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Es werden Posts vom Mai, 2020 angezeigt.

“I didn’t know,” is a sorry, ignorant excuse.

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Be informed, take responsibility for your actions and respect our public lands.   There's a state-wide fire ban. (Billy Creek, White Mountains) Over the past weeks, there have been multiple reports of monkey-see-monkey-do behaviors on public lands. Just because you see somebody doing something doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to do it too. “I didn’t know,” is a sorry, ignorant excuse.   CAMP FIRES Campfires and charcoal are BANNED in ALL national forests through June 30, 2020. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5339123 WILDFIRES ‘Tis the season. Check this website for up-to-date info on fire activity and STAY OUT of closure areas so first responders can do their jobs. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/   Don't trash our public lands. (Campbell Mesa, Flagstaff.) TRASH Trash attracts trash. Just because somebody left a bag of trash on the side of the road DOES NOT mean it’s okay to add to it. There is NO trash service on most forests. Reso

The Pocket

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THE POCKET. Coconino National Forest Not long before the mantra of social distancing surfaced to dominate the way we interact with our surroundings; another experiential movement had been catching fire. Forest bathing, the belief that immersing in nature can boost well-being, was la mode de jour that first gained traction with the masses around 2017.   Hike follows a forest road to the lip of two tributary canyons       Promoted not so much for its physical exercise benefits but as a spiritual renewal technique, the hype dovetailed nicely with concurrent self-help therapies like mindfulness, wellness and meditation. Regarding the idea that forests and natural environments have special powers, we hikers say, “Duh!” Sego lilies bloom May - July Of course, being outside in nature makes you feel good. Yet, like anything else, what constitutes a feel-good outdoor experience varies by individual tastes. Certainly, one might forest bathe on a popular trail where there are yoga classes in the

Munds Canyon Trail to Horse Park

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As forests and recreation sites start to reopen, please continue to observe safe practices as you begin stepping back out on the trails. Here's another less-used gem where there's room for physical distancing. MUNDS CANYON TRAIL to HORSE PARK Water lingers at the bottom of Munds Canyon In the pine forests that straddle the hilly acres between Lake Mary Road and Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff, a network of shared-use trails connect Arizona’s plateau lakes region with the community of Munds Park.   There's lots of shade on the Munds Canyon Trail The system of long, loopy routes is integrated with the Kelly Motorized Trail System and forest service trails adopted by the Munds Park Trail Stewards (MUTS), a volunteer group dedicated to working with land management agencies for the establishment and maintenance of multi-use trails in the Coconino National Forest. Watch for wildlife near a tank along Rocky Road Trail With over 100 miles of new and re-purposed trails, the Munds P

BUCKHEAD MESA

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I'm posting my backlog of pre-pandemic hikes. Please observe all CDC health & safety recommendations and travel advisories while recreating on public lands. Ideally, stay close to home and away from congested trails until conditions are improved. BUCKHEAD MESA Tonto National Forest. View of the Mogollon Rim from Buckhead Tank Travel quietly & respectfully in this important wildlife area On a mesa 700 feet above the gorge of Pine Creek and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, a bumpy back road meanders among juniper-dotted meadows, pine-oak woodlands and open rangeland. Waterfowl float in Buckhead Tank The unmarked dirt road that traverses the flat expanse of Buckhead Mesa 10 miles north of Payson in Tonto National Forest is open to hikers, equestrians and motorized vehicles equipped to handle rough conditions.   A hike on the short, easy course has many points of interest and options to extend the journey on intersecting 4x4 roads or by visiting the nearby park. A bucolic scene