solohiker Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 I have a relative that works for the Forest Service. There has been a lot of conversation about geocaching this past year among Forest Service officials. My relative said they are about to announce a ban. Quote Link to comment
+WaldenRun Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 It just seems so unlikey they ban geocaches from our National Forests while clear-cutting is still allowed. We need more specific information on exactly who in the 'Forest Service' is going to enforce such a ban, and exactly what portion of Federal lands would be affected. -WR "Why worry when you can obsess?" Quote Link to comment
skydiver Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Or, could it simply be that you're spreading rumors and trying to get everyone here worked up over nothing again? When I hear it from an official source, I'll believe it. Until then, NOT. Life's too short. Relax and geocache. --- Two paths diverged in a wood, and my... my GPSr pointed dead center between them. --- Quote Link to comment
skydiver Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Or, could it simply be that you're spreading rumors and trying to get everyone here worked up over nothing again? When I hear it from an official source, I'll believe it. Until then, NOT. Life's too short. Relax and geocache. --- Two paths diverged in a wood, and my... my GPSr pointed dead center between them. --- Quote Link to comment
Travisty Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Actually I also heard they were going to ban rock climbing in all National Parks also, but that was 10 years ago and nothing ever came of it. This sounds like one of those crazy park rangers getting pissed because they have to work their nine to five in their guard shack and too many people frequent the park so they can't go to a self-serve access. If you ask me, which nobody ever does, I think it is probably one of the best things that have happened to the parks since the whole naturalist movement of the early 20's which lasted more than 50 years. This in my opinion is the best way the parks and forest service have to gaining public interest and awareness in our beautiful parks and recreation areas. Quote Link to comment
Travisty Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 Actually I also heard they were going to ban rock climbing in all National Parks also, but that was 10 years ago and nothing ever came of it. This sounds like one of those crazy park rangers getting pissed because they have to work their nine to five in their guard shack and too many people frequent the park so they can't go to a self-serve access. If you ask me, which nobody ever does, I think it is probably one of the best things that have happened to the parks since the whole naturalist movement of the early 20's which lasted more than 50 years. This in my opinion is the best way the parks and forest service have to gaining public interest and awareness in our beautiful parks and recreation areas. Quote Link to comment
+Team GeoDat Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 We were at Grand Teton National Park to spend the day with a Wildlife Biologist observing animals and helping radio track wolfs. We started out at 5:30 am to see Moose. We easily came upon a moose and were told to look the other way. We than saw radio collared Elk and were told to put down our binoculers (they were about 3/10ths of a mile away) and look the other way. The whole day we were FORBIDDEN to look at the animals. His view (and according to him, shared by many in the park service) was that looking at animals was stressing them. They would not mate or fatten up for the winter if they were stressed. Now I'm talking about being far,far away from any animals, in a car, with spotting scopes or binoculars. We spent hundreds of dollars to introduce our children to the magnificent wildlife and parks of the West, we hired an expert who would be sensitive to the environment and teach important skills to us. We spent 12 hours - NOT LOOKING AT ANY ANIMALS. He even pulled over several times to yell at other park visitors who were looking at the animals (and I'm not talking about the idiots in Yellowstone who see how close they can get). His final statement was that the park service will consider closing the parks to people if breeding starts trending down because the animals may be stressed by having people look at them. I do believe there are extremists like him - but thankfully the park and forest service is a big place! Quote Link to comment
jfitzpat Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Travisty: Actually I also heard they were going to ban rock climbing in all National Parks also, but that was 10 years ago and nothing ever came of it... That's not quite true. Climbing is banned in portions of many parks, part, or even all of the year - including spots in Joshua Tree National Park, probably the most popular climbing destination on NPS controlled land. Certain activities, like bolting (even rap stations) is, by default, banned. A park may have a climbing plan in place that permits bolting or not. The norm would be something like: existing bolts can be replaced, by permit, for safety reasons... (ex. Devil's Tower, which, BTW, has a voluntary climbing ban each June). My point is that access should not be taken lightly. If the climbing world had not started embracing 'clean' climbing 30 years ago, the sport would almost certainly be banned in many more places today. That said, I would be really surprised to see a comprehensive NFS ban on caching. A backlash from the NPS makes sense, we are talking about poorly funded, intensely popular places. But the NFS's main goal in life is building roads for "scientific forestry" (clear cutting). -jjf Quote Link to comment
iryshe Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 I received an email from someone else who recently requested to hide a geocache in their park. The park response was interesting in that a special permit would have to be issued (yet to be determined) but they had no time to approve such a permit (agency paralysis). So basically yes you can place a cache but you need to go through a process that doesn't exist. Have a nice day. Timber companies have $$ and $$ has influence in policy. Angle ($) a request ($) the right way and your views are better heard. Sorry but banning is BS unless I hear from an official first. Hearsay don't cut it. Jeremy Jeremy Irish Groundspeak - The Language of Location Quote Link to comment
iryshe Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by james f weisbeck kd7mxi terra utah: dosnt public land mean it belongs to WE the public and not them the GOV? We against you arguments are pointless. Don't even bother bringing that point into the argument. Remove that comment from your signature or I will start moderating your posts. Jeremy Irish Groundspeak - The Language of Location Quote Link to comment
iryshe Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by james f weisbeck kd7mxi terra utah: dosnt public land mean it belongs to WE the public and not them the GOV? We against you arguments are pointless. Don't even bother bringing that point into the argument. Remove that comment from your signature or I will start moderating your posts. Jeremy Irish Groundspeak - The Language of Location Quote Link to comment
+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 I hear the forest service isn't going to allow anyone to whiz in the woods. Never Squat With Yer Spurs On Quote Link to comment
DisQuoi Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 quote:He even pulled over several times to yell at other park visitors who were looking at the animals Click Here Quote Link to comment
Geo Quest Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Last time I was in a national park I noticed a squirrel watching me. I've been so stressed since that day I haven't been able to breed. "There's no need to be afraid of strange noises in the night. Anything that intends you harm will stalk you silently." Quote Link to comment
+wizonkiz Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Lazyboy & Mitey Mite: I hear the forest service isn't going to allow anyone to whiz in the woods. Never Squat With Yer Spurs On WHAT? Did you say they wern't gonna allow me in the woods anymore.........WIZONKIZ p.s. My sisters, neighbors, best friend, who works at the 7-11 heard the Forest Service was gonna' pay geocachers to hide caches in the forest and charge us to hunt for them to replace the loss of the timber industry. Quote Link to comment
+adomatis Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 If we do nothing, there is a greater liklyhood the sport will be banned. Join others in being proactive - see the Permission Database topic in the GeoCaching.com discussion. For additional encouragement, read Interview with a Park Ranger - Doug Adomatis Travel by GPS [This message was edited by adomatis on May 22, 2002 at 10:57 AM.] Quote Link to comment
+rdw Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Lazyboy & Mitey Mite: I hear the forest service isn't going to allow anyone to whiz in the woods. Never Squat With Yer Spurs On That's gonna be mighty tough on the animals. Alot more stressful than being watched. rdw Quote Link to comment
+rdw Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Lazyboy & Mitey Mite: I hear the forest service isn't going to allow anyone to whiz in the woods. Never Squat With Yer Spurs On That's gonna be mighty tough on the animals. Alot more stressful than being watched. rdw Quote Link to comment
+culpc Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 Perhaps the "urinary ban" explains DisQuoi's moose's surly attitude? Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son! [This message was edited by ChazC on May 23, 2002 at 06:07 PM.] Quote Link to comment
+culpc Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 Perhaps the "urinary ban" explains DisQuoi's moose's surly attitude? Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son! [This message was edited by ChazC on May 23, 2002 at 06:07 PM.] Quote Link to comment
Ozkar Wild Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 If they bans this geocashing an hunting an stuff then they is stupid. Who wood come there to walk upon the land if not for us hunters Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 Just spent a weekend with the USFS and they have no mention of any restrictions. If fact the regional director for recreation didn't even know anything about Geocaching. So if I hear anything I will definately post it. As of now they still are considered abandoned property but the USFS has much more serious problems to deal with now that it is fire season. The "Bushwhacker" Exitus acta probat >>---> Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 Just spent a weekend with the USFS and they have no mention of any restrictions. If fact the regional director for recreation didn't even know anything about Geocaching. So if I hear anything I will definately post it. As of now they still are considered abandoned property but the USFS has much more serious problems to deal with now that it is fire season. The "Bushwhacker" Exitus acta probat >>---> Quote Link to comment
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