NEW UPDATE Fed Shutdown; The Situation in Joshua Tree National Park

Here is the latest update– 8:25am Friday January 18- please read through the post as several items have changed recently.  Updates given from top down to track the history of this fast-developing situation in and around JTNP. 

*Cleanup at Dry Lake Bed this weekend (Jan. 18-20) is CANCELLED due to extremely wet, muddy conditions. 

The Park is open with staff only for maintenance and information sharing. Campgrounds are open and Law Enforcement staff are in force throughout the Park. Practice LNT and Minimum Impact Camping, Hiking and Climbing Please. 

*DAILY VOLUNTEER MEETUPS are postponed until further notice. 

Friends Of Joshua Tree is closely monitoring the situation and will make a statement if and when the closure/reopening of the Park becomes effective. 

PRESS RELEASE Jan. 17

Friends Of Joshua Tree has launched a zero-interest small loan program for furloughed JTNP employees, effective immediately. Thanks to the generous donations that have come in during this troubling shutdown, we have the ability to help some of our partners who aren’t getting paid. Since they cannot even check their NPS email, we are relying on the community, social media and word-of-mouth to let them know of the program. We are offering $500 loans payable in 60 days (extendable), once they are given their back pay (the anticipated outcome, once the D.C. dysfunction is resolved).

FOJT is reimbursing volunteers who purchased supplies in the past month, and will also invest in expanding the Climber Stewards program in the Park and expand the HARP bolt replacement funding. 

HUGE Thanks To organizations and folks supporting the ongoing work-

Cliffhanger Guides, Joshua Tree Health Foods, Climbers Collective, Nomad Ventures, California Climbing School, Visit 29 Palms, Bob and Yvonne Gaines, 

The situation in the Park (and throughout all federal public lands in the country) has made front page news. Here are some articles that feature the situation in Joshua Tree, and/or Friends Of Joshua Tree. 

Yahoo News

USA Today

NPR

BBC World

New York Times 

CNN

Associated Press 

NBC Los Angeles

Adventure Sports Network

REI

Washington Post

San Bernardino Sun 

PHOTOS FROM THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS SINCE SHUTDOWN 26 DAYS AGO 

FROM EARLIER…. 

JTNP has announced that all campgrounds in the Park will close at Noon January 2 (that’s Today). FOJT will continue to monitor the situation and report out here and in our social stream. We will continue to support organized volunteer support trips into the Park through the week, and the Park Superintendent has indicated the Park will be OPEN even as the campgrounds are closed down. Human waste impact, off-road vehicle impacts and isolated lawless behavior are the main reasons cited by the JTNP. Limited law enforcement patrols are ongoing.

To all the caring individuals and companies that have made generous donations to help maintain Joshua Tree National Park during the government shutdown: our warmest thanks! Volunteers have been cleaning vault toilets, replenishing hundreds of rolls of toilet paper, providing garbage bags to campers and trying to keep up with the mounting garbage. For the most part, park visitors have been supportive and understanding of the impact on park resources we are seeing. Without regular maintenance animals get into garbage (and bad habits!), and the wind blows trash deep into the wilderness.

DAILY volunteer meetups at 10am this week (Dec. 31-Jan. 6) to manage crews for removal of trash and bathroom cleaning/supply runs. For locals, open bed pickup trucks are especially helpful. Cliffhanger Guides HQ/Coyote Corner, Park Blvd. and Hwy 62. 

 *BLM land and private campgrounds (Joshua Tree Lake Campground) will be available; Joshua Tree National Park will remain Open. 

Stay tuned for further updates. And Huge THANKS again to the volunteer supporters and those of you donating to help us fill in the gaps to protect and maintain our Park.