<HTML><HEAD></HEAD>
<BODY dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Friends,</DIV>
<DIV>It recently came to my attention that Pima County Parks and Recreation has
put a ban on caches within the boundries of the Tucson Mountain Park. I’ve
never been one to sit by and have things like this go by without finding out the
source of the problem so I sent off a letter which follows.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Hello,</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM>My name is Scott and I have been GeoCaching for eight years now.
I was recently told that GeoCaching is not allowed in the Tucson Mountain Park
and am writing to find out why this is the case.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000ff>One of the largest reasons I like to GeoCache is
that it gives me the opportunity to visit areas that I would otherwise have
never seen. GeoCaching has taken me to many spots with breath taking
views, natural beauty, and sites of historical significance. For me,
caching is a family event. Every time we go caching, it gets the kids away
from video games, and me some much needed exercise. Geocachers are very
active in a practice we call CITO or Cache In Trash Out. It seems that
everywhere you go these days, you will find the trash of others tossed on the
ground. We hike in to the cache, and pick up trash as we hike back
out. </FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000ff>Another aspect of GeoCaching is that we strive to
make as little impact on the environment as we can. Follow established
trails, don’t disturb wildlife or plant life.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000ff>With values such as this, it is difficult to
understand why we are being denied the use of these public lands while others
are allowed. I would like to know the reasoning behind the ban on
GeoCaching in the Tucson Mountain Park, and would request that this limitation
be reviewed and removed.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV>I got a reply right away and you can read it for yourself.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #0000ff" color=navy size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Because of past cases of resource damage and safety
concerns, Geocaching has never been formally allowed in Pima County Parks. We
have only aggressively enforced this prohibition where we find caches that have
been located in places that are, or may potentially, damage park resources,
create new undesignated trails or create safety issues accessing the cache. The
Geocaching community has not approached us at Tucson Mountain Park with Geocache
site location requests in past. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">We are looking at revising Park Rules and
are considering a new Rule specific to Geocaching that would only allow it to
occur if cache locations are approved by NRPR prior to
placement.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">When done responsibly and with
knowledge/permission of the land owner, Geocaching can be a legitimate activity
on park lands. Most Geocachers do have a strong land ethic, unfortunately, not
all do. As is often the unfortunate case, public agencies must regulate for the
irresponsible user and not the responsible one.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">I hope this explains our
position</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Kerry Baldwin</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Natural Resource Division Manager
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Once again, I replied to Mr. Baldwin
right away with the following...</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: "></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff>Mr. Baldwin,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff>Thank you for the prompt reply. I agree with you
that not all Geocachers have the strong land ethic, but that can also be said of
other land users unfortunately. We have rules on where caches can and
cannot be placed, and one or two individuals in each state that are responsible
for approving cache locations to ensure that natural resources are preserved and
safety standards are followed. It would be very easy to have those
reviewers ensure that the cache locations have been approved by NRPR prior to
being approved and published on the GeoCaching web site. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff>I would be more than happy to help facilitate the
approval or removal of current cache locations in all Pima County Parks as well
as work with you to ensure that all future locations are approved prior to being
placed if you do indeed revise the Park Rules specific to
GeoCaching.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>I provided my contact information to Mr. Baldwin and he
called me within about two hours of me sending the email. He took me up on
the offer and will be inviting me to present at the next meeting where the rules
are being discussed for revision.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rather than mounting an army and trying to corner them on this one, lets
try to open up caching by being responsible concerned advocates. I will
continue to keep the community updated on this issue and would appreciate
comments, suggestions that anyone may have.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Scott of TeamShack</DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>