Zion Closure if Budget doesn't go through?

"You would be fine to walk into any park you'd like to-"

Are you sure about this? During the shutdown 15 years ago anyone staying at a park had 48 hours to leave no exceptions. Closed ment closed.

While we might all consider federal land to be our land I'm sure the Fed is well within their legal right to ban your entry from any such land they choose to (you can't go wander into a military base). In this case the justification being your own safety (and the lack of a ranger to protect it)

Anyone (like a lawyer or something) know for sure?

While in theory their won't be anyone working to stop you no doubt a couple law enforcement officers will be considered critical employees and remain on the job.

National Parks are supposed to be self sustaining however the employees are paid through annual appropriations, Parks does not have their own payroll fund. Essential staff like law enforcement ( enforcement rangers ) will probably still be working so I would think guide services could operate if the feds really wanted to find a way.

Darin Berdinka wrote:"You would be fine to walk into any park you'd like to-" Are you sure about this? During the shutdown 15 years ago anyone staying at a park had 48 hours to leave no exceptions.

I remember during the 1995 shutdown you could not hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, even if you parked outside the Park and hiked across the boundary. They kepts a few law enforcement rangers on duty to ticket you if they found you. I remember reading editorials and talking to friends who snuck in anyway. I don't know if it will be different this time or if it differed from park to park, but I would assume you couldn't hike in for day use.

Looks like they will still keep law enforcement around so there will still be people there to kick you out...

A Department of the Interior spokesperson said, "the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management will close and secure park, refuge and visitor facilities on public lands. Limited personnel needed to protect life and property on public lands, such as law enforcement, emergency services and firefighting personnel, will be exempted from furlough."

from that abc news story linked above

I remember the last time they shut down- My sister was visiting and I took her to first trip to the desert-- Arches NP... Only to find a locked gate and a ranger saying "nope."

They even installed a gate at the north rim of the Black Canyon, just so they'd have something to lock!! Previously there was nothing there!

Does this reading this make anyone else have feelings of anger?

Also does this closure effect BLM land as well?

Scott Miller wrote:Does this reading this make anyone else have feelings of anger? Also does this closure effect BLM land as well?

Yes! What other job besides being a congressman can you get paid $174,000(not to mention other benefits) for being so ineffective your place of work has to shut down?

Fuck the government trying to close parks. just go and climb their any way...if their closed that means no ones gonna be around checking around anyways

Paul U Roberts wrote:Fuck the government trying to close parks. just go and climb their any way...if their closed that means no ones gonna be around checking around anyways

If you read the rest of the thread you will realize how wrong you are.

Scott Miller wrote:Also does this closure effect BLM land as well?

I imagine it would affect BLM fee areas (such as Red Rock). Good luck trying to shut down all the BLM holdings. Too much turf, nobody to patrol it even when fully staffed.

Mark Nelson wrote:What if N Korea invades Zion, who will protect us?

Did you find the draft of my movie script for "Red Dawn 2015" that I left at the crag? If so please return....

Damn, it would really suck if there's a government shutdown; I got my Quik-Clots, space blanket, and a bottle of tequila all packed, and ready to go to the Maze in Canyonlands, Utah.

...some of our congressmen these days are pretty pathetic; I bet our founding fathers' are rolling over in their graves right about now.

I don't think you'll have any trouble getting into the Maze. I've never seen a ranger there ever.

There's always a ranger at Hans Flat if your coming in that way. From Lake Powell that's a different story. Be sure to have tire chains for your jeep this time of year. If it snows or rains you'd have a very hard time climbing back up the Flint Trail without them.

I was at Red Rocks in 95/96 over New Years when the big federal shut down happened. The loop road was closed but there was a make shift camp ground just off the highway with a water tanker and porta potties set up. Can't remember if the feds set that up or a generous donor. We just hiked into everything from there and had a phenomenal trip despite the closer.

just walk through the gate no one will be there if they close the parks belong to us - we pay for them. The gov can't shut them down. Although there are much bigger worries than climbing in parks if this does indeed happen....

As of recently I've been hired to Zion for Mid-May through End-August. All the talk with my employer has been positive that I will be starting at that time regardless of congress as its effects won't carry that far into the year. When is your trip planned? Like mentioned before the closure may only be a week or so in length.

Andy Novak wrote: I hear you, but it has happened in the past and is a possibility. The first one was 8 days, second was 17 days. ALL Park land is closed. No Ranger to patrol = a big gate across the entrance. NO bikes or foot traffic allowed. Hopefully it wont happen though; I'm keeping my fingers crossed just for Morgan.

During one of the shutdowns in the 1990s, we biked into Zion, had the entire park to ourselves. It was nice doing popular hikes with not another person around.