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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 16, 2012 - 04:42pm PT
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Oddly enough I was just speaking with a buddy this morning about a Needles trip this summer, assuming there were no closures of course.
OK, given that Kris' last post is about nine months old, can we assume that: 1) the closure was in effect only to 9/30/11? I seem to have heard that the road leading into the Needles could be closed only to Forest Service vehicles this spring. 2) I've seen pictures with the Lookout gone. Does that mean they've finished their clean up and the closure may no longer be in effect?
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ec
climber
ca
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May 16, 2012 - 05:34pm PT
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Needles Update
January 24, 2012 – The Sequoia National Forest (SQF) has committed to beginning the process to rebuild the Needles Lookout and its tower. Through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the Forest is determining if there are any "significant issues" for natural and cultural resources, and/or social concerns that may need to be address prior to or during reconstruction. We are also beginning to follow up on the outpouring of public interest and offers to help rebuild the lookout, so we can determine how best to plan and organize the rebuild. Through coordination and cooperation with the Buck Rock Foundation, Sierra Club, and Giant Sequoia Monument Association over the next few months we hope to have in place conduits for accepting donations of money, expertise, and determining how to integrate volunteer labor.
Over the next six months we hope to begin developing blue prints, materials lists, equipment, and labor needs, and a signed NEPA decision.
Unfortunately, SQF was unable to contract out the hazardous waste cleanup of the site prior to the most recent storm and is planning on conducting the cleanup in the spring after the snow melts.
How YOU can help now:
We are currently seeking any information on the history of the Needles. Do you have a photos or stories of Needles you would be willing to share? Of special interest would be photos or documentation of the construction of the lookout and blue-prints, plans or drawings of the original cab and tower. Please forward any such information to the Buck Rock Foundation, P.O. Box 540, Squaw Valley, CA 93675 or email: buckrock@inreach.com
Linn Gassaway
Zone Archaeologist
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Hume Lake and Western Divide Ranger Districts
Sequoia National Forest
Phone: 559-338-2251 ext. 396
So, plan on a closure...
 ec
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ec
climber
ca
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May 16, 2012 - 05:40pm PT
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Thu, March 22, 2012 5:21 pm
The latest is the Forest Service is currently going through the NEPA process - this won't be completed until they are able to do a site survey sometime after the snow melts and the lookout becomes accessible. Current time estimate is June/July for the process to be complete. They have applied for a Categorical Exlusion, which means that they would be able to rebuild "in-kind", a good thing as then they wouldn't have to go through the entire Environmental Assessment process. I spoke with the archaeologist, Linn Gassaway, who is also in charge of the project, and she said that until the NEPA is completed, they cannot commit to any fundraising efforts. -Kathy Ball, Buck Rock Foundation
from my email... - ec
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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May 16, 2012 - 06:51pm PT
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I think its safe to say the snows been gone awhile already. So, whats left up there to be worried about, a couple of old batteries? We could go up and clean the place out for free if thats the case. Oh well. Will the road to Voodoo be open soon and will the rock be accessible from there I wonder?? The issue is two things..............Will the lookout be rebuilt and will there be access to the rock for climbing. Whatever happened to the Access Fund queries?
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 16, 2012 - 07:22pm PT
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I walked out there the day before yesterday with Linn Gassaway, National Forest Archeologist and project lead for the cleanup and any possible rebuild. I will be getting her final conclusions in a day or so and will start a new thread.
She wanted me to show her where the approach trail climbers use to get around the lookout to access the other formations as the NFS people do not want to close off this access unless they absolutely have to.
Our outing was a resounding success, as Linn's first concern was that the access trail is free from any hazardous materials from the fire. This is the case. To her credit she had no difficulty traversing the terrain there, and is probably one of the very few NFS officials to have stood in the main notch and seen The Needles from a climbers perspective.
She told me they have bids from two companies which specialize in these kinds of cleanups, and for them this is a small site which they say can be handled in three to five days. They may determine to close the access trail for that short period due to the possibility of falling debris. I will post the dates if this is determined to be necessary. The tower site is a huge pile of junk, some it very precariously perched.
The road is still gated but it will open soon. It is pretty rough too.
From last Friday until the cleanup is finished all routes on Magician are closed.
When I have all the specifics accurately from Linn I'll post up.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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May 16, 2012 - 07:35pm PT
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Thanks Kris.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 16, 2012 - 07:38pm PT
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Oh, I meant to mention that the lower road is open and there were climbers on Voodoo yesterday. Perfect temps.
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mongrel
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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May 16, 2012 - 08:19pm PT
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Big thanks to KSolem for keeping us informed and for coordinating with the Forest Service, and appreciation to the FS for, so far as I can tell from this thread, working to try to minimize unnecessary closures and so on. The agency gets a fair amount of flak and negative comment, no doubt sometimes deserved, but when they are on the right track, I'm happy to join in expressing appreciation. Thanks to all.
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msiddens
Trad climber
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May 16, 2012 - 11:13pm PT
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Many thanks Kris for keeping us updated. Itching to get back
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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May 17, 2012 - 11:26am PT
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Kris, Big Thanks for being the point man! You are the perfect person for all this. I'm really glad things are moving in a positive direction with the rebuild and the access to the rock. Should be a great year for being out there!
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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May 17, 2012 - 11:43am PT
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Big thanks to KSolem for keeping us informed and for coordinating with the Forest Service
+1
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peggo
Trad climber
Carpinteria, CA
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May 17, 2012 - 08:13pm PT
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Many thanks KSolem!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 17, 2012 - 08:20pm PT
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Y'all can thank me when I am able to confirm a favorable result. Linn is great, but she reports to higher ups. There was one blemish on my otherwise enjoyable and productive day with Linn Gassaway.
On the walk out we came across a bivy in the saddle before the switchbacks up to the lookout site. The bivy was right on the trail, and featured a new jumbo fire ring. I said that obviously it was a climber bivy, that they did not expect anyone else to be out there with the road closed, and that surely they would clean it up when they left.
Later, out in the notch we met two climbers. I introduced Linn, and tried to explain the purpose of our visit. Linn’s USFS uniform and radio made her official status obvious. One of these guys repeatedly asked her questions about bolting, the use of power drills, and wilderness status (all this right after saying it was his first visit to the Needles.) All of that is fair enough I guess, but let’s just say that you only have one chance to make a first impression. The guys then took off, explaining that they were going to double time it since they had to hike out and drive home.
So Linn and I headed back out, and when we got to the bivy site we passed on the way in, the gear was gone but there was the fire ring and a trash bag. I was really disappointed that climbers would do that under any circumstances, but these guys were stupid enough to do it knowing that a USFS official would walk past it a few minutes later!
Linn did not make a big deal out of it to me, but she grabbed the trash bag, took pictures, gps’d the location, and explained that she would direct “the guys” to knock down the fire ring when they come out next week.
I could name names, but I won’t. If these guys see this then they’ll know they gave us all a black eye with their thoughtless behavior.
People, if you plan a bivy in the Needles that’s fine. I’ve done it many times and it is great. But DON’T BUILD A FIRE. There is no way you can have enough water on hand to deal with a problem. Fire is a huge issue in Sequoia Nat Forest.
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ec
climber
ca
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May 18, 2012 - 12:19am PT
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Bump...for a Witch hunt!
BTW, thx, Kris
ec
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 18, 2012 - 12:44am PT
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You mean all of you don't bring a power drill when you visit an area for the first time? I mean why bother checking out established routes, local ethics, etc.? And of course if don't see any fire rings or garbage then you definitely have to leave both, otherwise how are people to know where to start illegal campfires and leave their garbage?
BTW, thanks Kris.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 18, 2012 - 04:40pm PT
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Whatever happened to the Access Fund queries?
Sorry Rene, I missed that...
AF is in the loop but not directly involved at this time. R.D. Pascoe there has taken an interest in the developments and has been generous with his time giving me sage advice as to how to proceed. So for now I'm keeping him informed and he's helping me to avoid doing or saying anything stupid.
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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May 18, 2012 - 05:18pm PT
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Thanks for telling us about this. It makes an example to climbers of what NOT to do in an area that is very sensitive right now.Hopefully they didn't already put in any bolts! And Fire.......man, I work here in fire and we're looking at a possible epic fire year, especially in the Kern Canyon where the water, snow reports this year have been historically low.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Topic Author's Reply - May 18, 2012 - 05:51pm PT
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For those who are interested here is a website Linn Gassaway created about Fire Archaeology. Some great stuff there!
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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May 18, 2012 - 10:53pm PT
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Appreciate the updates KS. Keep up the good work!
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peggo
Trad climber
Carpinteria, CA
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May 21, 2012 - 04:37pm PT
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Its a "no-brainer" to at least pick up the trash bag and clean up the fire ring that shouldn't be there in the first place. The insult to injury is that these climbers mindlessly created a negative image upon the rest of us who care about such special areas. Those two guys should not have bothered with putting up the new routes, because enough of their type of bad representation of the climbing community will lead to closure anyways. Let's be a voice to protect these vital places and our privilege to climb out there.
And, thank you KS for reporting, your positive actions, working with the FS towards resuming access.
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