Mormon Lake Ranger District Information
Roads
in the Flag Center
April 19, 2005
1. We've had a very wet fall/winter and it has only been in the
last couple weeks that we haven't had a good wet soaking of rain
or snow (unlike the lower elevations which are pretty much dry now).
2. It has been warm lately but there are still snow patches on/along
roads, puddles in roads, and soft roadbeds (ruts) which means road
damage will occur if they are traveled on. While the days are warm,
the nights are still cool here at 7000+ feet.
3. Traveling off the roadbed to avoid snow, puddles, mud ruts results
in unacceptable resource damage
because it creates new unauthorized roads that are braided or multiple
parallel tracks (which further creates confusion to the public who
at times can't tell which is the real road)... along with other
impacts to vegetation, etc. On an OPEN road where a mud puddle is
encountered, the driver needs to either stay on the road and carefully
negotiate through the water OR turn around OR park. Please do not
go around the puddle and create another route.
4. Many roads are still closed due to mud and snow, but there are
other reasons roads are still closed (even if they are dry from
where the closure is posted). Heavy rains have caused washouts or
slides on roads which need to be fixed with heavy maintenance -
our engineering road maintenance crew is hitting these problem areas
but there are many of them and it will take weeks, possibly months,
to complete. Also, there are trees down on roads and the road crews
are cutting those out. What looks dry and passable may not be in
a mile or two so closing the road off at a gate or junction will
continue.
5.
The Coconino National Forest has lots and lots of roads and limited
staffing. As we can, we're checking roads but this is not a daily
process but more of a once-aw-week maximum check. Road repairs are
being done but it will take time. Roads will remain closed until
the major damage is repaired.
6. Many of the roads on the forest are designed to be used with
a high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle. One should plan for
this. "Four-wheel-drive" does not mean you should coat
your vehicle with mud, which is another resource damage if the driver
is damaging the road).
Please visit our "Current
Conditions" page frequently. As roads open, we will post
the information there.
Click here for District Ranger Gene Waldrip's Comments
on Roads.
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