Jeff Hopkins wrote: > Why should you be concerned? Anyone who uses the rural roads in the > National Forest, e.g., for star parties, should be concerned. The > still some major problem. > > Jeff > This could be a mute point as most of our current observing sites are on BLM land (Sentinel and the new towers site). The Cherry II and I sites are on "public use" land as administered by both the BLM and Prescott National Forest. My (now Rick's contact) has said that there is no problem with using the two Cherry Rd sites. The 5 mile meadow (Buck Butte Meadow) site would be one possible site that might be effected but I don't think so as this has come up before when I attended NAU in Flagstaff and the roads of concern were mostly non passable except by the most die hard 4 wheel drivers and thus the reason to close some of these roads. According to sources there "the chance that we might be faced with another situation of a off roader being stuck and unable to call for help, is deemed to be too great a risk" Remember the two girls stuck on a road and almost died? The one girl had to have both of her lower legs removed due to frost bite. In most cases the forest service will down a tree across the road they wish to close and post a clearly designed sign. The often graded roads that we use will remain open except for the reason of fires and wildlife management. We should continue to foster a working relationship with the various agencies so they know who we are and what we do. (no camp fires and for the most part, non smokers) We leave the sites clean and free of litter. Only an occasional hockey puck is left behind. Just some thoughts. Andrew Goodwin. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.