Mt. San Jacinto State Park On List To Close

[Perry]

It's actually the most humane solution. No permanent damage. This is better than throwing rocks or a swift kick to the head. Dogs are unpredictable. I've been bitten by a dog that was wagging it's tail. Some dogs are so vicious that no amount of kindness or calmness is going to solve the issue. If you ever go running on the streets of Desert Hot Springs it's essential to carry pepper spray.

For the record, I try to give a dog warning first. If the dog continues to approach, then I use the pepper spray.

[tkvance]

Yeah, the tram may close.......that't the best news I've heard yet. As many of you know, I am not a fan of the tram---the wilderness is NOT an amusement park with a tram going to the top (or at least near it).

This will make hiking the trails much more enjoyable for those who hike from one of the bottom trailheads!!!

If the Park is closed, how will they enforce a trail being closed? It seems to me that you can still hike in the area, just now you don't need a permit!

[AlanK]

Is anyone really talking about closing the tram? I have no interest in arguing whether it's good or bad, but it represents a large investment, some of it recent, and I see no reason why anyone connected with it would consider shutting it down. Hell, it's a revenue generator!

[magikwalt]

The Tram will not close. They would simply not allow anyone to leave the rear patio. It is the State Park that is slated for closure.

[Perry]

Yeah, I really don't see the tram closing. Money. It gives some money to the state parks and brings in a lot of tourist dollars to Palm Springs. It operates within a state park, but the closure would be defined in a way to allow the tram to operate. Now, families wouldn't be too happy if they can't play in the snow, so I doubt Long Valley would be closed. I could see the tram giving more money to the state park in order to pay for staff to deal with sledding accidents in Long Valley. Or the state park could be run by mostly volunteers and 1 or 2 rangers. If it was closed, it wouldn't be very enforceable without money to pay the law enforcement officers.