JTree Hobbit Hole Bonfires: Rangers Seeking Information

Joshua Tree National Park Law Enforcement Rangers are seeking information about a series of illegal bonfire parties held in the "Outback Climbing Area" located North of the Hidden Valley Campground.   Rangers have evidence that the most recent fire occurred last month (July 23') at the peak of a desert heat wave and extreme fire danger.  There is an urgent need to identify the people responsible for these fires in order to prevent catastrophic damage to the Joshua Tree National Park natural, cultural and historic landscape. 

The bonfire location is near a well-known boulder problem known as "The Hobbit Hole Off-Width" and a traditional climbing route known as "Negasaurus" on the Dinosaur Rock.  

Rangers possess photo and video evidence showing as many as fifty people attending parties on 12/7/22, 1/7/23, 2/5/23 and more recently this spring and summer.  The bonfire parties have permanently damaged a sensitive archeological site.  

If you have any information regarding past "Hobbit Hole Fires" please contact lead investigator Olson using the information below.  If you have any knowledge about future planned fires, please call the Federal Interagency Communications Center at (909) 383-5651.  

 

Protection Ranger Olson (Off Thurs-Sat)

zachary_olson@nps.gov

Dollars to donuts it was Instagramers.  

https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/news/park-rangers-announce-fire-restrictions-at-joshua-tree-national-park.htm

Total fire ban also announced today…

Is "the hobbit hole" directly underneath the hobbit roof? Just curious.

Donald Thompson wrote:

Is "the hobbit hole" directly underneath the hobbit roof? Just curious.

No, they are in different areas. The hobbit hole can be seen here:  mountainproject.com/area/10…

Thanks Steve.

Will there be immunity for whistle blowers?

People can be so freaking entitled its ridiculous

Tradiban wrote:

Will there be immunity for whistle blowers?

That’s a great question and one that I’d love to answer outside of Mountain Project.

Sending an email is the first step.

zachary_olson@nps.gov 

It astounds me that this is taking place. Can I just answer the question “what kind of people would participate in something like this?”

A: completely selfish, stupid, idiotic assholes.

I can’t imagine any of the climbers I know participating in this crap. 

Russ Walling wrote:

Dollars to donuts it was Instagramers.  

This^

Joshua Tree Ranger Zach Olson wrote:

That’s a great question and one that I’d love to answer outside of Mountain Project.

Sending an email is the first step.

zachary_olson@nps.gov 

It seems like a question you should answer publicly.

If you’re trying to find out who organized the parties try instagram, but is organizing a party a crime? Is attending a party a crime? Were they advertised as a “Bonfire” parties? But who then actually started the fire? What are your goals here? Who are you looking for?

I dunno but this sounds like a tough nut to crack.

If I did witness this crime I would report anonymously.

Godspeed.

Just curious. Was the wood burned gathered locally to the fire location, or was real firewood carried out to the site? The first might even be the worse offense, but the second demonstrates real planning.

Best of luck getting to the bottom of this, and keep us posted.

Tradiban wrote:

It seems like a question you should answer publicly.

If you’re trying to find out who organized the parties try instagram, but is organizing a party a crime? Is attending a party a crime? Were they advertised as a “Bonfire” parties? But who then actually started the fire? What are your goals here? Who are you looking for?

I dunno but this sounds like a tough nut to crack.

If I did witness this crime I would report anonymously.

Godspeed.

He probably already has a pile of names.  

I bet those dopes will throw their buddies under the bus in a heartbeat if they think they can get off easy. 

can you post the photos you have?  i'm sure a lot of folks would love to rat the perps out.

I feel it might be pertinent to mention that this fire ring has been here a long time. There are no signs, or information marking it as a “Historic Do Not Use” site. I feel it’s more pertinent to mention that a Law Enforcement Ranger back in the day encouraged parties here, instead of the Don Juan Boulder, as it was lower impact, and safer for the people who attended. No one has ever made a fuss until now. Obviously fires outside of fire rings is illegal, and yes it’s stupid to have a fire during fire season. I have serious doubts as to the weather the fire last week actually happened. But either way, I think MP needs some context.

Tell us more…

The Cave People Oogabooga wrote:

I feel it might be pertinent to mention that this fire ring has been here a long time. There are no signs, or information marking it as a “Historic Do Not Use” site. I feel it’s more pertinent to mention that a Law Enforcement Ranger back in the day encouraged parties here, instead of the Don Juan Boulder, as it was lower impact, and safer for the people who attended. No one has ever made a fuss until now. Obviously fires outside of fire rings is illegal, and yes it’s stupid to have a fire during fire season. I have serious doubts as to the weather the fire last week actually happened. But either way, I think MP needs some context.

Indeed MP does!

Tradiban wrote:

It seems like a question you should answer publicly.

If you’re trying to find out who organized the parties try instagram, but is organizing a party a crime? Is attending a party a crime? Were they advertised as a “Bonfire” parties? But who then actually started the fire? What are your goals here? Who are you looking for?

I dunno but this sounds like a tough nut to crack.

If I did witness this crime I would report anonymously.

Godspeed.

You continue to ask good questions and I appreciate that.  

Regarding “immunity” the answer would be:

Maybe, it depends, and I understand the spirit of what you’re asking but I would use different language. Better to have a conversation offline.  

YES organizing these parties is a crime

YES attending these parties is a crime

Who started or planned the fires is a great question.

STOPPING these illegal fires from EVER happening anywhere in the park again is our goal.  

Let’s all work together.

Thanks,

zachary_olson@nps.gov 

Mediocre Climber wrote:

Looks like the NPS thinks it’s 17 years old. 

I've been at fires out there by Negasaurus and the Hobbit Hole before, at a rock fire ring..  First one I attended was in 1979.  I hope the statute of limitations has ran out on that by now.  If not, well, I might be mistaken.

Imagine archaeologists hundreds of years from now uncovering these illegal fires, puzzling over them, then at the end of the day declaring them officially protected archaeological sites.