High Sierra Topix

Be prepared to empty your wallets if you use any of these facilities.

Last month, the Forest Service quietly released a plan to hand over management of 52 recreation sites throughout the Los Padres National Forest to a private, for-profit concessionaire. Fees would significantly increase at these sites as much as 300% with no increase in amenities. The plan – scheduled to be approved next week – would apply to popular campgrounds, day use areas, and some trailheads in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey counties.

Rest of the information is here:
http://lpfw.org/a-controversial-plan-to ... mpgrounds/

Probably because they've been operating at a loss forever, and now the fire has decimated things.

I wonder if Larry will ever work again? He's been at Bottchers Gap for 30 years. The campground was burnt through and probably needs a lot of work.

Looks like they tried to sneak that one by..

I can understand farming out the campgrounds to a concessionaire. The increase in fees aren't welcome, but considering what it costs to car camp some place like El Capitain State Beach, NF campgrounds are still relatively cheap.

The day use thing rubs me the wrong way though, especially when places that were covered by the "Adventure Pass" are being converted to sites where it is no longer applicable. The Adventure Pass coverage is a big reason why I purchase a National Parks pass or whatever they call it now every year..

psykokid wrote:...
The day use thing rubs me the wrong way though, especially when places that were covered by the "Adventure Pass" are being converted to sites where it is no longer applicable. The Adventure Pass coverage is a big reason why I purchase a National Parks pass or whatever they call it now every year..

The Adventure Pass is a So Cal thing. The national passes will still be valid.

dave54 wrote:

psykokid wrote:...
The day use thing rubs me the wrong way though, especially when places that were covered by the "Adventure Pass" are being converted to sites where it is no longer applicable. The Adventure Pass coverage is a big reason why I purchase a National Parks pass or whatever they call it now every year..

The Adventure Pass is a So Cal thing. The national passes will still be valid.

Yes, but Los Padres is part of the "Adventure Pass" scheme, as well as Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland NFs. Part of Los Padres is in SoCal after all.. If the concessionaire is charging a day use fee will the national pass still cover that under the standard amenity fee umbrella? No mention of that in the verbage I read, unless I missed it...

psykokid wrote:

dave54 wrote:...Yes, but Los Padres is part of the "Adventure Pass" scheme, as well as Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland NFs. Part of Los Padres is in SoCal after all.. If the concessionaire is charging a day use fee will the national pass still cover that under the standard amenity fee umbrella? No mention of that in the verbage I read, unless I missed it...

The National Passes are supposed to remain valid. Unless the concessionaire or the FS tries to get away something underhanded.

So an America the Beautiful pass works in Adventure Pass areas?

robow8 wrote:So an America the Beautiful pass works in Adventure Pass areas?

Yes it does, you can even get a little hanger dealie when you buy the pass to hang it from your rearview mirror. I use mine all the time up at Chantry Flats.

psykokid wrote:

robow8 wrote:So an America the Beautiful pass works in Adventure Pass areas?

Yes it does, you can even get a little hanger dealie when you buy the pass to hang it from your rearview mirror. I use mine all the time up at Chantry Flats.

Sweet. Where do you get yours?

I haven't used a pass at all in Sespe and they never required them in the Monterey district. They do around Santa Barbara.