[at-l] LNT was AT-L And The AT

[lubitz@alpha.fdu.edu (Richard S. Lubitz)]

Fingerboard shelter is one of those that is easily accessible to non 
backpackers.  Every time I have stayed there, I have felt the need to 
"gently" give an LNT class.  One Saturday night about 10PM about 8 young 
adults (for lack of a better term) showed up with a beer ball, some 
blankets and snack food.  The parking lot a Tiorati is close enough for 
even the laziest.  many years ago my favorite shelter in the park was at 
Island Pond on the AT.  It was the William Brien Memorial shelter.  After 
it was torn down, Letterrock Shelter was renamed for Wm. Brien.  Someone 
at park HQ decided that Island Pond was underutilized so they paved the 
fire road in from Arden Valley Road.  After that, every time I arrived at 
the shelter there were six inches of beer cans and the pump was usually 
broken by mid May.  Finally, to stop the abuse the shelter was torn down 
and the AT was for a few years rerouted around the other side of the pond.
Rich

R&R wrote:
> 
>     When I first got involved with the Trail I went to Fingerboard Shelter in 
> NY and started caretaking.  I often met many of the types you mention and had 
> similar experiences. This topic could have a book written on it, so I'll trim 
> it down. 
>    The people you speak of come from a world where having dominance over 
> something is seen as prestigious. What I mean is, to be the master of your 
> domain is the objective in main society. You pay rent, take orders, pay 
> taxes, and receive tickets and are controlled by authority. When you get into 
> the woods you are king. If you are a suburban youth the woods are total 
> freedom. You can party, camp and feast, scream at the moon etc. There is no 
> way that this personality is going to show any kind of weakness by scolding 
> his friends and scurrying to clean up the beer party mess upon breaking camp. 
> Only low or weak people deal with trash. The trash stays behind. Besides you 
> have to hit back for the entrance fee.
> 
>     The reason why we care is because we have staked out the woods as our 
> place. We protect it, care for it, see it being encroached upon, and do our 
> best to defend it. To some life is getting by, only uptight or troublesome 
> people really worry about those things. Eventually they will go away and no 
> one will be there to worry about it. Imagine people trying to push a single 
> view onto others about littering?
> 
>     Some people know the difference between camping on the Trail and living 
> it.  It should always be open to all types in order to serve as a mechanism 
> for natural awareness.
> 
>    Thanks. 
> 
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