National Parks may be closed this weekend

[tim]

According to today's news reports, Yosemite and other national parks/monuments will be "closed and locked up" if there is no budget deal by midnight on Friday:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/governme ... d=13309873" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Check before you plan a trip to the Sierra this weekend!

[hikerduane]

I called Pt. Reyes Nat'l Seashore this afternoon, if we make it in Friday night as planned, we can stay thru Saturday night as planned. I'm guessing the rest of the Parks will do likewise. Not Sierra related, but I gotta leave the mountains once in awhile. Five of us going from NorthCA Hiking, Yahoo group. Still a little life there, FB hasn't killed us off completely.

[maverick]

Only good thing is that this is not happening during the peak season!

[oldranger]

Maverick

It did once. I was riding up Deadman Canyon on a park service horse and at Noon we were notified that the government was shut down and that we were to cease working. I wondered if I should unsaddle the horse and take off my uniform and walk back to the station in my cowboy boots and skivies. I decided f it. And continued to do what I was doing. One of the many good things about being a BC ranger is that you are pretty much unsupervised. Turns out that I got paid so I felt that the government got its moneys worth.

Mike

[hikerduane]

When I called, most weekends for a long stretch are filled already at I guess the more popular CG's in the Seashore. Peak season now for the coast unlike Yosemite etc.

[rlown]

Probably because it's Abalone season now. Both Salmon and Ab opened ~April 1st.

[LMBSGV]

The backcountry campgrounds at Pt. Reyes are full on weekends. If you go on weekdays, it is usually easy to get a great site except during weeks like spring break. I live a few miles from Pt. Reyes and my wife and I go spontaneously on weekdays when weather and work make it possible. We always get a site and usually the specific site we want.

[hikerduane]

All worked out for our trip, everyone plus a surprise made it. Not all sites were occupied either, at least at Sky Camp, Glen Camp was full I believe. Nice weather, hiked down to Wildcat and over to the falls south of there a mile and a half I think and back to Glen, long day. Five hour drive home, enjoyed it there.

[Carne_DelMuerto]

Hikerduane,

Glad you had a good trip. I'm headed there in May for two nights (one night at Coast, one at Sky). It looks to be a really easy trip, but do you have any advice/tips? It will be our first time there. Thanks!

[hikerduane]

PM sent, enjoy your trip. Even I can make my way back to the mountains from there, not the quickest way though. That wasn't there on Friday!