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Been a crazy couple of weeks for me. Super busy at work and I am coming to the conclision that I need to get out of town. Thinking that I want to go either the week before or after the holliday weekend to avoid the crowds.
Two and a half weeks ago: My brother sends a family text to see if anyone wants to go camping with him and his kids the weekend of the 24th, leaving Friday morning. The thought of hanging out with neices and nephews and a for day camping trip sounds like fun and I sign on. He wants to go to Knoll Lake on the Mogollon Rim (popular place with several lakes in Coconino NF).
A week and a half ago: He tells me he didn't realize it was a holiday weekend and wnats to move it back a week. 😑 I tell him I have already scheduled the day off work and he has too plus I invited my daughters fiance (he couldn't make it) and he agrees that since we are going up Friday morning it will be alright.
A week ago: Late Saturday night I find out that Coconino is closing parts of the forest due to extremely high fire danger. Effective Wed 5/23. (The whole state is already at Stage 2 fire restrictions so no campfires or guns) Keep looking and holding my breath and they release the map. Everything north of the Rim (including Knoll Lake) is closed. Plus a few spots further north. From reading it also sounds like there are closures coming for the neighboring forests. Crap. Text my brother and he is unaware and thinks I am wrong because "they do controlled burns around Knoll all the time." He checks and I suggest one of my go to spots east of town. Its usually not crowded. He wants to take the kids to water and we decide to go to a place way 1.5 hours further north that I have never been to. But hey, its a lake and internet pictures look good.
Wednesday: I get a call from my brother and he is bailing on me. He says that he hasn't had any time to get anythung ready. Hasn't shopped or packed. Its BS. He seemed reluctant ever since he realized it was a.holiday weekend. Now that there are forest closures I think he was really worried about the crowds. I don't blame him. At least 2 other forests announce closures as well. Are all those people going to stay home or pack in to the remaining open places?
Now I have a decision to make. Do I go up north to the lake I have never been to or head to one of my usual spots? I decide that since I don't really have any lake gear, I will head east to the Tonto NF, however there is a lot of confusion on what exactly they have closed this is because they didn't put the closure map on their web site....just the order with the written discription. The ranger station is actually in town and just a couple miles from my house so I decide to check tlwith them. I ind out they closed THEIR part of the forest on the Rim and the Tonto Basin (a large area east of Phoenix and just west of Roosevelt Lake)....but I like to go to the east side of the lake because there are mountains with trees and its far enough from the lake that most people done even think about it....and that is still open.
Friday: I am still worried that there are going to be a bunch of people. Head out and am encouraged that I don't see much camping traffic on the road. But its still Friday and maybe people are still at work. Get to my favorite spot near the peak of the mountain and someone is there. Head to the top and while there are a few places to camp there it is completely empty. I have never camped up here and am wonderimg if the winds are too more than I want to deal with when a couple drive up to get some pictures. I decide to start setting up camp and end up talking with them for a while. Super nice and very familiar with the area. I get some good advice from them on future spots. (I am going to check out a couple on my way out)
So, long story short, its Saturday morning and I am still the only persone up here. Wondering if anyone is going to show up today but not to worried about it.
I just have a little scrap of internet and thought I would share some of the adventure....I'm not actually sure this post is going to go through.
When I get back I will try to share some pictures and give you the list of things I forgot which includes cooking tongs. ☺
Hope you all are having an adventure as well.
Two and a half weeks ago: My brother sends a family text to see if anyone wants to go camping with him and his kids the weekend of the 24th, leaving Friday morning. The thought of hanging out with neices and nephews and a for day camping trip sounds like fun and I sign on. He wants to go to Knoll Lake on the Mogollon Rim (popular place with several lakes in Coconino NF).
A week and a half ago: He tells me he didn't realize it was a holiday weekend and wnats to move it back a week. 😑 I tell him I have already scheduled the day off work and he has too plus I invited my daughters fiance (he couldn't make it) and he agrees that since we are going up Friday morning it will be alright.
A week ago: Late Saturday night I find out that Coconino is closing parts of the forest due to extremely high fire danger. Effective Wed 5/23. (The whole state is already at Stage 2 fire restrictions so no campfires or guns) Keep looking and holding my breath and they release the map. Everything north of the Rim (including Knoll Lake) is closed. Plus a few spots further north. From reading it also sounds like there are closures coming for the neighboring forests. Crap. Text my brother and he is unaware and thinks I am wrong because "they do controlled burns around Knoll all the time." He checks and I suggest one of my go to spots east of town. Its usually not crowded. He wants to take the kids to water and we decide to go to a place way 1.5 hours further north that I have never been to. But hey, its a lake and internet pictures look good.
Wednesday: I get a call from my brother and he is bailing on me. He says that he hasn't had any time to get anythung ready. Hasn't shopped or packed. Its BS. He seemed reluctant ever since he realized it was a.holiday weekend. Now that there are forest closures I think he was really worried about the crowds. I don't blame him. At least 2 other forests announce closures as well. Are all those people going to stay home or pack in to the remaining open places?
Now I have a decision to make. Do I go up north to the lake I have never been to or head to one of my usual spots? I decide that since I don't really have any lake gear, I will head east to the Tonto NF, however there is a lot of confusion on what exactly they have closed this is because they didn't put the closure map on their web site....just the order with the written discription. The ranger station is actually in town and just a couple miles from my house so I decide to check tlwith them. I ind out they closed THEIR part of the forest on the Rim and the Tonto Basin (a large area east of Phoenix and just west of Roosevelt Lake)....but I like to go to the east side of the lake because there are mountains with trees and its far enough from the lake that most people done even think about it....and that is still open.
Friday: I am still worried that there are going to be a bunch of people. Head out and am encouraged that I don't see much camping traffic on the road. But its still Friday and maybe people are still at work. Get to my favorite spot near the peak of the mountain and someone is there. Head to the top and while there are a few places to camp there it is completely empty. I have never camped up here and am wonderimg if the winds are too more than I want to deal with when a couple drive up to get some pictures. I decide to start setting up camp and end up talking with them for a while. Super nice and very familiar with the area. I get some good advice from them on future spots. (I am going to check out a couple on my way out)
So, long story short, its Saturday morning and I am still the only persone up here. Wondering if anyone is going to show up today but not to worried about it.
I just have a little scrap of internet and thought I would share some of the adventure....I'm not actually sure this post is going to go through.
When I get back I will try to share some pictures and give you the list of things I forgot which includes cooking tongs. ☺
Hope you all are having an adventure as well.
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