We do alot of dispersed camping on NFS land ( not much desert yet) and we are always amazed at the kinds of trash we find, lawn chair frames. coolers without the lids, plastic fender pieces, pop cans, ect. We do a daily clean up and then everybody does a walk through before we leave, We always leave it cleaner than when we found it, We also stop and pick up along the road on the way home too. We don't understand how people can be so disrespectful
Him and Me
06 Dodge drw
06 Crossroads Zinger (searching for our dream fw)
Nails are a real problem. I carry a large magnet and use it to clean up nails on the ground or in the fire rings. I use the kind that has an extendable handle. I have also seen the ones that are about 12 inches wide with small wheels on them, really made for a shop floor but I am sure it would work on the ground.
We had to do the same thing New Years weekend. The group behind us left a bunch of trash behind including carpet. One of the guys in our group caught the last guy leaving there and said something. The guy didn't care and even threw out more trash while driving away. We reported this to the rangers with pics but they said there was nothing they could do. That same group was shooting fireworks at people up on the hill near them hitting a woman in out group. Of course they denied it and not wanting to start a brawl we left it at that. Its people like that that ruin it for all of us.
05 Revolution Le 40E
05 Carson Racer
06 Chevy 2500 Dmax
03 GMC 2500 Dmax
05 HD Road king
4 bikes
3 quads
and a Rhino
A few relevant thoughts for those who care to peruse: Or maybe I'm just rambling.
I've told this story on RV.net before, but here it is for the TH Forum. Back in the 80's some buddies and I backpacked into the San Bernardino Mtns. (we did that often, actually). But on this particular trip we were observed by a Ranger, from a fire road far above our camp. When we packed out to the trailhead the Ranger was there with his ticketbook ready to cite us for having a fire without a permit. To be honest we didn't even know we were supposed to have a permit. We just thought you built a ring with rocks, cleared away the area of combustibles and used downed trees and branches for fuel. Use a shovel to smother the fire when done and all was good. Guess not. Anyway, when Ranger Rick saw that we had a huge bag of trash he said that it was obvious we left the trail cleaner than we found it so he let us off with a verbal warning. Cool.
Fast forward a number of years and I had a class of new SCUBA divers on the beach after 10:00 AM. Laguna Beach ordinance said classes had to be off the beach by 10:00 AM. Maybe we scared the tourists? The Lifeguard saw we all had brought up a bunch of******the idiots leave on the beach to wash out with the tide and let me off with a warning. Again, Cool!
On a side note: I've owned and ridden street bikes for over twenty years and we've been thinking for a while now about getting some dirt toys for the family (as soon as finances permit). But, having visited some of the more popular riding areas over the past year I am very turned off by all the serious jerks that congregate in those areas. The vast majority of riders/campers are great people. I've had a few dirt bikes over the years and have camped all my life so I know the previous sentence to be true. But, as TH's and ATV's have gotten so popular the percentage of jerks has grown to the point where I'm turned off a bit. We desert camp in some pretty remote areas but the OHV areas in those spots are limited. We like those places because there is NEVER any trash and NEVER any theft and NEVER any drunken a$$hole$ ripping through camp. We do enjoy loading up the ice chest and heading out for some light trail four-wheeling in the truck. But, it's not the same as dirt bikes.
With our business closing (by our choice) and the DW going back to school for her Master's any big purchases are on hold for a while. But, I seriously don't know anymore if we're gonna buy dirt bikes and ATV's in the future. We love camping out in the boonies, but we don't love the (very few comparatively) idiots who spoil a fun weekend. I mean, we have bon fires, ice chests full of beer, music playing and all that. Which is very much like the way TH people camp. But, we absolutely love the fact that our group of friends and family (heck, sometimes I go by myself when I need to get away from all the estrogen in my house) are the only ones for miles around. And there is no threat of some drunken idiot causing damage or injury to himself or others. Plus, no one steals our stuff.
Anyway, I guess I'm just venting about how (like so many aspects of our life) a few knuckleheads spoil it for the rest of us. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
Our last trip (approx 5 weeks ago) someone in our camp had some of their friends join them for the day and unfortunately we had to clean up after them. They left their dirty diaper (1), beer cans, Carl's Jr wrappers and cups, Gatorade Bottles (half full), and a couple of grocery bags behind. My son asked me why we were picking up their trash and why they left it behind so I felt that it would be appropriate for the litter bugs friends to answer my son's question and I can honestly tell you that I haven't seen a grown group of individuals be so embarrassed to answer a child's simple question. Thank goodness for the Glad Force Flex Bags and for everyone who makes a difference.
Vapor Trails, I couldn't have put it better. I use to wheel the Rubicon in California. Don't do it anymore because of all the idiots that spent $1500 on a truck that would just barely make it a 1/3 of the way in. For those familiar, that would be the Little Sluice. Then they'd sit on the edges, get extremely drunk, throw beer cans and garbage, leave TP flowers everywhere because it's too far to walk (for them) to bury it, cut illegal bypasses when ever they felt like it, etc. etc. etc. I see the same thing happening in the desert, because it's people that don't care, or weren't brought up properly. I know when I was young my Mom or Dad would've tanned my hide; and now my 22 yr old son know's that I'll tan his hide; and I know he'll pay that forward when he has kids. I care, how do we pass that to others ???
TinBenders
Formula Toy #006
2007 Can-Am 500 MAX XT
2009 Eclipse Attitude F37 AKS, it's still not white!!
08 F350, $X$, CC, dually.
I sometimes feel the trash left over everywhere is the same thing as people riding through the campground/parking lot... It gives all non-riders the wrong impression...
Alot of people just don't care... Kids and Adults included...
One of the last times out, a girl consistenly rode through the camp and never did go out in the park.... I finally yelled at her to knock it off... Her Dad said .. Hey sorry won't happen again... Ten minutes later he was doing the same thing... Maybe just to make us all mad... Or maybe he was clueless also..
. I have seen plenty of people ripping it up all day through the camp areas or parking lots... When you confront the people and say.." Hey hit the trails and knock it off"... They act as if they are doing nothing wrong and look at you like shut the..@#$% up....
thanks for all the replies! it's nice to know that i'm not out there all alone. this post reminds me of a quote from my pastor. "10% of the people do 90% of the work". i just need to adjust my attitude the next time i go out and be content that i still have a place to ride and picking up someone else's trash will be a part of our trip.
Mike and Trina
2 Kids
'04 Chevy 3500 dually diesel
'06 Weekend Warrior SL 30' 5th Wheel
Reese 16K Signature Series Hitch
Honda CRF 450X
Honda TRX250EX Quad
Honda CRF230F
Kawasaki Mohave 80 Quad
Ocotillo Wells, Class of 1968
On the plus side to people leaving trash, I found some bowling pins out in the desert and used them as targets .
These are the same jackballs who shoot up road signs. I have never understood that at all.
I have picked up my share of trash too. I am with all you guys but we seem to be desperately outnumbered.
2000 F350 DRW 4wd CC 7.3l PSD
37" Tires w/ 5.13's
Suncoast 4R100
2007 Host Yellowstone Democracy is 2 foxes and a sheep deciding on what to have for lunch, liberty is a well armed sheep contesting the vote.
Offline
