Shutting it DOWN!!

[climbant]

As a possible government shut down looms, stories are coming out on how we are to be punished. Seems JT has a plan to close the park and evacuate the campgrounds.

http://blog.pe.com/things-to-do/2013/09/30/federal-shutdown-joshua-tree-national-park/

Are we aware yet of the plans of other federal lands are? This could be a huge impact to the climbing/hiking community.

[RichardK]

A few years ago during the last shutdown threat, there was a discussion on the Death Valley boards about what would happen to DVNP. The conclusions were these:

1. Paved roads through DV would remain open because they belong to the state of California, not the federal government.

2. Guests at Stovepipe Wells would have two days to check out and leave the park. SPW is owned by the feds and operated by a concessionaire.

3. The Furnace Creek Ranch and Inn would remain open because they are private inholdings.

I expect something similar at all national parks.

[hvydrt]

Are there even gates that could be locked at the cottonwood entrance, Little Berdoo Canyon, and Covington Flat entrances? Might be kinda nice if they shut down the park and locked the gate at the 2 paved north entrances, could have the place to yourself if you walked in or could drive in one of the dirt roads.

[RichardK]

This is the message you get when accesing the web site of any national park:

Because of the federal government shutdown, all national parks are closed and National Park Service webpages are not operating. For more information, go to www.doi.gov.

However, the Inyo National Forest site is still up for now.

This post on a DV board is worth reading:

http://www.death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22286

[climbant]

Are there even gates that could be locked at the cottonwood entrance, Little Berdoo Canyon, and Covington Flat entrances? Might be kinda nice if they shut down the park and locked the gate at the 2 paved north entrances, could have the place to yourself if you walked in or could drive in one of the dirt roads.

Not trying to discourage at all, I thought the same thing, but NPS law enforcement will still be active to keep us out, just be stealthy . Just more restricted access to our lands.

[Perry]

If you're planning to fake your own death in a national park, now is a good time to do it.

[KathyW]

Here's the official info:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans

But, there isn't a lot of detail in the official info.

There are a lot of places that don't have gates. It's typically just the tourist trap areas that are gated.

One good thing - the permit system isn't working and there aren't likely to be any patrols on the trails.

[Florian]

Are national forest trails open? Humber Park or SG wilderness?

-Florian

[jnj86]

I haven't been able to get an answer on the status of campgrounds in the San Bernardino Natl Forest. We are supposed to be camping at Boulder Basin this weekend, but don't know if it's even open now. The reservation site, recreation.gov, is down because of the gov shutdown.

[Hikin_Jim]

National Forest areas are open although there could be some exceptions.

HJ