[Cascade Hiker Podcast]

The painted rocks seem to be a concern with Anacortes Parks http://northcascadehiker.com/like-to-hike/painted-rocks

[zephyr]

Quote: Ranger Dave with Anacortes Community Forest Lands wrote a letter to those that frequent the trails and parks of Anacortes. He said that they have been simply overwhelmed by rocks that families paint and then leave for others to find them. ... He writes that they used to see a couple a month and then found hundreds this past winter. Who else is going to pick these up? ... In Ranger Dave's letter he states that local media and schools have helped promote this as a great family activity. Facebook Groups have popped up in communities like Anacortes where the County has an over 6,000 member group called Skagit County Rocks. 6,000 members! Thats a lot of rocks. Good grief. If it's not one thing it's another. What happened to Leave No Trace? ~z

[flatsqwerl]

Tacoma has a Facebook page for their painted rocks. I have come across a few while jogging at Swan creek and walking at Wapato lake. There is not enough to disturb me yet...of course, I am also amongst broken glass, spent shell casings and the occasional needle....

[Schroder]

Whidbey Island has them everywhere too Whidbey Island Rocks

[IanB]

That link indicates that it's a whole new "thing" with a "community." As if there wasn't already enough litter to pick and haul out when hiking, but now it's heavy to boot. At least the Pokyman stuff was invisible.

[MesiJezi]

People have been painting rocks since the beginning of time. Then it was art, now it's graffiti. Wait a minute... What if it was graffiti back then too?!

[Schroder]

These are small stones, painted at home with a message or art and placed along trails. Not the same as graffiti.

[Cascade Hiker Podcast]

Yeah, thats why I put the picture in there to show the size of the rocks.

[sarbar]

Yet, here locally at the Arboretum in Maple Valley they downright encourage it. It's a treasure hunt - fun for both kids and adults. Most towns have active FB pages. For example, we found 2 on Whidbey Island awhile back. I went and joined their FB group, said hi with photos of what we found. Then I released them here locally down South. Seriously. It's fun. If you don't get it...you are bitter. Most of the rocks are small and some of the artists are amazing. We have a local lady does the kindness rock project as well, with inspiring messages.

[sarbar]

http://blog.trailcooking.com/2017/04/07/search-painted-rocks/ A good example of the fun.

[sarbar]

Although....to be truthful, the Anacortes Forest area has always been contentious....like back in the day when they didn't want to sell non-residents maps to "their" trails. Anyone else remember that hilarious point in time? I had to drive over from Coupeville to Anacortes to buy them in person....snort. It was when they came in 3 packs of maps. But hey, the motorbikes were all cool though. They had zero issues with THAT.

[treeswarper]

We found one by Palouse Falls. It was fading a bit and the glitter was wearing off.