in real estate speak: Large western getaway compound, ideal for corporate retreats, or big families. In a small, religious, conservative community near Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, surrounded by public lands for your recreational adventures and exploring. Act now, won't last long at this price.
That industrial compound was listed for $650k last summer and has been creeping down in price ever since. Not sure why. Just a stone's throw (literally) from the AZ state line means easy access to all the unholy sacrilege one could possibly, um, covet.
That structure looks like an incipient cult compound (complete with charming security fence I see) Or perhaps Walmart will buy it and put up a store? Or maybe BLM can use it as a VRBO for unsuspecting NEPA inspection teams?
It is a shame to see yet another natural wonder consumed by hoards of nature loving, mostly well intentioned crowds but the whole process of controlling the visitation has is merits along with its problems. Is it better to expand a parking lot and then enforce the no parking on the highway ($$$ fines) or would we rather see another failed lottery system like Coyote Buttes? I consider myself lucky that I was able to visit many of the areas that are currently being overrun decades ago and now focus my adventures on places that are more inaccessible. I find it comforting to know that the hoards are congested into specific locations and not likely to venture further into the back-country. It is an unfortunate reality that an ever expanding population is going to swell the visitation into easily accessible "marvel" sites. All we can hope is that their contact with these locations makes them more aware of bigger picture issues in the political landscape and compels them to take action.
Thanks for the Calf Creek news, a place I'm very familiar with. As you mention in your article, the fundamental problem seems to be that the BLM is extremely reluctant (bizarrely, mostly as a result of pressure from Utah political forces) to ever take any action that designed to limit visitation. All such actions are put in the "federal over-reach box" in Utah, and cannot be tolerated. Unable to manage visitation, the only option left, as the BLM sees it, is to expand development to meet always accelerating visitation. Of course, timed visitation systems are available, and this would have been the logical time to initiate one at Calf Creek. The problem lies as much with the local county government and the Utah congressional delegation as it does with the BLM. Scott.
Calf Creek...yeah...I can still find secret-ish places in Southern Utah. It takes more work and a recently installed lift kit on my truck. I don't personally own Southern Utah, but I can't help but be bummed by the crowds. I waited years to hike to Lower Calf Creek because I just could not bear to see a place of beauty by peeking between the crowds. So finally my wife and hiked in on a cold and rainy day. It kinda sorta worked. We were alone at the falls and only encountered maybe 20 people hiking in as we were hiking out. Yeah...making it easier to accommodate more people and not actually solving the problem because if you build it, they will damned sure come, makes no sense. In my years with the BLM we used parking lot size to manage and sorta self-limit crowds.
I'm enroute home from 8 days of kayaking thru the Everglades where in 110 miles we saw no other kayakers and only a few fishermen in power boats. But even in January/February I don't need to ever again paddle through the Everglades even if it is devoid of people. It is most definitely NOT devoid of mosquitoes or no-seeums.
With regards to the situation at Calf Creek, I am sure The Mighty Five campaign by the state has increased visitation to its national parks. However, the real culprit (curse!) for the hordes of people in southern Utah, and any other nice place on the planet (!) is: social media. Post a photo and stand back or get trampled by the masses, all with their phones looking to post themselves. It is like a disease! Places like The Wave, Hole in the Rock Road, Calf Creek, etc were found and overused 20 years ago, at least during spring and fall.
I agree that building more parking lots, outhouses, etc like is proposed at Calf Creek is destructive and not the answer. I don't know what is; maybe taking down all the cell towers; banning photo posts on social media?? I have talked to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance about the gross over-popularization of southern Utah and they hardly acknowledge the problem, much less have a solution. I can avoid a mine or gas well, but I can't avoid throngs of people littering the land!
PS Those fish in Calf Creek are brown trout--it is a nice little fishery! SHHHHH!
Holy $!#%! I missed the memo on the Calf Creek proposal. :-(
Sorry to GSEP, SUWA, GCT or any other groups that tried to raise attention about this plan. The idea of wifi down in the canyon is a sad thing and could draw more people (think YT or IG livestreams from the parking lot). What happened to protecting the resource? How many people in the local BLM offices are of the cloth of "develop it, so they will come"? I'm not regularly sure of how to interpret the intent of some BLM staffers when I'm in Kanab, Cannonville, and Escalante to obtain permits or ask questions. Thankfully, many are committed to protecting the monument and surrounding lands.
As for that fine piece of real estate in Hildale... Enter the house of Zion! This somewhat unfinished bunker compound is ready for your remodel, doomsday prep, and herds of goats. F.L.D.S. qualify to not pay federal and state taxes. High walls maintain privacy of your domain with few questions from "authorities". Note, gentiles not obeying the laws of G*d may be required to pay back taxes.
The 2 comments regarding wives (additional ones) seem to me to be the most logical!
On the BLM's answer to crowding - quite honestly, its typical of BLM's answer to anything at all. Just check out the 10 year plan to "control" the hundreds of thousands (!!) Wild Horses that are "destroying" the range!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It appears that thought process & common sense are not big in the bureaucratic BLM>
in real estate speak: Large western getaway compound, ideal for corporate retreats, or big families. In a small, religious, conservative community near Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, surrounded by public lands for your recreational adventures and exploring. Act now, won't last long at this price.
The wives will put up with a lot of things but sharing a bathroom isn't one of them.
That industrial compound was listed for $650k last summer and has been creeping down in price ever since. Not sure why. Just a stone's throw (literally) from the AZ state line means easy access to all the unholy sacrilege one could possibly, um, covet.
Many wives and more children. A lot of trouble!
Plural marriage.
That structure looks like an incipient cult compound (complete with charming security fence I see) Or perhaps Walmart will buy it and put up a store? Or maybe BLM can use it as a VRBO for unsuspecting NEPA inspection teams?
It is a shame to see yet another natural wonder consumed by hoards of nature loving, mostly well intentioned crowds but the whole process of controlling the visitation has is merits along with its problems. Is it better to expand a parking lot and then enforce the no parking on the highway ($$$ fines) or would we rather see another failed lottery system like Coyote Buttes? I consider myself lucky that I was able to visit many of the areas that are currently being overrun decades ago and now focus my adventures on places that are more inaccessible. I find it comforting to know that the hoards are congested into specific locations and not likely to venture further into the back-country. It is an unfortunate reality that an ever expanding population is going to swell the visitation into easily accessible "marvel" sites. All we can hope is that their contact with these locations makes them more aware of bigger picture issues in the political landscape and compels them to take action.
Hi Jonathan;
Thanks for the Calf Creek news, a place I'm very familiar with. As you mention in your article, the fundamental problem seems to be that the BLM is extremely reluctant (bizarrely, mostly as a result of pressure from Utah political forces) to ever take any action that designed to limit visitation. All such actions are put in the "federal over-reach box" in Utah, and cannot be tolerated. Unable to manage visitation, the only option left, as the BLM sees it, is to expand development to meet always accelerating visitation. Of course, timed visitation systems are available, and this would have been the logical time to initiate one at Calf Creek. The problem lies as much with the local county government and the Utah congressional delegation as it does with the BLM. Scott.
Calf Creek...yeah...I can still find secret-ish places in Southern Utah. It takes more work and a recently installed lift kit on my truck. I don't personally own Southern Utah, but I can't help but be bummed by the crowds. I waited years to hike to Lower Calf Creek because I just could not bear to see a place of beauty by peeking between the crowds. So finally my wife and hiked in on a cold and rainy day. It kinda sorta worked. We were alone at the falls and only encountered maybe 20 people hiking in as we were hiking out. Yeah...making it easier to accommodate more people and not actually solving the problem because if you build it, they will damned sure come, makes no sense. In my years with the BLM we used parking lot size to manage and sorta self-limit crowds.
I'm enroute home from 8 days of kayaking thru the Everglades where in 110 miles we saw no other kayakers and only a few fishermen in power boats. But even in January/February I don't need to ever again paddle through the Everglades even if it is devoid of people. It is most definitely NOT devoid of mosquitoes or no-seeums.
With regards to the situation at Calf Creek, I am sure The Mighty Five campaign by the state has increased visitation to its national parks. However, the real culprit (curse!) for the hordes of people in southern Utah, and any other nice place on the planet (!) is: social media. Post a photo and stand back or get trampled by the masses, all with their phones looking to post themselves. It is like a disease! Places like The Wave, Hole in the Rock Road, Calf Creek, etc were found and overused 20 years ago, at least during spring and fall.
I agree that building more parking lots, outhouses, etc like is proposed at Calf Creek is destructive and not the answer. I don't know what is; maybe taking down all the cell towers; banning photo posts on social media?? I have talked to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance about the gross over-popularization of southern Utah and they hardly acknowledge the problem, much less have a solution. I can avoid a mine or gas well, but I can't avoid throngs of people littering the land!
PS Those fish in Calf Creek are brown trout--it is a nice little fishery! SHHHHH!
what the status of molybdenum at Rico? don't see it on you monitor map
Holy $!#%! I missed the memo on the Calf Creek proposal. :-(
Sorry to GSEP, SUWA, GCT or any other groups that tried to raise attention about this plan. The idea of wifi down in the canyon is a sad thing and could draw more people (think YT or IG livestreams from the parking lot). What happened to protecting the resource? How many people in the local BLM offices are of the cloth of "develop it, so they will come"? I'm not regularly sure of how to interpret the intent of some BLM staffers when I'm in Kanab, Cannonville, and Escalante to obtain permits or ask questions. Thankfully, many are committed to protecting the monument and surrounding lands.
As for that fine piece of real estate in Hildale... Enter the house of Zion! This somewhat unfinished bunker compound is ready for your remodel, doomsday prep, and herds of goats. F.L.D.S. qualify to not pay federal and state taxes. High walls maintain privacy of your domain with few questions from "authorities". Note, gentiles not obeying the laws of G*d may be required to pay back taxes.
The 2 comments regarding wives (additional ones) seem to me to be the most logical!
On the BLM's answer to crowding - quite honestly, its typical of BLM's answer to anything at all. Just check out the 10 year plan to "control" the hundreds of thousands (!!) Wild Horses that are "destroying" the range!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It appears that thought process & common sense are not big in the bureaucratic BLM>