The Daily Press article contained typical Barry Nelson BS. If this booby-trapping is actually happening, it needs to be immediately reported, and condemned by all resonsible persons. Nailboards and other devices hurt people and animals, and can also hurt the reputations of law abiding persons who care about the issues. Remember when the arsonists set fire to all those Hummers at the Covina auby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina makes some good points. The BLM needs to improve its outreach so that all user groups feel included. It needs to improve itself so that divergent groups have influence in the decision-making process, which is what WEMO is supposed to be about. Not the perception of back-room deals and individuals with the inside track.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good point, Mojave. I am uncomfortable with anybody who doesn't see the need for compromise and accommodation. There are too many extremists on all sides of the issues who have that unfortunate attidude.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks, Katrina. This seems to have proven my point.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Jennifer Foster is an equestrian advocate who heads a small group called, if I am not mistaken, People for Public Lands. This group seems to be misnamed, taking extremist positions in support of Foster's vision of "Multiple Use", which includes greater resource extraction and promoting high impact uses of the public's land. Foster intervened on behalf of a woman who had a long-standby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
It may be too late for many people, those who didn't participate earlier, to "Officially" protest elements of the WEMO Plan. The BLM seems to be on a set course anyway, regardless of whatever the public has to say. However, there is no reason you can't let your Congressman and U.S. Senators know your opinion of this Plan. I urge everybody interested to read it, and let your views beby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughingbear: Sending copies of your WEMO protests to your Congressman and U.S. Senators is a good idea. They need to know that people are concerned about what a sham the WEMO process has become. There will undoubtably be lawsuits directed against WEMO, because the BLM didn't follow its own regulations, and apparently made an under-the-table deal with J1299. Had the process not been corruptedby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
For anybody who actually believes what was written in the last 2 sentences quoted by Laughing Bear in the WEMO Plan, I have a bridge for sale in Manhattan.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good story about the water tank. Hope we won't read about those hotspringer girls in the newspaper! Too many people are oblivious to the conditions up there, which can kill the unwary and unprepared.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Mr. Wayne: The Forest Service doesn't want people camping at the Hot Springs. Some folks do so anyway, and the rangers sometimes come down at night to roust them. I don't camp down there, and it bothers me when others do. I heard somewhere that no camping is allowed within 1/2 mile of Deep Creek, even away from the Hot Springs. Maybe somebody can elaborate on this. If legal, I would expectby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Mr. Wayne: There is another bridge over Deep Creek, on the PCT, similar to the one in your mentioned photo. It is located a couple miles below the Hot Springs and a few miles above the Spillway. The Spillway itself, a Corps of Engineers flood control day, has a parking area at the South end of the Deep Creek Road from Hesperia. I don't advise parking there anymore due to breakins and vandalisby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the input.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm sorry; I got mixed up with all the posts and meant to reply to Mr. Wayne. I'm too used to reading about all the great places and photos the Wizard reports on.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard: The trail from route 173 was the one I was thinking of. I've never hiked the PCT upstream of the hot springs, but that is on my short list of things to do. The purpose of my post was to give warning of what I consider a significant hazard. As somebody who formerly made his living as a whitewater guide, I know something of swift water. I consider the Deep Creek crossing to be currentlby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I recently hiked down to the Hot Springs. The Creek is really high, probably because of the recent warm weather. The tube which was rigged to assist in crossing has deflated, and can't be ridden, and the water is ice cold again. By wading and pulling myself along the rope, I could barely make it to the other side. This rope could break at any time, or somebody could lose their grip, so I consby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Ibcalrr: BLM's law enforcement rangers wear beige uniforms and drive white SUV's with a brown body stripe, with the agency triangle on the door. You aren't likely to see one in the Juniper Flats area these days, unless it is Chief Ranger Nelson visiting Mike Castro at the Bowen Ranch. Most BLM rangers seem to be likable individuals. Nelson himself is a rather short, reddish-complection indiby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Rick: Thanks for the FOJF monthly report. With all the activity going on up there, it is amazing that BLM management continues to allow Chief Ranger Nelson to deploy his rangers mainly at the OHV Open Areas, such as Dumont Dunes, Johnson Valley, and El Mirage. Meanwhile, problem areas such as Juniper Flats are virtually unpatrolled.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good post, Wizard. "Katrina's" posts have long seemed inconsistent to me; sometimes "Her" points are well taken and reasonable. Other times, they seem to be off-subject and filled with over-the-top invective. I appreciate the former more than the latter.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina: Your overall assessment of what's happening up there is accurate. FOJF and other grassroot groups have sprung up because the local agencies, especially the BLM, have abdicated their responsiblity to do what they can to reasonably protect Juniper Flats and similar areas, instead redeploying their resources to other activities, mainly to OHV open areas. The OHV Conference was a good tby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I heard that one of BLM Barstow's former biologists, who resigned, wrote a required Environmental Review regarding the impacts proposed OHV Route J1299 would be expected to have. After he left, this document was supposedly revised by the Barstow Office's OHV Coordinator to show little or no impact. Is this true, and does somebody else care to comment?by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Could it be that Katrina is a wee bit jealous in what FOJF has been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time, in comparison to her own entity, the Deep Creek Foundation?by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Morris Dam, in San Gabriel Canyon a few miles North of Azusa, was built in the 30's. The spillway is rarely in use like in the photo. San Gabriel Dam, further up the canyon, was later constructed to contain sediment which would otherwise be carried into Morris Reservoir. The reservoir behind the dam has been used by the Navy for decades to test torpedoes and other weapons. I remember the areaby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Morris Dam, in San Gabriel Canyon above Azusa?by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina: You're right, you did ask me to "post" the agreement, not fax it. I Got that point mixed up with a project I'm working... This scenario you mentioned is very plausible. Good thinking this time. This concept is sometimes called a "Fait accompli".by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina: I'm not going to take the time to obtain and then fax a copy of Mojave's Cooperative Agreement with the BLM to you, since Jennifer Foster, in a later post, acknowledged that it exists. The fact that Chief Ranger Nelson wasn't very interested in investigating the vandalism report doesn't mean that a crime didn't occur. That point on your part was the most absurd illogic I have ever rby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've been informed that Linda Hansen, BLM's California Desert District manager, is refusing to attend or send a representative to the "Communities Under Siege" OHV workshop next week in Joshua Tree. This is despite an invitation sent to her well in advance. If this were a meeting promoting OHV use, would the BLM be attending? I think so. The BLM needs to realize that unchecked OHV uby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Reading Laughingbear's post regarding the vandalism and theft to BLM's fence in the Juniper Flats area, and Jennifer Foster's response, I'd like to offer my opinion: I don't think the fence is "Illegal" as Ms. Foster declares, since it was installed as part of an established cooperative agreement between Mr. Greenwalt and the BLM. Range improvement money was apparently used for this pby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California