The Pit - Joshua Tree

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rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 28, 2012 - 09:45pm PT

The Joshua Tree Pit
Robert Fonda

Over the last ten years climbers have enjoyed unscheduled camping on land owned by a local climber just south of the village of Joshua Tree. This was our intention when we dug out “The Pit” so that neighbors would not be affected.

Since then the area has come to resemble a landfill and no one has found staying there to be enjoyable.

That was not our intention.

So that this will not continue we have restored the area to good condition and we wish to have the following rules followed by users. A sign will be put in place on the site to inform everyone.

If this does not work out to the benefit of all, our choice will be to close the area entirely.

We do not want to do this.

The Rules:

RESPECT THE NEIGHBORS!

Pick up your trash.

Pick up other peoples trash.

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR "PERSONNAL WASTE" on the property

Pitch tents out of view of the neighbors.

No storage of personal items on the property

Park cars out of the view of our neighbors.

Campfires are fine provided they are in the communal fire pit and provided they don't become bonfires.

Loud noise and music after 9:00 PM is NOT acceptable.

Be courteous of others staying at The Pit.

RESPECT THE NEIGHBORS!

Thank you,
Robert Fonda

rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 28, 2012 - 10:13pm PT

Thank you for the correction!

grover

climber

Northern Mexico

Oct 28, 2012 - 10:15pm PT

You forgot to add: No Canadians allowed eva!

Lynne Leichtfuss

Social climber

moving thru

Oct 28, 2012 - 10:33pm PT

Sorry to hear this wonderful solution to finding a free bivy in such close proximity to an incredible climbing area is having problems.

Where is Dick Cilley? Why can't he be the winter camp host.

Robert, mi amigo, I talked to Hildie today. Can't wait to see yo guys.

Peace and Joy, lynnie

Anastasia

climber

InLOVEwithAris.

Oct 28, 2012 - 10:39pm PT

Just close the site. Some folks don't even respect themselves let alone someone else's property. I rather see it closed then see the owner pay for someone else's BS.

rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 28, 2012 - 10:46pm PT

We will see what happens over the next few months.

zip

Trad climber

pacific beach, ca

Oct 28, 2012 - 11:02pm PT

looking forward to staying there again soon Robert, but i forgot the Wifi password. do you have it?

rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 28, 2012 - 11:10pm PT

"You forgot to add: No Canadians allowed eva!"

candians should be purged, not heard...

Mighty Hiker

climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Oct 29, 2012 - 12:08am PT

Those who've squatted there in the past should be ashamed that jstan and friends have had to clean up their messes. Probably a minority, and including non-climbers, but still...

apogee

climber

Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy

Oct 29, 2012 - 12:16am PT

It always sucks to hear about how the well-intended efforts of someone in the climbing community ultimately becomes subverted by those who don't have any real interest in anything except themselves.

As a user group, climbers have prided themselves as self-regulating. Clearly, that ethic has degraded (or evaporated altogether) in recent years.

Your intents and efforts are exceptional, but are being abused, to the detriment of the climbing community, the neighbors, and the landowners. Shut the place down.

Fluoride

Trad climber

West Los Angeles, CA

Oct 29, 2012 - 01:42am PT

Seriously, Robert and Wally have done a concerted effort to make the place much cleaner and better this season. Please respect what Robert is saying. They didn't have to. They're doing it for climbers and hoping everyone plays along with the basic rules of the place. The climbing community in JT is VERY fortunate to have it. I spent a couple of winters bivying there in the earlier times when I'd come in late on Fridays and knew I wouldn't have a campsite. The place is a blessing.

The garbage bin is even clean. Hope everyone who stays there this season has a good, clean, well slept time there.

Anastasia

climber

InLOVEwithAris.

Oct 29, 2012 - 01:52am PT

I totally appreciate it and yes, I've stayed there myself. Sadly there was one time when I bumped into a creepy dude there that gave me the Heebee Geebees so bad that I opted for a hotel room and double locked the door. Some folks have bad seeping out of their pores. I just wish the owners the best. No one should be taken advantage of, ever.

AFS

Anastasia

climber

InLOVEwithAris.

Oct 29, 2012 - 01:57am PT

P.S. Hey Locker, is she cute?

jstan

climber

Oct 29, 2012 - 02:00am PT

For this I think I must take Joe Brown as my text. Joe and the Rock and Ice refused to accept that persons not having the right father, not having money, or not leading the right kind of life could be summarily excluded. Excluded without any of us taking the time to examine that practice for error.

For whatever reason the Pit was actually dug, it does in fact work against the exclusion of people from pursuits they love. It is for that reason Dave, Robert, and myself have invested ourselves in an effort to restore the Pit to that which it should be. That which it must be.

The effort involved serious considerations. I had to dig through several hundred pounds of trash in which rats and mice had lived. I wore a respirator but hantavirus can infect one through the eyes, mucous membrane, and through cuts in the skin.

At Facelift the NPS liason with Facelift rolled her eyes when I described what I had done. If the hantavirus latency is eight weeks, I am now 75% of the way to a clean bill of health. Nothing worthwhile comes easily.

In fact the Pit is an opportunity. It is a valuable resource. It is a valuable resource around which the community can rally. And by so doing we will make ourselves whole.

The Pit

Now it is up to you.

Anastasia

climber

InLOVEwithAris.

Oct 29, 2012 - 02:06am PT

jstan, we don't deserve you. Thanks... AFS

rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2012 - 06:42am PT

Again, we will wait and see what happens. JSTAN has done a remarkable job cleaning the place up, so has Dave.

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

Oct 29, 2012 - 06:59am PT

hey there say, jstan.... whewwwwwww....
what a job! thanks for being someone that cares...

hope this works out better for all...

sad:
it is unbelievable how humans take to turning everything
into trash... :(

rlf

Trad climber

Josh, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2012 - 07:50am PT

John has done an incredible job, and has brought new life to the pit. If this is going to work, it is going to require some "policing". I'll do my best during the week, but weekends are a problem since I am usually guiding and out the door very early in the mornings.

Getting the word out is a start. I anticipate some end of season clean up, but with a little effort maybe this can be pulled together.

If not, then oh well. There's always the dry lake bed for people to trash.

justthemaid

climber

Jim Henson's Basement

Oct 29, 2012 - 08:54am PT

Accessible, free camping for J-Tree climbers is a rare gift. I don't know why so many people have zero appreciation for privileges or why they are impelled to create a pile of filth in their path. Boggles the mind. I guess they just lack respect for themselves and other human beings so they don't care, but that mentality ruins it for the good folks. Hopefully the community as a whole will help enforce the eviction notice for the as#@&%es since RLF can't be policing the place every moment.

Big kudos to Jstan and cleaning crew and thank to the property owner and Robert for giving it one more go.

In fact the Pit is an opportunity. It is a valuable resource. It is a valuable resource around which the community can rally. And by so doing we will make ourselves whole.

Bears repeating again and again.