Overcrowding at Trailheads

[chrsdipietro94@]

We're experiencing some serious overcrowding at our less remote sites in the Cascades. The local SAR teams have been stretched to the limit. I read about a few rescues every week.

My personal experience with this recent phenomena reached a new level this past week. I had to pack-out a dirty diaper that I found trail-side.

Here's a good video example from a neighbor of mine. I think this is the Phelps Creek trail-head. It's fairly deep in the forest, but it's an easy drive.

I assume you guys are seeing the same thing back East. The reasons are fairly obvious.

What do you think is a good solution?

Awareness is good, but I think we're getting to a point where a stronger enforcement strategy is needed.

My goal is to never carry a dirty diaper out of the forest again.

 

[Peter Minde]

New York State rangers are understaffed and overworked, they could use additional staffing. I think - no quantitative evidence - that a lot of the overcrowding is people going stir crazy from lockdown, and they've never been in the woods before.

When I was on Rainier, we had to pack out #2. One day an armed ranger comes to our camp on the glacier above Camp Muir, he goes, OK everyone, let's see your blue bags.

 

[Benny Profane]

Well, I guess, since you were away from civilization for a while, he then said, drop your pants, and show me your blue balls.

 

[Warp daddy]

Coming back from Placid region today every trailhead lot between Placid and Tupper was jammed

We ,saw several obvious newbies that looked "toasted "for wearing the wrong gear , cotton non wicking shirts and no trail shoes / boots . The weather today was humid until the brief showers hit later .

Meanwhile The streets in Placid were loaded with peeps . Social distancing NOPE , and i laughed at the Theater markee which had this message " Wear your masks , you FILTHY ANIMALS " ?

 

[jasonwx]

New York State rangers are understaffed and overworked, they could use additional staffing. I think - no quantitative evidence - that a lot of the overcrowding is people going stir crazy from lockdown, and they've never been in the woods before.

When I was on Rainier, we had to pack out #2. One day an armed ranger comes to our camp on the glacier above Camp Muir, he goes, OK everyone, let's see your blue bags.

I pooped a Muir...no way i was pooping in a bag...the outhouse at Muir was the grossed place i have ever been..I dry heaved like crazy.

 

[Peter Minde]

I pooped a Muir...no way i was pooping in a bag...the outhouse at Muir was the grossed place i have ever been..I dry heaved like crazy.

LOL, I actually held it till we returned to Paradise. Not a happy camper.

 

[Warp daddy]

TMI. ??

 

[DMC_Hunter]

Heading to the ADKs to stay at a friends tiny house on a lake next mid-week foe a couple of days. Was going to hike a little but will probably just kayak.. Are trailheads bad midweek?

 

[Tjf1967]

If you get out early you wont have a problem, 7:00 AMish

 

[DMC_Hunter]

Oh perfect..