Just wondering with the government shutdown and all...

SR 120
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 5 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO) - DUE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN - MOTORISTS ARE
ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

Interestingly Caltrans doesn't say there is a closure for 89 (Lassen), 190 (DV), or even 198 (SEKI). But seemingly no way to confirm the status in advance, as the park website is shut down (which doesn't really make sense to me... seems like you could just leave the thing up and walk out the door).

which doesn't really make sense to me...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington ... t_Syndrome

Yosemite's recorded road conditions message says the highways will remain open, but no stopping within the park. 209-372-0200, ext. 1, ext. 1.

finckster wrote:Yosemite's recorded road conditions message says the highways will remain open, but no stopping within the park. 209-372-0200, ext. 1, ext. 1.

Interesting. Lots of conflicting information out there on the Internet about this one.

Google Maps, for example, is telling me HWY120 is temporarily closed.

Even the park websites have been "shutdown".

Even the park websites have been "shutdown"

Except that they're not even shut down- the servers are still up but redirecting folks to a "we're shut down" page.
They're not saving any server costs and some had to go in and proactively set up the redirect.

I'm curious what will happen locally, in Calico Basin (west of Las Vegas). There is an official BLM parking lot, near Kraft Mountain, for climbers/hikers; it isn't paved and receives virtually no maintenance, but does have a gate. I'm guessing they will probably close and lock the gate. However, the county (not BLM) road leading up to that gate has very wide shoulders, and parking there is currently legal. If people park all along that 0.7 mile stretch, it could be a real mess.

That area normally gets close to zero attention from BLM folks; in 15 years, I've seen BLM personnel once at the parking, and zero times in the areas beyond the parking lot. I'm curious how much money they will be willing to spend to patrol the area and give tickets.

The electronic signs on 395 say that 120 is closed. And Whoa Nellie was dead today.

who cites you if you get in if there are no rangers?

jareds wrote:who cites you if you get in if there are no rangers?

Probably the same fellow who nabs you for not getting a permit for an overnighter!

Some folks walked into Red Rock Canyon NCA west of Vegas, and went climbing/hiking. They reported that a helicopter flew overhead and tried to "shoo" them away, using a PA system. RRCNCA doesn't have its own helicopters, so I don't know where this one came from. Helicopter flights are quite expensive.

I was in Sequoia NP yesterday out of Mountain Home. Ran into 4 hunters there as well. While the cat's away...

Bob Burd wrote:I was in Sequoia NP yesterday out of Mountain Home. Ran into 4 hunters there as well. While the cat's away...

What were you climbing?

Quinn, Sheep, plus a few others.