Coke Ovens: Request from the land owner

[flyingwil]

I wasn't aware of any BLM permits for FJ. State land, yeah.

Good Catch!

Sorry, I meant state permits through the ASLD recreation use permit program. http://www.land.state.az.us/programs...oad_permit.htm

[Scott Brady]

Vern,

Thank you so much for posting that link. I will send a copy of the screen shot to the owners to help clarify the boundaries. It is the daughter of the land owner and she has been good to work with. For those of us who visited the area when the house was still occupied (that was the early 90's for me), then you know how much damage has been done to the site.

It looks like access is still ok from the NW (the more challenging shelf road).

[SOAZ]

Instead of just a sign maybe we could go out there and drag some boulders into the road on the private land road so people find it easier to go down the correct road. I know vandals are lazy so maybe it would work...

It makes me ashamed to be associated with offroaders in AZ. Is it just me or when you go to Utah or Colorado the structures that have been abandoned seem to last a LOT longer and never have a mark on them...
What is wrong with our fellow Arizonans!!?? Even when I was a kid I might light some fire works or kick up too much dust doing donuts, but I'd never destroy something. Of course that was in California, but same difference.

[TBob]

Whoa there - I would be throwing stones at the offroaders... I don't believe that is where the problem lies. Try parting teens and such... Let me ask u how many times have you seen offraoders being the offenders?

Instead of just a sign maybe we could go out there and drag some boulders into the road on the private land road so people find it easier to go down the correct road. I know vandals are lazy so maybe it would work...

It makes me ashamed to be associated with offroaders in AZ. Is it just me or when you go to Utah or Colorado the structures that have been abandoned seem to last a LOT longer and never have a mark on them...
What is wrong with our fellow Arizonans!!?? Even when I was a kid I might light some fire works or kick up too much dust doing donuts, but I'd never destroy something. Of course that was in California, but same difference.

[SOAZ]

Don't take offense. I don't consider offroaders to be one huge group. Anyone in a club and everyone on here is ten steps up from anyone doing the vandalism. My point is more that when I talk to someone at work or walk up to someone on the street, to them we are all just a bunch of offroaders if we go offroad at all. Thats why I hate being lumped into that group. So thats why I'm upset, but excited to do something positive to change the image that your average joe bloe or sierra club member has of us.
(your right though, it is almost always kids or dumb drunk adults that would do something so illogical)

[Hatch]

I don't think the DOT map is accurate. According to Pinal County Assessor, the Coke Ovens are in fact on private land.

[Scott Brady]

Hatch. Thank you for the comment. Would it be possible to scan the plat you have seen?

[Hatch]

Hatch. Thank you for the comment. Would it be possible to scan the plat you have seen?

I called the Pinal County Assessor. I have the parcel numbers if you would like.

[BMAN]

This is a real shame if it is truely the case that the Coke ovens are to be closed. One of my fondest memories as a child is a trip with my parents and all their friends back to the Coke Ovens. I am truely glad that I had the chance to alt least share the area with my wife and daughter before this inevitable event happened. Unfortunately it seems that my sons will not have the same chance.

That said, Scotty, please let the land owner who contacted you know that Copper State Cruisers is more than happy to lend a hand ANY time there is a need. The cleanup we hosted out there in March of '05 was the last time I visited the Ovens. We hauled out what must have been easily a ton of trash from the site. It was a very long hard day of work, but damn it felt so good. The idea of losing access weighs heavily on my heart. If you would be so kind as to forward my contact info to the owner, I'd really like to talk to her about adopting the site either as a club or if I have to, just as a single individual to go out once or twice a year and haul out whatever needs to be hauled.

[oldhockeyvb]

I didn't get a straight answer from the pinal county assessors office. I'm going to call them again tommorrow and try to get better information. The BLM mesa map shows the ovens on public lands.
Again, nothing against the property owner, we all need to respect their rights. I would never do anything to discredit our sport. I just want to have the facts.
I hope there is still an opportunity for us to work with the property owner to set up a sustainable trail. I volunteer myself, and I think I can get some friends to cooperate also.
Vern