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Melody Ranch · 10-01-2013, 02:04 PM

Interesting! My STATE PARK here in Texas asked me to pack it. Closing by order of the FEDS. STATE PARK is on a US Corps of Engineer lake. They apparently trump the State. What a crock! Don't get caught short with your camping plans this week...or month.

TBRich · 10-01-2013, 02:32 PM

Bummer. Recreation.gov is also shut down, so no reservations in national forest campgrounds are possible. It's unclear if campgrounds themselves are acutally shut down ... that may depend on whether they require reservations or if they are staffed ... We don't have any immediate plans to camp in a NF campground soon, but we have friends who are.

aluminitus · 10-01-2013, 02:33 PM

Not to get too political, but aren't the national and state parks, museums etc. the only government myrmidons that are actually producing a viable product and bringing in income through admission fees? Let's shut those down first.

dznf0g · 10-01-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aluminitus

Not to get too political, but aren't the national and state parks, museums etc. the only government myrmidons that are actually producing a viable product and bringing in income through admission fees? Let's shut those down first.

YES, but closing these things is a way to get their political message to you in a way that they hope irritates you more than the larger issue, thus they win support.
BE SMART, think big.

Aage · 10-01-2013, 02:41 PM

Let's keep it to information regarding camp closures, and avoid sliding into another political discussion, OK?

We all know what happens to political threads...

nilesrob · 10-01-2013, 02:41 PM

We are sitting in the north rim (Grand Canyon) campground right now, got lucky because we came in yesterday, just under the wire. Everyone has to leave by Thursday morning regardless of your plans, and no one can get in to the park.

Tdcraw · 10-01-2013, 03:08 PM

In Oklahoma it is opening day if deer season. My hubby and friends are relocating to boon dock after being told to leave corp camping by 8. And since they have not seen the ranger betting there won't be a refund.

**Stefrobrts** · 10-01-2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tdcraw

In Oklahoma it is opening day if deer season. My hubby and friends are relocating to boon dock after being told to leave corp camping by 8. And since they have not seen the ranger betting there won't be a refund.

Well, if there's no one to give a refund, there shouldn't be anyone to check and see if they left

Phoenix · 10-01-2013, 03:40 PM

Anyone know if it's still OK to boondock on National Forest and BLM land, assuming the access roads aren't closed?

samb · 10-01-2013, 03:54 PM

Around here they close the offices, not the woods or open lands. I have no problem using the land for boondocking because it does, in fact, belong to all of us. It is mainly on the facilitities and developed areas they are enacting closures.

Hope this is not too political................
Sam

John&Vicki · 10-01-2013, 03:58 PM

Are bolt cutters political?

Poppy

AWCHIEF · 10-01-2013, 04:01 PM

Gulf Islands National Park in Ocean Springs,MS has locked the gates and current campers have 48 hours from this morning to pack up and pull out.

Protagonist · 10-01-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Are bolt cutters political?

Poppy

No more than jail is. The Federal Government may be shutting down, but local law enforcement can still arrest you for trespassing on Federal property (as well as vandalism for the lock you cut). Federal agencies that provide recreational areas have always relied on local law enforcement to arrest troublemakers, even when they were open.

perryg114 · 10-01-2013, 04:05 PM

Try being furloughed and told to use your vacation till it is gone. It won't matter soon that some of the parks are closed because I won't have vacation to use them.

Perry

Protagonist · 10-01-2013, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perryg114

Try being furloughed and told to use your vacation till it is gone. It won't matter soon that some of the parks are closed because I won't have vacation to use them.

As a Federal Government employee myself, I feel your pain. In spades! If you're even allowed to use your leave, count your blessings. Many federal employees were told they can't use leave. And they can't go get another job to help pay the bills if the other job was during their regular work day because even if they're not being paid and not going to the office, they're still officially "on the clock."

Thing is, I'm eligible to retire, but I can't just say, "to heck with this" and retire, because the folks that would process my retirement paperwork are furloughed, too!

perryg114 · 10-01-2013, 05:10 PM

I would rather take LWOP than loose all my leave. I am a contractor for NASA.

Perry

mistral blue · 10-01-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Are bolt cutters political?

Poppy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

No more than jail is. The Federal Government may be shutting down, but local law enforcement can still arrest you for trespassing on Federal property (as well as vandalism for the lock you cut). Federal agencies that provide recreational areas have always relied on local law enforcement to arrest troublemakers, even when they were open.

WWII veterans storm D.C. memorial closed by government shutdown - News - Stripes

Thalweg · 10-01-2013, 06:02 PM

As one of the lucky furloughed federal employees, I'm using the time to polish the Airstream. I was going to wait until Spring, but making lemonade out of lemons, I made good progress today. The way things are looking right now, I might have time to finish.

As far as boondocking on BLM and FS land, there should be no impact. But keep in mind, that at least in Wyoming just about the only BLM personnel that weren't furloughed were the law enforcement folks. So they'll still be out there.

reinergirl · 10-01-2013, 06:26 PM

Ah... Making lemonade too! My daughter (works for the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service) has some extra time on her hands starting today, she doesn't know it yet but I'm going to turn her into my new bucking buddy

perryg114 · 10-01-2013, 06:41 PM

I will be making some improvements to the Airstream on my time off as well. I have just about gotten all the outside and structural stuff done.

I need to work on the inside some more eventhough I am poor. I am going to paint the bathroom sink I think and I bet it will stink.

I also need to cover the valences in the living area. I must decide on a color though. The wife will be involved in that. All things must pass WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).

Perry

No I have not had any beer yet.