Pinnacles National Park is awaiting President Obama's signature:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-pinnacles-national-park-20121231,0,6332813.story

^^^^^^^^

The article didn't mention that you can see California Condors flying across from the Bear Gulch Visitor Center.

A California Condor beats a Lame Duck Congress any day of the week

SeanReedy wrote:Pinnacles National Park is awaiting President Obama's signature:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-pinnacles-national-park-20121231,0,6332813.story

I think Pinnacles is great but I do not think this is a good idea. As far as I can tell nothing but the name changes and ends up diluting what a national park should be. If there was a massive land acquisition around the park or a bunch of the blm land in the area were added as another unit and then developed as a park that would be different, per the development of Great Sand Dunes and the adition of the high country of the Sangres. The increase in stature, geographic diversity and ability to absorb visitors would be more comensurate with park status. As it is, it will remain a monument in all but name. It is a done deal though, since I doubt O would veto the bill. If you like climbing at pinnacles, get ready for crowds.

It already gets pretty crowded on weekends, especially on the Bear Gulch side of the monument/park. Get beyond the High Peaks loop trail and its nice and quiet. Go during the week and you'll almost have the place to yourself, there will be plenty of folks in the campground, but almost none on the trails (or rocks).

About the article in the LA Times - they didn't mention Pinnacles' unique and interesting volcanic past, which is what made it a monument in the first place back in 1908. So much for modern-day journalism.
.

^^^^^^^^

Pets ARE allowed in the San Gorgonio, but must be kept under control at all times.

I wish somebody would keep power-hungry politicians under control, but that ain't going to happen ...

simonov wrote:

lcarreau wrote:Pets ARE allowed in the San Gorgonio, but must be kept under control at all times.

Yes, because it's still part of a National Forest, not a National Park.

Agreed ... but when you have political divisions in the form of boundaries, the end result will be complete confusion over TOO MANY regulations.

simonov wrote:My impression of the difference between National Forests and National Parks is there are a lot more regulations in the latter. For example, no dogs on trails in National Parks (at least here out west).

Your point is accurate but moot. Pinnacles is not part of a national forest but is a national monument run by the national park service. I doubt many if any of the regs would change if it became a park.

Dogs are not allowed on the trails at Pinnacles NM:

http://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/things2know.htm

Probably a good idea at PNM, considering the wildlife in the area, both endangered (condors, bats), and nuisance animals that could cause havoc with a dog (feral pigs, especially on the west side and up towards Chalone Peak).

Probably good to check any National Monument before you go.

goodbye to the pool

It's now official; Pinnacles has become the 59th National Park (the ninth in California), more than a century after Teddy Roosevelt made it a monument. Some details:

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22348158/obama-elevates-pinnacles-national-monument-south-bay-area


San Benito County is one of the most rural in the state and could use the expected economic boost. The same applies to southern Monterey County. Visitation already tends to seem high for the current infrastructure during peak visitation weekends in early to mid spring. Maybe visitation will increase some during other times of year (overall visitation is low). My favorite visits have been when there was a bit of snow blanketing the ground (best chance of that is generally late winter). Many people visit the east side when the Bear Gulch Talus Cave is open all the way through (late March and late October). Summers are very dry and often include extremely toasty stretches.

The public comment period on the Pinnacles General Management Plan closes Friday the 11th:
http://www.nps.gov/pinn/parkmgmt/planning.htm

Summary of the GMP and more Pinnacles information here: http://www.pinnacles.org/news/index.php3

Visitation didn't increase beyond what otherwise would have been expected when Death Valley change from national monument to national park status.

If you look at the most recent transformations, there is actually little to support that there is any effect on visitation at all (this was a surprise to me, as I was trying to show the opposite at the time, but that's how it is).

I agree with Bubba. It is a pointless and useless name change and absolutely nothing more.

So you want more than a minor alteration to the name?

SeanReedy wrote:

So you want more than a minor alteration to the name?

YES ..... WE SHOULD CALL IN MORE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO DISCUSS THIS ....