Prescott National Forest will be selling the “Annual Prescott National Forest Pass” and the “America the Beautiful Pass” on January 3 – 4 and January 17-18 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Thumb Butte.  At Lynx Lake South Shore passes will be sold on January 10-11 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

The “Annual Prescott National Forest Pass” is $40.00 for one year for the first vehicle and $10.00 for a second family vehicle; the annual “America the Beautiful” pass is $80.00.  To promote the “Annual Prescott National Forest Pass” if you purchase before January 30, 2009, you will receive one free month.

For more information on recreation passes available visit our web site or call our Bradshaw Ranger District at (928) 443-8000.

Spring overnighters are for students ages 17-70

Many of Arizona’s most beautiful places are only accessible by foot, and Yavapai College Backpacking classes can take you to several of them, including the Paria River, the Superstition Mountains, the Hell’s Gate Wilderness and Havasupai Falls.

Backpacking classes are 2 night/3 day trips into remote parts of Arizona and the Southwest with small groups (12-15) of students. Students learn the basic techniques for efficient backcountry hiking and skills for the beginning backpacker, including packing and travel tactics, safety and low impact camping. For those with backcountry experience, “it’s an opportunity to explore remote corners and see interesting things you can only get to by foot,” said Scott Farnsworth, the Yavapai College faculty member who leads the expeditions.

Autumn is a great time of year to camp in the desert. The days are warm instead of blistering, and the nights are cool but not freezing. If you're going to desert camp at all this season, then this is the right weekend: the weatherman says expect clear skies for the peak of the Leonid meteor showers on Saturday night, Nov. 18.

OK, there's really some good news and some bad news about the Leonids. The good news is that they'll peak at a whopping 150 meteors per hour. The bad news is that Arizona will be pointed at the wrong part of space for us to see the peakest peak; those lucky dogs on the east coast get to see that at around midnight Saturday night. But even so, we can expect to see a meteor every couple of minutes, and you don't need any equipment or actually have to do anything to enjoy the meteor shower while camping, other than to set the alarm on your wristwatch. In the dark early hours before dawn just lay in your sleeping bag, look towards the east and watch the show. Maybe you can even get your girlfriend to make you a cuppa hot tea.

Here is an excellent opportunity to get out into a wild area while helping to protect it. The Arizona Wilderness Coalition invites you to come hike Longfellow Ridge in the Blind Indian Creek Roadless Area, which is in the Prescott National Forest roughly 15 miles south of Prescott. Join us for a break from the everyday hustle and bustle and enjoy a fine autumn day in this rugged, remote area.

The Hike

From Palace Station (along Senator Highway) we'll be hiking south along Long Fellow Ridge. The hike will begin in Ponderosa pine forest. As we hike south and gain elevation we will leave the pines behind; hiking through chaparral along the ridge will afford stunning views of the southern Bradshaw Mountains as well as the Blind Indian Creek Roadless Area. The hike is moderate in nature, covering roughly eight miles round trip. The trail begins at 5,200 feet in elevation and reaches 6,600 feet. Long pants and boots are recommended, as chaparral can be difficult to travel through.

Stuff your canteen and a handy lunch into your fanny pack, jump in your car and take Williamson Valley Road out of Prescott. Yeah, the pavement ends at mile marker 22, but the dirt & gravel road is in good enough shape for a passenger car - at least, when it’s dry. Just past mile marker 36 the road splits; take the left fork, marked County Road 125. It’s another 1.6 miles to the wooden “Juniper Springs Trail” sign; turn right at the cattle guard into the parking area.

This is the head of the Prescott National Forest Juniper Springs Trail. It climbs something like 800 feet up Juniper Mesa to - go figure - Juniper Spring. (PNF hasn’t tested the spring water, so you imbibe at your own risk.) The official PNF trail guide says this trail is 3.7 miles of “steep and difficult,” but that’s only in spots and I don’t think it’s anything for a reasonably healthy person to worry about. If you’re operating on half a lung from 30 years of smoking, though, you might want to pass this one up.