During my travels throughout Arizona this is the first-time, I have encountered a locked gateway entrance to a Boondocking National Forest. Wherein rv owners and primitive camp boon-dockers, as well as off-highway vehicle (OHV) owners must register and pay a fee at the Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District Office to receive 4-digit entrance/exit codes and a permit(s) which must always be in your possession. However, there is no usage fee requirement for guests, who possess National Forest America the Beautiful Senior Pass Card or similar senior cards; only the presentation of his/her pass card and driver’s license.
I must share my story about the entrance gate: It wasn’t funny when I was struggling to find a way to enter my 4-digit code in order to enter the forest during a rainstorm, but it’s funny now.]
I was under the impression the lock on this gate would be easily accessed and my combination entered as done with similar locks. At the rangers station the only thing I was told, “Once you enter your code; don’t pull the lock down – instead push it up which would allow you to open the gate.”
As you can see in the above picture– there is no accessible combination pad lock. So, I pulled the chain on the top of the circular-metal enclosure, but nothing happened. I felt under the enclosure thinking I’ll feel the lock and could pull it down to enter my combination. I didn’t feel a lock. As a result, I had to get down in the mud on painful knees.
I swear, that lock was attached to the shortest chain I had ever seen. So, there was no way I could pull it down. As I continued to fool around with the lock it tilted a little to the right near a square hole. How the heck, do I put my code in this thing when I can’t see the numbers on the bottom? I said out loud to the rain! I even removed my eyeglasses to determine if I might be able to see the combination area better; no such luck.
After four failed attempts to find a way to access this lock to enter my 4-digit code. I was drenched by the rain and gave up. I decided to wait for another guest familiar with opening of this gate to arrive. So, I backed up from the gate and pulled over beside the fence.
I was setting on the couch in my mobile home when I heard a vehicle pull up to the gate. I grabbed my hooded rain jacket and ran outside. “Hello sir, would you please show me how to enter my code to open the gate?” Sure, come on over. The lock on this gate is not visitor friendly, especially if you’ve never been here before.
“Well, that would be me,” I replied.
Laughing… From the look of your pants, I see you’ve already been on your knees. However, you need to get back on them again to access the lock which is on a short chain. “I complied.”
Grab the lock under the hood; pull it towards that square hole in a position that allows you to see the numbers under the bottom of the lock. I know, it’s hard to see the numbers because they are the same color as the lock. So, just keep moving the lock around until you can see the numbers. When you can see it, dial in the 4-degit code the ranger gave you in that area. Did the lock open?
“Yes.”
Great. Hold onto the lock. Get up off your knees and grab that circle on top of the hood; the pad lock is attached to it. As you pull the metal rod up – push the pad lock up until it’s on the top of the hood. Disconnect the lock from the rod. Now you can push open the gate.
“Don’t forget to use the same process when you exit. Never, leave the gate unlocked. Let me move from in front on the gate. So, you can enter. I’ll lock the gate behind us.”
Thank you. I appreciate your help.
You’re welcome. I hope you found a good spot to park and enjoy your stay here at Bulldog Canyon. I really like this place, he replied. However, due to a rutted entrance road, as well as the design of my mobile home which has low-hanging levering jacks and a sewage pipe connector. I was forced to pull into the first site on the left of the roadway. the previous occupant(s) left trash in the fire-pit on this site.]
“I am not cleaning this up, because I didn’t put it here, I said to my empty mobile home.”
The next day was sunny. Therefore, I took a brief walk up the dirt road to check-out my neighbors. Thinking, I am sure these people saw the trash on my spot when they arrived but preferred not to clean it up. Meanwhile, every time I looked out of my window I was appalled by the previous site-users treatment of this forest. As a result, feeling embarrassed of the site I was now occupying. On the fifth day, I pulled on rubber gloves and bagged the trash from my spot. Since I was going into town to grocery shop, wash clothes, dump my rv tanks and discard my own trash an extra bag was no big deal.
Although, every camper knows or should know: “Whatever he/she brings into the forest or to campsites, must be taken out by them. It’s not other people’s jobs to cleanup your mess. Further, campers should always leave an area better than they found it.”
Upon returning to the forest, I found a rv from up the road had moved to the spot I had just cleaned up. Yes, I was irritated, but realize this is the world we live in now-a-days. A world dominated by self-centered, inconsiderate, freeloaders. Therefore, after dragging my leveling jacks, hitting my sewage connection and getting hung up on a high rut-hill in the middle of the road, I finally parked in another space for the night. I arrived at my repair service appointment on Wednesday to be told and shown. “What happened, why is your gray water sewage pipe broken in half? I told them what had happened. Now, I am pissed because this emergency pipe and control lever cost $261.96 to replace.
Okay enough. I hope you enjoy my pictures.
