Agree this article is misleading. I was in JT 2 days between Christmas and New Year's and the LA Times account was incredibly exaggerated. Yes, no ranger greeted us at the park gates. No, we didn't see any Joshua Trees with man-made decorations. We were at 3 different day use locations, drove past several more, and the bathrooms worked, the worst thing was people parking at red painted curbs.
There were people parking on the road near the main entrance and walking around the trees taking pictures. On all 3 of our hikes, hikers were also walking around plants off-trail too. Both probably happens every day anyway.
Anyone with some knowledge of the outdoors knows that desert and alpine environments are fragile. We should respect the natural beauty that God created whether there are park rangers or not, but with the numbers of visitors at any national park, the best we can do is educate people about Leave No Trace and hope they listen.
Oh no! Poor little Joshua tree fell down. I am shocked, horrified and scared for my children and my country. What will we do????
What is the point of such a comment ?
Yes, we all get how utterly Kool and sophisticated you must be. And you do have a point. But still - these worries are true and being sarcastic about them, well not cool.
Let no one forget the heartlessness of this unfit, liar make believe POTUS who has hurt so many people all across this country because he isn't getting his way. So 800,000 employees and countless others must suffer because this cruel and heartless man doesn't care for anyone but himself. We deserve a leader who can, at least, feel the pain of other people. It seems true that he has no heart and no soul.
@Kerryman--Deep breaths sport. TDS has you by the short and curlies. It's ok though. You will live. Seek help, now.
What is this article supposed to be about? Am I missing something?
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“If you’re not a desert person, you don’t understand how fragile these environments are,” he said.
So did you read the article?
I like the emphasis on Leave No Trace. Then if any visitor takes out what they bring in, stays on the trails, does not do,anything crazy, we may be able to be sustainable for a while.
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It’s unclear what basis the writer is saying there is permanent damage. The headline is sensationalist and unhelpful. The writer didn’t even go into the park. This is more tabloid than journalism. Shame.
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@Brian Johnson
Read other accounts. Joshua Trees had been damaged and human feces and other debris has been widely noted in other California publications. Perhaps you've never visited Sequoia or Yosemite or simply don't care. Defacing trees and damaging them can cause permanent damage; Sir.
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@Candlewick--Oh no! Poor little Joshua tree fell down. I am shocked, horrified and scared for my children and my country. What will we do????
KAG2020!
No, Ken R, is too sophisticated to understand damage. He'd rather make childish comments