After the largely unnecessary closure of Yosemite National Park due to the nonsensical mediademic imposed by Gavin Newsom, Yosemite is now reopening.
It was FAR more worthwhile to visit it while it was closed. With the newly imposed limits to visitors, though, it could still be considered a great destination because of the much smaller and distanced crowds. It should seem more like a National Park with wide open spaces instead of Galaxy’s Edge at Star Wars during Labor Day Weekend.
Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc., organizers for the Easter Jeep Safari, have officially cancelled the 2020 edition of the long-running event. I’m not particularly thrilled with this development, as I feel that it doesn’t show an ‘overabundance of caution’ so much as it shows an overabundance of ignorance. I don’t blame Red Rock, I blame Utah, and – in particular – the Grand County council and Moab City, who clearly don’t have a clue and haven’t been listening to information on the virus. Red Rock’s hands were tired. Here’s the notice posted on the Red Rock website:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, and Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep (SCBS) are looking for volunteers to assist biologists with a bighorn sheep count in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties at the end of February (February 29 through March 1st). It’s the last weekend of the month, and the event will go on Saturday evening and all day Sunday.
Due to winter storm and flood damage and prioritization of trail repairs including Rainbow Falls, the monument’s 20 site campground is not anticipated to reopen in 2017. We regret any inconvenience, but this delay will allow the park to ensure the safety of our visitors and necessary preservation/restoration of the park’s natural resources impacted by the storm.
However, within the Reds Meadow Valley, there are another 128 first-come, first-served campsites we encourage visitors to consider visiting. The Minaret Vista Station provides site availability information before you enter the Reds Meadow Valley.
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry.
Press Release (USDA) – If you do plan to visit Whitney in the summer of 2016, please pack your patience and carefully plan your trip to avoid the construction delays and the parking problems.
