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Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
#56778 03/31/20 04:10 PM
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Some people seem very worried about getting permits to hike Whitney this coming season. With so many closures in force, and more to come, those worried ones need to really reevaluate their need for that big adventure. Here is an important item from the Pacific Trail Association:

https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/permits/

A lot of trailheads, including Whitney, are going to be shut-down until the virus has cleared out.

If you insist on coming up to hike or climb, just consider that you may be helping spread the virus beyond your metro area and into someone else's home. Don't be selfish; consider the health of others, and not just your oh-so-important fun.

The mountains are not going to go away; they will still be there waiting for you when this national crisis is over.


Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not hike
Bob West #56779 03/31/20 08:49 PM
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On the other hand, this CV19 virus is not going to go away. Getting enough equipment (ventilators & protective gear) to hospitals to handle all the sick will likely take at least 6 months. It may be a year before a vaccine is ready, and many months after that before the most vulnerable can be vaccinated.

The need to avoid contact with others could well continue until the end of 2021. I am not sure how long the shelter-in-place mode can or will continue.

I am sure hoping we can at least get the testing process ramped up to the point that thousands can be tested each day. I am wondering how in the world South Korea got their process up and running so fast.

I would sure like to see what others think.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not hike
Steve C #56784 04/01/20 07:03 AM
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Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Bob West #56787 04/01/20 08:07 AM
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Hey Bobby, settle down. Don’t like you’re the ultimate gatekeeper of the Sierras. You’re just a dude who lives in Bishop.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Bob West #56789 04/01/20 08:48 AM
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I likely have more contact with people while on a walk around my neighborhood than I would in a weekend of hiking Whitney. So which spreads the virus more?

The only alternative is to sit in your living room for the next 6 months or a year until they develop a vaccine, which is something I doubt most people are willing to do.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
ace #56790 04/01/20 09:50 AM
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I live on the central coast now, but I love the Eastern Sierra. We can't even go to our beaches here, and you're complaining?

Locals in the Eastern Sierra are really pissed at out of town people, who think it's their "right" to hike wherever they want.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Bob West #56794 04/01/20 12:03 PM
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I don’t think you understand the concept of the NPS. It’s not for locals, it’s for the country, and the whole country contributes to its survival via Federal Taxes. In fact, they probably contribute a lot more to the parks than the Bishop poors who make $50k per year? So I’ll hike whenever the hell I want. Don’t act like hiking is any different than any street in the country. People passing by each other.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Bob West #56795 04/01/20 12:06 PM
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If a public trail is open, out of town people do have as much right to hike there as people who live nearby.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Louie #56796 04/01/20 01:29 PM
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True

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
ace #56797 04/01/20 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted By: ace
the Bishop poors who make $50k per year?

FWIW, the annual median income of all Americans who worked full-time is less than $50K. And besides, the guy living on $50K a year in Bishop is doing a lot better than the guy making $100K a year in San Francisco.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Big Pine #56799 04/01/20 08:48 PM
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Here's my two cents on this for what it's worth:

Use common sense. Know yourself. If you are going to go out and hike something that is low risk for you, go do it. When you travel to wherever you want to hike, use common sense in interacting with the environment. Minimize human contact, wash hands, etc etc.

If you are attempting something that is higher risk, i.e., something where a rescue is possible, it is probably best to avoid that right now. These rescue crews may have to quarantine afterwards and that makes it harder to help others. Once the cases start declining, use reasonable judgment in adding in higher risk activities.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
BFR #56808 04/02/20 10:49 AM
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Nice post, BFR.

Caltopo.com has been displaying a warning the last few days. It says to stay near home, don’t do anything too challenging, and stay away from other people. That makes sense. If you live in New York, you probably need to barricade yourself in your apartment. That seems like overkill for sparsely populated Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.

I’ve been skiing on Relay Peak and Mt. Houghton all season. I drive up, get my boots on, and start skinning up before any of the “snow bunnies” can get near me. Sometimes, I don’t see another person the whole day. I rarely see another person within 50 yards until I get back to the car. I throw my gear in the back and leave within 90 seconds. If I have a partner, we drive separate cars and remind each other that “if I can reach you with my ski pole, you’re too close.” We’re usually at least 30 feet apart.

I’ve also started working on the Tahoe Ogul List. I’ve passed a few people on wide trails near the trailhead. I saw four snowmobiles yesterday. I still haven’t seen another hiker or skier on the four peaks I’ve climbed. And I’m maintaining my sanity and fitness.

We have a friend who works in a dental office and keeps her horse at our place. If I get the virus, it’ll probably be because she used our bathroom when she came to visit her horse, or because my wife went grocery shopping. I don’t think It’ll be because I went backcountry skiing.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Louie #56809 04/02/20 06:11 PM
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I'm pretty sure I was scolded on a Mt Whitney Facebook page by a "famous" Lone Pine resident for asking for clarification regarding an emergency closure order for developed campgrounds and recreational sites.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
RenoFrank #56813 04/02/20 09:16 PM
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They're going crazy over there, Frank. Not sure who the LP resident is you're referring to.

On the FB page, the admin is telling everyone not to hike Whitney this year. I'm not giving up hope.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not hike
Steve C #56815 04/02/20 10:42 PM
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the last I heard, South Korea cancelled the rest of their pro basketball season on March 29. The NBA had been watching them, hoping to see good news, but an uptick in cases and concerns from doctors and South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyu, made them decide to cancel their season.


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Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
RenoFrank #56817 04/03/20 06:26 AM
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How much meth do you have to do to become a famous Lone Pine resident?

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
ace #56818 04/03/20 07:20 AM
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Not meth, but in-breeding.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Steve C #56820 04/03/20 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted By: Steve C
They're going crazy over there, Frank. Not sure who the LP resident is you're referring to.

On the FB page, the admin is telling everyone not to hike Whitney this year. I'm not giving up hope.


Really foolish for anyone to give out any advice like that that would apply for the rest of the year. Besides, hiking Whitney is not like running in the Boston Marathon. Most events are cancelled only a few months in advance, as things are evolving and changing rapidly, and it's not like all the news will be bad.

If the trailheads are closed and permits cancelled, then that's another matter. But otherwise, use caution and practice social distancing when possible and not take heed from random FB admins who think they are an authority for everyone else.

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
bruce #56821 04/03/20 01:49 PM
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All these comments seem to be focused on the danger from being in the great outdoor wilderness. Of course there is minimal risk being out on a Sierra trail.

However if, in order to get there you have to drive from some other area (LA, Bay Area, Sacramento,. Vegas, etc.) you will likely need to stop for gas or something to eat or use the restroom. Maybe your car will break down and you need a tow. Now you are potentially spreading your germs into the Eastern Sierra population and THAT is the concern of people in Lone Pine and Bishop and other communities. It is important to look at the big picture here.

Trying to nail down a date, today, of when things will open up again is like someone in February asking what day the switchbacks will be open.

The mountains will always be there, the people may not....

Re: Corona Virus CV19: To hike or not to hike
Pete B #56822 04/03/20 02:13 PM
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Yes that is true, and all that can be mitigated by maintaining the same social distancing where ever they go. Using takeout at restaurants, paying at the pump at gas stations, etc.

A couple of things to keep in mind.

For one thing, people seem to be projected future circumstances in today's world. In 3-6 months, things will definitely be more relaxed, otherwise we're all screwed.

Also these tourist places depend on money coming in from elsewhere, and visitors in the future will not be so unwelcome later as they are now with the shelter in place laws.

The economy has to get back to semi-normal in the next few months, and traveling to remote areas isn't exactly one of those activities that has to discouraged as it's definitely low risk, whether on the road or not. Sure cars break down but how often?

The high risk will remain large gathering such as concerts, street races, sporting events, theaters, etc. This is not one of them.

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