High Sierra Topix

Thought about it, but it will just bring the closure of the trails that much sooner.

Disgusting! Sorry you had to experience that Teresa.

Teresa - that is horrible. I agree. Call the sheriff.

This is a time when we're all going to need to work together with compassion and patience.

Teresa Gergen wrote: ↑Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:47 am Thought about it, but it will just bring the closure of the trails that much sooner.

Maybe it would just get those guys a fine...and get them off the trails.

The trail is pretty much unusable with them occupying it.
EDIT Just got notice that all hiking trails in L.A. County are to close.
https://www.foxla.com/news/all-hiking-t ... akuk1j747U

Yosemite NP and SEKI NP are now officially closed to all visitors.

SEKI NP:

Effective immediately, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed to all park visitors until further notice. California Highway 180 will remain open for pass-through traffic to access Giant Sequoia National Monument and private property. All other roads and parking facilities are temporarily closed.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website www.nps.gov/seki and social media channels @SequoiaKingsNPS.

Meanwhile, Pinnacles National Park in the central coast ranges appears to have the only developed public campground still open within about 3 hours drive of the Bay Area! I checked recreation.gov, reserveamerica.gov, and reservecalifornia.gov, plus county and regional park district sites, and found no other open campgrounds. All others appear closed because of COVID-19 concerns.
-Phil

Death Valley:

Park Status during COVID-19
(Updated 3/23/2020)
Park is open, facilities are closed
The NPS encourages people who choose to visit Death Valley National Park during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.

The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.

Restrooms
All public restrooms are closed. Visitors should come prepared to pack out human waste (such as in a RV holding tank) or dig a 6-inch deep hole to bury human waste at least 200 yards from campsites or water sources.

Visitor Information:
Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells Ranger Stations are closed.

Camping
All NPS campgrounds are closed, including front-country and back-country campgrounds.

Please note: Visitors whose reservations were impacted by these campground closures will be issued a refund to the original credit card of purchase. If you are a camper that did not receive a refund by April 15, 2020, please call 760-786-3247.
Campgrounds operated by Stovepipe Wells Resort and The Oasis at Death Valley are closed.
Panamint Springs Resort's campground is open.

Backpacking and dispersed roadside camping is allowed. However, please follow the park's standard regulations for dispersed camping.

Viewpoints/Trailheads/Secondary Roads
Parking lots at Badwater, Zabriskie Point, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are closed to discourage groups of people from congregating at these high-traffic destinations. Salt Creek Road and Dantes View Road are closed.

Warm Springs
All warm springs in the park are closed to entry.

Resorts: Lodging, Food & Fuel
The Oasis at Death Valley is completely closed, except for the pay-at-the-pump gas station.
Stovepipe Wells Resort is closed, except for pay-at-the-pump gas station and the general store (open 9am-6pm). The gas station will be closed during winds of 25 mph or higher.
Panamint Springs Resort has lodging, camping, general store, gas station, and take-out food service.

If you are headed for Death Valley, consider the Racetrack Valley. First, see if the road is open. It is a pretty rough road, and high clearance is suggested. However, I've driven there a couple of times in a normal sedan. Make sure that there is no excess snow. Due to the warmth there, the snow seldom gets deep. If you drive there in the wrong vehicle, you are doomed.

The good news is that there is a lot of space there, and there are lots of old mines to explore. We might be getting close to the time when the desert wildflowers emerge. Make sure that you are self-sufficient.

From the DVNP website:
Racetrack Road: Road is OPEN but washboard is worse than usual. Racetrack Playa could be wet and muddy after storms. Do not walk on playa if it is wet.