Government Shutdown - impacted areas

Didn't even think of this one...bummer. Really puts the "NO" in "NOAA".

governmentshutdown.noaa.gov/

Yeah, but they still went for a coaster ride....

Personal politics aside, here are some links for anyone interested in having your opinions heard in Washington whether you want the shutdown to end or wish to encourage the GOP to continue their stance on the Affordable Care Act:

You can write Speaker Boehner directly:
speaker.gov/contact

The Access Fund website has a tool to write your congressmen in DC. Look under News and Events for the Action Center. As a member, I got an email with a link so maybe most are already on top of this:
accessfund.org

From what I can make of the news, the "clean" CR would pass the House and get the government back up and running. I understand House Speaker Boehner holds the ability to put this to a vote on the House floor. I found the process very easy and satisfying to know I was doing something besides complaining to my friends.

Cheers,
Lance

brennahm wrote:The shutdown will only apply to NPS and BLM facilities and NPS properties. USFS lands will be open. State Parks will be open *cough*Shelf Road*cough*.

.

Shelf isn't a SP, it's BLM.

there are no friends on the Proj, only camalots, aliens...and an elanor

brennahm wrote:I know nobody wants to hear that there is rational thought into shutting down the national parks and monuments but here you go. People in those areas means those areas need to be maintained. Those people want facilities, they want support, and all too often they do something stupid that requires attention from rangers. Usually small crap, but if the rangers aren't there the situations escalate and shit gets bad.

Exactly this. People like to think that this is some kind of "punishment" that the NPS is exacting on people. If Yosemite (for example) stayed open with no employees to man it the toilets would literally overflow with human feces within days. There would be trash everywhere. I don't think people realize the amount of maintenance required to keep exceptionally high use facilities in acceptable shape.

It wasn't a high-use area until it became a park, and then a fucking highway

Tony B wrote:...our stupid (insane) farm bills...

P.J. O'Rourke:

"...I did, however, once help artificially inseminate a cow. And you can keep your comments to yourself—I was up at the front, holding the thing's head.

[...]

"It's an alarming thing to watch, and I'm glad to say I didn't watch it because I was at the cow's other end. But I'll tell you this, I will never forget the look on that cow's face.

"The same look—and for the same reason—appeared on my own face when I began reading the 1990 omnibus farm bill. Every five years or so the U.S. Congress votes on a package of agricultural legislation that does to the taxpayer what Pete and George and I did to the cow."

Does anyone know if red river gorge is accessible? I haven't been but I was planning on going in the next couple weeks. It's in the Daniel Boone National Forrest but as far as I know there aren't gates to some of the climbing areas.

Planning to go to city of rocks idaho this weekend. It is a "national reserve" Anyone know if its affected? I know the camping will probably be closed but just curious if I can still climb.
Thanks

mountainproject.com/v/city-…

sweet, thanks zoso!

Tioga Pass open?

Yea it is!

Red Rock Canyon Loop is closed.
The following areas however are outside of the loop:

Calico Basin: Short routes, short approaches.

First Creek Canyon: Short to very long multi-pitch routes. There are some excellent climbs down there and it is an often overlooked climbing area. The approach is at least an hour but is very straight-forward and mostly flat.
Even when the loop is open, this is a great area for long multi-pitch climbs since it is not subject to the loop hours and there are no worries about getting (or more appropriately forgetting to get) a late exit pass.
Also, there are no facilities at the trailhead like most of the loop stops, so bring a trowel and do the right thing.
Finally, when leaving your car at the First Creek Canyon parking area put anything you are not taking with you in the trunk or somewhere out of sight - I've never had a problem when doing this but have heard about others who've had break-ins after leaving things out in plain sight

Phase 3 wrote:Red Rock Canyon Loop is closed. The following areas however are outside of the loop:

Uhhh.. Black Velvet Canyon?

Tony B wrote: Uhhh.. Black Velvet Canyon?

No point in listing every climb west of First

Sunset in Chattanooga was closed yesterday.

Red Rocks, NV is closed since it is a national conservation area. Even if you approach from the Calico Basin side, the gates are locked and signs are posted on bathroom doors and gates. There were quite a few people walking in to hike and climb, but the area is being patroled so be careful. BTW.... Metro is ticketing cars for illegal parking since so many people are parking along the residential areas.