In thinking of Pete's recent experience of being banned from using the Bowen Ranch as an access to DCHS I am reminded of the importance of thier being open public routes for the general public as there is presently with route 4 to 3 around the Bowen Ranch. I discussed these same things back in the " Old Archives " as Mojo on 7-10-2000. By the way, the last post by Mojo that month will show that it was me, Wizard, OZ, Van :-) There are various reasons people might be discluded from using the Bowen Ranch by Mike Castro. I was told to leave the Ranch by Mike Castro on Memorial Weekend, the first day DCHS opened after being closed because of the Willow Fire. Simply put, Mike Castro was talking to me about trash and the springs and I felt it was no subject for him to be talking to me about. How many times have I hiked out of that canyon with a good load of trash on my own two legs. Not my trash, most of it trash coming through the Bowen Ranch. Anyway I took exception to the trash talk being given to me by Mike Castro. He, like many times before, wanted a captive audience for his troubles and grievances. I, not being the creator of the trash problem did not want to be preached to. A brief, 1minute verbal standoff occurred at which point Mike told me to leave his property. I left and said nothing derogetory while leaving. I did go immediatly to the BLM checkpoint at the 3N14 cutoff to complain about the unfair situation of having a private person having control of the reasonable access from the north to DCHS, at his on discretion and whim. The point of telling this story of why I was turned away from the Bowen Ranch is that like with what happened to Pete, Mike Castro can turn away a person from his property and access point to DCHS, for any reason. Reasons that have nothing to do with the laws that govern the BLM and USFS lands that are public, and that DCHS is on. Mike Castro has the rights that are due him based on the property he owns but the public also, in my opinion, should have other reasonable access options to DCHS that do not depend on the whims of a public, private citizen. We presently have route 4 to 3 which provides this for persons seeking access from the north side of DCHS. This is the last driving route that will bring a person reasonably close, like the Bowen Ranch, to a place to hike to the springs. I will do what I can to support in the future that this driving route remain open. The rest of the routes are all significantly more trouble and effort, in terms of driving or hiking to DCHS. I would love to catch the vandal or vandals who have affected some vehicles in the area of these open routes and feel comforted that there are now more eyes watching out there. Of course we all know the differant opinions on what, or who may be behind this instances of vandalism on these northern open routes. Anyway I would tell Pete, next time I see him that it is better that he is now is free to choose who he will associate with, who he will give a ride to ( like Gary Roe ), or who will be his friends, rather than to have those choices being dictated by Mike Castro and his interest, and the ransom paid in my opinion, for a " safe " place to park, on a small peice of turf.
