Forest Service Website - Flakey???

[Vashti]

Has anyone else noticed that the Forest Service Website is now flakey? I used to think it was easy to use, and there were maps to the trails, trailheads and campgrounds. Now I cannot seem to locate some of these maps any longer. I thought maybe they weren't available, but when I looked at the trip description for Aztec Peak via Abbey's Way 151 Loop, it mentions an online FS map which I cannot find. Anyone know where these helpful maps have gone? Google isn't helping me any!!! I also wanted to read "
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/news/2009 ... _Sheet.pdf" which was listed in a linked HAZ forum in May, but the FS website says it is gone, too. Grrrr... We are planning to camp in that area, and it would have been nice to read about the "radioactive rock".

:O

[hippiepunkpirate]

You could always open up one of the GPS routes on the HAZ TrailDEXmap...the "MyTopo" overlay would give the most information, and would probably be far better than one of those silly forest service maps. Here I've even done it for you: http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=257 (You will have to change the overlay yourself in the upper right-hand corner).

[azbackpackr]

I would suggest calling the supervisor's office for the entire forest (is it the Tonto NF you are talking about?) and voicing your complaints. Then call the local ranger district and complain. Then wait a month. Then if it doesn't improve, write letters and emails, and also enlist some people on here to do the same.

The FS personnel in our area do listen to complaints and suggestions, and sometimes they actually do something about them. Once in awhile. You can always try to get some of us to complain about it, too. Send us all the links and snail mail addresses, we can just flood them with complaints!

[azbackpackr]

PS the link you put up works for me. Which links did not work for you?

[chumley]

While the FS websites have a similar look and feel, each is administered by the individual forest, which leads to a wide discrepancy of usability from one forest to the other.

I've found that Coconino does a fairly good job of updating things and even has online maps of the entire forest, while most other forests require you to purchase the forest map.

Some have small maps of trails or recreation areas, while others do not.

I have noticed that the Tonto did a re-design not too long ago and it fits into a generic template, and none of the recreational activities are populated with local information. As Elizabeth stated, I would call your local ranger office and complain/comment on the poor execution of the web redesign.

[chumley]

By the way Vashti... This post got me to look at the Tonto site and notice that today is Christmas tree permit day. Without it I would have missed my chance to get a permit.

Thanks!

[big_load]

PS the link you put up works for me. Which links did not work for you?

Reading between the lines, I thought there might have been a change in whether that particular forest hosted on-line maps and trail info. They vary, as Chumley noted. Apache-Sitgreaves and Coronado have more info.

[Vashti]

The link I posted will get you to the national forest website, but what I was really looking for I found in another place by searching for the actual file name... here is what I was hoping to find when I clicked on the above link: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33756991/Fact-Sheet

The Tonto site used to have great info - I think their new hosting or redesign has gone awry. Hopefully, it will get fixed up soon. Otherwise, let the formal complaints begin! ;)

@Chumley - Glad you were able to get your tree permit!!