Updates on the gathering July 1st

Hey family,

I know this is a confusing situation for everyone including folks on the land. The changes happen hourly. As fast as we get information, it becomes outdated.  I understand your frustration in not understand what is happening. Folks on the land have the same frustrations. Keep reading for directions to the alternate location.

On June 26th, the USFS issued a closure order for the gathering. Information from the forest service has been inconsistent and contradictory. Although Spring Council reached a consensus to go the first site up Janesville Grade Road, when people where threatened with citation, most people voted with their feet and left.  

Getting into the original site is challenging as there are intermittent forest service roadblocks that will prevent you from getting into the site. 

As of early this morning there are still 50-60 people on site. Some of my lovely family are working on getting their gear out of the gathering. Some of my lovely family are planning on staying for the gathering July 1-7. I do not know what the USFS will do today to the folks on the land. I hope they are safe.

If you want directions to the original site above Janesville, check my blog post from June 18th, the Howdy Folks.  

Alternate Site Directions

 Entry is easier from south at Beckwourth.

🌈☮️💚🌎❤️

From Beckwourth, CA:

If coming from West State Route 70 turn right onto Beckworth Genesee Road a.k.a. forest Service Rd. 111.

Follow for. appx 9.7 miles, then stay right to follow paved road, road turns into 177/ 26N70/milford beckwourth rd

Follow for appx 4.5 miles, then turn right at 4 way intersection towards “frenchman lake” gravel road 28N01

Go roughly 1.3 miles to Welcome Home and Parking

From Milford, CA:

Heading North on 395, turn left on to Milford Grade road. (between 41 and 42 mile marker)

Heading south on 395, turn right on to Milford grade road.

Set odometer to zero at the base of Milford grade road at 1.3 miles keep right to continue on paved road at 2.3 miles continue straight onto dirt road.

At 5.5 miles you will drive over a cattleguard and keep left at the Fork toward Black Mountain Lookout.

6.4 miles continue straight.

Immediately, after, at 6.5 miles keep right at the fork.

At 7.1 miles continue on gravel road to the right.

At 7.9 miles you will come to a bridge. Continue straight.

At 8.9 miles keep right, Immediately after turn left towards Beckwourth

At 12.7 miles continue straight (past penny Pines rack fire plantation )

At 16 miles turn left at the intersection on to 28N01 and continue until 17.3 miles - welcome home.

If you are going to the alternate location, it's more of car camping situation and will have limited infrastructure set up. Please bring water as water may be a bit of a challenge. 

Link to closure order

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1183312.pdf

Lost & Found: People, Pets, Things

Every year people, pets and various objects are lost at the gathering or people not at the gathering fear people have been lost. 

Lost People

Every year people go to the gathering and their loved ones worry.  Just a reminder, that in the western mountains, we often don't have cell reception and even if there is some service near the gathering, it varies by cell service. Plus, phone run out of batteries, get dropped in the mud, or get lost.

If you haven't heard from your friends and/or family since they went into the gathering, odds are they are still down in the gathering and can't call you due to one of the above reasons.

Again, on the road where the cars and cops are is the area where problems occur. We strongly recommend that people stay inside the gathering. Going in and out increases a persons risk of a negative experience with law enforcement. Again, people on the land will strongly suggest to your loved one that they stay inside the gathering until it's over.  This may mean that you won't hear from your loved one for a few weeks.

That being said, if you're going to the gathering, call your Mama or someone else, let them know you are going in and will be out of cell reception until after you leave the gathering.

If something serious happened to your loved one, then they are no longer at the gathering and would be found in a local hospital, jail, or mental health facility. If you check those places and your loved one is not there, then they are probably inside the gathering.

Most people usually surface by July 15th as the clean up crew starts shrinking by then, but some people will be on the land until late July (and on the land means no or haphazard access to telephones).  If after July 15, you still haven't heard, email me at karin zirk dot net a recent photo and include this information:

    How old is he/she?
    Was this her/his first gathering? 
    Was he/she planning to camp with any camp in particular?
    Did she/he travel to the gathering with friends who have since left the gathering?
    Did she/he have any mental and/or physical health issues? 
    What kind of drugs (if any) does he/she typically use?
    Was there a specific previously agreed on plan for he/she to return home at a certain time or at least check in?

Lost Things

For those people who go to the gathering and lose something, found items are taken to Info or sometimes to the nearest kitchen so don't give up yet.  If you didn't check the lost and found items at INFO, your stuff may be there. Even if you did, many items are discovered during cleanup. At the end of cleanup, all the valuable lost and found items will be taken out of the gathering site. Check back mid-July for who to contact regarding lost things.  Keep in mind, lost and found at this level is for things like wallets, cameras, expensive gear.  We don't try to reunite people with lost t-shirts, bliss wear, etc.  After the gathering, call the 2024 Gathering Lightline  2024 Gathering Lightline (530)-ITS-INFO / (530) 487-4636‬ and leave a full description of what you lost or found and how we can reach you. If we have it, we will reach out.  If you have something, someone lost, we will do our best to make connections.

Lost Animals

For those people who left without all the animals they brought, please go back to the site and retrieve your pets. I do not care if you have to be back to work or whatever. If you brought an animal, you need to go home with that animal. If you don't, folks on the land will find a home for your pet and it won't be your home. We never leave any pets behind.  Every pet will leave the gathering with a human companion ~ hopefully the one they came with. If you can't go back yourself, try to connect up with a friend in the area to retrieve your pet. Just a reminder, pets on leashes don't get lost as often as those not on a leash. The gathering is a scary experience for animals who aren't used to it. Read the Pup Rap for more info.  If you are a local who feels we drop off pets at the local shelter, we never do that. Other people may be stealing loose dogs from the gathering and dropping them off, but we don't. All dogs brought to the gathering, leave with people who were at the gathering.  Same is true about cats, rabbits, horses, rats, and elephants!

Updates on June 30

We are about 73 people on the original site. There are 1 or 2 other gatherings happening in the Plumas National Forest. Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization. As far as I know now no permits have been issued for any gathering. Ingress and egress is spoty. Love everyone and cleanup amazingly where ever you land. Welcome home!

Update from the land

Hey folks. I know this situation is confusing. Those on the land are also confused. Some people are staying at the consenenced site. Some people are leaving the gathering in fear of being ticketed. Some people are staying until the forest service shows up and threatens them. Some people are trying to find another site to gather in. Some people are piling up in Susanville. If you want to come home you can check my blog post from June 18 for directions. Check the main stream media articles for details on what is happening. Check the forest service website in the Key Blog Posts page. We love you!!! Keep the faith.

Retrieving gear

If you have gear inside the gathering, the LEOs will let 5 cars at a time enter the gathering to pick up gear. You must have ID. Once 5 cars are in, no one else can come in until someone leaves. Based on the info I currently have, today, June 30 is the final day to do this. Much love to all!

Retrieving gear

If you have gear inside the gathering, the LEOs will let 5 cars at a time enter the gathering to pick up gear. You must have ID. Once 5 cars are in, no one else can come in until someone leaves. Based on the info I currently have, today, June 30 is the final day to do this. Much love to all!