Going Public

Let's get the boring stuff out of the way.

Visit #1468, Sunday 3 March 24, 7:10-9:30AM, 4.1 miles, 9.2 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 30s, rapidly rising to the low 60s, sunny after a day and night of rain.

For the past few years, beginning roughly a couple years before Covid, I've been running a covert op, trying to keep some ne'er do well from sullying the trails with scribblings on trees, painted rocks, and cute little signage nailed to trees. I've not said anything publicly because I believe this person is active on the internet and quite possibly is aware of my blog. I've changed my mind, but just this once.

This blog entry will be the ONLY time I mention them and their activity, until conditions change.

The golden rule of hiking is, "Leave No Trace" as espoused by these two organizations:

ONE

TWO

Basically; Don't write on trees, paint rocks, or nail cute signs to trees. Oh, and pick up any litter.

This person follows the rules of Anti-Leave No Trace.

I've already removed a great number of signs, and painted over a similar number of eyesores yet the problem continues. I will stay the course however.

This week was no different. Here's a taste.

Obviously, this person has a chip on their shoulder regarding me. I cover over or remove what I can.

The tape around the trees is removed by me.

One thing I do know about this person is, they don't excel at spelling. But then ne'er do wells are never an intelligent bunch.

I suspect they are hoping to pin the graffiti on me by scribbling things like this on trees.

Did you know I'm an a$$hole AND a jerk?

These painted rocks had pink hearts underneath. The key word is "had".

Read this closely (it's disgusting) and you'll see yet another misspelling.

One thing I can say about them is, they are persistent, but then again, so is Vladimir Putin.

So far I've cataloged roughly 300 instances of this defiling of the trails in opposition to the rules of Leave No Trace.

I will continue to fight the good fight, as good will always triumph over evil.

On to today's fun.

Among today's finds were these two ziplock bags, found on a log just as you see them.

The contents included this collection of cheapo electronic devices.

...and a coupon folder.

I found this popular brand Turtle Fur neck gaiter hanging from this tree branch. I retrieved it, and will add it to the scarf and hat I recently collected, and all three will make their way to Goodwill. I actually had the scarf and beanie in my car and planned to drop them off at Goodwill after leaving Hubbard Park this morning, but with the Turtle Fur addition I decided to wait until I wash the neck gaiter then I'll deliver all three at once.

Who Stole My Thunder?

 Visit #1467, Sunday 25 February 24, 7:15-9:25AM, 4.8 miles, 1.6 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 20s and rising through the 30s, sunny and comfortable.

Talking to a reader of my blog, we discussed dog owners who bag their dog's poop then toss the bags anywhere but where they should properly be disposed of.

I myself find a lot of dog poop bags in Hubbard Park. This week I took a count.

All those just between the parking lot and the water treatment plant.

I'm just grateful people don't walk their elephants in Hubbard Park.

At the south end of Merimere Reservoir, while it appears whatever contract work was being done is complete and the equipment and vehicles are gone, the gate is still unlocked. 

I'm done assuming some official person will secure the gate, so I did the deed myself.

My mission this week was to remove a tree which had fallen across the trail, which I found last week, but when I arrived I discovered it had already been cut.

Not only that, but further up the trail they did the same.

Although at this second tree they did not pass my inspection so I performed some rework to clean it up.

I'm curious as to who did this and their motivation. Will I be out of a job?

Bringing the chainsaw with me today wasn't a total waste; as I walked down the road from East/West Peak, I found a fallen tree which was encroaching into the road, so I trimmed it back.

Rounding out today's fun; I found two pieces of winter wear which are good enough to wash and bring to Goodwill.

Finally, A Winter Worthy of the Name

 

Visit #1466, Sunday 18 February 24, 7:05-8:50AM, 4.1 miles, no litter.

Temps in the 20s, sunny.

This past week saw a good dump of snow, up to twelve inches in some towns, followed by another three inches from Friday night through Saturday morning. After last year's snow desert, this was a welcome change.

Despite the snow, I found mountain bike and fat bike tracks in the snow up at Castle Craig. While I'm sure most of you have heard of mountain bikes, if you don't know what a fat bike is, click on the preceding link. The tracks were only on pavement which, considering the conditions had to be a dicey affair.

What brought me out this week was a report by an alert blog reader informing me of a fallen tree across a trail. Well, due to that reader's advanced age 😉 they weren't quite alert enough and couldn't recall the exact trail (kind of like forgetting where in the lot you parked your car!) so I had to go in search of it myself.

I found it, and it's definitely chainsaw material which means next week will be a Power Tool Weekend®!

The rest of the hike was enjoyable except for my cold hands. I didn't have hand warmers with me so my usual trick is to "play piano" with my fingers until they warm up. While it eventually worked, I'm a lazy American and I couldn't help but think it would be nice if there were such a thing as heated ski poles. I thought I was on the verge of a fortune generating invention. Seems I was too late to make my millions as the idea is already patented.

It will be interesting to see next weekend how much snow remains .

Okay; THIS WEEK is the Super Bowl!

 I was graciously corrected by a couple blog readers as to my blunder.

Visit #1465, Super Bowl Sunday, 11 February 24, 8:15-10:25AM, 4.4 miles, 17.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 30s, cloudy yet comfortable.

Remember the "Airpods Found" Sign I discovered last week, taped to the kiosk? I was informed that it was posted several weeks ago, so I intended to remove it this week as it has performed its purpose long enough.

I hiked over to the kiosk to find it was already removed.

Back at the parking lot, you may also remember I removed several strings of Christmas lights left too long on a tree. In the process, I broke one of the strings therefore a short length was still attached to the top of the tree, too high to reach from the ground.

Not this week.

Got 'em.

I had only been at it for twenty minutes or so and my trash bag was full. So were the trash cans in Hubbard Park so I schlepped my first trash bag over to the dumpster at the parks maintenance facility.

While there I met parks employee Rob, who was performing Sunday duties.

I asked him if he was going to watch the Super Bowl.

"Oh yeah".

I then asked if he's got all his food.

"I'm having pulled pork, shrimp cocktail, fire in the fireplace, my wife, and my dog. I"m all set."

I assume he doesn't plan to eat the fire, wife or dog.

At Merimere Reservoir, whatever work they have going on appears to be continuing as the traffic cones are across the road.

But while the gate is closed this week vs. open last week, it is only "faux locked".

In the spirit of upcoming Valentine's Day, I kept finding little reminders, which I removed to best of my curmudgeonly ability.

Back over the I-691 walkbridge, I spotted this unusual tape wrapped around a tree, which I removed. I sure hope it wasn't there for some official reason!

I also found this strategically placed chocolate. I was tempted to partake of it, and it was labeled Lindt so it probably was legit, but my common sense over-rode my stomach.

Last, I found a home made walking stick which I deposited in the dumpster along with my second bag of trash.

Now go get your own pulled pork and shrimp cocktail for the Super Bowl. I'm SURE it's this Sunday!