More Tonto Forest Closures -- NOT PUBLICIZED!

Leva

Ack!

Drove up to my father's cabin last night -- it appears they've shut down a large portion of the Tonto Forest (WAY more than is on the maps) -- there were ropes up and "Forest CLosed -- Extreme Fire Danger" signs up at all the campsites I passed in the dark, plus one on the road into my father's cabin, which is about twenty miles west of Strawberry/Pine.

I'm not sure if they just closed down the area along the Control Road, or if they've closed the whole forest.

I fully understand and support forest closures. But it would have been nice to be able to find out ahead of time what is, and is not, closed. I'd planned on doing the Derrick/Horton loop and now I have no idea if it's open ... guess I'll find out.

Leva

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

The area of the Tonto National Forest west of AZ 87 and North of Payson is closed. The area east of AZ 87 to US 260 and from the rim South to the control road (which is restricted to local residents only) is also closed. Leva the area you mentioned are with in the closed area. I expect additional closures next week with perhaps a good portion of all national forest in Arizona closed.

Leva · Posted: 5/30/2004, 9:58 am Post subject: Control road is closed now.

They've closed the ENTIRE control road now, except for residents. There's a checkpoint up at the 260 and the Control Road with volunteer firefighters from Tonto Village manning it. I'm not sure if they're kicking out people who camped along the control road or not, but there was a large SCA (Society for Creative Anacronisms) group camped near the Diamond Point turnoff and they were gon e this afternoon, so its quite possible.

The forest actually doesn't look too bad, though. It's much greener this year. But -- coming from a standpoint of someone who loves this country -- I'm glad the FS is taking no chances.

We took a drive through the Rodeo/Chediski burn this morning -- down into Canyon Creek and then off the rim at the lookout -- and it was very lush and green up there. Interesting drive; I had not been through there in about eight years and the change from the fire and drought is just amazing. Last time I went through there was a WET monsoon summer, and it was pouring rain several hours every day and had been for weeks.

Leva

Leva · Posted: 5/30/2004, 6:20 pm Post subject:

The roadblock on the control road is gone now -- who knows what that was about. *shrug*

Tried to go down into Fossil Creek this afternoon, though, to fish -- FS maps and information and an earlier call to the FS on Friday had led me to believe the upper trailhead was closed but the creek and flume trail were open. Surprise, there was a roadblock up that did not look official -- it appeared that local residents may have taken matters into their own hands. Sigh.

Leva

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

The roadblocks are manned by vol. firefighters during the day. Sometimes the fire districts are to happy to "close' an area with out approval from the forest service. I have had them in my campsite when I was not present and it appears they rummaged around (observed them once) a bit. Leva, your dad lives in the area where Don Dedera has a home. Doe's your dad know him ? I have several of his books.

Leva · Posted: 6/1/2004, 8:41 pm Post subject:

The name doesn't ring a bell to me, I can ask him. But he's not been there long.

There are two Ellison Creek subdivisions, BTW, one that's on leased forest service land and one farther north (where he is) that's on a private ranch that was subdivided up into one acre parcels., between Ellison and Lewis Creek. He's in the l;atter.

Leva

Leva · Posted: 6/1/2004, 8:48 pm Post subject:

Oh, and I found out, after posting this, that someone had driven a car off the road down in Fossil Creek, and a couple people had died. Drunk and speeding, which is not a good combination on that road. I'm not sure, but the road closure may have had something to do with that.

I wish the FS would put a railing on that road. It's probably not feasible to widen it, but a railing should be doable -- even just a cable barrier. If it were just drunks killing themselves, fine, but this guy took a passenger with him.

Leva

matt gilbert · Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 698 Location: Mesa

That passenger probably watched him drink all day and then got in the car with him anyway. If you don't know not to get in the car with a drunk driver (if you don't know to take the keys from them...) you're just as bad as they are.

Its a good thing that they didn't start a fire. Gasoline and what-not...
_________________
Cogito ergo ambulo cum sacculo
-Matt Gilbert

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

GeorgAz · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 815 Location: Scottsdale

Guess Horton Creek will have to be filed away until winter( if we ever have one)! Rolling Eyes