Ron Dungan

A few words about the wild west

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Posted on February 27, 2022February 27, 2022 by rondungan

We live in a litigious, guardrail society, in which is necessary to state the obvious.

Hiking the Arizona backcountry is dangerous. There is a perception that when a trail appears in a guidebook, or on a website, or in a magazine, it has been “tamed.” It has not. You are responsible for your own safety. Arizona is home to rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, tarantulas, black widows, scorpions, javelina, black bear, a few wolves. You may encounter extreme heat, freezing cold, flash floods, unstable people, falling rocks, falling trees, wildfire.

On a hot day, you should drink at least one gallon of water per person, per day. There is water in Arizona, but water sources can be unreliable. Purify all water that you find in the backcountry. And eat something, for cryin’ out loud.  

It is a good idea to carry the 10 essentials on all hikes – day hikes or backpacking trips. The list can vary slightly but are similar. Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills breaks it down to the following: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair kit, nutrition, hydration and shelter. Put another way: knife, map, compass, lighter, fleece, food, extra water, water purification, first aid, rain gear, sunscreen, flashlight, duct tape, space blanket or large trash bag. Add judgment. Please note that a cell phone is not on the list. Cell phone reach is sketchy in the backcountry. Be careful. Have fun.

Stories

You can now hang out in northern Arizona and snag a permit for The Wave without waiting in line. / Ron Dungan

The Wave is one of the most famous red rock features in the Southwest, but permits to the popular hiking area on the Utah-Arizona border are hard to come by.

Visitors will soon have a more convenient option to getting one.

It’s possible to get a permit to visit The Wave through a lottery, months in advance.

The other option was to wake up early and stand in a long line. But in mid-March, the line is going away, and visitors will be able to get permits on their phones.

The advanced reservation system will remain in place, but a new system will allow visitors in the Four Corners area to reserve a spot through an app, says David Hercher of the Bureau of Land Management.

“But the beauty of it is, that, you apply, and then you go on about your business. I mean, you want to go to Four Corners? Go to Four Corners. You’ll get a notification if you’ve actually been awarded a permit,” Hercher said. 

Because service is spotty in northern Arizona, he recommends downloading the app before you travel.

Flagstaff mushers are making some changes - my story on Here and Now.

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/01/17/arizona-dog-sledders-climate

Brewing day at The Shop Beer Co. / Ron Dungan

How craft brewers adjusted during the pandemic.

https://kjzz.org/content/1631717/arizona-craft-beer-finds-its-way-during-pandemic

A meadow along Canyon Creek, Tonto National Forest.

Western wildfires story for Colorado station KUNC.

https://www.kunc.org/2020-10-22/as-western-fires-burn-focus-narrows-on-forest-management-but-its-easier-said-than-done

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, southern Arizona.

The secret, probably illegal burial of Edward Abbey.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/best-reads/2015/04/17/edward-abbey-last-act-defiance/25930091/

El Camino del Diablo, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, southern Arizona.

The Border, a history.

https://www.usatoday.com/border-wall/story/us-mexico-border-history/510833001/

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