[at-l] RE"Policing the Trail

[ox97game at aol.com (ox97game@aol.com)]

Coming from a different perspective.  (not mine of course)
 
There is always some idiot in the woods (or elsewhere) that just doesnt get some things.   The forest service tells the entire public that it is illegal to bring a chainsaw into the wilderness area.  The idiot sees a maintainer in the woods with a chainsaw, doesnt know they are a maintainer (nor does he care), and decides that since it is ok for the other person to have one, it must be ok for him to have one in the wilderness too.  So the next time he comes to the woods, he is packing a chainsaw, so he doesnt have to scavenge for firewood, and begins clear cutting firewood around his campsite.
 
It is these kinds of actions (or reactions) that these types of rules have been put in place to prevent.  Common sense would tell folks that you want to preserve the wilderness experience so you (and others) can come back and enjoy at a later time.   Leave no trace, leave it better than you found it, etc.
 
Unfortunately, there are those in the world that dont have much common sense in such matter.  This is apparent when you come into campsites/shelters and you find the firering full of trash, trash left in shelters, names carved into trees and shelters, live trees sawed down for firewood.   Trey Mtn shelter even had some idiot build a fire inside the shelter on the wood floor and burn a whole clean through it.  Not sure what kind of idiot would build such a big fire in a wood structure (and probably while they were sleeping in it), but it proves that such idiots are out there looking for their Darwin Award.
 
Unfortunately, it only takes one such idiot every so often to force authorities to create laws, rules, guidelines to protect the environment.
 
The nice thing about chainsaws and weedeaters is that they make noise that can be heard from quite a distance.   The authorities have to check each instance (unless they are told in advance by a maintainer), just in case the person using such equipment is actually doing harm rather than good.  Imagine how mad you would be if you came to a campsite and every tree in a 50 yrd radius was gone.  You would be all over the authorities for allowing such a thing to happen.   
 
Personally, I like taking authentic old fashioned tools into the woods.   I have even gotten some hikers to join in on projects.  Folks that have hiked long distances on the trail are generally very willing to help with a little maintenance, if the opportunity arises.  And, long distanace hikers like one of a kind photos to show folks back home.   A photo of them at one end of a 60 yr old 2-man buck saw is a once in a lifetime photo op for a lot of people, and makes for some GREAT stories when the hike is finished.
 
Then there is the issue of whether I prefer to carry a 2 man buck saw vs. a chain saw, gas, oil, and repair tools (because something will always go wrong at the worst possible time) 5 miles into a section in order to cut a large blowdown.   The buck saw is a lot easier to carry in and will have no mechanical breakdown, but the chain saw gets the actual work done a lot faster.
 
Either way, next time you see a maintainer on the trail (whether carrying a buck saw or a chain saw) take a moment to stop and say thank you, shake their hand, and maybe even offer to help for a few minutes.   Remember, we are out there making the trail better so you can enjoy your hike.
 
Happy Hiking
Ox-97   GATC