Dang people carving up trees

From a few years back in Desolation Wilderness. The old cabin back in there is history, has collapsed.
Duane

 

When I first saw this I thought I’d like to shoot the pos that carved up a tree like that then I realized it was almost 100 years ago in 1921. Now I look at it as a cool historic thing, a piece of history. I can only imagine. What the area was like 100 years ago.

 

It's anything but "Wilderness" now. Day users and inexperienced hikers who are clueless about LNT philosophies have defiled this once pristine area. Litter and bad bears are now the norm.

 

Some disrespectful people can't read. For instance, Lake of The Woods, area posted No Camping for restoration, tent still setup. Day hikers have more impact than over nighters since so many invade Eagle Lake and the Velmas. O/N permits are stamped No Campfires, people still have a fire, even way back in. One fire pit a few feet from Susie Lake. Last trip I reported a campfire being used as I walked out at Susie Lake. A Ranger was headed in that morning.
Duane

 

When I was way younger I was an avid backpacker. Hiked all over the Sierras including Desolation area numerous times. Back then all was still pretty pristine. Every once in a while I’d find some little piece of trash like a tin can or package wrapper which I’d take out with me. From people I talk to it seems it’s a different type of people in many cases going into our back country now a days. Makes me sick and angry people abusing our natural resources.

 

I think a lot of the change is from people that’s philosophy is “all for the ‘gram” where folks that went out in the past were there for just pure enjoyment. There is obviously still a lot of folks going out for this reason but the shear number of folks that post selfies at Peyto Lake in BNP shows the changes in play.

 

I just completed a TRT thru Hike. That trail is shared with the PCT and passes through Desolation. The trash was evident at Echo Lakes where I started. In fact the morning I left, an Echo Chalet employee was cleaning up garbage that a bear had rummaged through FROM THEIR CHALET!

As a thru hiker I am a gram counter. I'm also very much aware of the impact of irresponsible hikers in the back-country. I practice LNT and bear awareness every time I go out.

My assessment of these types are they care more about that selfie, hashtag and social-media likes before they give conservation of wilderness a consideration. You can see it from Echo to Susie Lake. You can spot the Patagonia attire and the latest REI gadgetry hanging from their day packs. Once you get over Dick's Pass things are much different.

This pic was taken at Aloha Lake. That area will eventually have to close to humans in order to put the wild back in wilderness or it will be lost.

 

I blame Instagram

 

Weekend I was a kid I would go camping, hiking and backpacking with my grandparents all the time. I was always taught to clean up after myself and we would also pick up trash as we went if we saw it. The only trees my grandfather and I ever 'carved' were ones that were already dead and had fallen.

I love the beauty of nature and what it provides and am desperately trying to teach my kids the things my grandparents taught me. We always leave it cleaner than we found it and always show it respect. We do not destroy, but nurture it and enjoy what it provides and never abuse it. I'm hoping they keep what I teach to heart and keep doing it as they get older and pass on what they learn to others.

 

I blame social media in general (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc)

 

History..... It's cool to see things from way back when

 

Bunch of plastic people is what Instagram is. Even some of the garbage that pops up on the TW Instagram feed here on the forum, I’m like wtf.

 

I see a lot of the same stuff on FB..... And I say the same thing

 

It's like the ice cream lickers. Sure it's disgusting, but who cares? I'd probably dip my balls in it, but I don't want to trash another person's icecream that I know they would enjoy had I not dipped my balls in it.

Now icecream has to have a plastic seal, and I have to pay for this extra protection, because some idiot can't leave the damn icecream alone.

Didn't that woman have to see the Judge. I still don't know her name and have never checked her account. Doubt if it was worth it to her in the long run.

 

That's a big part of it. But I blame their damn parents too. My parents would whoop my ass if I behaved like that. It's a lack of care or concern that wasnt brought to their attention from a young age.

 

People chain saw slabs out of the sides of old growth juniper rite off the road in 1 place I enjoy.

So they can sell a hand made bench in fb I assume.

 

Very true

What in the actual fuck???? Seriously??? Can I chain saw a chunk out of their thigh???

 

I am aware of a canyon in the Eastern Sierra were the Basque carved penises in many of the trees as a sign of dominance (I think). The carvings are interesting as they were placed 100+ years ago. Interesting area.

 

They just wanted to Basque in penises.

 

I see what you did there.....