Rangers "intimidate" climbers, Arizona demands fees

Rangers "intimidate" climbers, Arizona demands fees (Alberta Times) Tucson Forest Advocacy Group says rangers "intimidate" climbers...

Rangers "intimidate" climbers, Arizona demands fees (Alberta Times) The Tucson Forest Advocacy Group says rangers are "intimidating" hikers into paying fees at rest sites, such as Sabino Canyon, despite a federal court blocking such fees. The Arizona Daily Star reported that Kitty Benzar, president of the West Shore No Fee Alliance, said: "Rangers are writing tickets to scare visitors." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in February that the U.S. Forest Service does not charge hiking and parking fees in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Officials with the Coronado National Forest said they could not comment in detail because litigation over the fees is ongoing. Heidi, a Corona Forest spokesperson, said fees continue to be charged at Sabino Canyon and Madera Canyon.