Politics & Government

Hikers Get Attorney In Bump & Grind Trail Case

Eli Underwood of Riverside-based Redwine and Sherrill has stepped up to represent the hikers.

Hikers who oppose the closure of the upper Bump and Grind Trail now have an attorney representing them in a civil suit over the release of documents show the location of endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep.

Eli Underwood of Riverside-based Redwine and Sherrill is representing the group, which was previously led by Blaine Carian of Bermuda Dunes, according to the Save the Bump & Grind Facebook page.

Underwood told Patch that he can't comment on the case, but that he does have a desert connection.

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"I grew up in the Palm Desert area and graduated from ," he said.

The next court date is set for Friday, Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 2G at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Underwood did not immediately return calls for comment.

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

The Department of Fish and Game 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.

The DFG has yet to file a response in the case.


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