Tonto News Round-up July 2009
Friday, July 3rd, 2009Our monthly round-up of news affecting hiking and camping in general and the Tonto NF in particular.
Fire Restrictions Have Been Lifted in the Tonto National Forest - just in time for the hottest weekend of the year. Early monsoon humidity has reduced the overall dryness of, well, everything enough to allow open fires once more in the Tonto.
“Although campfires and smoking will now be allowed throughout the forest, visitors should properly extinguish cigarettes in ashtrays, and ashes in a campfire ring should be cold enough to touch before they are left,” said Tonto NF Fire Staff Officer Clay Templin. “Campfires should be put out by drowning with water and stirring with a shovel to ensure the fire is cold.”
Forest Supervisor Gene Blankenbaker extended special thanks to the visiting public during the fire restrictions which began May 14. “We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we had to restrict access and activities on the Tonto during this fire season. We appreciate our visitors’ support of the restrictions.”
Heading out to the desert lakes for the 4th weekend? Well - don’t forget your Tonto Pass, because there isn’t much you can do at any of the lakes without one. Also, be aware of stepped-up enforcement of drunk boating laws.
Oh - and the Bald eagle restrictions have been lifted from most of the desert lakes. As you may recall, portions of the lakes and other desert waterways are closed to traffice throughout spring to allow the more-or-less endangered Southwest Bald Eagles to nest in peace during breeding season. They’re done now. Have at it.
Look Out for Bears! Encounters between bears and humans are becoming more common in the high country, as humans expand their range and the bears stubbornly refuse to evaporate into thin air. The chief instigator in this would be food, which, from the bears’ perspective, includes the garbage.
“We don’t have any habitats devoid of humans. They don’t exist. Bears are large, powerful and unpredictable animals. If a bear constitutes a public safety threat in one location, a change in geography is simply not going to alter or diminish the threat,”
He adds later, “We don’t have any habitats devoid of humans. They don’t exist. Bears are large, powerful and unpredictable animals. If a bear constitutes a public safety threat in one location, a change in geography is simply not going to alter or diminish the threat,”
Speaking of human/animal conflict…
The deadline for the big game hunting Super-raffle has been extended to July 12th. You can stalk and kill (or attempt to anyway) all sorts of critters from elk and buffalo to bears and mountain lions - if you have a permit. More Information here.
One last thing: Native Fish Cam.
Enjoy.
bandana