[neek]

[Cyclopath]

Have you guys seen LetsGoTrashTheAlpine.com yet?

[Sky Hiker]

No who is their sponsor we should boycott them

[forest gnome]

WHERE'S THE PICTURES ....someone mentioned the crap, garbage,trees cut down... at peggy's pond..I was thinking of a thread for just that so people would think twice before posting here or on social media .....about sensitive area's that see less then 30? people a year...(I know that's not peggy's pond but you are smart enuf to figure out I m talking past there... I don't need to see tons of people and their dogs in easy to access- sensitive... area's. a recent report of some lake above dorthy comes to mind, granted it's hard to git to... one person was smart enuf to ask if a report for going past watson would be ok to post, and I said why ruin the first part for us old guys who can only do the first part of the hike? YA'ALL that are stupid enuf to post on social media ect...(for special, sensitive area's) MAY AS WELL take a bag of garbage and take a huge dump in the camp sights that see less then 30? people visiting yearly....oh and leave a smoldering fire in the meadow also...THANKS!

[BigBrunyon]

Couldn't agree more forest gnome!!

[SwitchbackFisher]

[kiliki]

[kiliki]

Sometimes I wonder if hiking should be treated more like fishing, in terms of the structure of permits and fees. In popular places that are getting hammered maybe the FS should require another fee/permit you can send away for. It costs $20 and you only get it after signing something that details LNT rules. That's not going to be a cure all but maybe it can fund staff to help prevent problems/enforce rules. I went to the Maroon Bells in CO 25+ years ago and even then the White River National Forest there charged $10 extra to access that area. I notice now it's $25 to park there for 8+ hours, or, $8 if you ride the shuttle bus in. I'd rather see an individual permit system where each hiker attaches the permit to their pack here.

[kiliki]

Someone mentioned population growth as part of the issue, and I'm sure that's right, but also--there has been a HUGE growth in tourism. 1.2 million people are coming in to Seattle just to cruise between May and September each summer; the number grows every year; these folks all come early and stay late and want to see WA's national parks and other beautiful spots. If you look at the Trip Advisor forum--the biggest travel forum out there--you can see all the questions about Diablo Lake, Blue Lake, Maple Pass, Artist's Point, Mt Rainier, Hurricane Ridge, the ONP beaches, the San Juans...how many of these tourists know anything about LNT? How many think it's fine to leave your lunch scraps behind because "it decomposes"?

[SwitchbackFisher]

Killiki I intend to start trying to talk to the right people with the USFS who can actually make changes. Another idea is if they hand out bags free at ranger stations and someone brings it back full of trash, ( if you don't trust them require picture with it a trailheads maybe? Or wilderness permits with it.) That looks like they collected on the trail give them 5$ off next year's nwf pass or America the beautiful. Maybe increase the discount if they share the above photo on Instagram or whatever, and tag ranger district. I think if things are approached the right way this issue really can be fought.

[SwitchbackFisher]

I do like your idea of charging more to get into sensitive areas as well.

[treeswarper]

[Randito]

[Cyclopath]

[Chief Joseph]