BLM TO CHARGE $20 TO ACCESS CALICO BASIN; WILL BUILD TOLL BOOTH

M M wrote:

...maybe we just need the heavy hitters like Honnold, Caldwell and Chin to start making some cool gym climbing and bowling movies.

Alex Honnold made his fortune by over-popularizing rock climbing. Now as a resident of Calico Basin, he is pulling up the ladder behind himself as his backyard becomes an exclusive preserve and the now-overcrowded climbing community is locked out. He captured the local climbing organization by becoming their key fundraiser, so it's no surprise that the SNCC and their parent organization, Access Fund, stand idly by and do nothing as BLM creates a gated-community infrastructure, benefitting the well-connected, right in the middle of our public lands. 

It will be a shame, seeing the toll gates installed but the notion that there will be a 24-hour, remote-controlled express lane for residents and their friends (ie., Access Fund staff) is infuriating.

maybe try writing some fan mail to get in on the "locals only" express gate action? Or just suck up to the community coalition, those groups typically like people that suck up or have lots of money.

How is the loop road, Calico and Red Rock in general on weekDAYS? At capacity or not crowded?

Some company is selling a plot of land right next to the trail and right next to the boulders 

lol Ted was right

Ted Kaczynski?

Trad Man wrote:

Ted Kaczynski?

Yes

You can’t eat your cake and have it too

Mark E Dixon wrote:

You can’t eat your cake and have it too

Fuck can I at least have a crumb?

M M wrote:

Every single outdoor recreation spot in the whole country is out of control with people right now, its been that way since covid. Public land and especially trailheads are getting thrashed right now by people with no outdoors experience and no plan b. Hopefully we can start convincing them to go back indoors over time, maybe we just need the heavy hitters like Honnold, Caldwell and Chin to start making some cool gym climbing and bowling movies.

It’s really been happening since before COVID. Blame consumerism, capitalism, and backwards politics. 

Dakota McCullough wrote:

It’s really been happening since before COVID. Blame consumerism, capitalism, and backwards politics. 

Consumerism and social media if you ask me, the rest we have been dealing with throughout human history.

Will national parks pass get in free 

KrisG wrote:

I was there yesterday as well. Left Kraft parking around 4:30pm and there was a ranger in the parking lot... doing nothing (as far as I could tell) about all the rampant disregard for trampling off trails, dogs off leash, litter/graffiti, parking anywhere and everywhere, etc. Given the complete lack of signage and agnostic attitude of BLM officials/rangers to do any educating of the masses, it's not at all surprising to see the place getting "loved to death." So, on the one hand, I think it should be locked down to prevent its destruction, but then I remember that the BLM created this problem with the Loop road reservation system.

It bears repeating that the recent, explosive overuse of this area, in the past couple years, is a direct result of the reservations system for the Loop road. The apparent disregard for the overflow effect on Calico Basin, after implementing a Loop road restriction system, has resulted in the BLM's solution of gate and restrict Calico Basin now too. 

#BackwardsLazyManagement

I couldn't agree more.  They need to get rid of that reservation system.  Put up a sign if parking isn't available.  80% of the people visiting probably would just be content seeing it from their car.

BLM needs to buy up that private land an put more infrasture out there for the masses.

Keith Boone wrote:

BLM needs to buy up that private land an put more infrasture out there for the masses

Isn't that how we got in this situation to begin with?

Not Sure wrote:

Will national parks pass get in free 

Takes care of entrance fee still have to pay either 2 or 3 dollars for a “reservation fee” wether you pull up without one or have one. 

Are reservations required weekdays 

Not My Name wrote: 

Will national parks pass get in free

Not Sure wrote:

Are reservations required weekdays 

Hey, this thread isn't the Red Rock Canyon customer service center. You could answer your questions yourself with a little research elsewhere. Your question is off topic; you are asking about reservations for the Red Rock loop road while the this thread is about a new entrance fee for Calico Basin. Here's your answer: CALL THE BLM.

Not My Name wrote:

John, thanks for offering to answer questions. For Calico Basin access, Will national parks pass get holder in free

and

Start your question with. When this goes into affect. 

Things just seem to go from bad to worse for Red Rock Canyon. Now, the local conservation group Save Red Rock, is calling for Nevada State Highway 159 to be gated at either end and having toll booths built.

As climbers, we have stood idly by as BLM has worsened regulation of the loop area. The BLM used COVID as an excuse to usher in the reservation system with strict entrance quotas and additional fees made payable the corporation the runs recreation.gov. But they left the areas outside the loop free of charge. Areas like First Creek, Mount Wilson and Oak Creek are easily accessible by simply parking along Highway 159 currently. Those days will be over soon if Save Red Rock has their way. Led by Blue Diamond resident, Heather Fisher, Save Red Rock seems to want to preserve her personal, rural lifestyle by locking the common people off of a state highway. There is some additional information on the Nevada Department of Transportation website here:

SR 160 and SR 159 Corridor Study

If only there were some sort of organization, a “FUND” maybe, that fought hard to preserve “ACCESS” to public lands for rock climbers. But, nope, the only organization I can think of, does not lift one single finger in the defense of climber’s access issues.

If you want to personally speak out against Save Red Rock’s idea to put a toll booth at either end of Highway 159, then I encourage you to send your thoughts to the State of Nevada at the following link:

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT BY APRIL 27 

As a visual reference, I whipped up this map with my interpretation of Save Red Rock’s plan. I can only make wild guesses as to where the toll booths will actually go, but it seems likely Heather’s house in Blue Diamond will be inside this zone of protection. Not only will Calico Basin residents get the gated-community atmosphere they’ve always wanted, at tax-payer expense, but now the Blue Diamond residents will get the same – I suppose they were feeling left out.

Here’s an excerpt from the email I received from Save Red Rock today, with more information.

Save Red Rock wrote in a bulk email, dated 4/21/22:

Park Entrance Stations on both ends of 159

They say that this is not done very often on state highways. But it is done for special conditions, like the state highway through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the state highway through Zion National Park. We believe that Red Rock Canyon is a special condition.

Red Rock is every bit as popular as those other model areas and even more heavily trafficked and vulnerable, being so close to a major metropolis. If park entrance stations bookended the Red Rock Scenic Byway, accountability could increase and crimes could decrease, such as graffiti, hit-and-run accidents, speeding, and unnecessary shortcut traffic. Also, the BLM could have more resources to manage other areas, not just the scenic loop. Calico Basin, Blue Diamond and First Creek/Oak Creek are a couple of examples of areas outside the scenic loop that also require management.

LOL! I can't wait for the toll to be reduced from $50 to $20 so Access Fund can declare victory

Things just seem to go from bad to worse for Red Rock Canyon. Now, the local conservation group Save Red Rock, is calling for Nevada State Highway 159 to be gated at either end and having toll booths built.

As climbers, we have stood idly by as BLM has worsened regulation of the loop area. The BLM used COVID as an excuse to usher in the reservation system with strict entrance quotas and additional fees made payable the corporation the runs recreation.gov. But they left the areas outside the loop free of charge. Areas like First Creek, Mount Wilson and Oak Creek are easily accessible by simply parking along Highway 159 currently. Those days will be over soon if Save Red Rock has their way. Led by Blue Diamond resident, Heather Fisher, Save Red Rock seems to want to preserve her personal, rural lifestyle by locking the common people off of a state highway. There is some additional information on the Nevada Department of Transportation website here:

SR 160 and SR 159 Corridor Study

If only there were some sort of organization, a “FUND” maybe, that fought hard to preserve “ACCESS” to public lands for rock climbers. But, nope, the only organization I can think of, does not lift one single finger in the defense of climber’s access issues.

If you want to personally speak out against Save Red Rock’s idea to put a toll booth at either end of Highway 159, then I encourage you to send your thoughts to the State of Nevada at the following link:

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT BY APRIL 27 

As a visual reference, I whipped up this map with my interpretation of Save Red Rock’s plan. I can only make wild guesses as to where the toll booths will actually go, but it seems likely Heather’s house in Blue Diamond will be inside this zone of protection. Not only will Calico Basin residents get the gated-community atmosphere they’ve always wanted, at tax-payer expense, but now the Blue Diamond residents will get the same – I suppose they were feeling left out.

Here’s an excerpt from the email I received from Save Red Rock today, with more information.

Save Red Rock wrote in a bulk email, dated 4/21/22:

Park Entrance Stations on both ends of 159

They say that this is not done very often on state highways. But it is done for special conditions, like the state highway through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the state highway through Zion National Park. We believe that Red Rock Canyon is a special condition.

Red Rock is every bit as popular as those other model areas and even more heavily trafficked and vulnerable, being so close to a major metropolis. If park entrance stations bookended the Red Rock Scenic Byway, accountability could increase and crimes could decrease, such as graffiti, hit-and-run accidents, speeding, and unnecessary shortcut traffic. Also, the BLM could have more resources to manage other areas, not just the scenic loop. Calico Basin, Blue Diamond and First Creek/Oak Creek are a couple of examples of areas outside the scenic loop that also require management.