Re: April 21

Quote
hiker
I can’t tell how many may have been camping, but I would guess 25 or more (not counting those who may have been even further up canyon). There were lots of empties around as well.

Ya Paul, not only is it illegal but there is a reason why the Forest Services does not want overnighters. The Forest Service and I believe many of us volunteers are the guardians of this unique ecosystem. Hiker puts the numbers around 25 campers; these people have to poop somewhere and my guess is that most of these "city slickers" are not practicing the proper method of disposing human waste; in addition camp fires (also illegal) are a common practice of those who camp - using whatever fuel they can get. I have backpacked Mt Whitney and the Zion Narrows - both sensitive ecosystems. The Forest Service and the National Park Service require that everyone "packs out their poop" and the National Park Service in Zion requires that people urinate in the Virgin River so that the area dosen't smell like an inner-city pedestrian tunnel. I have no problem having the FS law enforcement ticket these people and confiscating their equipment. Even on my hike out I notice several beer cans on the trail and in bushes which I picked up and packed out.

Lets keep DCHS prestine