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States |
Postings of Fragile, Overused, or Politically Sensitive Areas (FOPS) The following advisories and restrictions have been designated by Sierra Club chapters due to local knowledge of the ecological or social conditions of the land. Advisories also include areas where outings would be beneficial for political/conservation awareness reasons. All Outings Leaders should check this list when planning an outing outside of their local area.A restrictive advisory requires an Outings Leader wishing to lead an outing in the Designated Area to contact and communicate with the chapter before organizing or advertising the event. The chapter has the authority to approve or deny the proposed outing, in accordance with the Chapter Outing Location Advisory Policy. An advisory is informational only and requires no action on the part of the Outings Leader. A political advisory gives awareness to lands that are politically sensitive. Depending on the advisory, it could be either a good or bad idea to organize outings to the designated location. |
| Arizona | |||
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Restrictive
Advisory |
Advisory |
Political Advisory (None at this Time) |
Arizona
Restrictive Advisory
Agassiz
Peak
Lake Powell
Mount Baldy
Wilderness Area
Mt Graham, Pinaleno Mountains
|
Name/Description |
Coconino National Forest, Kachina Peaks Wilderness, Agassiz Peak |
|
Land Agency |
US Forest Service |
|
Reasons |
All commercial (and fundraising) outings to Kachina Peaks Wilderness are prohibited. Those local outings traveling on the Weatherford Trail between Weatherford and Fremont Saddle need to be aware that Agassiz Peak is off limits to hikers. The indigenous and threatened plant, the groundsel (Sececio Franciscscanus), inhabits the Alpine tundra life zone. In addition, there are 38 plant species found nowhere else in AZ but on the peaks. The peaks are also an important gathering area for medicinal plants important to traditional Navajo people. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
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Submitted January 2007 |
Jim Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Chair, (602) 553-8208, jimvaaler@msn.com
Bob Sutherland, Plateau Group Chair, (928) 774-9309, ars@infomagic.net |
|
Additional Information |
Coconino National Forest Peaks Ranger District, (928)-526-0866 |
|
Name/Description |
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell) |
|
Land Agency |
National Park Service |
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Reasons |
Considering the long-term efforts of the Sierra Club to decommission Glen Canyon Dam, the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Clubs recommends that the National Sierra Club mandate that trips on Lake Powell not be sponsored a Chapter or National outings unless the Grand Canyon Chapter has reviewed and approved the outings. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
|
Submitted January 2007 |
Jim Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Chair, (602) 553-8208, jimvaaler@msn.com
Bob Sutherland, Plateau Group Char, (928) 774-9309, ars@infomagic.net |
|
Additional Information |
Glen Canyon NRA Park Headquarters, (928)- 608-6200 |
|
Name/Description |
Mount Baldy Wilderness Area, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest |
|
Land Agency |
US Forest Service |
|
Reasons |
Sierra Club Leaders and their participants should be aware that the last one quarter mile to the summit of Baldy Peak (11,043 ft) involves trespassing onto the Fort Apache Tribal Lands. This is a politically sensitive issue with the Native American community. Persons wishing to climb Baldy Peak should be aware that they are trespassing into an official "CLOSED AREA" and are subject to whatever penalties/fines the tribe may wish to impose on individuals or groups caught trespassing. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
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Re-submitted January 2007 |
Jim Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Chair, (602) 553-8208, jimvaaler@msn.com
Jerry Nelson, Grand Canyon Chapter Outings Editor, (602) 279- 4668, peakbagger2@cox.net |
|
Additional Information |
For further information and a map of the White Mountain Apache Reservation, go to www.wmat.nsu.us or call/write to: Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Division P.O. Box 220 Whiteriver, AZ 83941 Phone: (928) 338-4385 gamefish@wmat.us
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|
Name/Description |
Mt Graham, Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County |
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Land Agency |
US Forest Service |
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Reasons |
Visitors are asked to support protection of native species by following restrictions in the Pinaleno Mountains (Mt. Graham). The upper part of State Highway 366 (Swift Trail) will be closed from November 15 to April 15, or later depending on the snow conditions. No entry is allowed within the 1750 acre refugium for the Mt. Graham red squirrel without authorization from the Safford District Ranger at any time of the year. These closures were required by the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act and US FIsh & Wildlife Service Biological Opinion for Protection of the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel. The refugium starts at 9800 feet in elevation and continues to the summit of Mt. Graham at 10,720 feet. Although the website states "9500 feet in elevation" as the boundary, the ranger assued the Grand Canyon Chapter that the elevation should read 9800 feet in elevation. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
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Submitted January 2007 |
Jim Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Chair, (602) 553-8208, jimvaaler@msn.com
Keith Bagwell, Rincon Group Chair, (520) 623-0269, akbagwell@hotmail.com |
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Additional Information |
For further information see the website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/srd/News/news.html Further questions can be answered by calling the Safford District Ranger Station at (928) 428-4150: |
Arizona
Advisory
Ragged
Top- Silverbell Mountains
Western Superstition
Wilderness Area
|
Name/ Description |
Ragged Top - Silverbell Mountains, Ironwood National Monument |
|
Land Agency |
Bureau of Land Management |
|
Reasons |
Persons should not be conducting outings in this area during the month of February as this is the lambing season for the bighorn sheep. Also, breeding season occurs during the months of August and September, so plan your outings accordingly. Disease (blindness caused by bacterial pinkeye) is the major stress factor that is affecting the sheep in this area. The sheep may have contracted this disease from an escaped herd of domestic goats. Efforts are underway to control this problem and protect the sheep. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
|
Submitted January 2007 |
Jim
Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Outings Chair, 602-553-8208,
jimvaaler@msn.com
Stu Williams, Rincon Group Outings Chair, (520) 465-0322, az_kuaaina@yahoo.com |
|
Name/Description |
Western Superstition Wilderness Area, Tonto National Forest |
|
Land Agency |
US Forest Service |
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Reasons |
Peralta, Heiroglyphic Springs, and First Water trailheads are overcrowded and not managed in a fashion conducive to the furthering of a wilderness ethic as spelled out in the 1964 Wilderness Act. 1) The FS does not currently have trailhead hosts to inform visitors about the do's and don'ts in a wilderness area. 2) Encroaching urbanization is causing more and more pressure on the trailehads. This urbanization is caused by development of adjacent state trust lands. 3) Desert Bighorn Sheep have migrated into this area from their original release area on Goat Mountain in the Four Peaks Wilderness Area. Visitors should be aware that lambing takes place in the late winter and spring. Recent severe drought conditions have had an adverse impact on the sheep. 4) Non-system travelways established by use alone are slowly being developed in this area, particularly from Carney Springs to Superstition Peak and across to Superstition Mountain and down Siphon Draw. An unauthorized "paint dot" trail exists from Heiroglyphic Springs to the summit of Superstition Peak. 5) Persons doing technical climbing on Weavers Needle and Miners Needle need to be aware that crowded conditions could exist, presenting a possible safety problem. |
|
Duration of Status |
1 year |
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Submitted January 2007 |
Jim Vaaler, Grand Canyon Chapter Chair, (602) 553-8208, jimvaaler@msn.com
Don Steuter, Grand Canyon Conservation Chair, (602) 956-5057, donsteuter@aol.com |
| Additional Information | Mesa Ranger District Station, (480) 610 - 3300 |
