[at-l]Misuse in the Watershed

[jurbine at west-chester.com (Joel P. Urbine)]

Sorry for sending you the rough draft please excuse.
Grey Owl, thought you might be interested in this. Last weekend I went up to the Pinnacle for usual walkabout (helping to keep the area & trail maintained)  I hiked up to the Pinnacle on the road on West side of the Windsor Furnace Reservoir. Stopped at Gold Spring for some water when I walked back to the trail I met two other fells I had met before while hiking there. We continued walking together and were about a quater mile from the overlook when a eight riders on horse back came up from behind, we said hello and smiled as we let them by.  I told the fellas I was walking with I sure hope they know enough not to ride up the trail past the coaling flat (where the road ends & goes back to footpath) well low and behold they did just that. I caught up with them about 100 yards up the trail and told them that this was the "AT" and this section was closed to horses, mountain bike, etc and was open to "foot travel only" from the coaling flat South on the trail, back down to Windsor Furnace. The guy leading the group was from the Quakertown area and said he had no clue, DAH! But that only the start, then not more than 100yds. further up the trail I find eight backpackers getting ready to setup camp near the unsightly rock cairn just before the blue blaze out to the pinnacle. I explained to them that to my knowledge no camping was permitted in the area due to it being within the Watershed., and that camping was permitted 2.6 miles North past the brown gate or 2.3 miles South at Windsor Furnace Shelter. You use to be able to tent down by the parking area up until about five or six years ago but people have since built homes adjacent to the tent sites and they were removed. They didn't seem to care for what I had to say, as the case usually is. Many year ago two friends of mine and I camped out unknowingly illegally on the Pinnacle we were awaken early on a rainy Sunday morning by a Hamburg police officer and a Water Authority employee, who informed us that we may be cited for illegal camping within the Watershed Boundaries to the tune of $300 each. We never did receive  citations due to a technicality.  Up until about six years ago there was a 4'x6' sign on the tree right near where the rock cairn now stands. The sign clearly stated no camping and no campfires permitted, hiking only. I was out on the pinnacle when that tree holding the sign blew down. I reported it to the Eckville shelter caretaker and he didn't seem to interested or concerned but told gave me the phone # of the BMECC president at the time I believe it was Todd Gladfelter?. I contacted him and explained what I saw. He said it was the property of the Hamburg water Authority to put it back up I contacted them also six years ago and to this very day sits the sign next to the large rock cairn, void of any warnings(rules) regarding camping or campfires.  I busted down 3 illegal fire rings left by thoughtless campers in the area.
On my way down I ran into 40 yes forty student backpackers heading up to the Pinnacle to campout WHERE?? I just shook my head and walked away. I met one stragler and asked him where they were from he replied Hamburg High School, OH Well I thought to myself, if they don't give a damn about their water quality why the hell should I. Bag'o'Tricks 
-----Original Message-----
From: greyowl@rcn.com [mailto:greyowl@rcn.com]
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 10:21 AM
To: GoVolsKelly@aol.com; at-l@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] Hikin Song Part 2


My point exactly, but I think Copper Kettle should be the 
state song.

Get you a copper kettle, get you a copper coil
Fill it with new made corn mash and never more you'll toil
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them just a-filling in the pale moonlight.

Build you a fire with hickory, hickory, ash and oak
Don't use no green or rotten wood, they'll get you by the 
smoke
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them just a-filling in the pale moonlight.

My daddy he made whiskey, my granddaddy he did too
We ain't paid no whiskey tax since 1792
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them just a-filling in the pale moonlight.


OK, OK, so it was written by a Jewish boy from Minnesota, but 
at least his first name was Bob.

Grey Owl

>
>   And to think you thought I wouldn't know that!  It's
>   required lernin' in them hills.
>    
>   Kelly :)
_______________________________________________
at-l mailing list
at-l@backcountry.net
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l