Hearing Set For Bump & Grind Civil Suit

A Jan. 20 hearing is set in a civil suit filed by hikers against the California Department of Fish and Game to get access to data used to justify the closure of the upper Bump & Grind Trail.

Attorneys for the Department of Fish and Game have yet to file a response in the case.

According to documents filed by Bermuda Dunes resident Blaine Carian, hikers are demanding access to data points that show where Peninsular bighorn sheep are located in the Santa Rosa Mountains.

The DFG installed a gate as part of the closure of the upper Bump and Grind Trail in June, citing the need to protect the endangered sheep.

But hikers have questioned if sheep even frequent the area.

Caraian asked for the data in September in a California Public Records request, but attorneys for the DFG denied the request, citing the protection of the sheep.

Carian and other hikers have been behind the closure.