Wow, interesting idea overall. I guess it was primarily triggered off a letter sent to Senator Feinstein from photographer David Murnch. After 15 years plus of hiking around there I know I have touched a lot of those rocks. Gotta love that site for all the unique formations out there.
Thanks for passing this information along, Michael.
Everything is fine the way it is. It is popular, but still sort of natural and real. For newcomers, it is actually an adventure. DON'T turn it into a Natural Moneymint. Soon there will be bulldozers creating campgrounds full of screaming little rugrats, and you won't be able to camp in any of the hidden great places anymore. I don't want paved roads, souvenier stands, fast food, entry fees, police, tour busses, postcard sales, expedia destinations, kiosks, dog walking areas, massive signage, ATM's, lights on at night, visitor centers, museums, real estate signs, pay toilets, and a contracted firm to run it all and charges you to look.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Where's Edward Abbey when we need him?
I agree with Jeffrey on this... I love how I can just roll up and camp in the hills, go exploring, and find what I find. That's what the desert is all about, and this is one of the few deserts with such an awesome mountain view to go with it! I'm fine with the mini trails they put in for mobius arch, but beyond that... leave as is!
I've wandered around those hills since the mid-sixties. Leave it as is.
I understand the reasoning: Make it cool to visit there and so bring more money into the town of Lone Pine. However, I believe other options should be investigated.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Where's Edward Abbey when we need him?
I agree with everyone's input about leaving it as is. It has enjoyed the eastern side low impact for years. I'm totally against disturbing the area as well as the eastern side overall. But, every trip up there now I see more and more "progress" as it were. I've heard all the stories most have over the last several years now about larger jets flying into Mammoth as well as LADWP starting to release some of the land for purchase and development. Yes Preston & Jeffrey, Edward Abbey would not like what the future holds for that pristine area I'm afraid. In fact Preston your statement last year summed things up in a nut shell. It was with regards to Nicely's and other landmarks along old 395 and how over time changes seem to always take place eventually. Sadly, here possibly is yet another one.
Well, I can't bellyache THAT much without somehow becoming pro-active. Check out http://www.alabamahillsstewardshipgroup.org as a start to get involved and learn what is actually happening. Perhaps this group is on the right side of the table (of course I mean LEFT!). There may be opportunities to join, support or properly complain with these people. And more so, as conservation photographers, we may be able to actually help the cause to preserve the current state (any ILCP members here?). Once again, we have to work and get involved to protect the places we love.
I'm afraid the cat's already out of the bag now that hwy 395 has been undergoing an expansion. If they really want to protect and preserve the area (Eastern Sierra), they'd turn the 395 into a two-lane dirt road.
haha, that'd be pretty funny Eric, though I can't say I'd enjoy 180 miles of washboard... I think my car would rattle apart before me.
Posted by Steve Sieren on July 16, 2009 at 4:14 AM
The Whitney Toll Road coming soon! What to come?
The BLM has some of the best spots in California, let's hope it doesn't start a chain reaction. At least there is no real airport around for miles. That should delay things. Maybe since were in a budget crisis it won't happen.
Lot's of good input as usual here on this latest subject. The expansion or addition of lanes to "old highway 395" is no doubt another factor with overall eastern side travel and usage. We can blame Cory Freeman for assisting with all that. Joking a side, it truly has been a nasty safety factor in the past with just the two lanes at the speeds that were being driven out there.
Well hopefully the protection by the groups involved with the BLM area of the hills does not lead to some kind of fees associated with the usage beyond the movie & commercial filming ones I assume are in place now. I know they do pay for the law enforcement requirements when blocking off such roads as Movie Road. I've seen that take place on several of the trips I've made there.
Posted by Richard Wong on July 17, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Yeah I agree that it should be "left off the map". I can't help but think how much more pleasant JTNP would be w/o the National Park status for example.
Paul wrote: "Well hopefully the protection by the groups involved with the BLM area of the hills does not lead to some kind of fees associated with the usage beyond the movie & commercial filming ones I assume are in place now.
It would be logistically difficult and expensive to monitor and charge for entry/use of the area because there are several different routes that can be taken in order to access the area. Many years ago, Inyo NF had a kiosk on the right side of Whitney Portal Road just out of town for folks needing wilderness permits or information for the Sierra, but it is long gone.
I suppose the agency having oversight of the Hills could re-establish the kiosk, but how they would determine who was going to Inyo NF vs. the Hills is an open question. I can see it now...
Ranger: "There's a $10 charge to enter the Alabama Hills? Are you going to the National Forest, or the Alabama Hills. "
Photographer: "Oh, Ummm. I'm going to Whitney Portal."
Ranger: "OK. Have a nice day!"
The photographer leaves the kiosk, heads up the hill and turns right on Movie Road.
I am going to look in to how I can voice my concern regarding the stewardship of one of my favorite places: Now is the time!
Preston, I agree with you on the on the logistics of the area and control for some kind of fee or permit per se. However, on one of my trips I saw a BLM truck pass through the Movie Road area three different times over a two-day period. In fact, as it had rained really hard and the area was very soft I had stopped along one of the remote roads and the BLM guy stops and says, "why in the world didn't you pull completely off the road?" When I said back to him, "it was so soft I thought I would just plow the area up with my 4 wheel drive and decided it was best to stay on the main road instead". He takes a real hard look around and says, "Ya maybe, I guess, and you have a nice day now hear".
So, if they wanted to they can sure drive the area in hopes of enforcing some kind of fee possibly.
It's amazing how such morons can get jobs for government agencies, yet they are everywhere. Pull off the road? I once did that in the A-hills (I actually had my tires on some rocks as to not cause damage), and a ranger type must have been watching me with bino's. Nearly an hour later, he pulls up behind me on a different trail and tells me that what I was doing at the other location was illegal. Seemed a little odd, but he was correct. If his presence there would defer the budweiser brainless from destroying the place, then I'm all for it. I wonder if he was friends with the idiot who encouraged Paul to drive on wet, soft terrain.
Jeffrey, I can fully understand your frustration and the resulting exchange with the ranger type. It truly is a different world these days and sadly it's as though many in authority seem poised to be confrontational almost from the first word stated. They need to understand as hard as it may be for them, that we are not all of the caliber of the Budweiser brainless you mentioned.
To this day it is hard for me to see rangers toting 9mm's, but again, sadly the world is changing and it seemingly requires the arsenal on their hips apparently.
I can only imagine the cringe all the park rangers made when the bill to allow loaded weapons in National Parks was passed.
Discussion
15 repliesLINK
Thanks for passing this information along, Michael.
Everything is fine the way it is. It is popular, but still sort of natural and real. For newcomers, it is actually an adventure. DON'T turn it into a Natural Moneymint. Soon there will be bulldozers creating campgrounds full of screaming little rugrats, and you won't be able to camp in any of the hidden great places anymore. I don't want paved roads, souvenier stands, fast food, entry fees, police, tour busses, postcard sales, expedia destinations, kiosks, dog walking areas, massive signage, ATM's, lights on at night, visitor centers, museums, real estate signs, pay toilets, and a contracted firm to run it all and charges you to look.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Where's Edward Abbey when we need him?
Yeccccchhhh!!!!
I understand the reasoning: Make it cool to visit there and so bring more money into the town of Lone Pine. However, I believe other options should be investigated.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Where's Edward Abbey when we need him?
My sentiments exactly, Jeffrey!
-P
The BLM has some of the best spots in California, let's hope it doesn't start a chain reaction. At least there is no real airport around for miles. That should delay things. Maybe since were in a budget crisis it won't happen.
Well hopefully the protection by the groups involved with the BLM area of the hills does not lead to some kind of fees associated with the usage beyond the movie & commercial filming ones I assume are in place now. I know they do pay for the law enforcement requirements when blocking off such roads as Movie Road. I've seen that take place on several of the trips I've made there.
It would be logistically difficult and expensive to monitor and charge for entry/use of the area because there are several different routes that can be taken in order to access the area. Many years ago, Inyo NF had a kiosk on the right side of Whitney Portal Road just out of town for folks needing wilderness permits or information for the Sierra, but it is long gone.
I suppose the agency having oversight of the Hills could re-establish the kiosk, but how they would determine who was going to Inyo NF vs. the Hills is an open question. I can see it now...
Ranger: "There's a $10 charge to enter the Alabama Hills? Are you going to the National Forest, or the Alabama Hills. "
Photographer: "Oh, Ummm. I'm going to Whitney Portal."
Ranger: "OK. Have a nice day!"
The photographer leaves the kiosk, heads up the hill and turns right on Movie Road.
I am going to look in to how I can voice my concern regarding the stewardship of one of my favorite places: Now is the time!
-P
So, if they wanted to they can sure drive the area in hopes of enforcing some kind of fee possibly.
To this day it is hard for me to see rangers toting 9mm's, but again, sadly the world is changing and it seemingly requires the arsenal on their hips apparently.
I can only imagine the cringe all the park rangers made when the bill to allow loaded weapons in National Parks was passed.