[MtnGoat]

[MtnGoat]

I don't hold high hopes for the law's turn. He should do serious time and serve as an example. Nothing will restore what he destroyed but time, and the losses and aggravation of tens of thousands of people will never be matched or replaced by him or his family, regardless of liability or their ability to pay. I don't expect restoration or repayment because it's impossible. What remains is justice and that is served by serious punishment.

[moonspots]

[MtnGoat]

I predict a hand slapping with some community service and a lot of 'what about the kid'. What about the rest of us? When does what we suffered, count? The 'what do you expect me to do about it now' comment, speaks to his frame of mind. As does the escape attempt. He's sorry....that he got caught.

[moonspots]

[drm]

First, I heard that his parents tried to get him away from law enforcement in the immediate aftermath, so I'm not sure they are entirely innocent. As to what punishment is appropriate, for me that would depend a lot on whether he has some kind of record. If he has committed vandalism and such in the past indicating a pattern of behavior, then more serious punishment is justified.

[Ski]

[Ski]

[RumiDude]

Personally, I think a reasonable fine and a long stretch of community service is what's called for here. This act was monumentally stupid but doesn't seem to have been intended as anything but a goof. Let's face it, there is no way to undo the damage done and there is no way to recoup the financial losses incurred by all affected. There is no purpose served trying to destroy the kids lives or that of their families. I hate what happened but in the end no lives were lost. We should allow the courts to do their job and go on with our lives, living forward in optimism rather than in the past and the anger we might feel about this. Rumi

[treeswarper]

The way things are going, if the kid immigrated here legally or not, he faces a good chance of deportation. The ICE people are rounding up immigrants with criminal convictions. Maybe that would be good for the kid? Oh well.

[Ski]

[Pyrites]

Forest Service link re: Post-fire evaluation of trails. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/crgnsa/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD569597 You can wander around links and find descriptions of needed trail work, with photos of both typical and worst conditions.

[MyFootHurts]

KGW news has a good summary with pics http://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/these-trails-were-burned-by-the-eagle-creek-fire-heres-how-they-look-now/283-509614133

[grannyhiker]

Big news! The USFS is starting to put in volunteer trail crews to start rebuilding. Crews will be from the following organizations, members of the Gorge Trails Recovery Team: [I didn't attempt live links to these organizations because they are on this page] Trailkeepers of Oregon: trailkeepersoforegon.org Pacific Crest Trail Association: eventbrite.com/o/pacific-crest-trail-association-mount-hood-chapter-15326589343 Friends of the Columbia Gorge: gorgefriends.org/firestewardship Washington Trails Association: wta.org/news/signpost/gorge-trail-recovery-efforts Contact one of these organizations if you're interested in helping. You must be preregistered to participate. i suspect that all may be on hold during the federal government shutdown, but in the meantime the organizations listed (not government) are gathering and organizing volunteers, so you don't need to wait. Here's the very sad trails inventory as of January 18, with photos.

[thunderhead]

http://komonews.com/news/local/court-date-set-for-vancouver-teen-accused-of-igniting-columbia-gorge-fire Court date set. Hopefully no slap-on-the-wrist either.