Cutting blazes on Couchsachraga

[Raymond]

Anyone else reminded of KEDS? At least those guys went right back out and put things right, as far as I know.

 

[Rik]

My take on this felony is that the perps were out there with a nice sharp machete and all those trees were just sitting there. I bet they were itching to do some damage but felt the need (ie. understood in a vague, undefined way it was wrong) to justify/excuse thier actions. As a result they did the world a big, fat "favour" by blazing the trail to Couchie. These young fools and their money are soon to part. Not that the heavy fines coming their way will undo the damage.

My take is that they were scared out there in the woods. Scared enough to carry a machete, scared they wouldn't find their way back, scared they wouldn't make the summit...The defensive responses just add to my feelings that they were scared. In my opinion, they had no business back there with their obvious lack of experience/knowledge.

 

[lumberzac]

My take is that they were scared out there in the woods. Scared enough to carry a machete, scared they wouldn't find their way back, scared they wouldn't make the summit...The defensive responses just add to my feelings that they were scared. In my opinion, they had no business back there with their obvious lack of experience/knowledge.

I think is it was a little bit of both coupled with ignorance of backcountry ethics. I hope that in addition to fines, there is also a community service portion to the punishment that requires the replanting of trees equal to the number that they damaged. I think this also needs to be put in full view of the general public, not just the hiking community, showing what they did was wrong, why it was wrong, and what happens to people that break the law in the backcountry in a hope that this will help educate people to prevent this from happening again in the future.
Nothing can be done now that will reverse the damage that was done. I only hope that the scarred trees will act as a reminder of why the wilderness needs to be protected.

 

[imarchant]

If others must make another attempt on Couchsachraga this Winter because of their unsuccessful attempt on it last Winter, that is all in "The Game of Winter Hiking." Part of the challenge of Winter Hiking is wondering if we are going to make the summit or not. I have made six successful Winter climbs of Couchsachraga and they weren't successful because the route was blazed out for me, with a machette.

One's success rate should not be at the expense of the trees being blazed out for them, Summer or Winter. I too, am extremely upset of the trail destruction up this Mountain. Couchsachraga always afforded me that Winter Challenge that most Winter Climbers crave for!

I don't understand your argument that the blazes making the climb any easier or more difficult under any weather conditions. I have not yet done these mountains and it saddens me to know that this willfull destruction will lessen the experience for me and many others for a long time to come. My understanding is that the challanges come from the distance and terrain, not the route finding, correct me if I'm wrong. These mountains will still be a challenge with or without these blazes. I hope that justice will be served.

 

[jbrown]

I don't understand your argument that the blazes making the climb any easier or more difficult under any weather conditions.

Didn't the VIQ (that's Vandal-in-question) also hack off limbs and clear blowdown in addition to blazing the trail to the summit?

 

[Daniel Eagan]

I don't understand your argument that the blazes making the climb any easier or more difficult under any weather conditions.

It's always easier and faster if you can see where you're "supposed" to go.

My understanding is that the challanges come from the distance and terrain, not the route finding.

Figuring out which way to go--around a downed tree, through a boggy stretch, over a small rise, etc.--can be very time-consuming. It can also be a way to get closer to, or feel more attached to, the area you are hiking.

These mountains will still be a challenge with or without these blazes.

Just not the same challenge.

 

[timmus]

Just not the same challenge.

I am one of those who love the challenge of routefinding.

When I did Couch last winter, I felt like I stole it because the trails were all broken (by Pin-Pin, so I knew they were going straight to the summit). Plus the sun was shining with 46 F temp. It was waaay too easy. But that was because of the circumstances, not because of a ignorant hiker.

I know next time I will hike that peak I am sadly going to look for those marks. The guy screwed it for me.

 

[teejay]

KEDS team

Anyone else reminded of KEDS? At least those guys went right back out and put things right, as far as I know.

I remember it well, almost 4 years ago today, I climbed Tabletop. Karl Et Danny S had "conquered" it a few days earlier and they left a reminder of their proud achievement in the form of scratches on the summit rock announcing "#98/117". There was quite a furor at the time and within a week or two they claimed to have reclimbed it and rubbed out the scratches with some sand.

teejay

 

[SLB]

I hope that in addition to fines, there is also a community service portion to the punishment ...

Screw the fines - a month or trailwork during black fly season would be a good start !

 

[imarchant]

I am one of those who love the challenge of routefinding.

When I did Couch last winter, I felt like I stole it because the trails were all broken (by Pin-Pin, so I knew they were going straight to the summit). Plus the sun was shining with 46 F temp. It was waaay too easy. But that was because of the circumstances, not because of a ignorant hiker.

I know next time I will hike that peak I am sadly going to look for those marks. The guy screwed it for me.

I based my opinions on this and similar posts.. Also, since it is obvious that the person who did this is not the brightest, who is to say they marked the best route to the summit?

...The paths to (and among) the Santanonis are generally obvious enough without blazes, rendering the cuttings as unnecessary as they are ugly. ...

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Ah, finally .... someone close by to hate! No more faceless evil-doer terrorists thousands of miles away - we've got someone close by to focus our anger on! And we even know his name, his motives, his birthday, his mind & heart inside and out - what more could a hater ask for? Let's just focus on him for days on end - to borrow a line from Johnny Dangerously - "Shoot the fargin bastig!"

 

[GNR]

I personally don't think it took a lack of education here, it took a lack of intelligence on this guy's part. Only common sense should of told Eric that hacking the whole Forest, wasn't the right thing to do.

Common sense is the collection of facts and data that accrue in one's life prior to the age of 14 or so. This means that everyone's collection of "common sense" isn't necessarily common at all.

The only way a community can teach its members is by treating the members kindly when they make a mistake, not by treating them harshly. Yes punishment works for some, but shaming someone away from the forums or preventing them from posting only keeps him/her out of our consciousness, not from the real world, which all of us are obviously invested in protecting.

 

[dr_wu002]

Creep in the Woods

Ah, finally .... someone close by to hate! No more faceless evil-doer terrorists thousands of miles away - we've got someone close by to focus our anger on! And we even know his name, his motives, his birthday, his mind & heart inside and out - what more could a hater ask for? Let's just focus on him for days on end - to borrow a line from Johnny Dangerously - "Shoot the fargin bastig!"

Hey yeah exactly! Can someone post a picture of the guy so that we know what he looks like next time we go on the trails. I wanna get a good look at this guy! I'm gonna take his axe away!

-Dr. Wu

 

[keb]

FYI, the link to his blog site no longer works.

 

[jbrown]

The only way a community can teach its members is by treating the members kindly when they make a mistake, not by treating them harshly.

If you read the thread completely from the beginning, you'll see that Mavs00 (Tim) started out with this type of approach on this and the other boards and that the Chickndude chose to take a defiant, antagonistic, and elitist stand to defend his destructive actions; even going as far as to liken his mangling of trees to dropping gorp on the ground while hiking.

I'll give you an example of my teaching philosophy: When belaying on the climbing wall up at our camp, I'll go through a safety check with the kids including NOT stepping on my rope. First time is a freebie, they get a gentle reminder NOT to step on my rope. If it happens again, they do 25 push-ups. If they stepped on my rope and I gave them the gentle reminder and they chose to then attack me verbally and challenge my rule...well, it hasn't happened, but I'd have to kick their little keister off my rope and off the wall and ask them not to come back. Who cares if the poor little darling gets a little embarassed in front of everyone.

So who cares if we're a little harsh on the tree killer? He's lucky there are no Ents in the Dacks.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

One thing to realize, is that the guy THOUGHT he was doing a good deed. He didn't do it for himself, he was doing it to make things easier for others. It wasn't done to be destructive. He was probably expecting "thanks" from everyone. No wonder he was defensive.

Also, since it is obvious that the person who did this is not the brightest, who is to say they marked the best route to the summit?

This is an important issue. Most likely, it is NOT. When we lay out a trail for a reroute, we do it based on slope, type of soil, lay of the land, etc. Once a route is laid out, we then cut it. The inexperienced tend to choose the route with the least resistance. Unfortunately, marked like that, it will become the standard route.

 

[Rik]

One thing to realize, is that the guy THOUGHT he was doing a good deed. He didn't do it for himself, he was doing it to make things easier for others. It wasn't done to be destructive. He was probably expecting "thanks" from everyone. No wonder he was defensive.

I disagree Pete. I believe he was scared of not finding his way as I posted earlier. He also has plans to go back for Sant/Panther so again I'm not convinced he did what he did for others.

 

[elhefe007a]

I know next time I will hike that peak I am sadly going to look for those marks. The guy screwed it for me.

I felt the same way when I was there on Friday.

The thing that sucks, is that you don't even have to look for them, you'll see them without trying. I knew they were there before I went, but I didn't think there would be as many, or as easy to see as they were.

Especially on the climb down, from Times Square to Bradley Pond...there were times along Panther Brook, or around the "campsites" that the beaten path splinters around, and I would stop to pick a good route around places...and scanning the woods around me, my eyes would easily pick up a fresh blaze in a tree.

Lame.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

I disagree Pete. I believe he was scared of not finding his way as I posted earlier. He also has plans to go back for Sant/Panther so again I'm not convinced he did what he did for others.

Easy to confirm. If it was for returning, the blazes are on the backs of the trees (as heading in).

Why post about it if it was because of being scared? Nahh. You carry a machette and use it when you want to TAME the wilderness. John Wayne. Tarzan. Big strong guy!

"I fought the wilderness, and I won. And now, because of what I did, you won't have such a tough time."

"Gee, thanks, kind sir."

Rik, You're younger than I, and you didn't grow up with those Saturday Matinee shows, with all the heros chopping and blazing trails. You probably don't watch "The Cheesy Movie Chanel" either, but in some small towns, that may be all that may be all that comes in. People can be brainwashed by that.

Or maybe Army Survival manuals. They don't practice LNT, and they're getting popular these days. Go talk to your local Rambo-wanabe, and ask him what he knows about finding your way through the forest, and I'll bet blazing is the first thing that comes up.

Some people just read different books and watch different movies.

 

[DougPaul]

Or maybe Army Survival manuals. They don't practice LNT, and they're getting popular these days. Go talk to your local Rambo-wanabe, and ask him what he knows about finding your way through the forest, and I'll bet blazing is the first thing that comes up.

Some people just read different books and watch different movies.

Maybe he learned to hike in the jungle--from what I have read, chopping one's way through the undergrowth with a machete is common practice in such places.

Doug