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Palm Springs Tramway Trails

Original Post
J T · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 3,266

Early in the summer season I noticed there was much needed love being given to the trails and development of new ones, in this area. I attributed this to rangers or other climbers. Awesome, it has been much needed for a long time in this area. But shortly after these improvements I noticed blatant destruction of the trails, rocks and branches were being put into the obvious walking ways... Making it treacherous while walking. At first I thought it was climbers being assholes but I caught wind that it was actually the rangers destroying them. The rangers have even gone on to tell climbers to destroy the trails as well. Is there a legitimate reason for this or do they just want people to destroy what nature is left up there because they will be walking all over the place rather than minding trails...?

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

I would assume that whomever built the trails probably didn't go through the proper protocol for building trails. I believe The Tramway lies within a national forest which means there is a land manager that needs to be involved in the conversation regarding the building of trails.

If you in fact want to reach out and help on the trails that for whatever reason have been neglected (because most people just use and don't put in work) I would reach out to the recreational peeps at whatever ranger district covers that area. Robert Miramontes would be a good resource for that as he has had a good relationship(from what I remember) with the land managers up there.

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

Roberts contact info is probably in the tram guide. If not have fun dealing with the USDA/USFS website, it is a real treat.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
PrrdyLady wrote: Is there a legitimate reason for this or do they just want people to destroy what nature is left up there because they will be walking all over the place rather than minding trails...?
Wouldn't contacting the local FS office be the place to ask this question?
Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

The Tools want you to walk where they wish you to walk..... how dare YOU GO ON A DIFFERENT PATH!!!!!!!

Just go where you want to go.

Dont worry about them.

Boundary sign, enter at your own risk.

Levy on Coroners Report, 10D. Kaufman Crag, Top o the Tram

Have fun

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316
Guy Keesee wrote:The Tools want you to walk where they wish you to walk..... how dare YOU GO ON A DIFFERENT PATH!!!!!!! Just go where you want to go. Dont worry about them. Have fun
Yeah because access issues aren't real. The bouldering up there is highly visible and when you are walking around with a big mattress on your back you are sticking out like a sore thumb. In this era of bouldering being so popular I don't think an "Us vs. them" approach is very sustainable or needed. I would just reach out and see what they have to say.
Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Good Morning Mike.... When was the last time you went up there?

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316
Guy Keesee wrote:Good Morning Mike.... When was the last time you went up there?
No it is not a good morning. I spent the last 3 days having a metric shit ton of fun and now I am at work. :)

Judging by your photos I have been up there more recently than you have :)

It has been a few years since I have been up there. Is the man getting all marshall law up there?

Oh and....good morning to you.
Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Hi.... took those photos last fall while on a recon trip to see if it was "safe" to show your face if you were carrying a big ass back pack with a BOSH drill handle sticking out.

It was safe, by the way, nothing but smiles from the new crop of Tools walking around.

The PrrdyLady'd description of ..."blatant destruction of trails....making it treacherous while walking.... "

Made me laugh out loud..... in my cube, making all of my fellow cube dwellers stand up so they could see what was their to see.

Bottom line.... The cheezy trails the pad people are making ..... stones lined up- along both sides- marking the 200 yard long approach to a boulder... ala Buttermilks trail markers. Are ugly, and the rangers and climbers alike both try to erase these useless "trails".

If you have Metric Tons of shit to do..... go get some heavy equipment to move that stuff.... have a nice day :>)

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316
Guy Keesee wrote: If you have Metric Tons of shit to do..... go get some heavy equipment to move that stuff.... have a nice day :>)
Metric shit tons of FUN is what I am shooting for....that may be type 2 fun which may include an 8' mining bar, a come-along, a quiver of brushes and other choss tools....etc.

I completely agree on the ridiculousness of the statement Prrdy wrote and I agree that completely lined out trails is usually not a good idea as that is a tipping point as far as land managers are concerned. As soon as you "improve" a trail that is where they start to get "tool-ish"

As far as the Milks are concerned, those trails are actually very much needed and they should have been put in place 15+ yrs ago.
Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

""As far as the Milks are concerned, those trails are actually very much needed and they should have been put in place 15+ yrs ago.""

Yes, I think that those are a good thing in desert and other fragile environments. Top of the Tram is a forest that has branches, pine needles and trees falling anew every winter. A very littered up forest floor that gets more litter every year.

And I misunderstood your Metric Tons of FUN..... sounds like you were mining or making sport climbs.... by the look of your tool list.

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316
Guy Keesee wrote: Top of the Tram is a forest that has branches, pine needles and trees falling anew every winter. A very littered up forest floor that gets more litter every year. And I misunderstood your Metric Tons of FUN..... sounds like you were mining or making sport climbs.... by the look of your tool list.
Those stupid branches make it sooo dangerous to walk around man.

My tool list is just for the boulders. In Oregon you gotta earn the moniker "matress person" :)
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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