In late 2001 the Tonto National Forest allowed the closure of the Lower Devils Canyon road by the Kennecott mining company so that Kennecott can explore for copper in the area south of Oak Flat campground. This has eliminated the usual vehicular access to the great rock climbing formations and canyoneering trailheads along west side of Lower Devils Canyon, from Z-Bop all the way down to the Glitter Box and the Five Pools.

Kennecott's current drilling permit is scheduled to expire in December 2002, but as of December 2002 the road is still closed. Kennecott's ultimate goal is to begin mining some day.

We need letters from the climbing and canyoneering community to the Tonto National Forest to stop this loss of recreational access.

District Ranger Larry Widner
Globe Ranger District, Tonto National Forest
7680 S. Sixshooter Canyon Road
Globe, AZ 85501

What does the future hold for the Devils Canyon climbing area have if we don't stop Kennecott? To get some idea, take a drive about 10 miles east of the Town of Superior, on Highway 77, where the open-pit Ray Mine has "removed" what used to be the lower end of Devils Canyon. 250,000 tons per day. Silicate leaching. Sulfide dump leaching. Solvent extraction. Not a pretty picture.

Be a friend of the Devils Canyon climbing area. Write to the Forest Service. Act now to help save the Devils Canyon and Queen Creek Canyon climbing area!

For more information, contact Ted Gartner 480-961-0370 (gartneraz@netzero.net)

Sample letter

District Ranger Larry Widner
Globe Ranger District, Tonto National Forest
7680 S. Sixshooter Canyon Road
Globe, AZ 85501

Subject: Kennecott Exploration Company Resolution Project

Dear Larry,

I am writing to state my opposition to the Tonto National Forest's permitting of the Kennecott Exploration Company's Resolution Project. This project has closed the Lower Devils Canyon road to vehicular access for recreational use, and is not compatible with Forest Service philosophy of multiple uses of public lands.

I am a recreational user of the Lower Devils Canyon area and have enjoyed, and hope to continue to enjoy, recreational opportunities there. Lower Devils Canyon comprises a significant portion of a world-renowned rock climbing area bordered by Queen Creek Canyon to the west and Devils Canyon to the east. The number
of climbing routes in this area is well-documented in the guidebooks Rock Guide to Queen Creek Canyon, by Marty Karabin, and Rock Climbing Arizona, by Stewart Green. The annual Phoenix Bouldering Contest, conducted annually from nearby Oak Flat campground, attracts climbers from all over the world to this area every year. In addition, the Lower Devils Canyon road provides the only reasonable access to the world-class "Five Pools" canyoneering area of Devils Canyon, as documented in the guidebook Canyoneering in Arizona, by Tyler Williams.

The Forest Service decision to allow closure of the Lower Devils Canyon road was done without adequate public notice and comment to the climbing and canyoneering community. It is alarming that the Forest Service would close this road to vehicular access without making any effort to consult with the recreational user groups that would be most affected.

To exclude hikers and climbers from vehicular access to Lower Devils Canyon is in effect promoting the commercial needs of a mining company over the broader needs of the general public, including hikers and climbers. Kennecott's ultimate goal of mining this area is not compatible with any recreational uses. I am adamantly opposed to the current closure of the Lower Devils Canyon road, and any further permitting of Kennecott to conduct copper explorations in this area.

I also somewhat agree with arizona rocks. And QC is not a premier area, it's just convenient area to pad ones ego on over-bolted, soft-rated, no hike required grungy tuffa......Pernell

Look, as per usual, the RC.com croud is going off half cocked and misquoting the main points of the thread.

Remember, as Curt stated, this is to be an underground mine. Significant difference between an open pit (which is not a strip mine - that's coal). Please get your facts straight when posting and read the thread.

I sent an email today to a contact with Kennecott's parent company requesting info or a better contact to try to find out what is REALLY going on so I can pass along some useful info. He's out of the office till February, and I'll be out of touch until mid-February. When I get info, I'll pass it along.

I also submitted a letter to the Public Affairs officer with Tonto NF in support of Queen Creek and providing what info I could regarding mining methods. I'd quote it, but its on my computer at work.

Like some of you guys, I'm not a boulderer, and chasing bolts isn't always the first thing I want to do. I've never been to Queen Creek, but I might just come out this spring to check it out. Protecting climbing resources is important to all of us. Why protect one and not another. I'd like to think that economic benefits can be realized without affecting climbing access if there is an economic resource there. We'll see.

You're also very close to being categorized as a babyboomer, so any descenting opinion to you is the wrong opinion.

Phil Box has split this thread off from the main thread. There is some discussion worth keeping here even though the original thread got derailed a little. Curt will explain more.

What the hell was the penile comparison size stuff for :roll: ?

Ok, i think i will...

Here's a few facts too
Queen Creek sucks dead donkey co*k.
yes it has a high concentration of bolted routes - and the vast majority of which are boring,samey and lame.
Oh its one sharp pocket to the next,and the next,step up on sharp pocket and repeat, ad nauseum.
The only route i ever came close to falling asleep on was a route at the pond.
Varied style???? - you must be joking. There's no variety, come to queen creek for a weekend, then dont bother coming back. keep going to lemmon or flag where you might encounter something called an edge,or a sloper or maybe this mythical pinch that i hear exists outside Q.C. word.
Yes there's some cool boldering, if you can climb for more than 30 minutes without loosing all skin on your fingers.
But as i heard someone say on another forum once, you dont see visiting euros making the trek to oak flats to bolder, why?, cos its its a moderately decent area - at best.
I say ,mine the whole thing, close it down, starting with the abysmal mine area and magma gardens, moving swiftly on to the wonderful trad nightmare chosspile that is the little england wall.
id rather go to the gym.
P.s Jack's is beautiful in the cold,its climbable all year round if one wasnt so afraid of climbing when its dropped below 70 degrees.
Peace out Arizona Friends!
-John Gaynor (who has a 12 inch one)