[Az-Geocaching] Coconino National Forest - New Information

[Roping The Wind]

Interesting. There is currently 'no policy related to geocaching' yet right 
below that statement there are 'rules' posted on the Coconino National 
Forest site! Another example of our wonderful government at work. Just 
trying to make things not so clear as to confuse the american people and 
leave anything we do open for interrogation when approached by authorities!

>>Geocachers must remove their cache if the site receives a large number of 
>>visits by others as >>evidenced by a well-worn trail or path, as this 
>>disturbs soil and vegetation.

>>Caches should be removed after one year regardless of site activity and 
>>moved to a new location >>or removed from the national forest.

I dont really agree with those statements. I do agree a bit with the first 
statement. If a cache is visited frequently enough and there is a well worn 
trail being established, then the cache owner should move the cache a very 
short distance, By this I mean moving it within 50' or so, just to move it 
off that particular 'path' that is being established. Yet, keeping the cache 
at the same general coordinates for others to enjoy the area and cache. I 
totally do NOT agree with the second statement that caches should be removed 
after one year regardless of activity. That's rediculous! If there are only 
half a dozen or less visits on a remote cache in one year... then there 
certainly is practically no impact at all on the land and there is no reason 
to have to remove the cache. Most any geocache on the Coconino (that I have 
visited), at least those outside of town (Flagstaff, Sedona area), do not 
get very much visitation in a one year period. There are many caches I have 
visited in the past 2 or 3 months that I am still the last person to log a 
find.. and they arent very remote caches either. There just isnt a lot of 
activity on caches up here as opposed to caches just outside of say the 
Phoenix or Tucson areas.

Scott
Team Ropingthewind