California park is urging hikers to steer clear of illegal trails because they risk running into grenades and LANDMINES
A national park in California is urging hikers to avoid illegal trails because they risk stepping on grenades and landmines.
The Bureau of Land Management warned visitors to Fort Ord National Monument to follow designated trails for their own safety.
The park is a former U.S. military base that operated from 1917 to 1994 and many parts of the facility were used for ordnance training.
It means visitors are at risk of encountering “munitions and explosives of concern,” including “artillery projectiles, rockets, hand grenades, practice landmines, pyrotechnics, bombs, demolition materials and other items,” according to the Ford Ord cleanup project.
But despite this, unauthorized trails and jumps have recently popped up west of Barloy Canyon Road, exposing hikers to “unexploded ordnance hazards,” Fort Ord National Monument Manager Eric Morgan warned.
Fort Ord National Monument park is asking hikers to avoid illegal trails as they risk stepping on grenades and landmines
The park is a former US military base used for munitions training, many of which have been removed and detonated (pictured), although some are still there
Unauthorized trails and jumps pop up west of Barloy Canyon Road, exposing hikers to ‘unexploded ordnance hazards’
He added that off-piste walking or cycling also “destroys endangered plants and wildlife habitat, and is expensive to restore.”
Fort Ord National Monument encompasses more than 14,000 acres with 80 miles of rugged trails near Monterey Bay.
The park is overseen by the BLM and the US military, who warned of penalties for those who don’t follow the rules.
“Violations of military property rules and restrictions are subject to sanctions. Visitors who adhere to posted restrictions and stay on designated roads and trails will be safe from munition hazards,” said Joelle Lobo, Base Realignment and Closure Environmental Coordinator for the U.S. Army.
In 1993, an archival search was conducted to locate areas in Fort Ord where military munitions may have been used.
Visual inspections conducted since 1993 revealed that approximately 12,000 hectares were known or suspected to be used for such training.
At least 29 sites were identified in the first phase, with more to be discovered in the second phase.
The areas range in size from less than one hectare to more than 1,000 hectares, although most areas are less than 200 hectares in size.
In 1993, an archival search was conducted to locate areas in Fort Ord where military munitions may have been used.
To date, more than 79,000 munitions or explosives of concern have been removed, equivalent to more than 413 tons
All identified locations have been investigated and, if warranted, removal actions have been taken to minimize the explosive safety risk to the public, park officials said.
To date, more than 79,000 ammunition or explosives of concern have been removed, equivalent to more than 413 tons.
In 1996, the Army transferred 7,205 acres to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the former Fort Ord to be managed as a habitat preserve.
The site, which has 80 miles of hiking trails, is widely used for walking, cycling and horse riding by locals and tourists.
On April 20, 2012, the President designated these lands (as well as lands awaiting transfer to the BLM as a habitat reserve) as the Fort Ord National Monument.