This area was one of the best primitive camping and fun light wheeling high country spots in AZ. Thanks to a couple of dumb arse "city folk", it has been closed in AZ for ANY usage at all. It is also my information that the Forest Service road from HWY 260 to Young, AZ is being monitored and ticketed for non-local usage beyond the Haigler Creek turnoff... Crap. Here's the local blurb:

06-09-2003 12:00:AM
(Phoenix, AZ) -- As the high temperatures drive Valley residents to the high country looking for cooler climates, they are finding fewer campgrounds open to them. Officials with the Tonto National Forest say three popular campgrounds on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District, Airplane Flat, Upper Canyon Creek, and Valentine Ridge are closed due to wildfire rehabilitation projects. The campgrounds are in the area burned by the Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire last year and the entire area is closed for safety reasons. For further information, you can call 1-877-864-6985 or visit www.azfireinfo.com

If you see someone setting a fire in a "fire danger" area, lay an MTR imprint across their forehead!

Mike

 

Another word of caution:
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Entomologist: Massive fire hazard caused by tree mortality
Associated Press
Jun. 11, 2003 11:00 AM


PRESCOTT - A California entomologist who has studied bark beetles for nearly half a century says the epidemic now sweeping the Southwest may be the worst in U.S. history.

Arizona Public Service hired David Wood to study how many acres of dead ponderosa pine trees will have to be cleared on easements surrounding its utility lines throughout the state. The company has not yet released the study.

Overstocked forests and a long-term drought have helped create the epidemic.

"We call bark beetles 'nature's loggers,' " Wood said. "Either we kill them, or the beetles kill them. That's the reality, whether you're an environmentalist or not."

Last August, U.S. Forest Service officials estimated the epidemic already had killed 2 million to 6 million ponderosa pine trees on 500,000 acres in Arizona, said Tom DeGomez, forest health specialist for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service.

In October, that estimate already had doubled in acres and the number of dead trees had increased six-fold, he said.

Trees turning yellow now died late last year, Wood said. In July, he expects the next round of yellowing will occur.

"The fire hazard caused by this tree mortality is massive," he added. "We should use this heightened awareness to get people to do something."
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The link below is the web site I use to check for closures/restrictions prior to camping or traveling:

Southwest Area Wildland Fire Operation's

 

Does anyone else find it ironic that Mr. Wood studies wood?

 

yeah, wahda sap

 

My woodshop teacher was named Mr Wood.