goatboy Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Today, I enjoyed a glorious spring day climbing at Vantage. The only low point of the day was seeing 3 guys on motor bikes doing laps around the valley floor, in what I understand to be a protected wildlife area. Seeing them tear across the desert floor in a cloud of dust and create new trails in the cryto-biotic soil out there was hard to believe. In speaking with some local climbers, apparently this group has been out there every weekend as of late. I tried to look up the land use agency for Frenchman's Coulee to verify the local rules regarding motorized vehicles, but was unable to get definitive info online. If anyone here can speak to the actual land use policy re. motor bikes in the coulee, please do. I am fairly sure that they're verboten. What I did find: WCC LINK I intend to contact the local land use agency and make them aware of the motorized vehicle traffic in the coulee. If you were there today climbing and were unhappy about it -- or if you are simply concerned about it in principle -- please join me in making a simple call to the local land use manager. Thanks for reading, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCM Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 I was there about 3 weeks ago and there were several people riding bikes then too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pindude Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 (edited) Any motorized vehicle going off-road is indeed illegal there. Signs used to be posted, and it was obvious just from that. Don't mess around and call the Grant County Sheriff dispatch office directly at 509-762-1160 or 1-888-431-9911 during the weekend so they can get caught while they're out there. The Sheriff is based out of both Moses Lake and Ephrata, and it might take a little time for him to get to you and then deal with the situation. But be persistent, and let the sheriff do the work he's paid to. WA Fish and Wildlife, who is the land manager, I think answers their phone (at least the one listed at the above-linked WCC site) only during weekday business hours. Good luck and get em! Let us know the outcome. Edited to add: WA F&W, as the land manager, will still want to know what's going on out there. The WA Guard used to exercise all over around there, but that was banned years ago. Indeed pictures may well be needed. Edited March 9, 2008 by pindude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Crunch Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Take Pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 Thanks for the confirmation. Did anyone there in the last few weeks happen to GET pictures of them out there??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 I would encourage folks who are planning to go to Vantage to put these numbers in their cell phones: 509-762-1160 or 1-888-431-9911 - Grant County Sheriff 509 765-6641 - Wildlife Area Manager If you see or hear motorized vehicles in the Coulee, it's illegal. Please report! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 and when they see you puffing on your pipes i hope they don't do the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetBoss Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 and when they see you puffing on your pipes i hope they don't do the same Touche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevino Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Or us parking without parking passes/permits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZONK Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Good luck getting Wildlife dudes out there ! They have no one working weekends as of right now because the State refuses to pay them overtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can someone explain the timestamps of the OP and the first reply to me? It's just a jump to the left, And then a step to the right. With your hands on your hips. You bring your knees in tight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodchips Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 We were out there this weekend, and saw bikes both days. Yesterday (sunday) we say three bikes pretty close to the base of sunshine wall. Saturday, they were across the coulee, at what looks like a sand pit (pretty white from a distance.) I was annoyed, but didn't realize that the were prohibited. I'll give a call. Speaking of annoyed, I'm sure this has been thought of before, but why aren't their real outhouses out there? Also, when you buy a pass, it expires at the end of march no matter which month you buy it in, even though you have to pay a full year's price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvlNC Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Steve, that sucks to hear. we did not see them last week. hope you guys had a good weekend despite. are you still planning on smith the last week? we are heading out to bishop on the 22nd--27th. if you wanted the option of a night or two in bend let me know and we could leave you a key for the condo. pm me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Doesn't "Multiple Use" include hand grenades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekend_Climberz Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Um, if I'm not mistaken the valley bottoms are all private land. They were going to build a resort near Frenchman Falls at one point, but I'm not sure if that fell through or not. I could be mistaken though. I've seen bikes and sand rails scooting around there for the 10+ years I've been climbing there. You should be afraid when you hear the machine gun fire at night, or get buzzed by an apache while on Air Guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I did call the Land Manager last year about motor bikes. He said that the land on the otherside of Echo Basin is private land. I think that if you saw them on the Sunshine Wall side of the basin they were in Wildlife Refuge land and were operating illegally. I urge you to call him. He'll talk to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hey Brian! Glad to see you made it to Laguna Beach in one piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekend_Climberz Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Oh Yeah!! Definately below Sunshine isn't kosher. :tdown: I was thinking of the private land around the Winter Walk Wall north of the Feathers. It's private land south of Running Gear Death Wall, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 thanks for the info. To clarify what I saw, they were in the basin immediately below the Sunshine Wall -- could have maybe hit them with a well thrown frisbee. If anyone else saw this happening, please let the wildlife manager know. Thanks! Dave -- PM on the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 That's a Wrist Rocket! I had one of those when I was a teenager. Fawkin' thing was a windshield killer second to none! Man, what memories that pic conjures up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saragrace Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 We also heard and saw the bikers out beneath sunshine wall this weekend... and discussed the likely illegality among my little climbing party. It was a glorious spring day out there otherwise, apparently less crowded than the weekend before according to friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Hey Brian! Glad to see you made it to Laguna Beach in one piece. I've already been to Joshua Tree twice and been out sailing in Newport Harbor in a tee shirt. It would be nice if it didn't get any hotter, but I am afraid it will. Soon it will be time to move climbing up to Taquitz and Suicide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 grrrrrrrrrrrr... :envy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Rock! feel free to use it, but guys on bikes are more likely to have these kinda toys w/ them too, eh? please take pictures of any gang-battles, whether the chicks present consent or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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