Government Shutdown - impacted areas

I was scheduled to visit Yosemite for a week starting this Wednesday, and with the shutdown looming I'm looking for alternates.

Obviously National Parks will be closed.

What about areas managed by the BLM (Red Rock) or Forest Service (Tahquitz/Suicide, Needles, Lover's Leap) etc?

And if you could go anywhere in the west for week during the shutdown, where you would go? :)

Andy,

It's my impression that it will affect only areas where there is an entrance fee requiring staff to collect it. That would include National Parks and the Red Rock scenic loop. Forest Service areas should be accessible.

it's kinda bizarre. I too thought that they'd just not staff the fee stations and other facilities, but they'll close all the access and tell everyone there to get out. How is that gonna be enforced on RMNP??

Andy, you could do the SPlatte, Evans wilderness, or the desert, but it looks like you're heading really really west

Problem solved

wonderwoman wrote:I am headed to Acadia NP from tomorrow through the weekend. I know how to access the climbing areas if the gates are closed. But still, this stupid threat of shut down is complete bullshit.

You know what's even more bullshit, a 17 trillion dollar deficit. Pay up.

Depending on your vehicle situation I would go to Shuteye Ridge (more sport) or Needles (trad is rad).

Pretty sure the needles toilet is not being maintained right now. So as long as they don't lock the gate you will be good to go...

If you have access to mountain bikes then it wouldn't make a difference for the needles.

Not sure they have any way to shutdown Tahquitz and Suicide. I suppose the would ticket you for being in Humber Park...

Guess that means Suicide would be the better option there. Would be warmer too than Tahquitz.

^^^ +1 Tahquitz or Suicide, maybe Black Mountain too

I just talked to a ranger. They're closing all facilities and services. Roads will stay open to through traffic but they will not be allowing vehicles to stop in the park and will not be allowing any recreating.

rging wrote: You know what's even more bullshit, a 17 trillion dollar deficit. Pay up.

That is bullshit..cause we don't have a 17 trillion dollar deficit, we have a 17 trillion dollar debt.

^^^ Giggle
But regardless, likely a product of our public school systems.

BTLove wrote: Roads will stay open to through traffic but they will not be allowing vehicles to stop in the park and will not be allowing any recreating.

Because staying open is not essential, but patrolling to stay closed is.
Think it over for a minute and see where you get with that.
I arrived at the conclusion, where I usually do, that we are being "punished" for limiting spending.
I VERY MUCH doubt that the drone strikes or NSA spying programs will be halted. I VERY MUCH doubt that we will suspend wars, or call troops home from Japan/Germany/Etc... I bet they don't scrap the F35 or the operation of the $2B data center in Utah where they store all of your phone calls and Emails.

Tony B wrote:^^^ Giggle But regardless, likely a product of our public school systems. Because staying open is not essential, but patrolling to stay closed is. Think it over for a minute and see where you get with that. I arrived at the conclusion, where I usually do, that we are being "punished" for limiting spending. I VERY MUCH doubt that the drone strikes or NSA spying programs will be halted. I VERY MUCH doubt that we will suspend wars, or call troops home from Japan/Germany/Etc... I bet they don't scrap the F35 or the operation of the $2B data center in Utah where they store all of your phone calls and Emails.

All depends on who gets to say what's "Essential" government services. Kind of like cable TV... You're not the customer they're out to please, they just want you to think you are.

I think we should take this thing and turn it around to point out the insanity of it. Rather than a debt ceiling that always gets raised, we should put in a debt floor which we raise every year. If the government doesn't spend enough money to reach their new debt minimum by the next fiscal year, they have to straight up gift the balance to their cronies who run/build all the "Essential" government services.

The end point is the same, but then we don't get to have a polarizing panic / distraction.

Ahem. Rule #2. Don't hijack a site owner's thread. Go post in that other "government shutdown" thread.

Now... back to the matter at hand.. where the *bleep* should I go climbing???

Andy I asked the same question over on supertopo

Where to go climb if Yosemite shuts down

Sorry Andy.
Just called, National forests will remain 'open'; so Devils Head is a great option for you as Ramapart Range Road will not be gated.

Andy Laakmann wrote:Ahem. Rule #2. Don't hijack a site owner's thread. Go post in that other "government shutdown" thread. Now... back to the matter at hand.. where the *bleep* should I go climbing???

I have not really gathered if, or not, you are affixed to the area of or around CA. Are you considering 'anywhere' or just 'anywhere near.'

If the former, then I have to ask how much time you've spent around Mt Lemon and Cochise, Sedona, The South Platte, Indian Creek, and others. Those are all destinations worthy of at least 1 extended visit. All SHOULD have some areas quite open.

Tahquitz and Lover's Leap will be accessible. Probably the Needles, too. Unlikely the Forest Service will keep anyone out of those areas. As they don't currently control or limit access, it's very doubtful that they will start after the shutdown (preventing access would cost more than the current practice).

Those are some fine locations to climb in CA, Andy.

The USFS and BLM are operating based on their individual situations but it is mainly facilities and areas that require employees to operate and maintain them that will be shut down. Access to National Forests will not be entirely closed, but lots of developed sites could be closed (bathrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, etc).

Squamish, Skaha, Canmore. Assuming it hasn't start raining/snowing up there yet....although from the sound of it the bad weather has started already, at least in Squish.

Canada has a functioning government, and is still open for business (and climbing). Too bad the weather sucks.

Anyone have any idea about Devil's Tower? Supposed to be heading there The 17th. The last shutdown was 21 days, and the government we have in place now is full of twice the amount of useless C-U-Next-Tuesdays as last time, so I have zero faith they'll make this one much shorter.

Boots Ylectric wrote:Anyone have any idea about Devil's Tower? Supposed to be heading there The 17th. The last shutdown was 21 days, and the government we have in place now is full of twice the amount of useless C-U-Next-Tuesdays as last time, so I have zero faith they'll make this one much shorter.

I was planning on a DT trip starting this Friday. Tried calling, no answer. Their website is down and directed to nps.gov you find this:

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

And doi.gov does not even load.

I think we can probably assume the DT park service is on vacation, and gate is closed and locked.

JCM wrote:Squamish, Skaha, Canmore.

The snow has started flying in Canmore. I wouldn't recommend a road trip here for rock climbing.