Wizard, It seems that you are suggesting, as others have, that Katrina's efforts toward the Bowen Ranch takeover should be resolved in court. It seems that you see that this internet usage of what I consider slander against Mike Castro might be seen by people as a bad thing. You are so right. It is convenient to have a medium (a private internet forum) which as yet falls outside the laws of slby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello everyone... Our next DCV meeting will take place on the 26th at about 1 p.m. Just one week away! Ron will be posting the agenda, but one thing we will definitely talk about will be the grafitti removal idea mentioned in the thread "a job for volunteers." To new members, non-members, and anyone who cares about DCHS: Have ideas of ways to help Deep Creek? Notice anything thatby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Maybe he saw only half of Katrina...I don't think William was there, so it was probably Gail. But, I'm just guessing...by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
You may be on to something there, Gary.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you, Brother Bear, for your work on this and the update. Glad to hear your positive feedback! It is so true that peoples' voices do make a difference, and you have demonstrated how much better it is to go to public meetings like this with an idea of what you want and a plan to negotiate, than to complain about the way things turn out after the fact. The BLM is one government agency thaby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Maybe we can leave the heavy stuff behind and carry more water, cleaning supplies, and lightness of spirit.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Gary, You'll have to go back a ways on the forum if you want to see hints.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Yes, it would be nice if William and Gail can put aside the Bowen Ranch takeover attempt long enough to do something real for the springs. They would certainly do a lot to gain respect...but I do ask, William, if you come, please do not not bring any guns.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey now...I was hoping to hear about the San Onofre weekend since I couldn't make it there. Thanks, Ron! Wow, dolphins, what a treat! I like the idea of greater collaboration among naturist groups. I'll be looking forward to spring 2004!by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
When I was at the springs recently, I got to see the results of AZ Mike's cleanup of graffiti on the rocks. One particularly large rock had been a real mess, but it looks great now. That got me thinking...the DCV had a spring cleanup day for trash and it went very well. What if we schedule a fall cleanup for graffiti removal? We wouldn't want to do it in the scorching heat of summer, but onceby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello all... Paul and I arrived late Friday morning and set up camp at Bowen Ranch. We no sooner started down the hill then along came Mike Castro responding to a reported injury...just how many search and rescues does this man do? At least he seems to have his priorities straight...stay at the cabin to make sure that each and every entrant pays up or go try to save a life. Good choice, Mike!by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wow, the second recent thread with Laughing Bear maligned in the title! But, I thought Katrina said that they do not malign people who disagree with them, and that each person should make up her or his own mind. (which is what I did, but Katrina didn't like the outcome) So...what secret "motive" can you be hiding Brother Bear? Peace on earth and good will to all? No profits? Noby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Oh...now I get it. The real "ugly" truth about Laughing Bear is that he tells the truth even when it is ugly. And he doesn't have a profit motive (property that belongs to someone else) behind what he says.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Mineralking, What kind of minerals are we talking here, and what did you have to do to be king? lol I don't know that the ranch would be seen as a party area, although sometimes the parking lot area is. I tried what AZ Mike suggested a long time ago, and now I generally stop in to see Mike Castro when I visit. I have to hand it to Katrina, though. If they hadn't of cautioned me so strongly agby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughing Bear, that is a good idea to look into the Quit Claim Deed. I don't know that it would prove "ownership" even if it did have all the signatures. The fact that it can be found in County Records, however, says nothing about whether it is any good, or what it actually implies. Anyone can have a document placed in the county records...with or without the document being valid orby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey...you guys are great. Yeah, I needed a reminder to not get too caught up in the drama. I saw the tightrope act, too, and it was a real treat. About half way he stopped and started carefully bouncing. His feet didn't lose touch of the strap, but he got in a good round of up-and-down springing in place before moving on. Impressive! And it is always a treat to talk to the folks that pass tby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I wonder, since Katrina holds Mike Castro to such a high level of responsibility, if William took such responsibility when he was accepting donations to allow access through the land he was squatting on illegally? I suppose he had some kind of glass detector, since obviously it would not do to search everyone thoroughly. How did he prevent people from losing their way? Oh, yes, and did he provby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey now...a big thank you to webmaster Rick for the quick response to the DCV request to reinstate AZ Mike on this forum. THANKS RICK! I am wondering, though, if you also decided to do away with the registration process that has prevented some from posting, and caused difficulties to others such as myself. How about it, Rick? (Paul will not post unless this is done, as he feels strongly thatby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Gary, Cell phones do work in some places, but not down in the canyons. As for the sheriffs calling Mike, they generally do when there are lost hikers because Mike is experienced in search and rescue, knows the area, and has generally been willing to help when needed. Another reason why the sheriffs might have called Mike here is because he is the owner of the ranch from which the hikers goby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I received an email from AZ Mike asking if I would post the following account of a rescue that took place Saturday morning. As I was also witness to some of these events, and spoke with some of the young people rescued, and also in keeping with the tradition on this forum of talking about Mike Castro as much as possible, I agreed to post Mike's (AZ) account of the incident in his own words. Anoby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi swimbikerun, Glad you made it to the springs. Hope you will not be so shy of talking to naked people on future visits, as many naked users are friendly and welcome questions from other users, clothed or not. Hope you find any future visits enjoyable as well. Peace.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Item #5) We discussed the new Yahoo group started by talktome. It was noted that the usage restrictions on that site would prevent some of the name-calling and unproven allegations seen on the forum, but it was also noted that the site does not have what this forum provides: a threaded discussion format that allows messages to be sorted by topic with all items on that topic, or thread, visibleby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Item #3) Directions: The web pages of item two currently give directions through Main Street in Hesperia. It was proposed that we retain that and add three other sets of directions: from Bear Valley Road, to the spillway and the PCT access point, and to the Bradford Ridge trail site. Consensus was easily reached to do so. A question was raised about the large and intimidating "No Trespby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Our meeting yesterday was both friendly and productive, but of course that is just my personal take on it. Here are the minutes: The meeting started at about 1:20 with four members in attendence: Arizona Mike, Sycamore Laughing, Ron, and Paul. (I try to mix up the order of names each time I post, so no one will feel mentioned last, but don't keep track of the order so I've no idea how I'm doinby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Sam, Thanks for the work Friday. I was there Saturday and heard about it, and also about Arizona's efforts to remove graffiti from rocks. I grabbed about a hundred of those pesty cigarette butts to carry out, and as much trash as I could cram in my backpack. We had our DCV meeting, which I will be posting the minutes from later today, and found a few people willing to carry out just a littlby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
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 noby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
What unbased assumption? I simply expressed my opinion. And the reference to name-calling should be clear. I and anyone else who disagrees with William and Gail have repeatedly been called names here on the forum, and the only person who responded in kind (with name-calling) was banned from the forum. Isn't Wizard making an unbased assumption that I have been "hand-fed the facts" frby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Gary, I liked your monkey story, and I do see the analogy. But I wouldn't allow the stories on this forum to prevent you from accessing through Bowen Ranch if that is your best option. (not trying to talk you into it, either) Most people who buy into William and Gail's stories are those who already have an axe to grind with Mike Castro...such as people who have been turned away at the ranchby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi swimbikerun I can respond to your last question, and leave the matter of access to your own personal preferance. We have a group called Deep Creek Volunteers, but I wouldn't describe us as overseers. We have put together a brochure which has been approved by the forestry. Our effort is mainly one of educating visitors about how to maintain the springs so that all can enjoy them. We meet onby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
20-30 pepole per day? How come people only count on the busy days? I'll bet there are weeks in the colder months that don't see that many people. Then along comes Memorial Day weekend and huge crowds show up, and then I hear people at the springs exclaiming on the extravagent income that Mike Castro must be making. Yet, even at the height of summer, there are weekdays when I see only two or tby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California