Joshua Tree Vandalism

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10b4me

Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 9, 2013 - 12:49am PT
http://thesunrunner.com/2013/02/08/vandalism-forces-emergency-closure-to-barker-dam-in-joshua-tree-national-park
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Feb 9, 2013 - 01:08am PT
Wow- weird. They don't really describe the nature of the "vandalism" . I guess they sometimes don't want to give people ideas.

People suck BTW.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Feb 9, 2013 - 03:08am PT
"Keswick says that the Dam, which backs up a significant lake during wet seasons, has a patinated surface on its upstream side, into which visitors apparently began to carve graffiti sometime last fall. "Our guess is that once the first people did it, sometime in October, it served as an attractive nuisance and people decided it was the thing to do."


People really do suck.
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Feb 9, 2013 - 08:13am PT
I wonder where people get the idea that it's okay to go carving your name (and other acts of graffit) in national parks?

I mean, it's not like the U.S. government endorses carving in the wilderness and leaving your mark.

Onewhowalksonrocks

Mountain climber
portland, Maine
Feb 9, 2013 - 09:33am PT
In order to waste more of our tax dollars. They should cross check the names on the wall with camp site registrations and bust the pukes that did this
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Feb 9, 2013 - 09:56am PT
Wow- that a lot of dumb-ass chicken scratch. People are so stupid. Way to go Julio '13 and friends. Couldn't just piss on a rock like the rest of the dumb animals roaming the earth? Now I can't work on my crumbling proj over on Rat Rock. ;)

Really though.. I support anything the park service thinks it needs to do. They've got enough headaches without having to deal with a graffiti fad in a million square miles of tempting rock surfaces. I'm not sure how they plan to "repair" the dam though.
happiegrrrl

Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
Feb 9, 2013 - 10:19am PT
The other day I went with two others to check some graffiti that had been reported in Rattlesnake Canyon. When we got to the spot mentioned, we found older stuff as well, dating back to 1992, and about 4 other sites with "big boulder" graffiti - meaning the tags were a good 4 foot tall and more, taking up the entire face of the boulders and in very dark colors.

The person will be working with park admin to set up a clean up day. But maybe the park ought consider spending some tax funds on interpretive signs located in parking lots and campgrounds, as in images of the graffiti with text saying that carvings, paint, chopping wood, and such will get you a fine of whatever hundred dollars. Fines doubled for leaving TP- TRIPLED if it is "poop TP"...
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Feb 9, 2013 - 10:21am PT
"Regardless of how you vote, support the efforts of the National Park employees."

For the most part, I completely agree.


SLR, that picture/comment is nothing more than an argument-inciting false equivalency.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Feb 9, 2013 - 10:29am PT
Leave 'em alone.

Later on we can make a whole new national monument out of the graffiti.










gonzo chemist

climber
Fort Collins, CO
Feb 9, 2013 - 10:30am PT
this has started to happen at Horsetooth Reservoir. Namely on the Bolt Wall.

I wish the rangers there would do something worthwhile--like find a way to prevent kids from carving their names into the boulders--instead of just patrolling the parking lot ticketing people who are PARKED LEGALLY (like myself).
Fuggin idiots...
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
Feb 9, 2013 - 10:46am PT
At least it ain't like Angels Landing, where you have to pick blank spots left precariously perched atop sweeping buttresses. Every once in a while a naughty boy scout with a knife takes a tumble...
10b4me

Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 9, 2013 - 11:18am PT
SLR, give it a break.

But maybe the park ought consider spending some tax funds on interpretive signs located in parking lots and campgrounds, as in images of the graffiti with text saying that carvings, paint, chopping wood, and such will get you a fine of whatever hundred dollars. Fines doubled for leaving TP- TRIPLED if it is "poop TP"...

Happiegrrrl,
Unfortunately, I think the perps will ignore any signs, and probably vandalize them
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Feb 9, 2013 - 11:26am PT
People who have no compunction about scratching into 100-year old structures and spray-painting everything in sight really don't give a rat's ass about signage telling them not to. The people targeted by the signs are, by nature, the as#@&%es. It just gives those people more incentive to do the opposite of whatever they are being told NOT to do.

I'm not really sure what the solution is. I'm always pushing the hire-a-sniper angle, but prohibiting access altogether is the park service's only (sensible) option.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Feb 9, 2013 - 11:37am PT
Yeah well I think we should get to the bottom of who made this:


into this:


and how much did that cost and why is it still open to the public after such defacement?
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Feb 9, 2013 - 11:47am PT
Yeah Kris.. I've always wondered about that myself. Some misguided manager's idea of "preservation" is my guess but.. yeesh. What the hell were they thinking?
10b4me

Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 9, 2013 - 11:59am PT
NPS feeble attempt at preserving adobe
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Feb 9, 2013 - 12:10pm PT
I was waiting for someone to post that up.

Yeah, the NPS makes some questionable calls sometimes, but most of the time, the intent is good. It would seem that if there was as much demonstrated, collegial effort in the stewardship of our public lands as there is peanut-gallery, ankle-biting forum sniping, we'd all be the better for it.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Feb 9, 2013 - 12:24pm PT
NPS feeble attempt at preserving adobe

It wasn't adobe, it was brick and mortar. It wasn't built by Native Americans, as the first sign would imply. It was a homestead, Ryan Ranch.

Now it's stucco. Same as all those KB homes in Palmdale & LandCancer.

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Feb 9, 2013 - 12:50pm PT
SLR, that picture/comment is nothing more than an argument-inciting false equivalency.

Let me guess - you're a park service ranger?
SofCookay

climber
Feb 9, 2013 - 01:47pm PT
Some of the graffiti in Rattlesnake Canyon:





There's more, larger ones further up the canyon, including names written with a sharpie in the rock. They're all located above the waterfall.

Truly pathetic and sad.

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