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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 18, 2010 - 01:56pm PT
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Folks, I'm overwhelmed with your suggestions and kindness. I can't respond because I have a major league amount of sh#t and stress to deal with at the moment. My 78 year old mom just got diagnosed with major cancer and I have to deal with that.
I promise to post back up tomorrow. Maybe we can get a campaign together and maybe get some support from the AAC.
The pit is worth saving. We just have to figure out how.
I have some ideas.
By the way....
THANK YOU!!!!!!!
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Apr 18, 2010 - 02:08pm PT
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Yikes Robert- sorry about your mom on top of all the other stress you have at the moment. Take care of her and you and the Wifey. The Pit can wait.
When you have time...write up a list of the things that need to happen to keep it copacetic. Post up, and we can rally to make it happen. If the "visitors" can't behave after well ... then go ahead and throw in the towel and shut it down but I say one more chance for now.
Edit to add: The Pit (to my knowledge)actually has been functioning with remarkably few incidents. It's not like there are loud brawls and police raids happening every single weekend. The majority of the visitors are respectful.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Apr 18, 2010 - 02:30pm PT
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Sorry to read your mother is diagnosed with cancer. So sad.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 18, 2010 - 03:09pm PT
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Thanks, it what it is, I've been through this before with my wife.
Once the chaos up here calms down I'll go to work on a list of things we may be able do.
Of course, I will have to run it by the owner. My guess, he'll be just hunky dory!
Thank you again.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 18, 2010 - 03:16pm PT
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JSTAN,
You have very astutely estimated the issues surrounding the pit and the local area. I have thought these very things through and discussed them at length with the owner.
Among the many other issues is county code enforcement and the development codes. I have considerable experience in this area due to the fact that I have done this process before with the horse ranch on the left as you are coming into the west entrance to the park.
Believe me, I know what I'm up against. I'm doing my best. This sh#t takes time and careful thought.
I think now is the time to elicit some help from the community!
Thanks again!!!!!
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Apr 18, 2010 - 03:39pm PT
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Sorry about your mom, Robert - as Skip said, first things first.
Count on us for help when needed, for sure.
Erik
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Holdplease2
Big Wall climber
Yosemite area
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Apr 18, 2010 - 04:38pm PT
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The great news for Joshua Tree is that the rangers at the front gate are now sending would-be campers into the wilderness areas when sites are full. We went backpacking on the california riding and hiking trail, here's what we saw, it is basically legal and the future of camping in the park, IMO:
Cars were parked in the trailhead and there were five groups camped that we saw, only one group was the legal distance from the road (1 mile) and trail (500 feet). They were not backpackers, we only saw one guy actually on the trail. Later that morning at the other trailhead parking some dudes came out of the desert with...get this:
Pulling wheeled coolers through the desert
Carrying a BB Gun
Carrying a Machette (for firewood?)
A grill
Multiple huge duffle bags
Lacrosse set
Soccer ball
Firewood boxes
Who sent them out there? The rangers. Was it legal? Yes, sounds like they were the one party who followed the guidelines. Was it good for the desert? Probably not if it starts happening as much as one might suspect it will.
While wilderness camping may be legal, but if people start treating the rest of the trailheads like they did the pit, its not a good thing.
FWIW we talked to the guys,as we thought the gun was a real gun. They certainly seemed to mean no harm, thats how we found out the rangers sent them out there when they were looking for a campsite on Friday and couldn't find one. They were good enough guys, just not the low-impact types it seems.
At least they didn't let full camping ruin their trip. They dragged all that stuff 1.5 miles from the road in the pitch black without headlamps.
Kate
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Apr 18, 2010 - 05:07pm PT
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When you go to try to "rezone", "permit" or whatever have you the "pit", you're going to find out real quick just how "cool" the neighbors really think a bunch of hippies camped out near their homes really is. There is a reason for zoning, and this is it. They'll get a letter in the mail from the city, and they don't have to look you in the face and smile all politely when they say "f*#k, no...". Good luck with that one.
Also - good luck getting help from any major organization in the form of money. You've got no dead, no lein, no rights.
Even your best case of getting a happy wonderful place, just watch who shows up - marines and white trash - and it might not be legal for you to turn them away after getting a bunch of public help.
I see a classic situation that needs a little more STFU to get it fixed. Sending anyone and everyone who asks about it appears to be a mistake.
Here's my constructive suggestion: Get a gate with a lock. Change the combo every few days. Post a phone #. Hand out the combo with descretion. Always know who is there, even if you don't have the time to swing by. Discriminate - because you can.
Good luck.
EDIT - and charge money! Roll it out like 10/night, 15/wknd, 20/week, your sweat for longer kind of thing. Pay at Nomads. Buy your gate with it. If you can't afford these rates, you're a total loser who doesn't belong there or anywhere else. Just my thoughts.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 18, 2010 - 07:09pm PT
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Thanks for the input, I'm well aware of the zoning issues. My guess, there are ways to handle this. It's just going to be delicate.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 18, 2010 - 08:26pm PT
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Thanks locker. All family members are here and accounted for till tomorrow. Then I'll get back to this.
It's important.
At least to me....
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F10
Trad climber
e350 / Bishop
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Apr 18, 2010 - 09:11pm PT
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Robert, sorry to hear about your mom,
James
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Apr 18, 2010 - 10:31pm PT
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rlf, my mom is in the same boat. Cancer everywhere. So my mom and my family are together taking it one day at a time. Some of those days are good ones, some not so good. The other day I busted her free from her hospital chains and took her for a walk in the sun. We sat on a few benches here and there. She was out in the sun breathing fresh spring air for a little over an hour altogether. The administrative types at the hospital were rather upset, to say the least, but it was well worth it.
Moms are awesome.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Apr 18, 2010 - 10:37pm PT
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rlf-
Don't sweat the pit until you get your personal issues satisfactorily resolved. My wife was recently diagnosed with Huntington's disease, so I can share some of your sorrow. Family must come first.
BDC
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Apr 19, 2010 - 12:06am PT
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Free quiet camping at New Jack City most week nights and good Climbing. It is a good bivy site for me and the five or so times I have camped there in the past few months there has been only one other camper. Very chill.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
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Apr 19, 2010 - 01:12am PT
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Robert, sorry to hear about your mom. Sending positive vibes your way.
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Apolobamba
Trad climber
Boise, ID
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Apr 19, 2010 - 04:57am PT
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"Free quiet camping at New Jack City most week nights and good Climbing."
Wasn't there a murder out there on a weekend?
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Apr 19, 2010 - 06:29am PT
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Yup, there was indeed a murder there a couple of years ago on New Years.
And, the "free" BLM areas just outside of town can be every bit as sketchy as the pit or worse.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Apr 19, 2010 - 09:01am PT
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I don't know if it's herd instinct so much, Locker. Though of course some just don't *know* any way other than color-within-the-lines camping.
People do like to socialize and when you run up a hundred yards on a dirt road and pull over, it's just you and the big lonesome. I'm a person who requires an inordinate amount of solo time, but all-the-time solo is just too much poor company!
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