Heads up everyone - there is a Mandatory Closure that just went into effect for the south end of Machete. I just updated the first page of the Climbing Advisories / Closures thread with the relevant details on which routes will be affected, but Old Original is definitely one of them.
In the spirit of full disclosure - the closure was put into effect because there is a pair of California condors that is nesting on the east side of Machete. The condor pair nested in the same area successfully in 2016, and they are trying again this year. The closure was put into effect to prevent people from disturbing the condor pair's nest effort.
The Mandatory Closure is supported by the park superintendent and the condor biologist crew at the park because condors are critically endangered, so we have a federal mandate to protect them, and to keep them from being disturbed while they are nesting.
There will be closure signs posted on the access trail leading south around the base of Machete, after Dos Equis and Corona (which are still open). Please don't hike back up in there... There will be condor biologists monitoring the site, and they will call in law enforcement rangers if they see visitors hiking - or especially climbing - in the area.
Thanks for the support!
