Unfortunately, they can. It's because of the idiots out there who think rules/laws don't apply to them. The same people who think it's ok to burn off 500-rounds from their 12-gauge and AK-47, that they are too good to clean up after themselves and leave it where it falls (I picked up about that much last week off Four Peaks Road. It's those same types of people who party up the night, wake up in a stupor the next day and don't give a crap about the huge mess of beer cans/bottles/vomit they leave behind when they head back to their lives. It's those same people who kick a dirt clod onto their smoldering embers, and call it a day.

I don't think it's fair, and most people don't either. The same people I mention above, are the same ones that will cross the yellow tape, the same ones that will cut locks on restricted areas, and the same ones that will carelessly start a fire and don't bother with making sure its out before they leave. Just look at Bulldog Canyon. The Rangers have told me AT LEAST once a month someone cuts the locks, deliberately leaves the gates open, or writes the combination of the month on the gate itself. The west end has large caliber bullet holes in it because people have tried to shoot the lock off. In response to all of that, they have a very thick chain on the gate now, require ALL OHV vehicles to be registered (they were supposed registered to be to begin with), and require that the plates to those same OHV vehicles be listed on the permit you apply for. The fines are significant, and I'm glad they took such a stance, but it's a shame they had to do so. Going to Grandpa Abe's cache one day, I was shot at by some mindless jerk shooting in the restricted area. I surprised him while he was reloading, and ruined his day. By the time he scurried out to his vehicle, MCSO was just pulling in, took his gun and thanked him with a $5000 fine. Again, it's a shame it had to come to that.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gordon L Flatt

Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 3:51 PM

Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Fire Closures

I'm so confused...............how can they "CLOSE" a National Forest??? Is that legal??? I can understand fire restrictions, but closers seem to be a slap in the face for those of us that are more than careful when out in the wilderness!

I can't like this........

Tonto Closures Start Today

05/20/2004 17:29:47

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Closures are going into effect today in the Tonto National Forest, due to the extreme fire danger. They will take place around the communities of Pine and Strawberry, north of the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park to the Mogollon Rim. The Pinal Mountains south of Globe are also closed. Visitors are urged to follow fire safety standards, to prevent human-caused wildfires.<