New Legislation To Try And Open Bump and Grind

The state used metal to close part of the Bump and Grind hiking trail in Palm Desert– causing local officials to pull out their tools to open it.

“Now’s the time to use the hammer more or less, introduce legislation to get them to open the gate,” Palm Desert assemblyman Brian Nestande said.

Assemblymembers Brian Nestande of Palm Desert and Manuel Perez of Coachella teamed up to pass a bill requiring the Department of Fish and Game to open the gate they put up nine months ago blocking the mirage trail. The Department of Fish and Game would only point to a previous statement released on their website — which explains their objective is to protect the endangered big horn sheep.

However, take it from Susan Paul — an avid hiker with the experience to prove it.

“Never, in all the years, close to 20 years of hiking, have I ever seen a big horn or any scat up in this area,” Susan Paul said.

One man, Blaine Carian, funded a lawyer to get concrete evidence to prove that — showing no sheep in this location.

“The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has 70 years of data,” Carian said.

He says in the past 70 years, only one big horn sheep was found near the top of the Bump and Grind trail.

“It doesn’t mean anything. They can be very arbitrary about it,” Carian said.

“If it’s so, that there is data that this is a lambing area, then show us the evidence,” Coachella assemblyman Manuel Perez said.

If not, they hope the state opens the gate to expand the trail the valley loves.

Assemblyman Perez says the gate isn’t just an issue for palm desert. These hikers come from all over.

“I’m sure if you ask folks here where they’re from, they’ll be able to tell you they’re from all over the Coachella Valley,” Perez said.

People who want to explore open land.