By Allanna Jackson

Our unseasonably warm, dry weather continued through February, putting the White Mountains into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on February 28th. This very early beginning of fire season is a good time for all of us to review how to prevent fires and leave no trace while enjoying the outdoors. 

One day in January, I saddled Cinnamon, and we strolled over to Timber Mesa. As we approached the Jacquez ranch house chimneys, I was dismayed to find a vandal had punctured the interpretive signs and trail signs with bullets. This was doubly disturbing because these signs are only 100 yards from the Timber Mesa Trailhead, which provides access to the Maverick Motorized Trail, and the Timber Mesa, Osprey Connector, Sawmill Connector, and Flume Connector Non-motorized Trails. This reckless and irresponsible shooter gave no more consideration to human safety than they did to obeying the law. Fortunately for us, the shooter was gone. Unfortunately, the shooter probably got away with their crimes. Nothing spoils a ride quite like wondering if I’m going to be shot while peaceably minding my own business using a marked trail on public land.

There are two cinder pits within a few miles further up Porter Mountain Road that have been used as shooting areas for decades. A cinder mountain effectively stops bullets and the local residents know to expect shooting there, so those cinder pits are very safe places to shoot.

There wasn’t any evidence of anybody shooting right then, so Cinnamon and I continued along the road that follows the base of Timber Mesa. This is now an officially designated part of the Maverick Motorized trail. When I first began horseback riding around Timber Mesa in 1989, it was already a well-established single-lane road used by everyone, including the ranchers who run cattle in these meadows for part of the year.

The next meadow to the west still has the deep ruts left by an irresponsible off-roader who drove across the middle of it in very wet weather back about 1990. Yes, damage to a meadow really is permanent. I was saddened to see fresh damage added to the old mud-bogging scars. Somebody drove through the middle of the dried-out stock pond and did figure-eights on the dry grass beside it.

The original road route took us across the toe of a hill, through a Juniper thicket, to another meadow. Irresponsible OHV users have also damaged this one. There were tire tracks across it in multiple directions. There were also off-trail tracks around bushes beside the trail. Was that dark circular patch in the meadow the result of a fire? There were tire tracks beside it.

I was almost afraid to look for the old log cabin for fear the vandals had destroyed it, too. It was still there, but the spring on the other side of the trail was totally dry.

Cinnamon and I turned around and strolled back the way we’d come, taking a different well-worn route around the toe of the hill. This revealed another portion of meadow with OHV damage. I’d already discovered the OHV route to Penrod Road while bicycling and hiking. There have been several much-needed logging and thinning projects on Timber Mesa in recent years. Logging projects created a few alternative routes, but much of the work relied on routes from logging decades prior. The OHVs have been using these logging routes, but many of the new tracks were going places the loggers had not. Some of the OHV tracks went nowhere.

I heard what sounded like two gun shots somewhere in front of us, but couldn’t identify where. Was it just an echo from the cinder pits or Jacquez Marsh? Or was someone shooting in the meadow ahead of us? I couldn’t tell, so I was wary as we neared the next meadow.

Cinnamon and I took an animal trail through the trees. Though I doubt they offer protection from stray bullets, especially if a scoff-law hunter mistook Cinnamon for an elk. We found tracks where an OHV user had attempted to drive along the irrigation ditch. The thick juniper foliage had deterred them. I had to duck under a few tree limbs myself as Cinnamon followed the cattle trail beside the ditch. Motorized machines do more damage in one pass than the animals do over many years.

As we approached the chimneys again, I saw an abandoned appliance lurking under a juniper. It’s not the first time I’ve seen appliances and furniture illegally dumped around Timber Mesa. I’ve always wondered why they didn’t take it to the Town Collection Center or the landfill or trade it in when they get a new appliance instead of dumping it out in the Forest.

Riding OHVs in the Forest is a privilege that can be lost. The Alpine Trails group has spent years developing a new 700-mile Alpine motorized trail in eastern Arizona. If OHV users treat the new trail as they abused the Maverick Motorized Trail at Timber Mesa, they will waste all the Alpine Trails group’s hard work.

Arizona Game and Fish provides the following information about how OHVs can tread lightly to minimize their impact and preserve their trails:

• Stay on the designated routes. Do not make new trails.

• Do not harass wildlife. When you encounter wildlife, appreciate it, respect it, and LEAVE IT ALONE When camping, keep a clean camp.

• Do not ride over plants, it destroys wildlife habitat.

• Signs are important for travel and your safety. 

It is illegal to destroy signs.

• Avoid creating dust. Slow down.

• Keep out of closed areas. Do not trespass.

• Leave gates as you found them, whether open or closed. If the gate has a sign stating whether it should be open or closed, obey the sign.

• Keep your OHV quiet. More complaints equal more closures.

• Fences keep livestock confined. Do not cut fences.

• Do not drive on a route smaller than the width of your vehicle.

• Pack it in, pack it out. Do not litter.

• Reduce the risk of fire. Make sure your vehicle’s spark arrestor is in good working condition.

• Be considerate of others by sharing trails. Pull off to the side of the trail, shut off your engine, and let horses, hikers, and bicyclists pass.

• Join an OHV club and volunteer to help maintain the trails you ride.

If you observe a violation of game laws or wildlife harassment, report it to: 

Arizona Game and Fish at 1 -800-352-0700.

If you observe destruction of the environment or private property, call: 

1-800- VANDALS (1-800-3257).

Let’s all do our best to leave no trace and tread lightly so we can all continue to enjoy our public lands for many years to come.