USFS studies Soldier Pass social encounters1 min read

By
Jeff Bear
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Interaction between hikers and Jeeps has become a concern for the U.S. Forest Service, which is studying what to do about the problem.
Jeff Bear/Larson Newspapers

In everyday life, social encounters are usually a good thing. But in an area of Soldier Pass, the U.S. Forest Service has deemed social encounters — specifically those involving Jeeps and hikers — to be a problem.

Soldier Pass, which is located in the general area just east of Coffee Pot Rock, is a popular destination for hikers because of its many popular features including Devil’s Kitchen, the 7 Sacred Pools and views of three arches. It is also a favorite of locals because its trailhead is located in a West Sedona neighborhood.

However, the area is also a popular destination — for all the same reasons — for one local Jeep touring company which owns the exclusive rights to the area and schedules several trips to it daily. The problem is parts of the hiking trail intersect with parts of the Jeep road, causing unwanted “encounters” to occur.

For the full story, see the Friday, Jan. 25, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.

Jeff Bear

Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.

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Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.