Inyo NF Wilderness Permit Issue Cancellations

[maverick]

Inyo NF:

The USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, announced that most developed recreation sites will remain closed through May 15.

The order does not close trails, trailheads, and general forest areas; these areas remain accessible for public use.

However, the Inyo National Forest has cancelled the issuance of Wilderness permits, including Mt. Whitney day and overnight permits, through May 15. Typically, the Wilderness quota system begins for the forest on May 1 and reservations for permits are issued via recreation.gov. Inyo County has advised that people do not engage in high risk activities. Mt. Whitney, especially this time of year, is an area where rescues and recoveries are common. People who have been awarded a permit reservation for Mt. Whitney or any other trailhead on the Inyo National Forest will receive a notice from recreation.gov that notifies them that their reservation has been cancelled and a refund have been issued.

Additionally, All Inyo National Forest campgrounds are closed. This includes Kennedy Meadows, Lone Pine, Mt. Whitney Trailhead, Lower Grays Meadow, Grandview, Sage Flat, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey, Forks, Intake 2, Holiday, Tuff, and French Camp, Convict Lake, New Shady Rest, Old Shady Rest, and Sherwin Creek, Oh Ridge, June Lake, Gull Lake, Aerie Crag, and Lower Lee Vining. The remaining campgrounds in the Bishop Creek drainage, Rock Creek drainage, Lakes Basin, Reds Meadow Valley, June Lake Loop, Lee Vining Canyon, and along Hwy 395 between Mammoth Lakes and Lee Vining are typically closed for winter conditions this time of year.

As a reminder, many roads that access these areas may also be closed for winter conditions.

All visitor centers are closed. This includes the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine, the White Mountain Ranger Station, the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, and the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed for the winter.

All picnic areas are closed. South Tufa (Mono Lake), Convict Lake, Hot Creek, and June Beach Day Use areas are closed. All campground restrooms, trailhead restrooms, picnic area, and day use restrooms are closed.

Customers needing information may call during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 pm -12:30 pm). Please be patient since call volume is significant.

• Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center:760-924-5500
• White Mountain Ranger Station and Bishop Supervisor’s Office: 760-873-2400
• Eastern Sierra Visitor Center, Lone Pine: 760-876-6200

If you do plan on visiting the Inyo National Forest, please be aware that:
• No trash removal is currently offered – please pack out all trash and waste
• All toilet facilities are currently closed – please plan accordingly
• Avoid high-risk activities – law enforcement and search and rescue operations may be limited
• If an area is crowded, please search for a less occupied location
Closing any site for any reason is not an action we take lightly, but protecting our visitors and employees remains our highest priority. We are working with our state and local partners to determine the best path forward to safely reopen closed sites.
We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our national forests safe and healthy for everyone’s use.

https://www.facebook.com/inyonf/posts/2 ... __tn__=K-R

[Wandering Daisy]

This effectively allows day-hiking (excluding the Whitney Zone or any other where a day permit is needed) but not backpacking IF you camp (dispersed) outside of the wilderness areas, until May 15? Am I interpreting that correctly? For example, walk into the wilderness boundary, camp. Day hike from there if day permits are not required. However, snow conditions may be as much of a barrier as the regulations for the next few weeks.

[mort]

My reservation at Four Jeffery for May 28 & 29 has been cancelled and refunded. The cancellation email, sent at 6:04 AM today, includes this:

A location closure has been issued for FOUR JEFFREY from Fri, May 22, 2020 - Sun, May 31, 2020 due to Public Safety Concerns .

My wilderness permit reservation for May 29 thru June 2 hasn't been cancelled yet.
-mort

[schmalz]

Notice on Inyo National Forest Campgrounds/ Wilderness Permits

The USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, announced that most developed recreation sites will remain closed through May 15.

However, the concessioners who manage most campgrounds on the forest are reporting that opening dates of the campgrounds will be delayed while essential work to open the campgrounds is completed.

Typically, it takes approximately two to three weeks to open a campground. This work includes removing hazard trees, brushing and sweeping the roads, cleaning sites, fire rings, and restrooms, and turning on and testing water systems. The concessioners’ employees have not been able to travel to start this work during the state’s shelter in place order, so this work has yet to commence.

Both Recreation Resource Management (RRM) and California Land Management (CLM) have begun cancelling reservations on recreation.gov through the month of May. Specifics will vary based on location. Cancellations will continue until such time as a firm date for opening the campgrounds is known. Additionally, some group campsites may be closed for a longer duration or may not open at all while the concessioners determine how to manage social distancing at a group site.

The Inyo National Forest has extended the cancelled the issuance of Wilderness permits, including Mt. Whitney day and overnight permits, through May 31. Cancellations had previously been through May 15. People with a Wilderness permit reservation that is cancelled will receive a notice from recreation.gov that notifies them that their reservation has been cancelled and a refund has been issued. The forest will continue to evaluate this process based on state and local health guidance.

[mort]

And I got a cancellation & refund for my Lamarck Col trip which was going to start May 29. Getting a reservation for June 1.
-mort

[cgundersen]

Hey Mort,
I'll be curious whether they issue you a permit. And, if they do, I'll be even more curious how things look up there. Please post a TR when you return (assuming they let you in).
Cheers,
Cameron

PS. And thanks Mav for posting this heads up!