure of 3 separate portions of the ASNF on the Lakeside Ranger District beginning on Wednesday, 6/11/14. (With a little bit of the Rodeo-Chediski burn area on the Black Mesa District also closed).

I am attaching actual maps of the closure areas.

Hopefully this actual data will help people as they plan their outdoor activities in the weeks to come.

The fire officer I spoke with indicated that the forest order would be available online shortly. He emailed me these maps: The first is the map that is in the forest order, and the two others are more detailed maps of the closure areas.

Thank you Chums.

@chumley
https://www.youtube.com/embed/v4LPkmGO5Cc

@chumley
To be fair to the OP, she posted on Saturday and stated that. It is now Monday, and the FS is open for information.

@Jim_H I don't feel that I have been unfair to the OP at all:

azbackpackr wrote:I heard this through the grapevine

azbackpackr wrote:My friend said

azbackpackr wrote:if I find out it was a big fat rumor

azbackpackr wrote:Not sure it's actually a rumor

azbackpackr wrote:She backpedaled only a little bit, saying, okay, "rumor has it" but that she had heard it from a "reliable source."

I'm glad to hear that Elizabeth's friend can get information from the FS that is at least partially accurate. Some of what was posted was not accurate.

I stand by my original assertion that posting it in a public forum without knowing details is a disservice to the people who read it. The post title did not originally include the word rumor. It was stated as fact.

The official forest order has now been posted online:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 803846.pdf