Why is the number '19' posted on many trees on the Avalon trail?

[erugs]

It's hard to not wonder aloud (or on VFTT) who could be doing this. Some time and maybe thought has gone into what we see as an illegal eyesore. Hopefully this doesn't remain an unsolved mystery.

 

[slevasse]

Raven-"Are they possibly related to geocaching or some orienteering group?"

They are definitely not associated with geocaching and anything like that wouldn't be allowed, plus there are no geocaches near Avelon.

It might be prudent to stop pointing fingers at any other group that uses the outdoors and actually wait to see who is responsible.

I really don't see any finger pointing here. This person, at least to me, was venturing a guess as to what it might be related to. Hardly pointing fingers at anyone. I don't know if it is related to them or not and nobody as of yet has proven that it is or isn't. Seems like creative problem solving, trying to think of many of the groups that would be in the outdoors and seeing if anyone with experience with those groups would know one way or the other. Of course we could wait until the mystery is solved before we talk about it...kind of defeats the purpose of a forum, don't ya think?

 

[TrailwrightBratt]

????


You hit the nail right on the head. I am curious as to why? Don't really care WHO.

 

[Creag Nan Drochaid]

I am certain the Forest Service would welcome accurate reports of any more of these numbers, especially if that led to the apprehension of the "number bandit(s)." There are enough people leaving flagging and non-standard trail marking now without these numbers confusing the hikers.

 

[bryan]

i'll add one more that hasn't been mentioned which is right at the end of the starr king trail/start of kilkenny ridge trail at waumbeks summit. there are a couple red spray paint blobs right by the trail sign and a 64 with red paint just beyond before the waumbek blowdown viewpoint. i don't recall it being there in april of last year so it must have been done sometime later in the season (i first noted it in october). will be interested to find out the motivation behind this. was surprised to hear it wasn't something official.

bryan