CO rant

its not only off-roading spots.... I have seen fishing spots here in Oregon just blow up and get over fished because of social media

 

Probably with bad fishing handling techniques...

 

Being one of the first to legalize recreational MJ didn't help much either.

I'm actually currently here visiting. Mountain biking and the mountains are the main reasons I wanted to visit. It wasn't supposed to be this soon, but we had to cancel our trip to Mt St Helens on account of everything being on fire over there. But, I also have a co-worker from here and a friend who moved here recently for work.

 

Our neighbor is at least 2nd gen Arvada resident and the stories he has before all the building, pretty cool. Like old school America, sitting on the tracks have a coke watching the cows go by lol.
I hear ya though, sometimes progress should be slowed but at the same time there are people who love the growth. East coasters moving west, west coasters moving east, a lot of the middle states are growing fast and hard. Can't say I'm not guilty though. Moved to the states (CA) when I was 14 from Ireland and then 4-5 years ago I moved out to CO cause of work. Thankfully, like @JasonLee touched on above, I was educated to Pack it in/ Pack it out to stay the trail and so many other outdoor lessons.

 

I don't know if its the population density that bothers me. I think what bothers me most, is the blatant disregard for the land you're on. People driving off trails, making fires where they aren't supposed to or during a fire ban. Leaving beer bottles and glass around, shooting shit you're not supposed to, etc. I swear its almost every other time I camp I end up picking up glass shards from beer bottles, or nails from some dumbass who burnt a wood pallet outside of the fire ring so I can park the truck and have the dogs run around without stepping on some crap someone else left behind. I just do not understand that mindset. What's the appeal of the outdoors to the person who does stuff like that?

Oh, last time I was out I found my dog sniffing at something. Walk up to him and he's sniffing human shit and TP that was not burred at all.

 

Agree. SxS users are generally the bane of the offroad community around here.

 

Yup the internet and social media have made the back country a lot more accessible and inviting. You no longer need to have any clue about anything you can just see a picture somewhere, google it, GPS it and go. Camp spots and trails no longer seem as intimidating after you've YouTubed the route. This winter is going to be a real mess in the back country. Unless we have incredibly stable snow, I imagine the death toll to be pretty significant with a bunch of inexperienced rookies buying skins and sleds and split boards and no avi gear/training. and yeah SxS are annoying, my friend nearly ran into one parked in the middle of the trail on a blind corner while going around 40 MPH on her dirt bike. Had to dump the bike, luckily she didn't get hurt but it coulda been real bad.

 

There were 23 avalanche fatalities in the U.S. in 2019-2020. Colorado had 6 of them.

To compare 2018-2019 was 25 (CO was 8), 2017-2018 was 25 (CO was 3), 2016-2017 was 12 (CO was 1), 2015-2016 was 30 (CO was 5).

We'll see how much a shitshow 2020-2021 will be but I think it'll be proportional to the COVID freakout level. I saw Steamboat the other day saying they're limiting number of people on the mountain at any one time starting with season pass holders in priority and moving from there. That will no doubt will result in deaths on Rabbit Ears or Cameron Pass.

FWIW, I think recklessness in the backcountry has always been true since it seems too many view beacons as life preservers and do stupid shit thinking their buddies are gonna bail them out. That mentality is definitely going to be a problem with every wannabe Red Bull athlete stomping around.

 

Don't you get billed if you activate a beacon and it was not a real emergency?

 

Yep, I was out south of Tarryall Reservoir in Pike NF two weekends ago and when I got to the top of the climbing route I was on, I saw a SXS parked. This road is closed according to the MVUM. There were signposts stating said closure that I hiked in past. Strike #1.

Then I overhear a kid yelling "What are you doing, dad?"
The answer? "I'm putting rocks on top of the toilet paper so that it doesn't blow away!"

 

I guess I just take for granted the fact that I wasn’t raised by a complete idiot.

 

Honestly...it probably bothers me more than it should. I was irritable for the next 30 mins when I saw that. But it should be a new law, that if you don't burry your shit and TP in a proper cathole or pack it out, I reserve the right to put on a latex glove and smear it across your steering wheel. I pick up my dog's shit on a daily basis...I AINT SCURD OF YOUR HUMAN SHIT.

 

Common sense is like common decency...not so common anymore...

 

I am anticipating a shit show in the BC this year. Not looking forward to it

Not a avalanche beacon. Those are always on when in use. You get charged for the heli ride though, unless you have the magical fishing license

 

Me neither.

Or just the COSAR card, right? https://dola.colorado.gov/sar/cardPurchase.jsf

 

Yes I believe the Cosar card works too. A couple buddies of mine got a Blackhawk chopper (conditions too rough for flight for life) to take them off of peak one due to a broken leg several years ago. Fishing license saved their asses financially. Not to mention saving their asses literally

 

Wait what, how? I assume part of your fishing license pays for this type of SAR so they don't end up billing you?

 

There really is a trust fund kid trend with buying trd pros and getting the best overland shots for instagram. And it sucks, but my fingers are crossed that like anything it’s just a trend and within 5 years it’ll slow down. The issue is everyone is moving to Denver because..... it’s the best city in the Midwest IMHO. Beer, weed, babes, snow, sun, etc it’s like Utopia lol

 

I can’t remember but it’s like .50 goes to SAR from your fishing license. I think they can still charge you for ambulance or heli rides if they want to (or if you are a dick) But my buds didn’t get charged anything for their rescue

 

Yeah Colorado may have the best weather of any state, other than maybe parts of California. The lack of mosquitoes is a plus as well.