We tried to do the final evaluation of the location of the proposed fixed anchor for Lomatium, with long term resource protection as the aim. The person who was going to place the anchor, the fellow who pushed the process to where there was light at the end of the tunnel were there. Also on hand was another friend with a good eye for evaluating such things. Alas the permits were all taken and even though our business was in support of park goals, we were denied access. Be aware that the month around spring breaks, that permits can be hard to obtain.
So Jared and crew are coming from the south and the Peakbagger’s are coming from Grand Junction and I am with Rick and Kelsey. What to do? I decide to pull out a scramble hike from the old days called the High Desert Platypus. It follow the crest of fins parallel and above the Devil’s Garden trail, intersecting it in 2 places, but mostly having some degree of privacy. Or so the plan goes. A bit less privacy on a Saturday in March. As soon as we were done, I sprinted off for home, a 15 day trip in the books. I thank the crew for sharing their food with me as I somehow brought none for the day. I even eventually learned how to open a cheese stick wrapper!
l to r…Carrie, Tim, Jeff, Jared, Tammy, Kelsey, Rick
This fellow has climbed a LOT of mountains
jared from Blanding seeking “street cred”
Rick seeks the divine
A different angle than most see
having fun yet?
Mountaineer
Looks like a solid, fun group. Nice job in planning and getting it all pulled together. Great report.
Why was the Lomatium anchor denied, and are there plans to revisit the issue again?
Canyonbug
Mark, The anchor itself was not denied, the process of getting permits to get into the furnace to evaluate the anchor for said proposal was skunked. With spring break(s) in swing, we were unable to obtain the permits and the park officials on duty were unable to understand the reasoning that we were wanting access – not with playing in mind, but in order to help protect park resources. The anchor issue is still under development for another visit another time.
Ram
While it would have been good of the park folks to look outside of the box and allow us to go to the area, which is on the edge of the Furnace, sans playing in the Furnace all day, the responsibility lay with us to arrange access. We did not anticipate no permits being available and did not contact park officials before we were coming, to formalize permission. We will return in the fall I believe
Deagol
someone get those kids out of the sand !!
Ram
What they will do to the car!! The HORROR!