Several years ago the Forest Service closed down a couple of roads in Vedauwoo. The first closure was caused by people who were "mudbogging" through some meadows near Reynolds. The second one was ostensibly done to rehabilitate the old parking/camping area to the east of the Nautilus. Lots of people were not too happy about the loss of prime camping near the Nautilus. However, rehab in both cases seem to be working, and one might appreciate the added seclusion from the roads.

Recreational use at Vedauwoo has increased dramaticially in the last couple of years. The result of this increased use has been the establishment of many new campsites off of the Vedauwoo road. One particularly eggregious example occured this weekend where a large group drove around a fence(obviously put in place to discourage offroading) where you park to go to "Dirty Deeds." If a couple more parties use this spot, it too will become another place with a two-track, firepit, and broken glass. This happend over the last couple of years at a spot just east of the Nautilus, now we have a new degraded site.

My point here is that the Forest Service will confine all camping to the campgrounds if people continue to create new sites. This is a common solution in high use areas across the West, especially in CA and CO. I personally despise developed campgrounds, but I am almost to the point where I would rather submit to a ban on dispersed camping than see this disrespect continue. Maybe this is inevitable.

Certainly climbers do not warrant all of the blame, so here are some suggestions for all:
1. Stick to the established sites, chastise those who don't.
2. If you can't find a site, go further north or west.
3. Suck it up and pay to stay in the campground.

And the obvious tricky part about dispensing said advise is that the types of folks prone to trashing campsites for the rest of us aren't likely to take too kindly to some crunchy climber types tellin' 'em what to do. As is most always the case with rules, they are not necessary for the people most apt to follow them but rather an attempt to control those who won't follow them anyway.

I say we make a nice sign and post it right at the entrance, it should say something like the following...
No F-250's or bigger, no Chevy 2500's or bigger, no Dodge Diesel 4 doors
Heck, No American Cars at all
No License plates with 'Broncos', only Green Mountainous Plates.
No ATV's, Dirtbikes or those wicked lame 4X4 Golfcart thingies
No RV's, unless in USFS Campground
No Guns, shooting, fireworks, explosives
No Generators
No Glass containers
No Wrangler Jeans
No Hatchets or Axes
No Coleman sleeping bags or Walmart tents
No Pit Bulls (Rowdey excepted)
Blah, blah, blah!

Not to mention if said individuals can actually read and if they can use a computer I doubt they are looking here to see where they can and cannot be at Vedawoo.

I was there this weekend and was wondering how the Forest Service can balance the usage of climbers and other groups there.

Damn guns that get me nervous....have always wondered if the folks shooting know where there rouds actually end up...

Actually Beagle, the two most disrespectful camps sported "Green Mountainous Plates," had tents worth a weeks wages, and had several dogs named Makalu, Denali, and Sierra (FYI - my dog is named Medicine Bow Peak). One of the nicest and most respectful people I met up at Vedauwoo this summer was a young guy who sported Wranglers, drove a big truck, and probably had a hog under the seat. Respect is not a function of socio-economic class, some people just don't know any better.

Yea I think the State Patrol has much better things to do than chase after target shooters.....yea call the cops....boy that's funny....

I see the no shooting sign every time I drive there, and every time I hear gunshots

Hey Brian,

Is the Voo cleanup a go for sure??? If so, I'll be sure to put the word on the streets here in the Fort as this is the first I've heard of it.

My 2 cents, for what it's worth. Everyone needs to be more respectful of our wilderness areas, period. The problem is that the people who read this site are not the ones creating new campsites, cutting down trees for firewood (which i witnessed first hand and had an "interesting" conversation with the scout master who did it)

Self policing doesn't work, just look at Colorado and the whole pad stashing issue. Education, authorities, and taking away privileges seem to be the only things that get through to thick headed, ignorant people. Will it effect us, sure. Will climbers be the ones who are blamed, absolutely. what else is new?

My vote is to hire Bob and Brad as "wilderness patrol" and have them go out to all campsites to deal with all the schmucks. (just make sure they get an immunity card from the state of Wy first because they'll beat everyone to death)

Thanks, Seth

Wyoming would be the bomb if there were not so many damn cowboys.



Seth.

Get out of that hole your in and climb foo!


In regards to the OP.

Seems like if the ATV, shot gun shooting, howdy dudies were a bit more tamed the place would be pretty mellow.
Its those damn cowboys again.
Damn..
look at the size of my 58 foot RV pulling 9 ATV's with it.
And Hell yes that tree would look great if it were chopped down and sideways. Then we could burn that bitcH!

yee haw!

For all those interested. (mervo, You could help:)
check out www.frontrangebouldering.com

www.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?action=read&id=1216685194>>>

JJ did a nice piece of a what if thread from a hikers blog. Just touching on the climbers are to blame piece by seth.
Its true. All in all they will always allow the red necks to shoot it up and yee haw whatever.
But the climbers who most of us, have great respect for the land and the area we are climbing.

I guess I should pull my stashed ATV from happy jack road now...

yeah. I think I just about crapped my 18th beer out my ears when i saw him drive by.
But. I did feel like i could leave my bullet proof vest in the truck that night as well.

Maybe it is just a matter of getting a bit more I guess city or county involvment out there. but i am a moran when it comes to that stuff.
I guess I would vote for the brad n bob patrol group.
Thats a start.

i think there is a solution that would end all these problems

tell everyone from colorado to stay home.

Wow,

Heavy duty nasty local seen !

Why is that?

It like a surf spot or something,

There's only so much stone dude !

Come on !

As far as trash goes I would like to say climbers don't trash the crags turions do.But that would be false.

Any area you can drive park climb is going to be impacted.

So pick-up all your trash leave your campsite better than you found it.

Use as little chalk as possible,Stay on climbers trails going to the crags.

My home crag sees climbers from all over the world.And every year we clean up after them.

You wanted to be a hardcore local.Theres your reward. HA HA HA (SHIT)

Maybe you want to tell Brad to stay away from the voo since he lives here in the Fort.

Doug, PM me if your headed up this week. I might be headed up to do some business in Laramie and will be meeting some of those crazy locals at the voo.

NO FOOL! When you quit that dead end job of yours then we can talk. You must first get a meaningless job like mine, then, and only then, will i climb with your skinny ass!

(BTW i really want to come down and start working the web)

A little off topic. In this thread I see people calling it the Voo and also the Woo. My friend and I have a bet on which one is correct (or are they both?). Heel and Toe says it's an anglicized variation on an Arapaho word "bit'o'wu".

So is it Vedau"woo" or Vedau"voo"?

It most definitely is "Vedauwoo", so calling it the "Woo" is correct. But, phonetically speaking, "Voo" is also fine.

I plan to go or have been to the Gorge,Park,Eldo,Yos,JT,BC,Canyon,Black,Plat And VOO or Woo next weekend depending on what exit I take.