I was down at our paradise recently and when I arrived, it was mostly all PCT hikers who had camped out the night before. All skinny-dipping and enjoying the springs in the morning. As the day went on, more and more and more PCT hikers arrived. It is early in the season for them, but it is the season now. The clothes went on as more arrived, by the end of the afternoon it was a like a weekend day at DCHS, around 40 PCT hikers had come in to spend time camping at the springs.

Isn't this a problem for the springs? What I noticed was PCT hikers bagging trash--which I thought was nice--but then placing the bags on the beach next to the Deep Creek sign--not so nice. I explained there are no trail angels at DCHS, and a pack it in, pack it out ethos. But the PCT hikers were just bagging their trash and leaving it. Has anyone seen different since the hikers have started to arrive? Is the trash situation mounting with the PCT hikers camping at the springs? Can we educate PCT hikers about things? These are my questions. I met a young hippie man down at the springs who left midday with a huge bag of trash that he hiked back up to Bowen. A few hours later, he was back at the springs. Soaked in the Contemplation Pool with him and asked him about that. He said he was camping out at the springs for a bit, but had been a "caretaker" at Matilija up in Ojai recently and in the same spirit had taken it upon himself to clean the area around the springs while here. Periodically hiking back to his car at Bowen and hiking out trash each time.

2 models, 2 different kinds of actions.