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By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
8-25-2009 For the second year in a row, a Forest Service study is reporting that less and less people are visiting the backcountry, national forests and parks across the U.S. – an 18 percent decline from 2001 to 2008.
And for the second year in a row, the Sierra Nevada is bucking the trend by standing a bit taller than the rest.
The Owens Valley seems to be immune from this nationwide decline, with some business owners reporting the best year on record with regard to sales linked to outdoor recreation. The Inyo National Forest is also reporting record visitors.
The study was not released by the Forest Service, although it had done the extensive research, but by the advocacy group, Western Slope No-Fee Coalition. The organization blames rising fee cost for National Park activities as the major cause for the decline.
However, the Inyo National Forest is reporting, for example, a 15 percent increase in Mt. Whitney reservations in 2009 from 2008. The non-refundable fee for the reservation is $15. But, the reservation is one of the only fees INF charges.
The Forest Service also charges for the Red’s Meadow Shuttle, and the Park Service charges a Death Valley entrance fee, but relies on an honor code rather than demanding visitors pay to enter the national park.
Susan Joyce, forest planner for INF,
said in a e-mail, “Visitation (to Mt. Whitney) for 2009 from Jan. 1 to Aug. 21 was 41,247 and we have a record number of reservations for the remainder of the season. For the same time period in 2008 (from Jan. 1 to Aug. 21) we had 40,191 visits. For the same time period in 2007 (from Jan. 1 to Aug. 21) we had 40,268 visits.”
While these results show a steady increase in tourists to the Whitney Zone, there is not one specific reason or key factor as to why the local mountains are a consistent attraction. Rather, reports indicate it is a mixture of all the Sierra have to offer that keeps visitor numbers high.
The Owens Valley has what Inyo National Forest Public Information Officer Nancy Upham has called “icons” like Mount Whitney and Death Valley and a gateway to Yosemite.
Another reason the Sierra are so popular, according to local retailers and chambers of commerce, is the wilderness is just a few hours’ drive from Southern California, one of the largest metropolitan areas on the planet. And, with everyone’s eye on their wallets these days, the “stay-cation,” or vacationing closer to home, is becoming increasingly popular.
Bishop City Council member Laura Smith reported exactly that at a recent council meeting. She said local businesses are reporting that more folks from other parts of California are visiting the area, and spending money.
Earlene Thompson, owner of the Whitney Portal Store and Whitney Portal Hostel, said that 2008 was their biggest year on record and this year will likely top that. “We’ve been hammered this year.”
She explained on Tuesday, Aug. 18 there were a couple parking spots available at the Portal, but not many, which is very uncommon for the middle of the week.
“We’ve been just packed, we even had to turn some people away from the (Whitney) hostel because there just wasn’t any room,” Thompson said. “They had to get a hotel in Bishop.”
Thompson agreed that the relatively short distance from L.A. is driving people to the Sierra. She said she’s seen a steady mixture of first-timers to the area and return visitors. She added there are other visitors who usually go to Mammoth but are stopping into Lone Pine and visiting the Portal as well, for the “peace and quiet.”
Representatives from the Best Western Motel in Lone Pine are reporting it is “incredibly busy.” Business was up in January, May and July, and August is booked.
Yolanda Chavez of the Dow Villa in Lone Pine said it has been very busy. And Chavez said there are more walk-ins this year than in the past. Similar to what was reported from other hotels and the Mule Days Committee in May – in these uncertain economic times, more people are traveling on the fly, sans reservations.
And another reason the Owens Valley is so popular, as those who live here already know, the weather is perfect more often than not and the fishing’s pretty good.
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