Mojave Rd. mailbox

Celt II

Celt II

Adventurist
It looks like our Park Service is going to go in and clean everything out at the Mailbox on the Mojave Rd. as of January 2020. I have travelled this route many times and always enjoyed stopping there out in the middle of nowhere and seeing the frogs and cars and signing the book. I'm not exactly sure who or why they got this burr under their saddle. I would much rather see a small fence erected for it so people can still go and enjoy it. I don't know if they are going to remove the actual mailbox and the American flag or just the items around it. They already got the school bus, what's next Traveler's Monument? Scuba Dale started a petition over at our website (SCCX) and I thought I would bring it over here. Even if you do not like petitions at least consider a phone call to the local Congressman Ken Calvert District: (951) 277-0042 DC office: (202) 225-1986. Here is the link for the petition: https://www.change.org/p/ken-calver...c_share&utm_term=Search>SAP>US>NonBrand>Exact
 
Just imagine if future generations had gone around erasing cave paintings or other things their ancestors had done...

:crazy
 
The Mailbox is a treasure especially when you have young children with you. My kids would start asking when will we get to the Mailbox even though we were still in Nevada. They always started squealing with glee when we approached it.

I guess the government just knows what's best for us.

Cam
 
Dave said:
Just imagine if future generations had gone around erasing cave paintings or other things their ancestors had done...

:crazy
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I believe were seeing this happen through out the south with monument statue of past history, plus were starting to see it with public lands, removals & closures. What T's me about all this is, if they continue with these closures, restrictions & removals it will filter into other or "all" outdoor activities. As a kid I grew up in Central Coast of Cali, we spent lots of time down on the Oceano dunes which I was reading recently banning of camping & vehicles.
 
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ArkansasDon said:
I believe were seeing this happen through out the south with monument statue with past history, plus were starting to see it with public lands. What T's me about all this is, if they continue with these closures, restrictions it will filter into other or "all" outdoor activities. As a kid I grew up in Central Coast of Cali, we spent lots of time down on the Oceano dunes which I was reading banning of camping & vehicles.
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It’s true, I covered it HERE
 
Here in Florida, we have a little canal off the St. John's River by Blue Springs. It is very small, shallow, and navigable by bigger (20+ foot) at very slow speeds. People would put bird houses on the lower limbs of the trees to remember love ones who had passed, commemorate events, or to make a prayer. These must have become offensive to someone as the State came in and removed the birdhouses. When more began to show up, they trimmed the trees back. I don't know why this was so important to do. It was always a neat thing to do/see when kayaking the area. The Government must know what is best for us. (Sarcasm if you couldn't tell)
 
Does anyone know enough of the history to date how long these monuments have been there? I’m going to ask some trusted cultural resource specialists I know about what triggers possible cultural/historical protections for such sites.
 
go2xplr said:
Does anyone know enough of the history to date how long these monuments have been there? I’m going to ask some trusted cultural resource specialists I know about what triggers possible cultural/historical protections for such sites.
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From what I gather it was put there in 1983 by the Friends of the Mojave Road. They are from what I see a conservation group that helps preserve the road. I don't believe they had anything to do with all of the extra exhibits that have been placed there. I've been trying to figure out who is behind the reason for the Park Service to take everything away. I'm not 100% sure but it looks like they will probably leave the flag and the mailbox which would be nice. The other things around it in my opinion just don't seem to be a bother and it's not an eye sore as you can't see it from the road unless you walk a few feet down the trail. Nothing that's been placed there is going to do any harm and it makes a lot of people happy to walk around there for a few minutes. I think the Park Service would be much better served to worry about the damage that's being done at some of the more well established campsites. Each winter when I go on this trip the amount of trash left behind is pretty bad.

When I read what's going on several things come to mind. One being too much government over reach and the other being people aren't responsible enough to clean up their own trash. I have to see places over regulated where it is difficult to enjoy them. As a result efforts are put through to take down fun and interesting things like the Mailbox area.
 
Sally & I always come back from the Ozarks with more of other peoples trash than our own on the trip. It's sickening to see this type of behavior from people that the lack of respect of these lands for us to use. I follow Mark on You Tube "Dispersed Camperman" & he has a video that shows the irresponsibility of people how they abuse our public lands here in Arkansas in the Quachita National Forest south of me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjDAKp-ODaQ
 
I think that the end game for all of this that the back country will be closed to the public "to preserve it" and only government officials and card carrying environmentalists (with government grants) will be allowed entry for "study" (enjoyment). The public will be fined for stepping off the pavement.

Cam
 
Mojoe Outfitters said:
I think that the end game for all of this that the back country will be closed to the public "to preserve it" and only government officials and card carrying environmentalists (with government grants) will be allowed entry for "study" (enjoyment). The public will be fined for stepping off the pavement.

Cam
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You are 100% right about that. During the last Ahem, "administration".........($^#^ Censored&&^). There was a push to completely close the entire Mojave Rd. People need to get involved to protect our resources. They aren't the gubment's they are ours. I was watching a Mojave Rd. youtube video this morning and the commentator made a statement at the old rock house that the guy abandoned it in 1950. He said "The Park Service now owns it" Drives me crazy to hear that just as much as those areas in Borrego/Ocotillo with the "Closed for habitat restoration" signs. They are placed there because some environmental group pressures the head ranger to close it. That being said, since it's all of our property I would hope that people treat that land no different than they would the land their home sits on.
 
So, I posted the link to the petition in a few Facebook "off-road/overland" Forums and on at least one it has kicked off some interesting debate and a few heated comments against. The one I found interesting was the complaint that the Monument is in designated wilderness, which it is. However, I believe it was the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 which so designated the area as wilderness. If so this would all be existing features. No idea what that means in the federal world of wilderness designations. Hmmm.
 
I can't figure out how to link to the FB Forum post but this is the group it's in where there has been discussion. Just in case anyone else is interested:
Off Road, Overland Expedition and Camping 4wd Vehicles
 
I've looked into the artifact/litter issue in the past (the subject I was investigating was whether or not "pull top" beer/soda cans were artifacts or litter)...very fine line..."collecting artifacts" vs "picking up really old litter", anything over 50 years old is considered an artifact, (pull top cans are now fitting that criteria).
 
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bob91yj said:
I've looked into the artifact/litter issue in the past (the subject I was investigating was whether or not "pull top" beer/soda cans were artifacts or litter)...very fine line..."collecting artifacts" vs "picking up really old litter", anything over 50 years old is considered an artifact, (pull top cans are now fitting that criteria).
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By this standard, the Mailbox and it’s environs are pretty close to “artifact” status no?

Maybe that’s the timeline, to remove it before it’s protected under their own definitions.
 
go2xplr said:
So, I posted the link to the petition in a few Facebook "off-road/overland" Forums and on at least one it has kicked off some interesting debate and a few heated comments against. The one I found interesting was the complaint that the Monument is in designated wilderness, which it is. However, I believe it was the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 which so designated the area as wilderness. If so this would all be existing features. No idea what that means in the federal world of wilderness designations. Hmmm.
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The maps show the wilderness boundary on either side of the Mojave road. What is unclear is how far off the road does the "wilderness" begin. I would imagine that road corridors through wilderness areas would have to be at least 200' wide to allow for some road realignment do to washouts and other issues that would require movement of the road path. If so, then these "gardens" would be outside the wilderness area.

Cam
 
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