Summit Hut Tucson

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Reporter: Craig Smith

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - When fire concerns closed the Coronado National Forest a lot of outdoor lovers had to figure out other ways to follow their passions.

Rock climbers left hanging when the forest closed have been getting their fix of hanging by their fingertips just a little south of downtown Tucson at the indoor climbing site called Rocks and Ropes.

The indoor experience keeps them in shape and in practice but if the forests weren't closed a lot of them would be climbing the real thing.

Rachel Speer says, "We'd be climbing on Mt. Lemmon.  We go there just about every weekend."

Ben Speer says, "Yeah.  I go for her.  She's a really good climber."

But everyone we talked to says as much as they miss being in the forest, they agree closing it's the best thing to do.

Sonya Vasconcellos says,"I'd rather have them close it that someone to start a fire up there.  Cause then, I mean, we'd be off of Mt. Lemmon for a long time.  So safe, preventive measures is very important." 

Summit Hut's a traditional place to gear up, and get out but with fewer places to get out to, patrons like Geoffrey Bretharte are trading first hand adventure for adventure in books until the fire danger is down and the forest is open again.

He says, "Oh, I absolutely understand.  I was up on Mt. Lemmon last weekend, right before the closure and there were people throwing cigarette butts out of their car windows and people having campfires in the afternoon at their campsite and there's no need for that."

The Summit Hut staff is suggesting other activities to keep customers active until the forest re-opens like Wasson Peak in the Tucson Mountains to the west of Tucson.

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Stacey Wittig is a freelance writer based in Arizona. Her trekking adventures have led her up the Inca Trail in Peru, across the plains of northern Spain on El Camino de Santiago, and down through the layers of time in the Grand Canyon. “Arizona is a remarkable place to call home,” declares the wandering writer. She welcomes comments and questions at hikernerd@gmail.com . Learn more hiking tips at http://www.examiner.

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