Re: I Care About DCHS

Not to my knowledge, no.
One very real and undeniable threat to the hot springs is that posed by visitors who flout the USFS regulations, bring in glass, camp at the springs, leave trash, and otherwise diminish the springs for others and provide motivation for authorities to shut them down.

On my trip there yesterday, one group of people had been overheard assuring Mike Castro that they had no glass and would follow the rules. This group did have glass beer bottles, which they were drinking from while sitting on the rocks. At the insistence of other visitors, they put each bottle in a sock, and carried out all of their trash.

When this group left, Mike Castro had learned that they had had glass. He talked with them. He did not yell at them, threaten them with any weapons, or even show any rudeness in this exchange. He simply told them that they would have to find another way to access the springs in the future, because he would not help people to access the springs if they were going to lie to him and violate the rules.

Maybe some people will find a way to use an incident like this to suggest that Mike Castro is somehow being unfair or denying access or victimizing this group of people, but I admire his way of dealing with it and once again find reason to respect him.

If Mike Castro has prevented Hotspringer Roe from visiting the springs, why do I see him there so often? Telling someone that they may not access through your own property does not prevent them from using the springs. Mike Castro is not obligated to allow people on his property, and apparently he has refused entry to many despite the fact that he would be collecting the all-important toll from them if he would just let them in. Good thing he is not as greedy as others have claimed him to be, because caring about the springs involves taking an active part in preventing their vandalism, destruction, or closure by the authorities. What part do you take in that William? Gail?