Roamin' Around

Above, at the Flying J access road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since we're a month and a half away from when the U.S. Forest Service closes Six Mile Canyon for the winter, it's best to do as much driving in it as one can.

Yesterday, I took the Jeep part way into the canyon and around the Jamestown area. The ground covered the aforementioned Six Mile Canyon, Whispering Cedars and the Flying J (to fuel up).

Initially, I used my phone's camera while in Six Mile Canyon, but during a break at home, I grabbed my big Canon camera and headed back out.

The weather at the time was clear and I was warm inside the Jeep.

Some photos:

Above, in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a road leading to campsites in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, looking west down Six Mile Canyon Road and Interstate 40. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the mesas from the Flying J access road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Interstate 40 from the Flying J access Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the refinery ponds. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, eastbound Exit 39 and bridge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a zoom shot of Pyramid Rock near Red Rock Park (10 miles west). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Report: Rangers Face Abuse and Threats

Above, a park ranger at work in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Park rangers provide a valuable service to visitors to our national parks and national forests. In all my interactions with rangers, they have been positive experiences. They are great people, but they are increasingly being subjected to abusive behavior.

Outdoor Life has an article on what park rangers face these days. It's a sad state of affairs and it must stop.

They begin with:

Abuse and threats go hand-in-hand with being a forest or park ranger in 2019, according to a new report recently released by the Government Accounting Office. 

Rangers for the Forest Service, National Park Service and other land management agencies catch the brunt of everything from hostile language to threats with weapons to domestic terrorism, says the report, breathlessly titled Federal Land Management Agencies, Additional Actions Needed to Address Facility Security Assessment Requirements. 

The investigation was requested by Congress and reviewed threats against public land managers from 2013-17.

To read more, go here. 

Six Mile Canyon, New Mexico

Above, at about the point where the juniper and pine trees get thicker, a lone windmill stands. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A visiting friend (Mitch Geriminsky) and I decided to do some road exploring today.

We headed down Six Mile Canyon Road from Jamestown, New Mexico. The road has a turn-off to a community shooting area, but we continued on ahead.

Above, forest service signs indicate that Six Mile Canyon is closed from December to March. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mitch at the old cattle pen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We found the dirt road in pretty good condition. We went from the valley floor into the hills. The terrain was rocky and as we got higher, forested with juniper and pine trees.

Above, the old cattle pen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We saw an old cattle pen that looked in relatively good shape although it probably hasn't been used in years and a windmill further up into the canyon.

According to Free Campsites.com:

Free camping. No services. Google shows a campground area further down the road, but we just put up the tent where ever. Sign at the gate says closed December thru March.

Above, the gate heading out. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some people who have commented say that visitors can camp anywhere. This is in Cibola National Forest.

Above, Jamestown, New Mexico from Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I will probably do some camping in Six Mile Canyon one of these days. I think The Beast should handle the road just fine.

Fire Restrictions At Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest

Above, The Beast at Trailer Village at Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many areas, particularly in the Southwest, it had been a particularly dry winter.

As this is the case, the Forest Service and the National Park Service are implementing fire restrictions in Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. These restrictions start June 8.

According to the Grand Canyon News:

FREDONIA, Ariz. — The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service will implement additional fire restrictions, also known as Stage II fire restrictions, across the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the South Rim, North Rim and Inner Canyon of Grand Canyon National Park beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. Visitors should be mindful that these new fire restrictions will limit certain activities and will remain in effect until rescinded, which typically occurs after significant and widespread moisture arrives and fire danger levels subside. 

As a reminder, the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts are already in Stage II fire restrictions and will also remain in effect until lifted.

To read more, including what Stage II fire restrictions prohibit, go here.

Public Lands Campgrounds Maps

During my recent stop over at the local office of the Automobile Club of Southern California, along with the two Woodall's campground directories, I also picked up some maps of Public Lands Campgrounds, one for Northern California and one for Southern & Central California.

These maps show the location of different campgrounds available for public use administered by the National Park Service, California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, County Departments, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City Departments and Special Districts.

The maps contain information such as telephone numbers, elevation, months open, basic nightly camping fee (if any), reservations, designated tent sites, designated RV spaces, the number of tent/RV spaces, hookups (if any) for water, electric & sewer, drinking water availability, toilets (flush or other), showers, barbeques/fire rings, tables and if wheelchair accessible.

Camping in a public lands campground is a great alternative to private/commercial campgrounds. Sometimes, private campgrounds may be full or too pricey, so having a guide to public lands campgrounds would come in handy to see if there are any available in the area you're in.

These maps are offered free of charge to Auto Club members.