Don't tread on Vedauwoo

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.

natedawg wrote:1. Stick to the established sites, chastise those who don't.

Surely you're not suggesting that unsolicited advice can be a good thing!? :)

--Marc

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...

Jim Amidon wrote: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...

There's no shooting at the 'Woo from May until October, so it would've been worth your while to report them.

There was some wedding out there on Saturday, held east of Vedauwoo Road, about a mile from the interstate. It kinda made me sick to see, as the wedding party was actually too cheap to reserve the picnic pavilion. Later that evening, I saw 8 or 10 vehicles parked at the Nats pull out, with 6 identical dome tents set up all close together, like some sort of military encampment. They had banners up to indicate that they went to the same wedding.

Rather than the standard "Eat my ass you fuckin' greenies!" style post (as Coloradoans really aren't the problem), I'd rather like to say that the annual Vedauwoo cleanup as part of the Fat Crack Festival is the second weekend of September, and everyone who can come should. The overwhelming majority of those who do show up are locals, and we always haul out a ton of trash. We've got a wonderful place up here, we just need more people willing to take care of it.

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

Jim Amidon wrote: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

Wyoming State Patrol? Hahahaha! Yeah, they're just up to their eyeballs in crime.

Realistically, there is a pretty severe risk to others recreating out there. If you're in the central area, and you hear gunfire, you should probably report it. And if you're not, make some noise so you don't get shot.

natedawg wrote: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.

natedawg, do you have a shred of cynism in your bones? It's a joke! I knew it'd irk you 307'ers
Maybe we should amend that sign...
No dogs with lame names like McKinley, Denali, Maklu
No Goatees
No Carhartts
No Green Outbacks

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 frontrangebouldering.com

boards2go.com/boards/board.…;id=1216685194&user=mbrooks

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...

natedawg wrote: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.

I totally agree with this. It's the us agaist them mentality that makes it even worse. everyone seems to think what they do does not cause an impact but what the other guy does is the problem. Makes it easy when it is "there" problem and not our problem. Sounds like there is a good group who will be making a difference in September. Pretty cool.

Pablo Kollmar wrote:Oh god. The idea of Brad and Bob popping out of the woods in the middle of the night to tell you to pick up your trash is utterly terrifying! But I don't think anyone would say no. Most climbers seem to camp close to the road/nautilus (at Alice, Nat's, etc) which makes them/us much more visible, while the "other" user groups seem to spread out a little more. So climbers end up appearing to have a much bigger impact than we really do. As an aside, you will all be happy for the redneck in the 4WD F-350 when you try to get to the nautilus in March and get your car buried up to its eyeballs. Or when he shoots the rampant bears eating you stash of twinkies. Pablo

Agreed on the f-350 tow.

I still think the avid F-350 user though is impacting and disturbing the area in ways of course most climbers dont.

The last time I was at the voo. Memorial day weekend. I saw an actual cop roll through East LA where we were camped. From what I gathered from locals and the local greenie visitors that was a rare site. Maybe the presence or the apperance there of would install a bit more order there. IMO it just seems as it has been a free for all there and now the popularity of the area in climbing and other activities is just allowing people to use their own judgement. We all no most humans have good judgment like my 3 yr old.

Pablo, you man know since your up there mucho.
What is the "ranger" status like up there besides just taking money for the pay sites?

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.

Beagle wrote:I say we make a nice sign and post it right at the entrance, it should say something like the following...

No More Big Rigs on I-80!!!

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.

Seth Murphy wrote: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.

Can I come?????
Pretty Please...

Setharia! Holla!
Friday ???

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)

Seth Murphy wrote: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)

shoot man. the web is dead.
that thang...
geesh.
i think i got gear swinging like an eye soar there still hahaha.oops.
thanks for the reminder.
FREE BOOTY!.

Well. I would love to quit. but my wife and kid would go hungry.
we all know i live off free beer so my existance is stable.
Maybe I'll quit just for friday to hit the voo voo.
i feel like i could actually climb 5.8 this week.