It is one of America's most majestic and recognisable landmarks, attracting Teddy Roosevelt, Ansel Adams and most recently protesters.
From the granite walls of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California, demonstrators have covered large flags and banners several times over the past year in protest of many issues, including the Israel-Hamas War and various Trump administration policies.
Some symbolized transgender pride, others said, “stop genocide,” and an upside-down American flag representing pain.
Now it appears that the federal government wants to turn famous rock formations into blank slates. Massive flags, banners and signs from Elpitan and most parks are completely illegal.
The ban appears to have been officially made last month by Yosemite acting director Raymond McPaden, a compilation of the Parks Service of the Regulations dated May 20th.
The rules track a series of punitive actions by the Trump administration against immigration policies and critics of Palestinian sympathizers.
Violators could be fined up to six months in prison, individuals could be fined up to $5,000 and groups could be fined $10,000.
“This limitation is necessary to maintain the value of the nature of the wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act, providing an experience for visitors without disabilities and protecting natural and cultural resources in the added portion of the designated wilderness and potential wilderness of the park,” writes Mappaden.
Park officials are also casting displays of large flags (over 3 feet x 5 feet) on either the cliffs or mountains of Yosemite as potential safety hazards that could interfere with climbing activities. Flags larger than that size require permission.
Park Services did not immediately respond to Tuesday's request for comment on new rules previously reported by Climbing Magazine and SFGate.com. The White House wasn't like that either.
Miranda Oakley, 40, one of four climbers who spread out a 25-by-10-foot banner last June, said in an interview Tuesday that the Trump administration is trying to curb even more opposition, in the colour of a Palestinian flag saying, “Stop genocide.”
“To me, they seem to want to control what we're saying,” said Oakley, a member of the Palestinian group climber.
Oakley wondered what would happen to people who didn't cooperate with the new rules.
“Are they going to detain them indefinitely, as they have for international students who spoke for Palestine?” she asked.
In February, a small group of protesters hung the fallen American flag (a signal of distress that began with the sailors) from the Elpitan flank to protest the Trump administration's cuts to the Parks Service.
As the light from the sunset caused seasonal waterfalls to sparkle the orange colour, many eyes were already stuck on Elpitan due to the annual phenomenon known as Fire Fall.
The exhibit came shortly after at least 1,000 Park Service employees were suddenly rejected from work. This is part of a wide range of federal workforce downsizing initiatives once overseen by Elon Musk, President Trump's current Esterlinge ally.
Another 3,000 people have been fired from the US Forest Service. This plays an important support role in the park.
In May, a group of climbers spread the transgender pride flag in the middle of Elpitan to criticize the Trump administration's rollback of protections against LGBTQ people, including the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The same day last month, the same day the compilation was published, Doug Burgham, the Interior Secretary, whose agency oversees the Parks Bureau, asked to pay attention to signs that he is “negative about past or living Americans” in parks and public lands. In the order, Bergham said he is implementing the provisions of the executive order that President Trump signed to “restore American history to truth and sanity.”
El Capitan starred in “Free Solo,” an Oscar-winning 2018 documentary about climber Alex Honold's quest to reach the top of the landmark without a rope.
Oakley, who estimated he'd climbed El Capitan more than 20 times, said the cliffs were a statement in their own right, especially when driving to the Yosemite Valley.
“It's the right slap on your face,” she said.
