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<DIV>
<DIV>Scott:</DIV>
<DIV>Your positive approach has done so much more for cachers than the
bulldozers who just have to hide one to keep them and their egregious
counterparts who are very happy for the numbers; NOT THE
QUALITY !</DIV>
<DIV>Thanks so much for what you have done, keep it up.</DIV>
<DIV>cache on for quality, not quantity.</DIV>
<DIV>Tahosa - Dweller of Mountain tops. </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A
title=mailto:teamshack@comcast.net
href="mailto:teamshack@comcast.net">TeamShack</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=mailto:azgeocaching@listserv.azgeocaching.com
href="mailto:azgeocaching@listserv.azgeocaching.com">azgeocaching@listserv.azgeocaching.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 15, 2011 10:24
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Az-Geocaching] Tucson Mountain
Park</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<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>____________________________________________________________<BR>Az-Geocaching
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