What does a govt shutdown mean for access to NF and NP?

[mediauras]

I think they would have a hard time gating off various roads to trailheads. People are still out there and are legally allowed to be out the duration of their permit. Closing a road means they're locked in.

[DavePloessel]

Maybe a sticky thread on which roads are gated? After spending almost 3 months in a cast I am finally about to go backpacking again the weekend after next... Even though it's only going to be a couple miles into the backcountry, I will be damned if I'm going to let a bunch of morons in DC prevent me from getting back into the mountains.

[GreenhornBackpacker]

Now the Mammoth Times is saying that the Tioga Road is open. Other reports say that you are not allowed to stop to 'recreate'. But how are they going to tell the difference between cars parked at the Wilderness Center parking lot who were there before the shutdown and those who parked after? And who is going to do the enforcing if the employees are furloughed?

[ChasingRainbows]

according to dot.ca.gov:

HWY 120
"IS REOPENED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) AT 0930 HRS ON 10/1/13"

I was planning on heading to Yosemite this weekend and camping at Porcupine Flat or up in on of the NF campgrounds near Tioga Pass, those are probably gated off I would imagine.

[FeetFirst]

The recreation.gov website is down "due to a lapse in federal government funding" and is where one would normally go to reserve permits for Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado NF (as well as many other NFs wilderness permits). I called the Eldorado NF Pacific Ranger District station to see about a same day permit, but received a recorded message saying they were closed due to federal govt. furloughs. Great. I'm one to follow the rules, but...

I'm going for it.

[vitaminC]

I was also planning on Desolation this weekend. Will probably make alternate plans and hope that the govt can get its act together soon.

[calipidder]

I leave on Friday for a 19 day roadtrip through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Absolutely fuming right now. Not excited, not happy about this trip I've been carefully planning for a year. Just stressed and angry.

[maverick]

Cadipidder wrote:
I leave on Friday for a 19 day roadtrip through Yellowstone, Grand Teton,
Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Absolutely fuming right now. Not
excited, not happy about this trip I've been carefully planning for a year.
Just stressed and angry.

Well the best parts of Grand Teton National Park are outside the gates with the exception
of OxBow Bend.

Hwy 89 runs the entire length of the park along the east side. You can reach the barns
and all the pullouts along 89 including Snake River Overlook. You can also park at the Schwabacher Landing road and walk in. That road was already closed this year because
of sequester.

Oxbow Bend is inside the park so wont be accessible, nor is Jenny Lake if the gates are
closed.

Canyonlands and Capitol Reef should not be a problem to access, plenty of backroads,
Zion might be an issue.

Why not go to Grandstaircase-Escalante NM? Plenty of road access with beautiful scenery?


Canyonlands and Capital Reef I would not worry about, especially if you have a 4 wheel
drive, Zion is another story.

The road out Gros Venture will be open.

Access of backroads of Canyonlands and Capitol Reef should not be problems with a
4 wheel drive. Zion may be an issue, but why not go to Grandstaircase-Escalante NM
instead, all the roads in will be accessible, and the scenery is outstanding.
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[Tom_H]

I was also planning on Desolation this weekend. Will probably make alternate plans and hope that the govt can get its act together soon.

Since all the trailheads originate at points of open access (no gate many miles away from trailhead), I wouldn't hesitate just to enter Desolation without a permit, same for Hoover, etc. If the backcountry rangers aren't there, what are they going to do? Even if they are there, if you say you tried to get a permit and no one was available, what are they going to do? I'd still be respectful to them and follow all the rules (fires, bathroom use, etc.) as usual. If they told me to leave, I'd politely say that with the government shut down, I am exercising a peaceful protest against it via this non-violent act of civil disobedience. The WWII memorial at the national mall was locked off at midnight. Today there were numerous WWII vets in there respectfully visiting it. I didn't see any LEOs arresting them.

[rlown]

The recreation.gov website is down "due to a lapse in federal government funding" and is where one would normally go to reserve permits for Desolation Wilderness, Eldorado NF (as well as many other NFs wilderness permits). I called the Eldorado NF Pacific Ranger District station to see about a same day permit, but received a recorded message saying they were closed due to federal govt. furloughs. Great. I'm one to follow the rules, but...

I'm going for it.

Go for it.

If a website was really down, you'd get a 500 error. They obviously have enough money to keep their site up and just put up a redirect message (yose did the same this am). Means the server is still up and drawing power and money.

Idiots really..

Leave a note where you're going with friends/family. Leave one in the car and enjoy. Weather looks good.

russ