Canyons closed

[halhiker]

Went to go hiking over in Palm Desert today and found both Carrizo and Dead Indian Canyons fenced off. This may be old but I don't get over there a lot and hadn't seen these fences before.

I'm sure it's because of the bighorn sheep but it's funny to me how we can close hikes off to the public but they keep building houses further and further into the hills. I would imagine the Bear Creek Trail will be next and the Boo Hoff after that and then ???

Hike the desert while you still can. Who knows what they'll close next.

[Perry]

It's a strange issue. I could understand if there was a drought in late summer and only a few springs trickling.

A few interesting facts:

The Sierra Club recently sued BLM over Dunn Road:
http://www.mydesert.com/article/2008121 ... 1/81218017
Yes, they were planning to open Dunn Road to commercial vehicles while closing trails to hikers.

The desert bighorn in Joshua Tree NP and Little San Bernardinos are genetically identical to the Peninsular Bighorn in the San Jacintos and Santa Rosas but separated by land development of the Coachella Valley.

The Cahuilla Indians hiked everywhere and hunted them for food, and they were in large numbers before the Europeans came.

The BLM summary of research is inconclusive about the effects of hiking:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/pdfs/palmsprings_ ... of_Sci.pdf

To date, research has not established a link between hiking and population level effects on bighorn sheep

[phydeux]

Are those areas permenantly closed, or just for seasonal periods?

Reminds me of the George Creek route up Mt. Williamson in the Sierra Nevada Mtns. Its only open two months of the year due to bighorn sheep activity in the area. When I first visited that area over 20 years ago the closures had already been in place for quite a few years. Its somewhat surprising the Inyo Natl Forest continues to limit access since you can find bighorn sheep just about everywhere in the Southern Sierra (east side) from almost the Palisades down to Mt. Whitney; some areas are almost a 'gimmie' for sightings of bighorns. You can still get up Mt. Williamson through Shepards Pass, but its a more difficult climb.

[halhiker]

The closure in Dead Indian Canyon is seasonal: basically it is closed during the season. You know, when anyone would want to hike there. Carrizo Canyon is closed, period, as far as I can tell.

I don't know when this started since I didn't really read anything about it here or in the paper (more people are concerned about the starting point of that stupid Bump and Grind trail) and I don't know if I went back there last year.

I guess what makes me mad is the continued development on prime sheep habitat and the fact that there are maybe three sheep in the Dead Indian Canyon area. What's caused more impact on the sheep: a few hikers enjoying the serenity of Dead Indian Palms or more golf courses where the sheep call home?

Thankfully, we have plenty of new trails in the Palm Desert area and I'll be happy to hike all of them in the coming days, weeks and months. But it's a shame to lose a beautiful little place especially when the science does not really support it.

Of course, I could just go back to school and become a biologist. Then, I'd have my own little private playground to "study" the sheep. How cool would that be?

[bluerail]

Hal- I'm just defending "that stupid bump and grind" trail. I seem to remember someone (possibly you ?) mentioning "the cows" on the b&g. Dude that is the best 45 mins of my day. Everyday. I hit that trail everyday as hard as I can. I'm not on the jeep trail, but on the singletrack. Great elevation gain (1000'- 2 miles) for a quick workout.
Keeps me ready to go somewhere good on the weekends.
On another note....wasn't it you that told me years ago the name of that hill was Melinda Mountain ?
And back behind there, over towards Haystack and the top of Cat Canyon is beautiful off trail country.
Well, not trying to be testy. Just defending my gym.

[halhiker]

Hal- I'm just defending "that stupid bump and grind" trail. I seem to remember someone (possibly you ?) mentioning "the cows" on the b&g. Dude that is the best 45 mins of my day. Everyday. I hit that trail everyday as hard as I can. I'm not on the jeep trail, but on the singletrack. Great elevation gain (1000'- 2 miles) for a quick workout.
Keeps me ready to go somewhere good on the weekends.
On another note....wasn't it you that told me years ago the name of that hill was Melinda Mountain ?
And back behind there, over towards Haystack and the top of Cat Canyon is beautiful off trail country.
Well, not trying to be testy. Just defending my gym.

I don't remember denigrating any cows on B&G. I may have in one of my not better moments. I think sheep is more like it. Especially those who complain about width of the new trails behind Target. They just want to walk three abreast and gab. Cry me a river.

I don't have any love for that "trail". I've hiked it, I've run it; it's boring. I may even have to hike it with my son for a PE assignment for his school although I'd much rather do one of fifty different, better trails.

I don't get the love people have for this crappy excuse for a trail. Have you done the new singletrack sections? Have you done the section by the church off Edgehill Road? They are far superior and ALL single track. Have you done the hike to the cross? Have you done the hike to the top of "Melinda" Mountain near the fence around Stone Eagle? (I got the name Melinda Mountain off an old AAA map; my personal name for it is COD Mountain because of the old paint on it years ago). How about the Hopalong Cassidy Trail? The new section of the Art Smith? Within ten minutes of B&G there are several far superior trails and they are SO less traveled.

I am totally against closing off trails but the issue of B&G is not closing the trail but redirecting the start of the trail. I get the issue and totally support the residents on this one. I think the cities have done a good job of creating some nice options but most people don't want something new. They want the same old, same old.

But who am I to say? I've had the same wife for twenty years and the same house for longer. I will probably keep my Jeep until I die and my favorite sweatshirt is full of holes and looks like hell. If my wife throws ever throws it out, she goes with it (she knows I'm kidding). I understand the comfort of the familiar.

I'm sorry if B&G is the best 45 minutes of your day. If you're hitting that thing everyday, though, it's no longer a trail; it is a rut. Maybe it's time to find a new gym. Changing up one's workout works works muscles you never knew you had.

[desertskyclimber]

so very true. was up in the goat hills the other day, area south of palm springs, below murray peak(crow's rest) when an oversized vehicle came into view on the road up there, asked them what they were doing, quick and boisterous one man answered "this is OUR land!". another lost soul who'll contribute to the development of the mountains...and like hal said, you've got others worried about people simply going for a walk. the bump and grind issue is a great example. the ignorance and bureaucracy of government and all those who fall for it's beliefs
another area of concern-http://flickr.com/photos/desertskyclimber/3120665146/

[bluerail]

Hey Hal....it least there aren't any cairns you gotta knock over..or get someone to knock over for you.

I think I've been on every trail within 10 mins of there (know I have), that one seems to work the best for me.

DSC..thats gotta be the freindly post of yours I've read yet.

You guys still reading Edward Abbey ?

[halhiker]

Hey Hal....it least there aren't any cairns you gotta knock over..or get someone to knock over for you.

I think I've been on every trail within 10 mins of there (know I have), that one seems to work the best for me.

DSC..thats gotta be the freindly post of yours I've read yet.

You guys still reading Edward Abbey ?

Too bad there aren't any cairns on B&G; it'd give me a good reason to go there.

It really doesn't behoove me to care about where people love to hike. I'm just tired of reading about the bellyachers whining about not being able to start on Desert Drive anymore. Get over it, people.

I just wish some of those folks would care about something other than their own convenience.

Haven't read Ed Abbey lately. Lately I've been reading the autobiography of William Tecumsah Sherman and also some Augustine.

[bluerail]

Hal - I'm happy for you for every step you take on any trail. I imagine it does as much for your soul and spirit as mine do for me.

By sunday night I'll have walked 25+ in the Santa Rosas. I'm sure my neglected muscles will get a little workout.

Heres my daily weekday "rut" http://bluerail.smugmug.com/photos/swfp ... mKey=BeLXt