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planner 
Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Oct. 30 2012, 4:30 pm |
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Thanks for the info. Another area they need to evalute is the need for wilderness latrines. The campsites (especially the groups) are becoming giant "cat holes". I shared my thoughts on the evalutation form after my last trip this year. Have other users found the same problems?
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LandNavMan
Michael Neiger ..Marquette~Michigan..
Group: Members
Posts: 1258
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Oct. 30 2012, 6:59 pm |
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Planner:
I'm currently doing the fieldwork for a map-based guide to the Lakeshore, and just finished working up the area around the Cove's group site. Could not agree more, as even with the leaves out, I was coming across waste from slobs. Hopefully they will be addressing this issue in the future as too many wilderness trippers don't bury their waste--including even feminine products! What a mess.
And on another negative note, I discovered an ATV trail had been cut (lots of chainsaw work) through a remote, seldom-visited portion of the Basin Basin Wilderness, to within 200 feet of the Lakeshore Trail, now being renamed the NCT. Doing some recon and tracking to help Rangers bury the intruders in court action. Some nerve.
All the Best,
Michael
--------------
 Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue (MiBSAR)
Seek not the wilderness trip of a lifetime, but a lifetime of wilderness tripping ~ Michael's credo.
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1728
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Oct. 31 2012, 7:04 am |
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When we were up there this fall we were in the Beaver Basin area and heard some ATVs. I figured they were over on private property. Which they may have been but they seemed awful close. Although their sound does travel a ways. Hope they get them.
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Hungry Jack
Group: Members
Posts: 1292
Joined: Nov. 2002
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Posted on: Oct. 31 2012, 10:45 am |
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(LandNavMan @ Oct. 30 2012, 6:59 pm)
QUOTE Planner:
I'm currently doing the fieldwork for a map-based guide to the Lakeshore, and just finished working up the area around the Cove's group site. Could not agree more, as even with the leaves out, I was coming across waste from slobs. Hopefully they will be addressing this issue in the future as too many wilderness trippers don't bury their waste--including even feminine products! What a mess.
And on another negative note, I discovered an ATV trail had been cut (lots of chainsaw work) through a remote, seldom-visited portion of the Basin Basin Wilderness, to within 200 feet of the Lakeshore Trail, now being renamed the NCT. Doing some recon and tracking to help Rangers bury the intruders in court action. Some nerve.
All the Best,
Michael
Dayum. That stinks about the ATV trail. What a bunch of turds.
Thanks for helping police this Michael.
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| Post Number: 6
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planner
Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Oct. 31 2012, 11:00 am |
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Thanks Michael for what you do. And while you have the Rangers' ear about the ATV (walk people, you'll enjoy it) don't forget my "pet peeve" the latrines. It could be as simple as a can down a path (Boundary Waters). Hard to teach kids the LNT principle of concentrate the use, as it is now.
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LandNavMan
Michael Neiger ..Marquette~Michigan..
Group: Members
Posts: 1258
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Oct. 31 2012, 11:06 am |
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Planner...I sent a note to the park about the need to consider latrines last night, based on your idea, and my recent observations. I had chatted about this issue with a front-office ranger this summer, and will do so again. I will discuss it with the Superintendent when I see him next too. --Michael
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Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue (MiBSAR)
Seek not the wilderness trip of a lifetime, but a lifetime of wilderness tripping ~ Michael's credo.
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isleroyalegirl
Group: Members
Posts: 122
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Oct. 31 2012, 7:54 pm |
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Hopefully the jet ski issue will be addressed differently...please help by sending your comments. As far as the latrines...they might help the issue but there are so many people that refuse to use them. Oftentimes in areas where there are "can toilets", I see waste and TP dotting the landscape near them anyway. It would be great if they could dig a cat hole and pack their TP out at least. Leave no trace is meaningless to these people. This year during one of my trips at PR (Chapel Beach) I noted that someone broke open the locked canisters inside the toilet stall and stuffed it with garbage from backpacking food. I also witnessed an illegal campfire during the total fire ban (when the Eastern UP was on fire)...we did intervene and then later report the situation and thankfully fines were imposed on the guilty guys but something tells me they won't learn anything from that. My list could go on and on as I spend a lot of time in the backcountry. Hopefully the more people lead by good example, some of these problems will be eliminated.
Gail
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Eric H
Group: Members
Posts: 1781
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 03 2012, 9:20 pm |
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Michael,
Great you caught the ATV Trail. Pretty curious about the exact spot, having skied most of that terrain. Seven-mile Cr. is quite a barrier (for a skier, perhaps not an atv) but at the east and west end of Beaver Basin the buffer zone does get semi close to the shore.
Eric
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cadesun
Group: Members
Posts: 31
Joined: Dec. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 04 2012, 3:19 pm |
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A note on the latrine issue...
My wife and I made our first visit to Pictured Rocks a couple years ago and the place was spotless. We decided to return this last Labor Day weekend and found the campground and beach area around Mosquito littered with toilet paper. It seemed like we couldn't walk 10 yards without seeing some.
It is too bad that people are not respecting this area; in all of my travels, I have never seen anything like it anywhere in the US.
Cade
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Adventures in travel, cooking, photography and life...
cadeandmolly.com
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| Post Number: 11
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planner
Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Nov. 05 2012, 2:16 pm |
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Cade, That is too bad because Mosquito has latrines.
Things like that dishearten me too. We need to continue to follow LNT, teach our kids (why the groupsites are so important, PR sees a lot of scouts/Ys/schools) and keep after the public.
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Equipaje
Group: Members
Posts: 436
Joined: Nov. 2007
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Posted on: Nov. 06 2012, 1:36 am |
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Thanks, Michael, for helping to track down the ORVers. They don't belong in Pictured Rocks.
As for the latrine issue; I do think that latrines need to be considered in some of our more heavily used lakeshores and wilderness areas. I am seeing more and more toilet paper being left uncovered in areas where I hike. Living right next to the Nordhouse Dunes, I see it everywhere! I don't know why it is becoming more common to see tp left out in the open along trails, but it might be time to add some "backcountry toilets" in heavily used areas to help keep the areas clean. I know that this detracts from the wilderness experience, but so does a wad of crap covered toilet paper two feet off of the trail. It would be nice if the Michigan parks instituted a "carry in-carry out" model for toilet paper, similar to what is done at the Grand Canyon.
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| Post Number: 13
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LandNavMan
Michael Neiger ..Marquette~Michigan..
Group: Members
Posts: 1258
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 06 2012, 8:41 am |
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Just got back from 5 at the Rocks. I discussed the latrine issue with a long-time ranger and was happy to learn they plan to address this issue in the near future, at least at some of the high-use backcountry sites.
As for the ATV trail, after several more hours of spoor work, I was able to identify a remote camp the trail likely originated from, along with a bridge, perhaps one built without a permit. Eric, I don't want to disclose the location yet as there is still a lot of work to be done on this case. PM or e-mail me if you need more info.
All the Best,
Michael
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Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue (MiBSAR)
Seek not the wilderness trip of a lifetime, but a lifetime of wilderness tripping ~ Michael's credo.
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isleroyalegirl
Group: Members
Posts: 122
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 06 2012, 9:55 am |
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E: It would be nice if the Michigan parks instituted a "carry in-carry out" model for toilet paper, similar to what is done at the Grand Canyon.
I completely agree with this statement. I have been doing so for years EVERYWHERE I go in the backcountry. Several quart-size Ziplocs will be enough for even a long trip (believe me I recently did the JMT and I had a bunch). I just empty them (without the plastic bag) into a front country toilet when I get back. They really shouldn't be put in regular trash barrels!
Gail
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| Post Number: 15
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planner
Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Nov. 06 2012, 11:39 am |
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I agree with Gail. We are abusing the "priviledge" of burying our TP. We have been teaching the kids they have to carry it out with them, because I was finding too much not properly taken care of. But the Grand Canyon is a good example of who is leaving it. I backpacked there a few years ago and the backcountry office had all kinds of rules about LNT and we all followed them. I didn't see any problems. As soon as you came out of the backcountry into the dayhike areas; TP, feeding animals, noise. I believe the biggest offenders are dayhikers. The comment about Mosquito River area beening so dirty. That is a popular dayhike area and they have latrines. I have seen TP all around those latrines, why?
Thanks Michael for the info about the future plans.
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