----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 9:37
AM
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Wilderness
Caches
Thanks to the
initiative of Regan Smith of Team Evil Fish (and congrats on reaching 200
finds, Regan!), an email correspondence was established between the
geocaching.com admins responsible for approving caches in Arizona and our
friend Scott Wood at Tonto National Forest. The result of that dialogue is
that physical caches in designated wilderness areas will no longer be approved
in Arizona. Tonto NF continues to "welcome" (Scott's word) Geocaching
elsewhere within its land.
We are also
asked when placing caches to be sensitive to areas that may be or contain
archaeological sites. If you want to place a cache and are unsure about
an area, please contact the Ranger District office responsible for the
area to obtain guidance.
Both Scott and
the admins recognize that not everyone who hides caches in the state reads
this mailing list. At the same time we must remember that the admins are
volunteers and certainly don't know our public lands as well as we do. So if
you see a new physical cache get approved that you believe has been placed in
a designated wilderness area, or if you discover a multi where the last stage
turns out to be in wilderness, I suggest you email the hider directly about
your concerns. Don't start by posting a "cache should be archived" log
entry. If you then can't come to a resolution with the hider and you still
believe the placement is inappropriate, at that point you should consider
getting geocaching.com involved.
If we employ
this bit of self-policing, we should be able to ensure that everyone can
continue to enjoy Geocaching on most of the three million acres that comprise
the Tonto National Forest.
Steve
Team Tierra
Buena