This poem follows up my post, Slow and Say Hello!, from last Monday, June 10. A much larger problem exists between users of public lands and the wild horses of the Pine Nut range in Nevada.
I’ve wondered for years why people lose their propriety and self-discipline when they are in a rural or wilderness setting? Why is the act of getting roaring drunk an appropriate response to places of beauty? Why do geological features such as remote hot springs bring out the worst in people, who leave behind their underwear, used condoms, and syringes, as well as ordinary, everyday trash? And occasionally, when they drunkenly cook themselves to death in a hot spring or kill themselves on an atv, or drown themselves in a whitewater river, the rest of us must clean up the mess and also, have our liberties curtailed on public lands.
Call them out and loudly, Sue, because sometimes I despair when I think of my fellow human animals. They are why we can’t have nice things.
We had some neighbors in Truckee, two or four couples who bought a party house in Tahoe Donner, for weekend escapes from their high-paying, high-stress jobs in the financial sector. Three o'clock in the mornings, they would be out on their decks, howling at the moon. Even though we lived in an earth-bermed house, the accoustics still weren't enough to dampen the music blasting through their paper-thin walls. It was nuts! Jeff had to pound on their door just to get their attention and tell them he had to get up at OH-dark-thirty to go back to work in the Bay Area. We have some reverlers here sometimes, but usually the party noise dies down abut ten o'clock. But yeah, out in the desert, there's mayhem aplenty.
Aww. If everyone would only "live more carefully". So many see the natural world only as THEIR personal playground and their children learn from their heedless example. Thank goodness, not all. A beautifully written admonition, Sue.
thank you. and you're right about the "ownership" aspect. There was a young guy who talked to our ham radio club about using the radio in back country recreation. When he said, "the world is our toilet," there was dead silence in the room. Since it was a mostly male audience, he took it for granted that his remark would be amusing. Sadly, all those old men making up the club's membership weren't impressed at all.
"If everyone lives carefully
Then nothing has to change."
Great lessons here, Sue. x
Thank you. And by change, I mean the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) doesn't have to round up the wild horses.
Yes, absolutely - and that’s brilliant! I think those brilliant words of yours can sum up all manner of other things too, though. 😊
I’ve wondered for years why people lose their propriety and self-discipline when they are in a rural or wilderness setting? Why is the act of getting roaring drunk an appropriate response to places of beauty? Why do geological features such as remote hot springs bring out the worst in people, who leave behind their underwear, used condoms, and syringes, as well as ordinary, everyday trash? And occasionally, when they drunkenly cook themselves to death in a hot spring or kill themselves on an atv, or drown themselves in a whitewater river, the rest of us must clean up the mess and also, have our liberties curtailed on public lands.
Call them out and loudly, Sue, because sometimes I despair when I think of my fellow human animals. They are why we can’t have nice things.
I will do my damnedest.
We had some neighbors in Truckee, two or four couples who bought a party house in Tahoe Donner, for weekend escapes from their high-paying, high-stress jobs in the financial sector. Three o'clock in the mornings, they would be out on their decks, howling at the moon. Even though we lived in an earth-bermed house, the accoustics still weren't enough to dampen the music blasting through their paper-thin walls. It was nuts! Jeff had to pound on their door just to get their attention and tell them he had to get up at OH-dark-thirty to go back to work in the Bay Area. We have some reverlers here sometimes, but usually the party noise dies down abut ten o'clock. But yeah, out in the desert, there's mayhem aplenty.
So what's your status on finishing the PCT?
Trying to find a way to restart from the Canadian border and head southbound. It will extend my season to make up for time lost.
I walk by my packed pack every day and ache to just go.
Pure torture. I hope you can find a way to go soon. Good luck and happy Trail.
It’s generous of you not to beat your rude neighbors to death, no matter how tempting it was!
Aww. If everyone would only "live more carefully". So many see the natural world only as THEIR personal playground and their children learn from their heedless example. Thank goodness, not all. A beautifully written admonition, Sue.
thank you. and you're right about the "ownership" aspect. There was a young guy who talked to our ham radio club about using the radio in back country recreation. When he said, "the world is our toilet," there was dead silence in the room. Since it was a mostly male audience, he took it for granted that his remark would be amusing. Sadly, all those old men making up the club's membership weren't impressed at all.
"To keep the peace between us all/Is always in our hands" so true, Sue, so well said.
thank you. hope it wasn't too preachy.
It's definitely not preachy. A call to action, I'd say.
thank you, Portia.