Government Shutdown - Supes OK?

[aztazer]

I see on the Dept of Interior website that "all Federal lands are closed" during the government shutdown.

Does anyone know if this includes the Supes? Has anyone been out there hiking or backpacking this week?

[chumley]

National Forests are open, but developed recreation sites are generally closed (there are some exceptions). But you can park at a trailhead and go hiking just as always.

[FOTG]

I actually just spoke with a volunteer at Peralta TH. He stated that the restrooms at any trail-heads will be closed and they will not be staffed this weekend. However, trails are open

[----]

Nothing would keep me out of the Supes

[hikerdw]

Does anyone know if the trail heads around Payson are open, Pine, Washington Park, Geronimo, etc.?

[Grasshopper]

@hikerdw

National Forests are open, but developed recreation sites are generally closed (there are some exceptions). But you can park at a trailhead and go hiking just as always.

Yes, they are open and also part of a National Forest.

[FOTG]

Does anyone see the irony in the fact that we are having to discuss whether a national park is closed....I mean really so the forest is closed? Has anyone notified the wildlife of the closures? Is this what Teddy Roosevelt envisioned when he helped kick-start our national parks? Does Old Faithful still work during closures?

*oh as a teacher, I realize I may be using irony wrong, I apologize

[Bradshaws]

I find the governments actions little hypocritical. The government can find the manpower to close and inforce the closure of these lands(that belong to US, our lands!!!) but not to keep them open

[outdoor_lover]

Just found out about Roosevelt Lake...All of the Gates are closed and locked making access to the actual Lake extremely difficult...However, there is a private Marina there that is open, with some limited space available on a first come, first serve basis for Camping...So we already have people up there preparing for 30 of us with 15 Boats.... It's the best we can think to come up with last minute....So although people on foot can still access the Lake, it becomes much more difficult if you're looking to launch a Boat....They shouldn't be able to cut off access like that, it just seems soooo wrong....It's a National Forest!!! Not a Park or a Monument...c'mon...!!!

[hippiepunkpirate]

Does anyone see the irony in the fact that we are having to discuss whether a national park is closed....I mean really so the forest is closed? Has anyone notified the wildlife of the closures? Is this what Teddy Roosevelt envisioned when he helped kick-start our national parks? Does Old Faithful still work during closures?

*oh as a teacher, I realize I may be using irony wrong, I apologize

I had a discussion kind of like this with my wife last night. I was expressing my opinion that OUR public lands should not be closed off to us just because the government shuts down. My wife argued that if they don't close the park, what will stop bad people from going in and setting fires or causing other types of destruction? Now I'm not really sure what to think. It really is a difficult subject. I certainly think the park should be open to responsible people that will respect the land, but it would be heartbreaking if someone went in and really made a mess. I suppose that's why we have a National Park Service to manage our most sacred natural treasures, so that they don't get destroyed. There is very much an irony and an utter disservice to the American people not to mention an economic repercussion surrounding the closing of the parks, but the real flaw in the system that has come to light is that when the federal government "shuts down", it is really a "soft shutdown" in which the "non-essentials" stop. I'm sure we've all heard the joking of congressmen/women in the media about how the shutdown will be "fun". As my wife said to me last night, "If the government has to shutdown, it should be the whole government. Maybe then it would light a fire under their butts". ("their" meaning Congress). With all the discussion on the internet and elsewhere, I'm sure nothing I've said here will be new to anyone that reads it, but hey, since it was brought up I thought I would do my fair share of venting.

[big_load]

I find the governments actions little hypocritical. The government can find the manpower to close and inforce the closure of these lands(that belong to US, our lands!!!) but not to keep them open

I fumed about this a couple years ago when NJ shut down its state parks in a budget battle. It cost more per day to keep them closed than to keep them open. It wasn't just a little bit, either, because instead of a few underpaid park staff when open, barricades were manned by an army of state troopers on overtime wages.

[FOTG]

@Bradshaws
Great Response...very well said

[FOTG]

@hippiepunkpirate
I mean honestly your wife does bring up some good points, and I have been to third world countries around world where they don't have resources to preserve their national treasures, so I get it...I guess just the whole idea of closing "nature" just irks me, and you are so right, it is our land, who are they to close it? Just indicative of the crazy times we are going through I guess.