gnwatts
07-28-2011, 12:13 PM
I have been following an interesting thread in the canyoneering area of Bogley about Imlay, which evolved into a broader discussion about government and it's involvement with managing public lands.
I am not a "canyoneer", but I like to backpack. And I to do most of my backpacking on Cedar Mesa. This issue has been on my mind for a long time.
When I first started backpacking there, we would get the free permit and visit the ranger, enquire about water, a route etc. After a few years we no longer felt the need to stop at the rangers trailer, as we always planned for the worst in terms of water, and because of our gaining knowledge of the area did not feel we needed advice about routes, preferring to "wing it" and discover for ourselves which was the best way into a canyon, not minding getting stuck 75' above a wash and climbing back out to find a way that would go.
Then one day I got a ticket from the BLM, on the windshield of my car @ Pt. lookout, explaining that we did not pay the "fee". WTF? we collectively yelled. The ticket was quickly torn up. We stopped at the trailer, the ranger said they would waive the ticket as it was a new policy. We told him it didn't matter, as we ripped it up anyway. He kind of laughed. We asked him why the need to pay to hike on our own collectively owned federal land. He said visitation is up, need more people. He said they needed a new building. You do? we asked. This trailer, It's uncomfortable, and small. I asked him why they just didn't get a bigger, nicer trailer, as a trailers footprint and damage to the land is far less than a building. No, he said, it was a done deal, brand new fancy concrete block building, plenty of room, AC, indoor heat and nice counter tops.
Over the following years we stopped visiting the ranger, and ignored the tickets (I have been ticketed over 50 times, never has the BLM tried to collect). I always made sure someone knew where we were going, so we never felt the need to let the ranger know.
Then one day it happened.
Driving by the Grand Gulch "Primitive" Area sign we were horrified to see a 7-11, or was it a Kum&Go? An abomination had been erected on land we considered sacred. As a former architect I think that all land is sacred, and placing a building on it is a great responsibility. This was desecration, an insult to the sensitive and wonderful buildings that the Anasazi built (and left us to learn from) Ha!
Anyway, the place was closed as it was in January.
Around that time the State of Utah started bulldozing the "roads" in the area to attempt to gain rights of way from the federal government (and placing handy unneeded signs). Now any car could access areas that were previously hard or impossible to get to. More people can visit these areas now!
The road to Moonhouse Ruin, formerly closed from the drill pipe/parking area to Mcloyds canyon rim was opened. In the past, A pleasant easy 3 mile hike along that road was required to reach the canyon. Visitation was sporadic. The first time I visited in march 1984 the last person that signed the "book" was 2 months earlier. Similar visitation patterns held up over the following years, obviously higher visitation during spring and fall. Now you can drive right to the rim. There are signs about the increased visitation and damage. I wonder why.
It's a viscous circle.
I am a certified left wing looney toon (card carrying member), but on certain things I trend toward a libertarian. I have steadfastly refused for the last 15 years to pay or "sign in" or "sign up" for a permit on Cedar Mesa. I would like to know other peoples position on this.
Fight the Man. :hippy:
I am not a "canyoneer", but I like to backpack. And I to do most of my backpacking on Cedar Mesa. This issue has been on my mind for a long time.
When I first started backpacking there, we would get the free permit and visit the ranger, enquire about water, a route etc. After a few years we no longer felt the need to stop at the rangers trailer, as we always planned for the worst in terms of water, and because of our gaining knowledge of the area did not feel we needed advice about routes, preferring to "wing it" and discover for ourselves which was the best way into a canyon, not minding getting stuck 75' above a wash and climbing back out to find a way that would go.
Then one day I got a ticket from the BLM, on the windshield of my car @ Pt. lookout, explaining that we did not pay the "fee". WTF? we collectively yelled. The ticket was quickly torn up. We stopped at the trailer, the ranger said they would waive the ticket as it was a new policy. We told him it didn't matter, as we ripped it up anyway. He kind of laughed. We asked him why the need to pay to hike on our own collectively owned federal land. He said visitation is up, need more people. He said they needed a new building. You do? we asked. This trailer, It's uncomfortable, and small. I asked him why they just didn't get a bigger, nicer trailer, as a trailers footprint and damage to the land is far less than a building. No, he said, it was a done deal, brand new fancy concrete block building, plenty of room, AC, indoor heat and nice counter tops.
Over the following years we stopped visiting the ranger, and ignored the tickets (I have been ticketed over 50 times, never has the BLM tried to collect). I always made sure someone knew where we were going, so we never felt the need to let the ranger know.
Then one day it happened.
Driving by the Grand Gulch "Primitive" Area sign we were horrified to see a 7-11, or was it a Kum&Go? An abomination had been erected on land we considered sacred. As a former architect I think that all land is sacred, and placing a building on it is a great responsibility. This was desecration, an insult to the sensitive and wonderful buildings that the Anasazi built (and left us to learn from) Ha!
Anyway, the place was closed as it was in January.
Around that time the State of Utah started bulldozing the "roads" in the area to attempt to gain rights of way from the federal government (and placing handy unneeded signs). Now any car could access areas that were previously hard or impossible to get to. More people can visit these areas now!
The road to Moonhouse Ruin, formerly closed from the drill pipe/parking area to Mcloyds canyon rim was opened. In the past, A pleasant easy 3 mile hike along that road was required to reach the canyon. Visitation was sporadic. The first time I visited in march 1984 the last person that signed the "book" was 2 months earlier. Similar visitation patterns held up over the following years, obviously higher visitation during spring and fall. Now you can drive right to the rim. There are signs about the increased visitation and damage. I wonder why.
It's a viscous circle.
I am a certified left wing looney toon (card carrying member), but on certain things I trend toward a libertarian. I have steadfastly refused for the last 15 years to pay or "sign in" or "sign up" for a permit on Cedar Mesa. I would like to know other peoples position on this.
Fight the Man. :hippy: