I spent sometime today with the Prescott National Forest Recreation & Wilderness Team Leader. Monday, September 9, 2002 As of this date the information below is correct as far as he knows. I was asking these questions back in February before I placed some of my caches on and in the Prescott National Forest. "Illegal"? I do not think so. Hope this helps? - Ken AKA-Lincoln Prescott ================================================================= This was from the Washington D.C. office of the National Forest. Subject: Geocaching To: khenson@cableone.net From: "Jim B Miller/WO/USDAFS" Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 08:09:42 -0500 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on ENTWOA/E/USDAFS(Release 5.0.8 |June 18, 2001) at 02/08/2002 08:15:16 AM MIME-Version: 1.0 Apparently-To: You expressed some concerns regarding geocaching. What are your specific concerns? Thanks jbm ================================================================= ----- Forwarded by Jim B Miller/WO/USDAFS on 02/08/2002 01:19 PM ----- Ken Henson cc: 02/08/2002 Subject: Re: Geocaching 12:25 PM >You expressed some concerns regarding geocaching. What are your specific >concerns? Thanks jbm Geocaching is an up and coming sport. It is growing very rapidly. I have placed a cache in the Prescott National Forest. My specific concerns are is this a legal activity? Several caches in the Prescott area have been placed by the Yavapai County Jeep Posse. These are visited by cache visitors (general public) and Jeep Posse members during training exercises. Here are two examples: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=6232 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=9423 I have visited a cache that had a log entry from a USFS employee. The entry seemed to question the legal status of Geocaching on public land. What I really want to know is whether or not Geocaching is legal on public lands administered by the US Forest Service. Thanks for you time, Ken Henson Subject: Re: Geocaching To: khenson@cableone.net From: "Jim B Miller/WO/USDAFS" Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 15:05:51 -0500 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on ENTWOA/E/USDAFS(Release 5.0.8 |June 18, 2001) at 02/08/2002 03:14:40 PM MIME-Version: 1.0 Apparently-To: ----- Forwarded by Jim B Miller/WO/USDAFS on 02/08/2002 03:04 PM ----- Jim B Miller To: 02/08/2002 cc: 01:57 PM Subject: Re: Geocaching Mr. Henson: We do not have a national policy on geocaching at this time. Consideration of such a policy is being reviewed. Regions or National Forests may have specific policies. We recommend that before placing geocaches on National Forest System lands that proposals be submitted to the local forest staff. The concerns expressed to date include litter; abandonment of private property; impacts on threatend and endangered species; impacts on heritage sites; impacts to vegetation, soils, waterways; impact on the wilderness resource; and social impacts. These concerns may be increased if motor vehicles are operated numerous times directly to sites. We encourage the public to utilize Leave No Trace at www.lnt.org and Tread Lightly! at www.treadlightly.org principles and guidelines in the use of the national forests and other public lands. Thanks. Jim Miller ================================================================= This was from the Region 3 Office that includes the PNF Subject: your geocaching question To: khenson@cableone.net Cc: "Stephen Harper/R3/USDAFS" From: "Peter Mourtsen/R3/USDAFS" Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 10:05:28 -0700 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on ENTR3A/E/USDAFS(Release 5.0.8 |June 18, 2001) at 02/11/2002 10:09:25 AM MIME-Version: 1.0 Apparently-To: Ken: If it is a commercial activity (ie.. a fee is being charged), a recreation special use permit would be needed. That permit could be applied for through the specific Ranger District where the cache is to be located. If the cache was proposed placed in a sensitive area such as an archeological site, endangered species nesting area, etc. then the use might not be appropriate. If it is not a commercial use a permit is not required. Sorry it took awhile to respond, since I don't normally deal with recreation special uses I had to check with folks in our Regional Office. /Pete =================================================================