Gianelli trailhead advice

[Berkeley]

So, I finally picked up my wilderness per min for 6/23 for a 5 day trip out of Gianelli. Ive been calling the Summit ranger station to try and confirm the roads are open to the trailhead to no avail. Ive spoken to several people that have confirmed that Crabtree is open all the way to the trailhead. I called the Aspen Pack Station to get information about the access to Gianelli being open where a ranger in the background stated that the "road is closed due to tree hazard removal but will most likely be open by the 23rd." I called again today and they stated the road is wide open/clear all the way to trail head with people driving around the road closure signs and going to the trailhead regardless. He stated if you go to the trailhead you risk getting a ticket, worse, you car could potentially be towed.

Does anybody know if the forest service is actually ticketing and towing people? This seems pretty absurd because I WAS ISSUED A WILDERNESS PERMIT WITH GIANELLI TRIALHEAD AS A DEPARTURE POINT. Should we just head up and disregard the road closure signs? If anybody has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[bobby49]

You could call the main office for Stanislaus NF.

[balzaccom]

I've talked to both the rangers and locals. Rangers say that the trails are open, but it is illegal to park overnight at the trailheads. The locals are suggesting that someone drop you off at the trailhead to avoid this issue. And from my experience, the Summit Ranger station isn't actually staffed.

Just an FYI--the Stanislaus NF website asks you NOT to drive to the Stanislaus Forest for recreation. It asks you to get your recreation closer to home. This is distinctly at odds with many other USFS jurisdictions, but presumably developed in cooperation with the local authorities in Tuolumne County.

[balzaccom]

New update: Just spoke to the ranger at the Summit Ranger office, which is now open, at least virtually. You can get your permit online for Stanislaus National Forest traiheads here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/stanisl ... cialplaces All issued electronically

Note that this is only for travel completely within the Stanislaus National Forest. if your trip takes into Yosemite, for example, you'll need to call the office and talk to them about it. that number is 209-459-9236

Toyabe Humboldt (Hoover Wilderness, east side) is now issuing wilderness permits via Recreation.gov. While it may be a pain to use that system, it has one advantage. If you are flexible in your dates, you can see how many permits have been issued for each trailhead, and can choose a date and trailhead with fewer hikers...at least as of the date you apply.

[justm]

So it's ok to park at the trailhead with a permit obtained online, correct ?

[balzaccom]

That's what the ranger told me, yes.

[Berkeley]

The ranger I spoke to said not to park in the main parking lot because they are trying remove hazard trees. When we went multiple people did anyway. We parked several hundred feet away from the main parking lot and there wasn't an issue.