Bad trip!

“This weekend my son and I went fishing at a nearby river. We had waded out and had been fishing a couple of hours when we heard a lot of yelling and cussing coming from up river. About 15 min. later three 14 aluminum flat bottom boats came around the bend.
There were 7 or 8 people in each boat, ages: about 6 to maybe 60 yrs old, no life preservers. They jumped out pulled their boats right through where we were fishing, no apologies or anything. They told us they had been on the river for 2 days and had run out of beer and needed to get home. I know for a fact that the part of the river they had come down, has several class III and IV rapids on it. They proceeded to throw trash out on the banks and into the water as they cleaned out their boats. Well our fishing was ruined so we packed up and left. Seeing the mess they left there I can only imagine what up river looked like after they had been on it for 2 days. I guess I should have said something to them but they were drunk and things probably wouldn?t have turned out in my favor. Didn?t mean to be long winded but this type of behavior is very disturbing and seeing someone make the mess they were making just ruins your day. Maybe we will go back this weekend and try to clean up their mess. Is this type of behavior common in anybody else?s area?

Just venting,
Rabbitman”

“Not common, thank goodness, but we have witnessed some similar behavior. Always on rivers and generally from the locals.”

“There are jack-holes everywhere. Thankfully not the majority.

Was that bad drought in the NE two summers ago? Anyway, we were out on the AT and knew that the springs would be dry so we rode up a fire road about half way through our route, hiked in to the trail and hid several gallons of water before heading to the trail head. When we got to the mid-way point, a large goup of idiots had somehow gotten their pick-up trucks around the barrier and had set-up car camping nearly in the middle of 'a trail through the wilderness'. They had a HUGE bonfire going despite the drought and were (of course) knocking back plenty of brewskies. We went to our water stash and when they saw us they yelled to ask if we had any beer in there - like we woulda shared. When they saw it was just water, one commented that we were lucky they didn't find it.

Sounds like the same group.”

“i thought this thread was about tarpy getting some cheap acid.”

“On a deer hunting trip years ago we were packing up when two overloaded flat bottoms went by. The gunnels looked like they were underwater.

I read in the paper the next day that they capsized and two people drowned. You just can't legislate common sense.”

“I've never witnessed anything that heinous yet, thank goodness. Just pity them, they don't even understand.”

“Yep, see it all the time. Most recently, two 10-12 year olds breaking daddy's beer bottles down by the river. Come across the evidence of that type of behavior all the time.”

“Yeah, sure. They were filthy redneck slobs. But did you clean up after them?”

“It's not the beer that litters, it's people that litter!

I had encountered a few situations where jack-holes decided that the garbage can is mother earth. What I normally do is pick the stuff up and put it in the trash. Better me than nobody. I once came across some real "winners" who were throwing their empty bottles into a ravine and laughed if it clancked with other empties. I was pretty pissed, so I just walked right through their site, went down the hill and picked up all of the empties. When I came back up, I set the garbage bag next to one of the fools, and told them I didn't want to see anything down the ravine again. It pays to be a big strapping guy with a "don't mess with me" look on my face, because they didn't dare say anything, and used the damned bag after that.

The moral of the story is we have to set a good example, even if it means doind something humiliating.”

“It's sad to say that this is way to common in my area too. The majority of the culprits are ATVer's on quads. Everywhere they go litter and destruction follows. These idiots seem never to be satisfied unless they can destroy something.
Our local water company put a new roof on a pump house used for water treatment and they tore off the shingles. Then they put on tin and they tore that off too. Last week, I noticed that they started riding right up the middle of a few pristine streams that have trout in them and eroding the streambanks and ruining gravel beds the fish lay eggs in. Beer cans all over the place. They even haul in garbage and old tires to dump in the woods. A cop held on to the handlebar of one of them and he ran over the cop crushing his foot. They caught him a day later and the retard is in jail now. Hope he rots there. It's really sickening the kind of people running around here anymore. Maximum impact and maximum disturbance to wildlife and the land is their game.”

“Hey Rich, I think that a good old ass kicking is in order for those morons. Where do you live, I'll be down in a few days with some fishing wire and brass knuckles, and I'm not kidding!”

“I live in Scrotum PA. Opps! I mean Scranton.”

“Drinking Bear, Just make sure Sober Bear is driving.”

“OK and now here is some advice to take CARE.

This will happen in area where there are farmers. Methamphetamine "labs" are set up where there is easy access to fertilizer elements used in the stuff.

I guess when they leave, often stuff is thrown out. The latest thing cops say around here is to warn people who might be picking up garbage in roadside ditches or wherever to be really careful. If you pick up some "remains" of a meth operation, you can get into stuff that'll blind or kill ya very fast. Very very nasty stuff.

Just one more thing wrong with today's world. You can barely do a good deed like picking up some unknown's trash anymore!!!”

“Just stroll down any busy section of a thru-hiking trail and look behind any tree close to the trail or edging popular campsites.
Want to see lots of brown-streaked toilet paper sticking out of suspicious looking piles of dirt?”

“no, not really”

“Damn I hate these type of threads... it just makes me so pissed that there are so many a-holes out there. I agree with Drinking Bear -- beer is not to blaim -- mainly it's probably just plain old ignorance. My tact, is to sit down, offer the offenders a beer, and then talk to them about the issues -- most people can realize that they are basicallt sh*tting in their own living room.”

“Was there a goofy looking kid with a banjo? I'd be wary approaching drunken locals who vastly outnumber my party.”

“ThunderTrain and Drinking Bear you are correct it?s not the beer. It?s the nut holding the can. I just can?t believe that anyone is stupid enough to teach a small child that it is o.k. to get sauced up, ride a flat bottom fishing boat through dangerous waters without a life preserver. And then use the river as a trash can when you are through. The child will just grow up thinking this acceptable behavior.
No, flyguy, I didn't see a banjo but I'd bet the farm they owned one or two.”

“If someone drowns while paddling a river while saused-up without wearing a PDF, it's just Darwinism at work. And though it's sad that a child might be involved (who doesn't know any better), unless he/she's adopted, then again its darwinism cuz they've got the same genes.”

“><,DARWIN,>

I spent the weekend in West Virginia and saw nothing like that!

”

“PA AT about 7 years ago. Came upon a bunch of drunk hunters - they were wet and cold. Walked them out to our car and drove them to a motel.

In April, had 3 other groups at a shelter. One group had their Boy Scouts cooking right in front of their tents, another group made a fire (there are no fires allowed) and tried to wash their dishes in the spring. Told both groups what was what - wasted our breath. Broke out the LNT cards. Doubt they ever even followed thru.
This is a big problem because they are the ones supposively teaching their scouts the right way to take care of the earth.”

“People like that make my blood boil!!”

“That must hurt!”

“As a buddhist pot smoker, I think one shouldnot engage. Be like Dead Wood. Meditate on the suffering of the people that anger you. Realize they are seeking the same happiness you seek in a different and possibly wrong way. We all want to be happy, but because of out weak minds, we cling to temporary impermanent things for happiness, and they only cause us pain. We must not want, and we must not not want. The true happiness comes from living in the present, and being detached from all. This allows us to love all being the same, no matter what.

Om Mani Padme Hum!”

“Tarp,
So what you are saying is:
The more you run over a cat, the flatter it gets.”

“Exactly!”

“Tarp,

This really scares me. Am I the only person who truly understands you?”

“May the force be with you!”

“If we want world peace, we must let go of our attachments and truly live like nomads. That's where I no mad at you, you no mad at me.”

“Don't get even, get odd!”

“I think that scout leaders should have to go through some accreditation program to ensure that they are teaching boys and girls properly about the wildreness. Besides the LNT ethic, we should also make sure that they can take care of themselves in the wilderness -- I've heard too many stories of Leaders and Scouts getting fubarred in the wilderness becauses they don't know shat -- I guess it's kinda lucky that they spend much time doing wanky merit badge crap than actually hiking and camping in the outdoors.”

“my father-in-law is in the order of the arrow. the goal, from what i gather, is to better train leaders. the order is like the teachers of the teachers.”

“Thundertrain you're right on. There are lots of scout leaders out there who don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. There are also a lot of different types of troops...many that primarily car-camp. Then when they do take the occasional BP trip they're just as much a rookie as the boys. There are a lot of problems - lack of parent involvement, parents that haven't camped since they were kids & don't take the time to become educated, etc. One I see often that drives me nuts is that too many kids sit on the butts all day playing video games & don't have the stamina / physical conditioning they need to go hiking...a poorly trained leader then takes them out into the wilderness and the problems begin...”

“Backpacking M.B. is da bomb! No wanky one, Coe!”

“BACKPACKING

1.Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while backpacking, including
hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites,
snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
2.Do the following:
a.List 10 items which are essential to be carried on any overnight backpacking trek and explain why
each item is necessary.
b.Describe 10 ways you can limit the weight and bulk to be carried in your pack without jeopardizing
your health or safety.
3.Do the following:
a.Define limits on the number of backpackers who should be in a backpacking crew.
b.Explain the reason for the upper limit and the lower limit in a backpacking crew.
4.Tell environmental considerations that are important for backpackers and describe five ways to lessen
their impact on the environment. Describe proper methods for disposing of solid and liquid wastes.
5.Demonstrate two ways to purify water and tell why water purification is essential.
6.Demonstrate that you can read topographic maps. While on a hike, use a map and compass to establish
your position on the terrain at random times and places.
7.Tell how to prepare properly for and deal with inclement weather while on a backpacking trek.
8.Do the following:
a.Explain the advantages and disadvantages of three different types of backpacking stoves using at
least three different types of fuel.
b.Demonstrate that you know how to operate a backpacking stove safely and to handle liquid fuel
safely.
c.Prepare at least three meals using a stove and fuel you can carry in a backpack.
9.Do the following:
a.Plan a patrol backpacking hike.
b.Properly pack your own gear and your share of the crew equipment and food. Protect it against
inclement weather. Show that your pack allows you to get quickly to items you may need on the trail
and provides for comfort, balance, and neatness. Show how to use effectively a pack frame and hip
strap to distribute the weight on your body.
c.Conduct a prehike inspection of the patrol and its equipment.
d.Carrying your pack, complete a hike of at least two miles.
10.Take three backpacking treks. Each must consist of at least three days duration with two different
overnight campsites, and each must cover at least 15 miles. Carry everything you will need throughout the
trek.
11.Do the following:
a.In addition, assist in planning and take a backpacking trek of at least five days with at least three
different campsites, and covering at least 30 miles. Your written plan submitted to your counselor
must include route, food and menus, equipment, and emergency notification. Prepare lightweight,
reasonably priced trail menus. Carry everything you need throughout the entire trek.
b.On returning, tell what you did to get in shape for this trek and how you might do it differently again.

BSA Advancement ID#: 26
Pamphlet Revision Date: 1983
Source: Boy Scout Requirements Y2K, #33215D, revised 2001”

“I must agree with the comment about scouts.
I'm doing a trip next week with my youth group, and the family helping me coordinate everything has been in scouting for years. Yet they fail to understand the importance of using LNT practices. We will be hiking in a heavy use area. How can I convince the kids and the dad that we need to pack out our poopy paper?”

“This story is why I don't carry a gun!
Wish Darwin would start working some overtime. Get some more of these GERMS out of here.”