Your intent to acknowledge the legal accuracy of a previous posting is clear. This is an open Forum, and all persons have the right to be heard regardless of personal agreement with the stated opinion. My own response was less tempered than yours.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
How long has rain been perceived as a "threat"? Native peoples danced for its blessing!by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
No, I wasn't kidding about the beacon, Blue Corn. Following a yard light in distant Milpas added to the young couple's plight. I was not raised in the city, but am not inclined to agree that Darwin should sort out hot springers who have more street smarts than trail smarts. But I will strongly agree with Blue Corn when he protests the current impulse to assign blame. Risk is something we allby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Excellent suggestion to improve the trail markings, Laughing Bear. Is there a promontory that is near Bowen Ranch and visible from the area of the trail that could be illuminated by a small solar-powered beacon? The location would have to be in an area that provided some security against vandalism or theft.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughing Bear writes: "Up in Kern County, law enforcement has been known to confiscate OHVs of illegal riders." My understanding is that BLM Law Enforcement has the right to confiscate OHV's and has done so in other areas subjected to a high level of OHV non-compliance. The will to act is a pre-requisite.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for digging up the statute, Rick. You have made your case. There is a lot of liability in dealing with the public these days. In view of this, I cannot imagine that Castro would not have the appropriate insurance. Particularly if there were questionable incidents in the past that a jury might look on with disfavor.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
"The lights that the hikers saw would have been the cement plant off in the distance to the north." That is incorrect, Gail. The lights they were seeing were high intensity yard lights installed on upper Milpas by new residents who are uncomfortable with the desert night. The Milpas lights are northeast of the hot springs and would have steered them on a path through the Village.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
To use this unfortunate woman's tragic death to reopen an old agenda against Mike Castro smacks of opportunism. His unassisted rescues have included your own friends, a woman and her very young son who had lost their way on their return from the hot springs. Night was falling in that case, and could have had similar disastrous results. There are many other rescues that you do not acknowledgeby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The news account has several inaccuracies. The truck was not abandoned, but was parked near the trailer of a local resident who was absent at the time. On awakening, she indicated the severity of her distress. Her companion went for help and returned accompanied by another visitor to the Village. (Most of the few residents had already left for the day.) They found her unconscious and very coby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Are you sure she is not going to be OK? The morning paper said that she was unconscious and suffering from severe hypothermia when evacuated.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Plans are being made for Earth Day activities on Juniper Flats and Arrastre Canyon. The date is tentatively set for Saturday, April 17. (The actual date for Earth Day is the following Thursday.) The main staging area will likely be near the Japatul entrance for convenience. Because of limited parking, activities may be staged separately. Suggested activities are an equestrian tour, hot sprinby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The On/Off Road Enforcement Team from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office has been petitioned to address OHV non-compliance on Juniper Flats and in Arrastre Canyon. The visible rampant destruction of recent weeks is making a strong case for closure of the Juniper Sub-region to single-track OHV routes.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
There are almost 26,000 hits on the "honest chief" website. That is a clear illustration of the extent of the irregularities. Readers of the DCHS website may be interested to know that the Barstow Field Office continues to deny that there is a OHV non-compliance problem on Juniper Flats. Consequently, concerned residents have requested that they meet with us in the field, where confiby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I visited Gail's Civic USA site at: http://www.civicusa.org/blr/blr.shtml "Bounty License Recovery ---If you have suffered from a great injustice, BLR will be there to support you by attending court hearings and protest rallys." Take a look at the photo. No wonder the court got edgy.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/7940666p-8877994c.html Grazing Rules Put Ranchers in the Saddle. The White House proposals call for considering economic effects, not just habitat protection. By Michael Doyle --Sacramento Bee Washington Bureau Published 2:15 a.m. PST Friday, December 12, 2003 WASHINGTON -- California ranchers gain while environmentalists seethe under sweeping newby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Local residents were happy to share some of the special energy of Juniper Flats as we are impressed with the quality of the DCV organization/tribe. We are in the process of forming a similar group to address user and resident's concerns in the areas of Juniper Flats, Arrastre and Grapevine Canyon. The success of the DCV tribe will be our inspiration and we expect to work together because of coby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
>>Laughing Bear writes: Thats the thinking of other OHV riders who have participated in the route designation effort. They propose a self policing effort which I wholeheartedly support.<< The only proposal that I have heard at these meetings was a suggestion that they be required to take an exam as a condition of receiving a green sticker. I don't believe BLM is considering this serby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
From the minutes: "Ty Davis is the name of the leader of an OHV "patrol" in this area." Who gave you this information? Ty Davis has been credited with creating many illegal single-track OHV routes on Juniper Flats. He was (or still is) a member of Team Yamaha or similar team and has used this area as a practice area for professional racing. He was contacted after the Willoby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard, I am not a member of DCV, but do follow the postings. 12-03-03 09:46 Sycamore posted: "We have had a few members speak in favor of meeting in the Juniper Flats ACEC (Cottonwood Spring). I think we should finalize this decision and post directions. Members who would like to consider other locations should post soon, or indicate that this site is o.k. I can post directions if neeby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Rick, We would like to keep this Forum friendly. Do you feel that the above post is appropriate?by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I agree with you, Ron. The springs should remain open so that responsible users can monitor the area. Some people think the desert should provide a haven for scofflaws. Whether you are illegally camping at the springs, setting up a drug lab or tearing up the landscape on your dirt bike, you will find no support from local residents.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Gail writes: <<Mojavegreen, Sycamore Laughing & Laughbear aid Mike Castro in avoiding arrest by justifying his criminal behavior. It is because of enablers like this that Mike Castro has been able to carry out a violent crime spree for the past 11 years.>> Thank you for sharing, Gail, it gives us a glimpse into your thought processes. No wonder Mike Castro has become an obsessby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Agreed, Laughing Bear. BLM Law Enforcement is understaffed and underfunded. The result is a law enforcement arm that cannot enforce the single-track OHV trails. A roundtable with the OHV community should have been a part of WEMO. Our invitation to participate came too late. We need some answers and a real plan. Only then should these single-track routes be put on paper. Because it is shoby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
"Be careful in asking for law enforcement, you might get it where you don't expect it". That was the admonition BLM Ranger Barry Nelson gave two men as he cited them for gathering dead wood last winter. Ranger Nelson's attempt to silence local residents did not work. There was a public reaction and OHV route J1299 is now closed. Clearly angered, Barry repeated that same threat to aby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Ranger Nelson cited two local citizens for picking up dead and burned firewood one cold day last winter. Two hard-working men living on the edge of the economy were threatened with fines totaling $20,000. They chose to pay fines of $250 rather than challenge the Revenging Ranger. Look into the OHV-scarred landscape and observe the decaying wood that Barry has protected for future generationsby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
You make some excellent points here, Wizard. Your statement that fires from the north could be swept into Arrowhead by Santa Anna winds is of particular interest. This threat has likely supported USFS rationale for closure of the Hot Springs. The scofflaw attitude of some visitors includes campfires and other illegal activities that threaten not only Lake Arrowhead residents but also residenby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Jobe, Welcome back. You may not have read the postings made in your absence. We decided it would be best if we leave our personal agendas off the Forum and try to get along. Veiled threats fall into that category. Thanks for sharing your information on Goldstrike Hot Springs. Sounds like a great place to go if I lose my shirt (and pants) on my next visit to Vegas! Mojaveby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the clarification, Wizard. I was making a point, but should have worded it more carefully. I meant to say that it was timely that you reminded me of Ranger Nelson's previous statement in view of his latest at the BLM meeting. And thank you for your support.by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard writes <<In an article from 7-20-2002, done by Emmett Berg, titled " Not everyone gets into Deep Creeks Pools ". In that article we see that BLM enforcement ranger Barry Nelson ( for the DCHS area ) states " We hear that Castro has taken a " VERY " hard line in enforcing Forest Service and BLM rules ".>> This is a clear example of Ranger Nelson'by mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
And thank you for recognizing the threat that these scofflaws pose to our continuing privilege to visit these healing waters. Their extended stays pollute the creek and add to the fire danger. What they pack in, you will have to pack out. This is not an isolated incident and other's stays have been much longer. The rangers aren't staffed to deal with this sort of problem as the culprits are sby mojavegreen - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California