Climbers vs. Rangers at Joshua Tree

[faust]

Sorry if this is too far off topic, I thought somebody here might have some perspective on this:

What's the situation in Joshua Tree as far as climber's and park ranger's attitudes toward each other? Is it similar to other areas (ie. Yosemite) where there can be open hostility? I'm considering applying for a winter seasonal job done there but I don't want to get involved with any conflict of interest.

[ 04-11-2002: Message edited by: faust ]

[willstrickland]

In my expereince, it's been MUCH different than Yos. Never noticed any issues, so that must be a good thing right? The big issues in Yos all revolve around there not being enough walk-in sites (read:cheap sites, Camp 4 fills every day from May-Sept) as well as stay-limits. Us trying to get around it and getting caught, or even getting in line to renew your site very early or in the middle of the night and sleeping in the line-up, leads to alot of problems. Once the first "punch" is thrown (like getting rousted by a ranger at 3:45 am, being told you can't sleep there, and having nowhere you can go instead, and still needing to be in line super early to get a spot...) the escalation starts.

In the summer of 2000 after numerous hassles with one particular LE Ranger (law enf) I rallied six other climbers and filed a formal complaint against this ranger with the super's office.

The only solution there is to put as much emphasis on cheap walk-in sites as they do on posh $200/night lodging.

You got no worries anyway, because if it's a climbing ranger position, you and about 20,000 other people will apply. I once applied for a climbing ranger spot at Zion...I have a Master's in Rec and Park Admin, been a climber for a long time, done a bunch of routes in Zion, had letters of recommendation from US Congressmen, etc and still got screwed out of the spot because a local bumpkin chick, with less qualifications who knew the selection committee applied, you tell me who got selected... Apparently she didn't last long since someone else is now in that position.

[todd]

ive never had any problems with the rangers at j-tree. we've even done things they couldve ticketed us for (sleeping in our cars where we shouldnt be when the camps were all full, my buddy got caught running around with his dog off the leash, etc.) and they just gave us a little speech and moved along. every ranger ive dealt with at j-tree has been cool - but im sure there are exceptions, as there are if you catch anyone on a bad day.

[Dr.Hook]

Never had a problem with the rangers in Jtree, they seemed courteous for the most part. I'm sure the size of the shotguns mounted to the dash have something to do with that. I'd imagine most of their problems stem from the LA types who drive in for a weekend in the sticks vs the climbers.

[erik]

the only time i have heard of a ranger even sweating anyone, my friend crazy jamie was on top of my other friends p.u. on a lawn chair drinking and yelling....an off duty l.e.t. pulled them over and gave them a real hard time, though let them off with a verbal warning.....now that is a pretty nice cop...

now i could only imagine if that happend in the valley, there would be gun fire and several climbers dead and a couple innocent tourons injured....with the tool having fixed the problem.....sheesh.....