I think you will really get a chuckle out of this. I was reading the the latest post to the Lone Star Scouter blog by buffaloeagle. He listed comments left by campers to the U.S. Forest Service in 1996. Here is a sampling. You can read the rest of the seventeen comments at his website.
- “A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call.”
- “Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.”
- “Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness.”
- “Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.”
- “Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals.”
After reading these, and giggling a little, I started thinking about how self-centered, and stupid, that people can be. I really wish that more people would get involved with Scouting and similar programs so that more of the population would appreciate what the outdoors and nature have to offer us. It is time that most Americans get off of their butts, away from their televisions and computers, leave the shopping malls behind, and enjoy nature at its finest. (Of course, I am writing this while sitting in front of a computer monitor in an air conditioned room. Ironic, isn’t it?)
I’ll share this with Buffalo Eagle also, but I have to wonder if the rangers tell him these things tongue-and-cheek.
In 2004 we met a ranger couple in the Weminuche Wilderness cutting trees on the trail with an axe and a 2-man saw. We passed them and reached the Continental Divide an hour later. On the way beck down, we were astounded at the number of very large trees that had been sawed through and moved.
Then we came upon this one tree that hadn’t been cut. When we tried to detour around it, we found that it was full of bees!
Nobody got stung, but when we caught up with the rangers farther down, we mentioned that log. With a very straight face, one of the rangers said they were going to return the next day, pack the tree with C-4 explosive, and blow the bees to kingdom-come! Some of the boys (after a pause) thought that was odd in a wilderness area where chain saws aren’t allowed.
The ranger admitted that what would really happen is their supervisor would make them hike back up there with nets and relocated the bees.
-Byron C. Justice
http://www.HoustonScouts.ORG