Volunteers mobilize to maintain Joshua Tree National Park amid gov’t shutdown
It’s now been about a week since the federal government was shut down, effecting operations at Joshua Tree National Park. With much of the park staff on furlough, the local Joshua Tree community is taking it upon themselves to maintain it.
Cleaning bathrooms weren’t in the plans for Sabra Purdy and Seth Zaharias when December began. They instead expecting to help rock climbers in Joshua Tree National Park during the holiday travel rush.
“This is the busiest ten days of entire year typically speaking,” Purdy said.
But these rock climbing guides with Cliffhanger Guides, are doing the dirty work, because who else can do it, with almost no park staff. These two are just some of the volunteers mobilized from the local community trying to maintain the park the best they can and taking it upon themselves to make sure everything is stocked, even while working on their own business.
“During our peak season, like I’m guiding every day and in my free our or two in the evening and running in the park and cleaning toilets. Not to mention we’re about 400 dollars out on cash buying toilet paper,” Seth Zaharias said.
Lots and lots of toilet paper. Purdy and Zaharias estimates approximately 20,000 visitors a day come through during the year-end holidays. With no staff collecting park fees and visitors still coming in, they’ve noticed some rules being overlooked..
“We get a lot of dogs off leash or where they’re not supposed to be….going on trails where dogs are not allowed,” Purdy said.
However, the guides say it hasn’t been a complete free for all with most visitors respecting the park. Some have even taken notice and offered direct donations to their volunteer work. One visitor says he and his family are grateful for the local help.
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“I love it that the locals are taking it upon themselves because it means that everybody can come out here and enjoy it despite the government shutdown,” Gene Klein, visiting from Santa Monica, said.
That wasn’t the case five years ago. During the 2013 government shutdown, the entrance was blocked to all visitors, a devastating blow to Purdy and Zaharias’s business at the time…
“That just about put us out of business and we had to cover payroll on a credit card for those two weeks,” Zaharias said.
This time though, they’re booked with rock climbers through January 2. With the park remaining open this time, the guides say it’s been a blessing and a curse and say volunteers can’t maintain the park forever.
“I’m hoping the federal government gets it together and comes up with an agreement here shortly,” Zaharias said.
An agreement that’s likely not coming until after the new year.
The local Joshua tree community is accepting donations to assist the volunteers. All money given will go towards buying supplies. Donations can be given to the non-profit Friends of Joshua Tree here, and donations of cleaning supplies and toilet paper can be given to the business Nomad Ventures at 61795 29 Palms Hwy in Joshua Tree.
