Enchantments: A fine is a price?

I’ve used the bivy permit system in RMNP a few times and I think that is a great idea for the enchantments. 

BenJamN wrote:

To continue, the forest circus probably cannot put a toll both up (due to continued cash being "Burned Up"), but another group could and then the state park like management would control the over abuse from continuing to wreck havoc on our state treasure.

How is the USFS burning up cash?  I don't understand the State Park option that folks are throwing around, I believe that except for a few private inholdings, Icicle is all USFS lands.  State Parks go on state lands.  The USFS probably is not interested in giving away some of it's most popular recreation lands on the OkanoganWenatchee N.F.  

Want to protect the Enchantments from overuse?  Go somewhere else.  

Shaun Johnsonwrote:

How else does a Washingtonian become an influencer on Instagram? It is my understanding that they MUST take the exact same pictures in the exact same locations as the people who influenced them. Otherwise they might be branded as an outlier and the thing we hate the most is people doing their own thing.

Well everyone climbs for their own reasons, when you say "We" do you mean the people who influenced you, or the people you are influencing?  

Allen Sandersonwrote:

Here is what people should be pissed about. The lottery brings $250,000. That money does not go to Forest Service/NPS/BLM but to Booz Allen Hamilton under contract to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Recreation One Stop participating agencies.

That is just for the Enchantments, now think about all of the other lotteries for river permits, etc, etc.

This is so true that it needs to be repeated a million times. Think of this everytime you think of public lands being underfunded. 

Personally I have always avoided the Enchantments and my quality of life has not been negatively impacted. There is so much more out there. 

Don't be an asshole to rangers, go somewhere else or follow their BS rules. 

Canyonlife2020wrote:

Well everyone climbs for their own reasons, when you say "We" do you mean the people who influenced you, or the people you are influencing?  

I grew up in Wenatchee, looking at the edge of the enchantments from my childhood home. When I first went to Colchuck Lake, I had never even seen a picture of it and I did not take pictures of it. (No smart phones) I was influenced by real people that I knew in real life. I learned of it by word of mouth.

I lived and climbed in Leavenworth for about 10 years as a young adult. I watched the crowds grow every weekend year after year. 2 years ago my wife (She was born and raised in Leavy) moved away from that shit show.  

Me suggesting to just poach the camping was tongue and cheek, but we have actually got some very good points made by you guys. Thanks!

Live life above the influencer. Don't post on insta

Remember a couple years ago when the FS tried to enforce parking restrictions along upper 8 Mile Rd?  People ignored the "will be towed" signs and continued parking at will.  The FS quickly abandoned any effort towards parking enforcement.  

With just a few rangers patrolling the Enchantments, I'm surprised the same thing hasn't happened yet in regards to camping.  I mean, what are they going to do if several hundred people each weekend decide to defy the permit system and just camp wherever they want, especially if they find more out of the way spots?  The rangers would be equally as overwhelmed as they were with the parking fiasco.

Jplotzwrote:

Remember a couple years ago when the FS tried to enforce parking restrictions along upper 8 Mile Rd?  People ignored the "will be towed" signs and continued parking at will.  The FS quickly abandoned any effort towards parking enforcement.  

Hi John! Hope you are doing well.

Yeah I remember heading back down after climbing Stuart a handful of years ago and the cars were parked all the way from the Colchuck/Stuart trailhead down to Eight mile Lake trailhead. 

Remember when people used to go outside to get away from other people? Wow things have changed.

That same year, an acquaintance posted a pic on Facebook at Eight Mile Lake with her dog... When I politely let her know that dogs are not allowed on that trail, she quickly unfriended me... It was not a service animal. I am surprised if no one mentioned to her that dogs are not allowed up there. 

I wonder what the fine is for taking your dogs in the Enchatments? I say just start bringing them as well, and make sure to leave your poop bags along the trail.