They will probably padlock the gate and give keys for fire and emergency response agencies. Still, this will lengthen the Bradford Ridge hike. I would suggest removing the State Highway designation from this road and keeping it open as a forest route.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Quite true, Laughingbear. Barstow once had as many as 13 law enforcement rangers. By the time Nelson's dubious run as Chief Ranger ended, the staff was down to 5 delegated rangers, and has never really recovered. New rangers have been leaving about as fast as they are hired. With BLM Barstow now having about half the ranger staff when Nelson became Chief, to cover over a million acres, it isby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughing Bear: I, too am heartened to hear of your progress. Please keep us posted. We've missed you. BTW: What makes you think he's in Cedar City? LOL.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've noticed that former Barstow BLM Chief Ranger Barry Nelson's name still comes up from time to time on this forum, more than 5 years after his downgrade transfer to another State. That transfer occurred after the late Dean Greenwalt, owner of the Rock Creek Ranch, filed a complaint with the Interior Department's Inspector General, which led to a formal investigation against Nelson for allegedby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
It was windy and kinda cold on top, but a nice day at the Springs. Only 1 other person was there when I went down. Crossing the stream is a little more difficult, with ice-cold water waist-high. Not much current. The Arizona pool is great, thanks to some recent stonework. There were 2 people riding the PCT on mountain bikes, but no motorcycles seen today. The illegal motorcycle trail runninby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was wondering if the other Reporting Party was the Wizard. It's amazing how great minds think alike! Keep reporting them, and like Rick says, get license plate numbers and other identifiers if you can.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I hiked down on Wednesday January 7. Conditions were pretty good, and as noted, the creek is numbing cold. I Had a good soak, with a few people around. As I was getting ready to leave, 4 guys in full motorcycle off-road gear, including knee-high boots, hiked to the springs from the Warm Springs trail. With what they were wearing, it was obvious they hadn't hiked very far. Most likely, they roby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I had a good hike down to the Hot Springs today. There were only a few people around, including a couple of goofballs who were camping next to the No Camping sign. There was quite a bit of litter around, and I filled up my daypack on the way out. Crossing the Creek at the Springs wasn't too bad; it's cold but not high. The off-road vehicle problem on both the BLM and Forest Service portions oby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks, Wizard! Between the time of our posts, I found Brad's email address online and sent him a report. I took some good photos and will find some use for them later.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
SB County recently bladed the Bowen Ranch Road, and it had fewer washboards than usual. I hiked down to the Hot Springs this week during cold weather, and had the place to myself during the middle of the day. The trash situation was not bad; I removed as much as I could (cans, bottles, etc) in my daypack. The stream has risen a bit due to recent storms, and was an icy waist-deep crossing. Theby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Mojave: Thanks for the report on the Desert Restoration project in Juniper Flats. I for one appreciate the work that these students and BLM employees are doing up there, in the Summer heat no less.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
For those who don't know, former Barstow BLM Chief Ranger Barry Nelson was reassigned to a non-supervisory, non-managerial field ranger position in Craig, Colorado. While Nelson claimed that this transfer was voluntary, it did occur soon after the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Interior investigated him for, among other things, allegedly misspending rehabilitation funds after thby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
BLM Barstow has a new Chief Ranger, Dan Briot. Dan was a Barstow BLM Ranger for a few years before getting on the wrong side of former Chief Ranger Nelson. He left to go back to Forest Service employment, where he was promoted. Dan recently applied for, and landed the Chief Ranger position and should start soon. I think Dan is a good man, and wish him the best. He inherits a depleted and deby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The Democrats can be as bad as the Republicans. Early during the Clinton Presidency, former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt tried to raise the grazing fees on federal land to something closer to market rates. This generated a lot of noise from Western ranchers, who had enjoyed this taxpayer subsidy for years, and ultimately their U.S. Senators. Rather than fight for this issue on principle, tby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
All the speculative successors are very bad. Among them is former Congressman Scott Mc Innes of Colorado. He's as reactionary as the rest. Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett, now the Acting Secretary, is widely viewed as the power behind the throne. Her nickname is "Scarlett Letter", and widely viewed as Norton's likely successor. The good news is that the nomination hearings will beby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Our President is the ultimate Mr. Magoo, mixed in with some pompous arrogance. He fired his economic advisor, who had the temerity to predict the Iraq War would cost $200 Billion. The cost is now approaching half a trillion dollars. He shoots messengers who bring in bad news, such as the U.S. Park Police Chief, who was fired. Her offense? Going public that staffing cuts and increased dutiesby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm sure the Center for Biodiversity would have prefered the BLM comply with it's end of the agreement that settled CBD's lawsuit, rather than have the CBD return to court to force BLM to comply.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I voted for Mr. Postmus, and what a weasel he's turned out to be. Where can I find a recall petition? Go, recall!by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Rick: Great picture of Yellowstone Falls. At Yellowstone, there's a great hot springs suitable for soaking, between the North Entrance and Park HQ. It's called the Boiling River. It isn't signed, presumably because the Park Service doesn't want to encourage too much use. You park in a large parking lot, and it's about a 1/2 mile hike, give or take, on a streamside trail to the hot springs. Iby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
True, Mojave, and it didn't use to be that way. The former Chief Ranger who hired Barry Nelson about 10 years ago has apologised to many people for that selection, and has said publicly this was the worst mistake he ever made. BLM Barstow formerly had an excellent ranger staff, with professional, energetic officers. Hopefully the new management in the Barstow office will work to restore that tby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The "Sass", former Chief Ranger, removed a guy during that period. Your recollection is on target with what I heard.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Was this around 1986?by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've been advised further that the gun business issue was presented by more than one person to the IG's investigators, including person(s) with intimate knowledge of it, and some people are scared. BLM has stringent ethics regulations regarding outside business activities which involve possible conflict of interest, and the use of government vehicles. My question: Did the large number of peoby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I have heard that former Chief Ranger Nelson's gun business involved the questionable use of special "law enforcement discounts" to buy and sell firearms to some non law enforcement persons. Also that government employees and vehicles may have been used to support this scheme, if true a likely conflict of interest. The Bowen Ranch area is well within the county's "Shotgun onlyby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I take it Mrs. Bear never got a straight answer from Linda Hansen regarding the question asked at the OHV Conference: Why is the BLM pushing an OHV trail through an "Area of Critical Environmental Concern"? Hansen's Assistant District Manager. Bruce Shaffer, was also at the conference. He was the guy in BLM uniform, and I've been told he calls a lot of the shots for the BLM Desert Dby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Brad Burns, the Forest Service Ranger whose area includes DCHS, is middle-aged and sometimes sports a beard. I heard he's had some medical problems, and am not sure if he's back on full duty. He's a good hand, who has the right temperment for the job. The SBNF likes to have at least 2 peace officers make the trip if they go down there at night. They sometimes bring other employees to serve asby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Serenity: I was simply an "Enquiring Mind" wanting to know what happened. Have a good one!by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'd like to know where the "5 BLM Rangers" came from, the number "5" being the entire BLM Barstow ranger staff at present. Could it have been about 1-2 BLM employees assisting a small Forest Service crew on a tip that didn't pan out? The Hot Springs is on National Forest land, and is the primary responsibility of the Forest Service.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughingbear: Good news! Thanks for taking the initiative in resolving this problem. I have hope the new management of the Barstow Field Office will be open to cooperative work with groups like FOJF, and not alienating like the Tim Read group. It is going to be very interesting and telling who Roxie selects to replace Nelson, Harold Johnson, and other departing cronies of the old regime.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Gotcha! So the DOA IG actually did an investigation of the DCHS access issue. Reading through the posts, I thought you had confused separate investigations. The IG normally publishes a public report detailing the results of an official investigation. I take it the IG's office has been contacted and given no response. If no formal report has been issued, I do not know if the findings of thby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California