Martinez trail access restored

[kevinkinser]

I just received this message from Jim Foote of BLM:

After working with the County of Riverside, which in turn contacted the private landowner, the landowner agreed to remove the lock from the gate that was blocking access to Martinez Canyon (via the route heading due south from the Van Buren/66th Avenue intersection). While the gate may be closed, the public can now open the gate, pass through it, and close it behind them (if the gate was found in the closed position). If found in an open position, the public can simply pass through en route to Martinez Canyon.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Jim


--
Jim Foote
Monument Manager

[zippetydude]

Wow! Nice work Kevin! I'll be sure and send Jim Foote a thank you for taking that on and clearing it up.

z

[KathyW]

Yes, thanks for your effort and for letting us know. Whoever installed the gate probably didn't realize they were blocking access to Martinez Canyon because eventhough it's a public right-of-way, it's not County maintained.

[zippetydude]

Incidentally, the Monument Manager (Jim Foote) can be thanked by email at


jfoote@blm.gov


I have thanked him myself. If anyone else is appreciative of action on our part to keep the wilderness accessible, you now have his email address... : )

z

[KathyW]

I was out in the area of 66th and Van Buren today; so I checked out the access to Martinez Canyon. The gate 68th (unimproved) and Van Buren was close, but not locked. I had no problem opening it driving through and closing it behind me. I drove in to near BM 655 in Section 36 without much problem in a stock Tacoma w/4WD. It looked Iike I could drive in past that point, but I didn't have the time to do so. It would be a real pain to have to walk those miles (close to 4 miles) across the desert; so I'm grateful that the gate has been unlocked.