The mental picture of some long-forgotten climber sitting on a throne of Hefty bags and Diapers, a Burger King Crown and golf club scepter in tow (a big 'ol driver, none the less) lording over his domain of glass and feces makes me kind of tear up inside.
I've been around since the start, before the "pit" was even dug. I was even asked to oversee the place. Great idea if you believe that climbers are a bunch of communal hippies from Oregon; bad idea if you believe they are a bunch of rebellious renegades who don't want rules placed on their lives.
Camp IV without the rangers to keep 'em in check... 'nough said. Good luck "policing" the area. The type you're concerned about don't care and you can do nothing about it. Those of us who do care won't stay there because of the jackasses that will.
I've never stayed in Camp IV and never will; I pay for a campsite to avoid the "trash" that inhabit the place (obviously, this doesn't apply to everyone). Same with the pit. Stayed there once or twice WAY back; pretty sketchy even then and has only gotten worse.
Get rid of the dumpster; people see it and expect it to be serviced. If they see it full they'll just leave their trash beside it (wouldn't you?). It's a health hazard.
Same with a portable toilet. If you get one, ya gotta service it; if you don't, people will leave their business wherever - another "no win" scenario and another health hazard.
The original vision, The Joshua Tree Climber's Ranch (to replace the Gordon Ranch and inspired by the Teton Climber's Ranch) never really happened.
The BIG problem is that it is too near L.A. I did not meet the same kind of creepy, drama filled insanity in Utah, Montana or Wyoming. I think the reason is that dang city. It does something to people's minds.
AFS
The BIG problem is that it is too near L.A. I did not meet the same kind of creepy, drama filled insanity in Utah, Montana or Wyoming.
Actually Ana, I was in the Courthouse in Joshua Tree the other day and the folks lining the walls made LA undesirables look like boy scouts.
Free camping in the high desert isn't what it was even 10 yrs ago. I never had the pleasure of staying at the pit but I think RF has gone above and beyond to make it a safe place to stay. Unfortunately, his efforts went unappreciated by too many folks for far too long. Maybe it is time to move on, literally.
The type you're concerned about don't care and you can do nothing about it. Those of us who do care won't stay there because of the jackasses that will.
Pretend this is an "audio rant" and it will be more fun.
{rant}
Here is the problem with the pit.... the premise of the Pit is beyond cool and all the work people have put in previous to this most recent foaming over is much appreciated by many. But, and here is the big one, lots of people gravitating to the pit these days are basically dirty in it for me lazy f*#kers. Yep, true story. The pit was never intended to be a last stop for the loser train or for the entitled generation to take shits, leave abandoned f*#king cars and act like idiots. But, this is what goes on there. Dirty trustafarians parking their Sportsmobiles up the hill, tossing out Whole Foods packaging and loudly plotting their dinner of seared ahi at the Crossroads well into the wee hours. And there are the young entitled bolt clippers leaving their vehicle abandoned for months on end until all the widows get broken out and every scrap of value is taken out of the carcass. They of course never came back to take care of the problem. It is also not a factory for would be artists nor a pulpit for delusional preachers bent on carpeting and furnishing the entire swath of dirt. Sure, the random tweaker may roll through and scare the lilly livered right out of their 2010 Jettas, but f*#k sake, you are young and fit climbers. Take some pride in your Pit and beat the piss out of the tweaking bastards and send a message. And the guy crying about Dick Cilley... Too damn bad. He was an exception to the above and actually tried to keep idiots from stuffing an already full dumpster with more overflowing trash, knowing each additional Santanas wrapper was just one mild zephyr away from the neighbors front yard. He at least had the sack to say something about what he perceived as trouble rolling in. If more people would do this a lot of the problems would go away. Have some f*#king pride in yourself and the Pit. If you see someone being a dick, go and tell them to wise up. If someone is being a problem, confront them. What are they going to do? Hit you? Have you never healed before? A shiner barely lasts a week. Sort the sh#t out before it becomes a big problem. Last years pit drama was such a f*#king joke. Girls hiding in vans while scary menaces roved the pit putting out bad vibes. God damn that sh#t is wacked! And reading about it on the internet is even weirder. Keep a lid on the drama, take care of your own sh#t, and if you are not up to the task, tell somebody there is a psycho in the Pit. There are people around that will sort it out for you. The Pit is a gift for climbers and should not be a carbuncle on the land owners ass. So, next time you are there, pick up some trash, pick up after yourself, keep your anus closed, keep out of sight, be quiet, and basically don't be a f*#king as#@&%e. {/rant}
I had something with the same message all written but decided someone with real Joie de vivre needed to write it. And sure enough it suddenly appeared. PUD's music was super.
Mid-morning Wednesday going back to Coyote Hole. Going to finish that f-----g glass. Maybe I'll find a working ipod. Trash picking to REM would be so cool.
Nice one RW!
EDIT-Such a treat to see clear writing (ranting) urging folks to take accountability for their actions and to sending a clear message to the miscreants that can spoil a great scene.
the 2 winters I spent at the Pit were really quite nice.I think people should complain a little less.people complain about the neighbors too but there was never a problem with them.The nearest are climbers and great people.
Let us know!