Government shut down and camping

I found it interesting that some of the big name ski slopes, etc., with big money available for the purpose, were able to be excluded from the shutdown. I guess some are "more equal than others"?

In any case, for any of us who have plans to go to the more tourist-oriented national parks, there is possibly a chance yet to complete the plans - some States (etc.?) will be permitted to re-open the parks (camping areas?) with use of State funds to pay the costs of operation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...46b_print.html

[DEarle]

We were starting our 2 week vacation with a visit to Carlsbad Caverns. Now we are just going to take pictures of the closed signs. We decided to go see the Cadillac Ranch in west Texas, and the snake pits along the highway, in addition to the place that has a gorilla. Does anyone know where the place with the largest ball of twine is? Now it has been announced that Brice Canyon in Utah is opening under state funding, so at least we'll get to enjoy that.

David

[scrubjaysnest]

I have heard about the big ball of string, but don't remember where.

FWIW this is from the Times by Brad Tuttle..... he indicates Fl is going the way I expected "
Even though park closures are causing losses in the millions around the country, several states aren’t taking the federal government up on its not-quite-generous offer. “Florida taxpayers will not foot the bill to cover Washington’s failure to negotiate and compromise,” said a spokesman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, explaining why Everglades National Park and other national parks and monuments would remain closed throughout the Sunshine State."
He also says some sources are saying NPS losses are up to $76 million per day

here is the link to the whole aritical: http://business.time.com/2013/10/11/...-parks-closed/

Take your pick on which is the true "Largest Ball of Twine" as there is one in Darwin Minn. that claims this as well as one in Cawker City Kansas, you can google "largest ball of twine" for this information, but you don't need to, I did.

[Redtail Cruiser]

Zion opened today as well. Along with Bryce and the G.C., if they're the only major NP's that are open, they will be real busy.

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

Has this shut down had an impact on your fall camping plans?

Back to this original question-Much of my Fall camping is at a couple of BLM campgrounds within 20 minutes or so of our house. No hookups, vault toilets, NO GATES at all at the entrances. Anyhow, being BLM (part of the dept of the interior) they have signs on the campground info boards saying something like "BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN THIS FACILITY IS CLOSED AND TOILETS HAVE BEEN LOCKED. NO TRESPASSING"

I know these campgrounds are normally patrolled a couple times a day by State Patrol and County Sheriffs Office. What I don't know is if anyone is enforcing the 'no trespassing' part of the campground shutdown. Without a gate, they are totally accessible with a self contained RV. But anyhow-to keep it simple, I just haven't gone camping for a while and may not again this year (if the shutdown goes a whole lot longer it'll be too cold for me. I know everyone thinks of WA State as mild but rainy, but here on the East side of the mountains it's dry and can get below 0 F in the winter). I'm bummed!

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by CeeWoo

Back to this original question-Much of my Fall camping is at a couple of BLM campgrounds within 20 minutes or so of our house. No hookups, vault toilets, NO GATES at all at the entrances. Anyhow, being BLM (part of the dept of the interior) they have signs on the campground info boards saying something like "BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN THIS FACILITY IS CLOSED AND TOILETS HAVE BEEN LOCKED. NO TRESPASSING"

I know these campgrounds are normally patrolled a couple times a day by State Patrol and County Sheriffs Office. What I don't know is if anyone is enforcing the 'no trespassing' part of the campground shutdown. Without a gate, they are totally accessible with a self contained RV. But anyhow-to keep it simple, I just haven't gone camping for a while and may not again this year (if the shutdown goes a whole lot longer it'll be too cold for me. I know everyone thinks of WA State as mild but rainy, but here on the East side of the mountains it's dry and can get below 0 F in the winter). I'm bummed!

Here on the East coast it appears the shut down is being enforced. There was a report of a business that opened for about two hours on the Blueridge parkway before they were forced to close.
Here on the east coast we don't have the dispersed camping that there is out west and some areas of the west coast.

Scrubjaysnest - I am looking to go camping in the next couple of weeks in FL and have found some of the state parks with trailer campsites available. I'm not sure where you are located but two parks that I found were west of Tallahassee: Falling Waters and Blackwater. There are more around the state, but these are a couple.

Let the "children" play their games (as long as they don't get too loud) and hopefully they will go back to sleep soon.

http://floridastateparks.reserveamer...ex=CampingSpot

http://floridastateparks.reserveamer...psiteSearch.do

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

Here on the East coast it appears the shut down is being enforced. There was a report of a business that opened for about two hours on the Blueridge parkway before they were forced to close.
Here on the east coast we don't have the dispersed camping that there is out west and some areas of the west coast.

Ran out a while ago-just to again check on what's going on at the BLM campgrounds---and at least a few people are chancing it and camping (the campgrounds I'm referring to have no charges between Sept 15 and May 15. They're pretty popular with many hunters this time of year)

We like some of the dispersed camping sites in our area, but more and more often the state & fed here are blocking off access to these sites by placing multiple (and multi ton) bolders in the way to block access

[Redtail Cruiser]

Another tactic they use is to set up access for vehicles only, but not for vehicles pulling trailers. We always have enjoyed camping on the back side of Lake Crowley in the Eastern Sierras, but now the access road into the area has a sharp S-curve barricade that barely allows a vehicle to pass thru it. Still works for tent campers, but not for anybody towing.