Surprise Canyon Road - Action Needed

[OTR]

OK everyone, its time for an e-mail bomb.

From http://www.fopv.org/actionalert.html


Support the re-opening of Surprise Canyon Road - Action Needed.

http://www.fopv.org/action.html

History…
Surprise Canyon Road, a county road located in the Panamint Mountains of Inyo County, California, has been the only route of wheeled access to Panamint City for over 130 years. Panamint City is located high in the Panamint mountains in a non-wilderness cherry-stem of Death Valley National Park. Surprise Canyon Road was created by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, under California law, on July 6, 1874, to provide access to Panamint City.

Surprise Canyon Road was closed in May of 2001 as a result of a lawsuit brought about by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, against the Bureau of Land Management. The parties to the suit settled by signing a "Stipulation Agreement" defining the terms of the closure. The agreement stated that the BLM must erect a gate to block vehicular access to the road, and to complete an "Environmental Impact Statement" (EIS) to outline further allowed use of the road.

This closure order had an appeal period of 90 days. CORVA and the High Desert Multiple Use Coalition appealed the decision in 2001 to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). This appeal was denied, and the only option was to file suit in Federal District court. Unfortunately the funds available for a suit of this nature were low, and there were other pending issues heading towards the courts at the time in California. As a result, the funds for Surprise Canyon were diverted to these other causes and the ability to appeal the closure to Federal Court was lost.

A second chance…
In 2003, two groups of individuals interested in re-opening Surprise Canyon Road purchased two patented millsite claims in the hopes of re-establishing vehicular access to Panamint City via Surprise Canyon Road. In the closure order there was an exemption to owners of private property, allowing them to access their property as had been done in the past. After many requests were submitted by property owners, the BLM did not provide keys to the gate and further required property owners to complete applications for a right-of-way. To date, the applications have gone un-answered as the agencies feel many of the issues they have surrounding the applications will be answered by the findings of the "EIS".

It has been over four years since the start of the EIS process, and a draft of the document is still being prepared. These four years have been an unnecessary delay, and a disservice to the recreating public.

With the support of many off-highway organizations, clubs, and individuals, thru the Friends of Panamint Valley, the property owners have retained an excellent law firm and have been preparing a lawsuit outlining the access issues of the owners, as well as addressing the issue of Surprise Canyon Road being an R.S. 2477 right-of-way established over 130 years ago by Inyo County. The evidence to support an R.S. 2477 claim is substantial and impossible to refute.

According to the recent 10th Circuit decision in Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance vs. BLM, R.S. 2477 determinations can only be made in the courts. A violation of the current closure would be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. This is why it is necessary to support the efforts of the property owners and support Inyo County joining the pending lawsuit to re-open Surprise Canyon Road.

Help is now needed…
In order to pursue the R.S. 2477 claims, and open the road to the public, it is preferable to have the support of Inyo County. The decision to join a lawsuit is at the discretion of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors. You can help by going to the Friends of Panamint Valley website at the following link…
http://www.fopv.org/action.html
Using the provided form, send an e-mail to the Inyo County Board of Supervisors urging them to support, and become a party to any legal action pursued to re-open Surprise Canyon Road to the public.

Thank you for your support,
Bryan Lollich, Kris Tholke, and the Friends of Panamint Valley

[Mustard Dog]

This takes less that 30 seconds to do as the letter is already written, just add name and e-mail addy.

It is extremely important that we get Inyo County on board with us. They are currently on the fence leaning our way, they need a little push.:D

Thanks

[sceep]

DONE.

and good luck.

When i first started out in this sport the pictures i saw of suprise were inspiring.

It would be a dream come true to actually have the chance to use that trail.

[TellicoToy135]

Done

[mgoodman]

done deal...

[randii]

Doesn't even take 30 seconds.

Hoping to visit my tiny little sub-parcel there some day by truck,

Randii

[TheBandit]

done and done

[dblue351]

sent

[Air Ride]

Done

This is easy and fast to do and important to all trails not just surprise canyon.

[Mustard Dog]

Hoping to visit my tiny little sub-parcel there some day by truck,

Randii

Did you add the fact you're a land owner after your name?

[Cush00]

Done

[DWitcher]

Sent them 2 e-mails. 1 from me and 1 from the wife.:D

[Weatherman]

Done!

[PRegner]

Done.

[whyt]

160 emails so far.

Lets break 500 by 12am PST

[randii]

Did you add the fact you're a land owner after your name?
Didn't think of it... will go hit it again.

Thanks for the reminder...

Randii

[craigellis77]

done

[rockcrawler1981]

done

[greenfox]

Done.

[Mustard Dog]

Didn't think of it... will go hit it again.

Thanks for the reminder...

Randii

I did that figuring it might add a little, who knows?

[EarlKann]

Sent them 2 e-mails. 1 from me and 1 from the wife.:D

Didn’t even think of that. One from me in Land Use + one from the wife in Gen 4x4.:D

[camo]

access must be gained. it is crazy our own goverment has locked the gate on property owners

[Copenhagen]

done...

[BadAssXJ]

Email sent.

[Halogrinder]

done

[RockMolester]

Sent my reply! My family is fighting a similar illegal closure of roads & trails around our house in El Dorado county.

[Scott@Rockstomper]

Done (and btt ;) )

[Krusty]

Camo has the distinction of being one that HAS driven up to Panamint City !!!! just before they put up a gate !!!!!
i and the wife have both replied !! (and as landowner)

[Vermit]

Done!

[whyt]

256 emails so far....keep it rollin!

[camo]

Camo has the distinction of being one that HAS driven up to Panamint City !!!! just before they put up a gate !!!!!
i and the wife have both replied !! (and as landowner)

and so help me god I intend to do it again. and soon, and you better get your ass back in shape to be there when we go.


camo

[chvy boat]

Done

[Rugger99]

Done x 2.....:D

[Norcaljr]

done

[4x4not]

Email sent. Maybe someday I'll get to visit this place!

[rockr]

right on!
sure hope it get's re-opened but i doubt it will.......sorry to be the bummer but i lived in DV for 7 years in the 60's and seen what them bastards could do even back then. now days it's wayyy worse.

i used to run up surprise in 2WD all the time. that was one cool cyn to visit. i would love to wheel it with my junk in the condition it is in now (or of the pics i saw of the waterfalls). back in the day....GOLER was the one to do but now it is a free:flipoff2: way

[luvrox]

Btt

[4Ruggyfamily]

sent i hope it all works out.

[Pook]

sent a few...

[UCTJ]

done........

[JR]

It would be nice to get back up there some day and visit all my land owner freinds :D

[RE:Todd]

Done X2 as owners

[Big DW]

Done and good luck

[Triaged]

I just got this in response:

Thank you for your input. As you can imagine, we are receiving hundreds of these preformatted letters, and thus cannot individually respond, but I wanted you to know they are being received, and your voice is being heard. At some time in the near future, the Board of Supervisors will be agendizing this item for discussion. You can find out when that will be by keeping an eye on the agendas at www.countyofinyo.org. In the meantime, thank you for your interest in Surprise Canyon, RS2477 rights, and Inyo County.

Susan Cash
Inyo County Supervisor, District 2
(760) 872-3408

If I get a chance I will try to write a non-form letter about this.

[OTR]

Thanks for your help everyone.

Keep the e-mails coming, and if you are on any other boards, forums, or yahoogroups, keep spreading the word. The more the better...


Thanks,
Kris Tholke - FOPV

[Elusive1]

Done! Good luck! top

[tjmark]

i called the # she sent me in a reply and said my name and that i apreicate any help they can give and also sent one of the prewritten letters....

[Snoopy]

Done

[luvrox]

i called the # she sent me in a reply and said my name and that i apreicate any help they can give and also sent one of the prewritten letters....

This one will effect us all. So whether or not you think it will affect you, trust me it surly will. Bottom line, if you don't respond to this we will all be eventually be screwed.
Garry

[KYOTA]

done

[TruckTrader]

done x3

[squarewheels]

Sent it.

Made it up there once before it was closed. Sure would like to do it again, and soon!

[rkcrawl]

Done.

[whyt]

The emails are making waves. I expect the numbers to go up once folks get back from Easter Jeep Safari.

[TruckTrader]

I also linked this over to my clubs home page

[CJHeap]

If you have time, write your own letter since the response I got from them noted that it was a form letter.

[FYRDUDE]

Sent it off. Thank you for the link.

[Bob Williams]

Done. I've been up that trail three times, even did a wedding in Panamint. I sure hope they'll open it back up - that's a fun "road." :)

[slapnutz]

Done with pleasure.

["Tonka"]

Done

[Tin Bender]

done x2

[crusty1007]

i think half the people in sierra club dont know what their money goes to DUMB FAWKS !

Done

done

[javelinpr]

done

hope i can help even with so little as that.

[4.3crawler]

done, & done surprise 3 times, twice w/ marlin. what an awesome place.


hope to oneday do it again

[Easy Rick]

Done and hopefully someday I'll get to do it.

Easy.

[Roksamy]

Done , Bump:D

[Snoopy]

Just got a email back from them. They say they'll be putting the issue on the agenda soon, say to watch the website for the dates. I responded to that email as well so that they know we are paying attention, not just filling out the form.

[Butler]

ttt

[OTR]

Back up for the Tuesday crew...




kris.

[SLIPKOTJ]

Done deal.

From Buffalo :smokin:

[2toys]

done!

[luvrox]

Bump

[vikingsven]

Done!

[awauld]

done

[awauld]

I recieved a reply from an Inyo County supervisor

From: "Susan Cash" <cash93514@msn.com>
To: awauld@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Surprise Canyon
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:08:18 -0700

Thank you for your input. As you can imagine, we are receiving hundreds of these preformatted letters, and thus cannot individually respond, but I wanted you to know they are being received, and your voice is being heard. At some time in the near future, the Board of Supervisors will be agendizing this item for discussion. You can find out when that will be by keeping an eye on the agendas at www.countyofinyo.org. In the meantime, thank you for your interest in Surprise Canyon, RS2477 rights, and Inyo County.

Susan Cash
Inyo County Supervisor, District 2
(760) 872-3408

[RustyNailJustin]

TTT
Suprise was a trail I always wanted and never got. I hope it gets reopened. We all want it reopened:D

[awauld]

btt

[whitebrowithafro]

done...

[jmhinescj]

done...btt

[Csnyder]

Email sent.

- Chris

[shelljeep]

Email sent, from me AND a friend. Good luck!

[Bill4rest]

Btt

[LUVMYTJ]

Sent.

[extremetoy]

sent

[JWS]

Top & DONE.

[MellowYellow]

Done

[PhantomEB]

Done, I as well, had my first look into Cali wheelin by way of a Petersons article on Surprise Canyon.

[ohmscj]

Done......

[fprbrooks]

Done

[pitchitpitchit]

Email sent....

I have backpacked Surprise Canyon. It is a beautiful area. Check out the pics of the trip (if interested):
http://www.vandelladventure.com/image/surprise_canyon_2004/surprise.htm

It would be cool to wheel up there some time in the future.....

[PAToyota]

Top and Done!

[Jason M]

BTW,
Sending something in addition to the form letter would probably help a lot too.

:D

[purevil71]

Sent.....

[bigblackblur]

sent from me and the gf!

Keep up the work guys, decisions in our favor will go a long way in the future!

[reddman]

sent

[jandoaudio]

add 1 more to the list

[Cactusjack]

Done

[AxlesUp]

done

[CB87YJ]

Done

[RockBuggySupply]

Email sent.

[ItsaCJ6]

Done..

[Malltero]

done

[Sean]

Done.

Sean

[motownscrambler]

hope this helps

[Dalec]

done

[Philly2Crazy]

Done

[2Dogs]

Done. Thanks to the guys that make sure we see this stuff!

[greg@Lockitup]

done..

[GreenCJ]

Sent.

[PhantomEB]

Kinda nice to see that I got a reply back from the folks that we are bombarding(their words) about all the preformatted letters that they have gotten and cannot reply to each individually.

I will try to keep this up as I know I'll probably never get down to wheel Surprise Canyon seeing how I am located in Canada.

[raybie]

i'll be sending a letter after reading this...http://www.endangeredearth.org/slideshows/SURPRISE/index.htm

flip through the pics and enjoy the lingo

[WertyzMom]

2 more from Tim's and my separate email addy's!


:D

[ouibus]

Done and done.

[Bill4rest]

Uuuuppppp BTT

[85blue4runner]

got this as a response to my email:

Thank you for your input. As you can imagine, we are receiving hundreds of these preformatted letters, and thus cannot individually respond, but I wanted you to know they are being received, and your voice is being heard. At some time in the near future, the Board of Supervisors will be agendizing this item for discussion. You can find out when that will be by keeping an eye on the agendas at www.countyofinyo.org. In the meantime, thank you for your interest in Surprise Canyon, RS2477 rights, and Inyo County.

Susan Cash
Inyo County Supervisor, District 2
(760) 872-3408

[CB87YJ]

got this as a response to my email:

Thank you for your input. As you can imagine, we are receiving hundreds of these preformatted letters, and thus cannot individually respond, but I wanted you to know they are being received, and your voice is being heard. At some time in the near future, the Board of Supervisors will be agendizing this item for discussion. You can find out when that will be by keeping an eye on the agendas at www.countyofinyo.org. In the meantime, thank you for your interest in Surprise Canyon, RS2477 rights, and Inyo County.

Susan Cash
Inyo County Supervisor, District 2
(760) 872-3408
X2

[jeepint]

email sent.

[Hiapo]

Even though I will most likely never wheel there, I sent an email.

[911SMIL]

Done ..........

[Bill4rest]

Don't forget to Give give give:D


http://www.fopv.org/donate.html

[NitroRC Ed]

Done, done, and done it again...:D

Ed

[luvrox]

btt

[miltonseven]

Done

[resq229]

done allready. good luck!!!

[Diesel Junkie]

Did it.

If the road to paniment was opened, i would woner if there is enough room to pass in most sections?

[awauld]

bump

[luvrox]

If the road to paniment was opened, i would woner if there is enough room to pass in most sections?

No not likley, but I am sure wheelers will find a solution.

On your post didn't you mean, WHEN the road to Panimint is opened.

[wanderer-RRORC]

done

[nightcrawler]

Done

[Mark Hinkley]

done

[brcook_00]

Done. Hope my very small contribution can help those who are close to the trail.

[Bill4rest]

Don't forget to donate:D Just think if everyone chipped in $5 ......or $20 bucks:D

[awauld]

btt

[crawlin'YJ]

Already done.