Plane tickets....check
Housing.....check
week off for climbing.....check
J-Tree open.....?????

If anyone was around during the 1995 government shutdown what happened in J-Tree? Did they just lock the gates? Were you still able to bike or walk in, (yes I have been there several times I understand the distance). I'm not worried about being on my own or services I'm just worried about getting in, any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I'm curious too. Headed to jtree tomorrow AM, hadn't really considered this 'government shutdown' mumbo jumbo. I'm sure you can get into the park regardless.

Ya, you can probably walk in if they lock the gate but it's a long way to hidden valley from the main entrance and even further from the others.

Maybe you can contact Nomad Ventures for more info.

I was there and can vouch that it sucked. By that I mean that like a dumbass I had the head down with finals and following them had a week trip planned to J-Tree. I drove through the night to find a locked gate and no entrance allowed.

Bummer, spent the time climbing in the Apple Valley area. Great fun back then.

Just google it. You will find all the info about the 1995 and 1996 shutdown.

The road running south from Twentynine Palms, eventually connecting to Interstate 10, was kept open. However, signs warned drivers not to stop for hiking or climbing. A friend of mine did stop with his partner for some climbing. A ranger was patrolling, caught them, and gave them a very angry lecture. Maybe he wasn't authorized to issue a ticket (my friend wasn't sure).

The main entrance near the town of Joshua Tree may have been locked.

ugh this sucks I've been looking forward to this for so long now. Bishop here I come! Thanks for letting me know there will be no hope I won't even bother trying.

I recall that the military maintained the entrances, turning back people. I also recall just about every climber I knew snuck into the park (on foot) to climb and camp during that time.

dont know what you guys are talking about. I went on the thursday April 7th and the park was still open, they let me in and climb... as was the day after. The park never closed.

The West and East entrances were blocked off;...there were more rangers on duty than if there were not a closure....which seemed funny to me. Two areas saw alot of action;...the area near Indian Head called The Safe Zone....which saw alot of new routes that week....and the Chirriaco Summit Area off of I-10 had a bunch of climbers....when it usually sees little to no climbers.....a few people headed out to the wonderland or queen mountain on foot.....only to be picked up later by rangers patroling in the Park....and escourted out of the Park too. It was over soon, and business was back to normal.....

The crisis has been averted but back in the Clinton years during the government shutdown they actually sent rangers around kicking us out of the park. Individually addressing climbers and campers telling us we needed to leave.

After which was my first and last trip to Chiriaco Summit for climbing.