US Government Closes National Parks

© David Morse

The Tombstone - Joshua Tree  © Alastair Lee - Posingproductions.com
The Tombstone - Joshua Tree
Alastair Lee, Apr 2007
© Alastair Lee - Posingproductions.com

UKC Assistant Editor Duncan Campbell Reports From Yosemite Valley:

The US government is set to temporarily close many National Parks including Yosemite Valley, Joshua Tree, Zion, Mt Rainier, and Grand Teton to name just a few.

The partial shutdown is due to a failure to agree a budget to include President Obama's Healthcare reform. Many services and federal employees are to be stopped until a budget is agreed on. 

This has a huge impact on climbers, walkers and general outdoor enthusiasts with the closure of all National Parks until the government either; passes a clean bill, a compromise is reached or the House of Represantives accepts the budget, with talk of it potentially taking up to 17 days.

Everyone Out By 3pm Thursday

Here in Yosemite Valley, there is a lot of uncertainty within both the climbing and Park Service communities as to what will happen, with many climbers going up on to El Capitan and other walls to avoid being kicked out of the Park.

We have been informed that everybody must leave Yosemite Valley by 3pm on Thursday, the roads will remain open, but any stopping and use of wilderness and trails within the park will be prohibited. Classic routes such as The Nose were very busy today with many parties using the park closure as an excuse to get on their dream El Capitan routes in the next few days.

El Capitan, So many adventures so little time....  © David Morse
El Capitan, So many adventures so little time....
© David Morse

The National Park Service website is currently down due to the lay-offs but if you have a trip planned within the next week or so you can check progress on the US Government's Department of the Interior Webpage.


This post has been read 17,132 times

Return to Latest News


2 Oct, 2013
That's The land of the free for you...
2 Oct, 2013
I'm a rambler, I'm a rambler.
2 Oct, 2013
You think the situation would be different in the UK in areas where government workers controlled access if the money ran out??
2 Oct, 2013
Yes, it would, we don't have that history of control over publicly managed sites - sure the heritage buildings would (mostly) be shut, but in the main park gates wouldn't close and no one would be enforcing closures. If it was a long term issue, we might see sell offs mooted (cf Stanage or the public bits of the FC), but we don't have that history of tightly managed access to our National Parks - maybe we should, but thats a different issue. Traditionally our problem has been with restricted access to privately owned or managed land, and legislation has focussed on that
2 Oct, 2013
Just to be clear, the money hasn't 'run out' in the largest economy on the planet. The Republicans are just holding the entire budget, and country, to ransom over Obamacare. That sh*t can't really happen here due to a different political structure. And our national parks are much more open access, not run like theme parks as in the US, so no, it wouldn't happen here even if the money did 'run out'*. *Again, I should point out that even the financial 'crisis' has never meant a shortage of money. It's just seen the money move from the poor, working and middle classes to the elites, from the goverments to the mega-corps. If the money did somehow 'run out' in government, any sensible government would just go and get more (a return favour for bailing the banks out, say). As it is, our current government is intentionally financially crippling government services so as to then be able to accuse them of poor management and privatise them. Pure evil lying b*stards, and of course they're getting away with it - it helps to have Viscount Rothermere and Murdoch on your side!
More Comments
Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email