Danger in the Forest

[Zundfolge]

And where are you getting these pictures?

Google Image Search - NSFWish (but not too bad)

[SamuraiCO]

Its so much better since they stopped allowing those yahoos with guns to shoot in the forest.

[ZERO THEORY]

Some of you may remember a story about a mountain biker killed on Mt. Herman this summer. The victim's name was Tim Watkins; a man known across the state in the community, and mountain biking especially. My department director was a good friend of his, and spoke at his wake, and many of my work associates used to ride with him. His suspected murderer is also wanted in connection with a pair of murders back in IN.

When it happened, it seemed like an outlier; a freak act of violence that is unlikely to be replicated. Until a young woman was found not far away shortly after. And then, on Labor Day weekend, I personally witnessed nearly half a dozen presumed vagrants with out of state plates taking advantage of the national forest by creating trash-filled camps. Tarps were strung up to make quick shelters. Fire rings were littered with aluminum and glass. Plastic and paper was strewn about.

But it's not just vagrants. I've seen "joke" vandalism in the form of spraypaint on rocks (dicks, curse words, fake SOS messages), and a woman was banned from national parks and forests a while back for painting her "art" on ageless rock faces. It boils down to people not having any regard for the outdoors anymore. The vagrants just happen to be the most dangerous and worst offenders.

Its so much better since they stopped allowing those yahoos with guns to shoot in the forest.

Although target shooters continue to be the 2nd worst culprits. Every 25-40 year old with a Bushmaster and Ruger SR9 takes his old computer monitors, glass bottles, and clay pigeons just off the road, and lays waste to everything in sight. Then he leaves his brass and trash behind when he zips away. Bad apples aren't painting a good picture for us, either.

[Ronin13]

Some of you may remember a story about a mountain biker killed on Mt. Herman this summer. The victim's name was Tim Watkins; a man known across the state in the community, and mountain biking especially. My department director was a good friend of his, and spoke at his wake, and many of my work associates used to ride with him. His suspected murderer is also wanted in connection with a pair of murders back in IN.

When it happened, it seemed like an outlier; a freak act of violence that is unlikely to be replicated. Until a young woman was found not far away shortly after. And then, on Labor Day weekend, I personally witnessed nearly half a dozen presumed vagrants with out of state plates taking advantage of the national forest by creating trash-filled camps. Tarps were strung up to make quick shelters. Fire rings were littered with aluminum and glass. Plastic and paper was strewn about.

But it's not just vagrants. I've seen "joke" vandalism in the form of spraypaint on rocks (dicks, curse words, fake SOS messages), and a woman was banned from national parks and forests a while back for painting her "art" on ageless rock faces. It boils down to people not having any regard for the outdoors anymore. The vagrants just happen to be the most dangerous and worst offenders.



Although target shooters continue to be the 2nd worst culprits. Every 25-40 year old with a Bushmaster and Ruger SR9 takes his old computer monitors, glass bottles, and clay pigeons just off the road, and lays waste to everything in sight. Then he leaves his brass and trash behind when he zips away. Bad apples aren't painting a good picture for us, either.

My blood absolutely boils when I'm out in the woods and find an abandoned camp (because I would say something if there were people there) that is just trashed and refuse left with no regard. I've also pretty much stopped shooting in national forest areas because I got tired of cleaning up other people's messes. I used to go up Squaw Pass all the time, but after coming down the mountain with 10-15x more trash than I brought in, I got a little tired of it. We're gonna lose the ability to do these fun things because people are lazy assholes.

[rondog]

California now has legal weed and they'd probably like the milder winter climate plus all the extra benefits they could get.

That's what I'm hoping for, a large exodus of maggots heading for their Promised Land.

[rondog]

We camp fairly often in the area around Buena Vista in the summer. Try and go every other weekend for 3-4 days. Ride dirt bikes, hike, target shoot safely, gold pan etc.
Last summer we saw a huge increase in vagrant camps, beater rvs off in the woods, trash everywhere. One spot actually had a damn bookcase full of crap set up outside their RV. Said RV had no door, a flat tire, painted windows. There was a scooter in the camp, a rear seat out of some sedan type of car, of course the book case, a bunch of junk, lawn chairs, a few tents set up. Trash everywhere. This particular camp was set up for the entire summer. Calls to the forest service, sheriff, and forest rangers obviously were ignored or they simply didn't approach the site. We called 3 times, all 2 weeks apart. The occupants would leave every day around 9am. Come back around 4am. Car was a complete beater with a trunk that would not close. Was bungee corded. The last 2 weekends we decided to send an "Unvitation" to the occupants. Not going to say what it was, but will say that we did not destroy any property or harm anybody (they were not there). It was the last few weekends we went so I don't know if they stayed around. I sure would have bailed.

Was dogshit or roadkill involved?

[ZERO THEORY]

We're gonna lose the ability to do these fun things because people are lazy assholes.

No question about it. And off-road trails are shutting down by the handful each year too, because both inconsiderate/unexperienced 4x4 drivers trash them, and OHV riders (namely side-by-siders AKA the scum of the earth) are constantly doing 50 around blind corners and going off-trail. Twin Cone, for example, is now permanently closed, and there's still an open lawsuit fighting to shut down a few dozen different trails from motorized use all over Pike/Arapahoe National Forests.

I love public land. I hate most of the sections of the public that use it.

[kidicarus13]

(namely side-by-siders AKA the scum of the earth)

Why the harsh judgement?

[colorider]

Was dogshit or roadkill involved?

Wow. Um. Yep. There was some dog shit involved. And maybe some tannerite to "remodel" their housing. It was fucking awesome and I would do it again. And will.

[roberth]

No question about it. And off-road trails are shutting down by the handful each year too, because both inconsiderate/unexperienced 4x4 drivers trash them, and OHV riders (namely side-by-siders AKA the scum of the earth) are constantly doing 50 around blind corners and going off-trail. Twin Cone, for example, is now permanently closed, and there's still an open lawsuit fighting to shut down a few dozen different trails from motorized use all over Pike/Arapahoe National Forests.

I love public land. I hate most of the sections of the public that use it.

That is what I see too.

People driving too fast, making new trails, dumping their trash, etc. etc. The Forest Service is watching and closing trails as a result.