The U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona is filled with all manner of things that can seriously hurt or kill a person. And the U.S. military would really appreciate it if people would stop trespassing there.
The giant desert training facility, which was formed by General George S. Patton during World War II, is used as a test center for just about every piece of equipment used in ground combat. The 1,300-square-mile facility is well marked with warning signs about trespassing but Sgt. Gregory Harper of the YPG Conservation Law Enforcement Agency said that doesn’t always stop hikers and other desert wanderers.
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He said, “There are a good handful of people that I run into out there that are genuinely good people. They are cooperative and their intent isn’t bad, but that won’t protect them from the hazards on our ranges.”
Those hazards include environmental factors like desert heat and potentially dangerous wildlife as well as limited infrastructure, making cell calls difficult if trouble arises.
But the Army also warned of dangers including a possible unexploded ordnance from the proving ground’s long history as a range for test fires of powerful long-range artillery shells. There are also airdrops of cargo parachutes carrying multi-ton pallets of equipment or military vehicles, and laser targeting technology in the area that could seriously damage a person’s eyes if they get in the way. Not to mention volatile mineshafts that can easily collapse on explorers.
As if being accidentally blown up, flattened, blinded or trapped underground weren’t bad enough, there are also conservation efforts that could be disrupted by having people traipsing all over the place.
To top it all off, unauthorized entry into any military installation is a crime. So, it’s probably best to just stay out of Yuma.
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