FB Post from Moab Rock Climbers re: COVID-19

You do know that we have been under Martial Law in the past.

reposting nowhere’s link.  excellent article on numbers, timing, spread of covid19.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

for those seeking other’s opinions, here’s mine: stay home.  Self-entertain.  it’ll likely be 2-4 weeks.  You’ll survive and then maybe someone else will too.

Alex Ghiggeri wrote: So they shut down all ski resorts in CO yesterdy... I would expect a major flood of people heading to moab. You've been warned.   (I already had plans before covid, and am not sick, as well as already on my way... :-) sorry yall)

“I already had plans”

Oh good, you’re in luck then. Covid-19 has a clause in its contract that you can’t contract or transmit the virus if your plans predate learning about the virus.

“am not sick”

By “sick” you mean carrying the virus, and you have no actual way of knowing that. Coming from a place with established community transmission, and probably far more than the numbers show due to poor and late testing, you have to assume you do have it and can transmit it, and behave accordingly. We’re all Schrodinger’s carrier, asymptomatic or not. 

“as well as already on my way” 

Oh shit, I didn’t realize you were on that road to Moab with no exits and in one of those cars with no brakes. My bad. 
No unnecessary travel means grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical care. Stay home. 

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

I believe you mean “martial law” unless you were being ruled by a person named Marshall.

... the Marshall Court? 

Cindy wrote: 
for those seeking other’s opinions, here’s mine: stay home.  Self-entertain.

Keep those forearms in shape.

Peter Beal wrote:

PA state public lands closed 

It makes sense, went for a run in Forest Park in Portland yesterday and it was packed. Like Mt Hood Meadows on a Saturday packed.

Was on I70 yesterday: Copper and Vail looked like ghost towns...

Matt N has the right idea.  Keep yourself happy at home.

Cindy wrote: reposting nowhere’s link.  excellent article on numbers, timing, spread of covid19.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

for those seeking other’s opinions, here’s mine: stay home.  Self-entertain.  it’ll likely be 2-4 weeks.  You’ll survive and then maybe someone else will too.

The exponential curve is scary.

the weathers will also make the creek unclimbable for the next week or so. Should make staying home easier

J Child wrote:  Does anyone know if RR or J-Tree are still open? 

If you can't get onto the scenic loop in Red Rock, there are places with roadside parking that you might be able to walk from. During the government shutdown a few years ago, there was no bar to entering from those places. Camping, however, might be more problematic.

J Child wrote: Today was the day. I heard they were doing this in Italy and Spain but never thought I'd see this in this country. I'm heading through Moab on my way to IC and a stereotypical small-town sheriff stops me and tells me I can't get to Moab. He was directing all traffic back north to the I-70. Now, I'm sitting in a hotel in Green River trying to figure out if I try to get the IC via the Colorado back roads or if I should give up and head to RR or J-Tree instead. Does anyone know if RR or J-Tree are still open? 

Woah, really?  I haven't heard of them closing US-191.  Were they turning every passenger vehicle away?  Moab was freaking packed today.  Popular crags were even more crowded than usual.  Arches had a huge line.  Seems like all of Colorado took this as an opportunity to come down to the desert and compromise a vulnerable small town.

I can imagine a National Park closure in the near future.

Adam Fleming wrote:I can imagine a National Park closure in the near future.

Zion shuttles down, visitor center closed. 

Yosemite food and lodging shutting down after breakfast service tomorrow. 

Ron O wrote:

Totally agree.

That said, I'm carrying wipes and a small spray bottle of grain alcohol.
It is for disinfecting surfaces.

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!

I know you're joking a bit but to add a little information regarding disinfectants, 70% ethyl alcohol (drinking alcohol) is more effective than higher percentages (grain is 95%) and rubbing alcohol (isopropyl).  Diluted bleach is very effective. 

Hello from Austria.. (Yes we brought it to you.. not)
Just my 2.5 cents.. but I'm bored and so are you (or at least should be). Since Sunday we have a (light) shutdown in Austria and are not supposed to go outside if not REALLY necessary.
I was at a local crag when I heard the news and was:

 WTF it's perfect weather for skiing/climbing.. I'm sure as hell not will stay at home. Then I talked to some people read the news and calmed down..

..now I think different:

Yes we should stay at home! Even if you go out alone to have some fun and don't get injured and basically think you have no impact on anything.. Others might see or hear of your action and get also "motivated" to go out and maybe stretch the boundaries a bit.. leading to maybe just meet a friend or two.. and so on.. so you still might promote the spreading of the virus.. Also as a "healthy, young" person you have not to much to fear for your health (but others do..) the economic impact will hit most of us sooner or later and the better we work together today the lower that impact hopefully will be.
So stay at home, train at home (via skype with friends), read, watch TV, work, improve your home,.. be a nice human and take responsibility for your actions!

Moab regional hospital’s Chief Medical Officer asks that you please stay home. https://www.kuer.org/post/moab-hospital-medical-director-asks-tourists-stay-away-national-parks#stream/0 

Marc801 C wrote:

Zion shuttles down, visitor center closed. 

Yosemite food and lodging shutting down after breakfast service tomorrow. 

I realized Arches and Canyonlands don't have gates. Even during the government shutdown they were accessible. I don't know if they are allowed to barricade the entrance, but maybe that's the solution here. Even then, Moab has plenty of BLM land that is impossible to restrict access to. 

I don't know how this town could force folks to stop coming unless hotels, rentals, restaurants, and campgrounds all close down. 

J Child wrote: Today was the day. I heard they were doing this in Italy and Spain but never thought I'd see this in this country. I'm heading through Moab on my way to IC and a stereotypical small-town sheriff stops me and tells me I can't get to Moab. He was directing all traffic back north to the I-70. Now, I'm sitting in a hotel in Green River trying to figure out if I try to get the IC via the Colorado back roads or if I should give up and head to RR or J-Tree instead. Does anyone know if RR or J-Tree are still open? 

Whether they’re open or not, you should get home and stay there, and stop traveling around the country. 

Florida is fair game!!! Go get some!!!

My friend and I drove to Albuquerque, NM from Colorado Springs to do some climbing in the Sandias despite the virus threat. We tent camped and saw people hiking on our approach, but absolutely no one on the rock. Which makes sense, as it is still officially winter. It was not in fact as warm as Shelf generally is, for it is higher altitude. But non the less, I think if you have all of your food provided and stay in the desert somewhere like Indian Creek that should be fine. Gas stops can be restricted to pay at the pump. If you sanitize your hands before you enter a store and also afterwards, that should be an adequate precaution for transmission of the virus either from you to others or vice versa.

And also, it's good not to shitcan the fragile economies of places like Moab by avoiding them. Just be smart about how you travel.