How much difference a day makes!

For approximately a month, our radios and stores have been full of Christmas music, our towns and homes lite with Christmas lights. Even my Jewish friends take Christmas day off of work. It is a day that some folks spend all year planning for. They plan parties, and gifts, and gift shopping, etc. So, why is it that today, the day after Christmas, is just another day? This year it happens to be just another Wednesday. Most people go back to work, etc. Sure there are some that take this entire week between Christmas and New Years off. Just enough people do that to make the rest of us inconvenienced by what we can't seem to get done. For many of us, we will get home from work tonight and not even turn on the Christmas tree lights that was the centerpiece of yesterdays activities. The music has stopped, and other than the workers taking down the decorations, all is back to normal. A week from now, a completely different kind of celebration, one which lends itself more to the adult side of the crowd, where as Christmas, at least in the American consumer version, lends itself to kids. Happy New Year to All!

Lights out! Turn the lights off when you leave the room!

Lights out! Turn the lights off when you leave the room! These are all things that those of use raised back in the days of incandescent light bulbs are used to hearing. It looks like those days may be ending. The US government is moving to change how we light our lives. The latest energy bill bans incandescent light bulb sales starting in like 2012.
This comes at a time when L.E.D. bulbs , while still expensive, are all the rage. I must admit that I have switched to more efficient long lasting mini-florescent bulbs in my small home office, because I noticed a significant heat increase in the summer after having the lights on with the older bulbs. I also like to use the mini-florescent bulbs outdoors where they tend to be for long periods of time, and quality or color light for a yard light is immaterial.

Tis The season to talk about Joy. Tis the season.

There is something about that first heat that you feel from the wood stove when you first light it in the morning. You know the house will be warmer soon. You smile just a little as you place that cold water on top of the now crackling wood stove, thinking of the hot coffee to come from it. Yes, while the world rushes around on the last shopping day before Christmas, trying to package just a little more joy into one or two more presents, you find your joy in the simplest of things...heat, warmth, and coffee.

My mind drifts back to images from my visits to Zambia, Africa where we would chuckle at the men and women huddled around small fires along the roads in the early mornings. We thought it humorous that one could be cold when it was over 65 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Yet, here I am looking just as silly to some iglou dweller I suppose. I mean it is only a brisk 10 degrees out. (grin)

Well, the coffee is hot now, and the room has lost it's early morning chill. Be safe out there, have a Merry Christmas, and remember ... the old wood stove starts fires really well on those pesky credit card bills.

P.S. - Becareful Santa! The chimney here is hot!

Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak in Snow...

Well, Ok, Colorado Springs isn't covered in snow, at least not too deeply. But a short ride up into the mountains just west of Colorado Springs, and you will find plenty of snow for those new snow shoes or skis. Remember to keep your Jeep or other 4x4 on the marked routes, and to those of you that feel compelled to shot the signs, please don't. It just gets shooting and other recreational activities restricted.

Paintball Shooting at Signs from Moving Pickup Truck

I just received a call from a concerned neighbor about a truckload of guys driving recklessly up Old Stage Road shooting paintball. Yes, shooting paint ball guns from a moving vehicle. What are these guys shooting at? Well, it seems that road signs and other vehicles are the main targets.

The neighbor was concerned about the reckless nature of their driving. I guess one of the other neighbors that runs a guest ranch in the area, had one of their guests run into by some other reckless drivers traveling too fast for steep icy conditions.

While this is all part of living in or next to the national forest, I admit it gets old. I was recently shown a Facebook group or network, that is for people who do stupid things while drunk on Gold Camp or Old Stage roads. Nice... I so need to see more news stories of good kids doing good things. I am sooooo tired of seeing stupid kids / young adults doing really stupid things.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over!! Christmas time!!!

Thanksgiving is over, and the Thanksgiving Turkey and Ham are being devoured in sandwiches and soups. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers...

Anyway, Tis the season to start thinking Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Christmas parades, and all things Christmas.

Here in the Pikes Peak National Forest, it means the Annual Christmas....err,,oops...Holiday Tree Sales again.

I am most familiar with The Pikes Peak ranger District's Holiday Tree sales which is just outside of Woodland Park. With full details at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/pp/ppxmas/xmas.htm

For US Forest Service Holiday Tree sales elsewhere along the Colorado Front Range, see:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/christmas/index-front-range-areas.shtml

It is always fun to get the family together, get your kid's picture taken with Smokey Bear, and go cut your own Christmas tree in the forest.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Colorado Springs Utilites: Watershed Access Considerations

I recently ran across a copy of the following letter by a guy I know and respect, Mark Swan, that I wanted to share here:

**Danger of wildfire precludes public access

As a crew boss on a local wildland fire crew, I have responded to wildland fires in the vicinity of the South Slope. Access to the South Slope takes about one-and-a-half to two hours on a good day. To put any significant firefighting resources on the South Slope to fight a major fire would take days. During the height of the fire season, a wildland fire has to be several thousand acres in size before national resources are committed. As we have seen from past fires such as the Hayman in 2002 and the Mato Vega in 2006, wildfires can become extremely intense, consuming several thousand acres in just a few hours.

The South Slope is particularly vulnerable to fire because of its location and topography. If we add the human element by allowing public access, the risk becomes unacceptable.

The Denver Water Board is having problems dealing with Hayman- Fire-generated silt in its Cheesman Reservoir ("Mud, ash sliding into Cheesman," Metro, Nov. 25). And this is five years after the fire was extinguished. This contamination of our water sources causes significant operational problems in water treatment and significantly increases treatment costs. Even with the added treatment processes, water quality suffers; it is still safe to drink, it just "tastes funny."

Critics of the Colorado Springs Utilities' plans for the South Slope point to other watersheds that are open to the public. Most, if not all, of these areas do not have the access problems nor the vulnerability to fire the South Slope has.

I enjoy hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing in Colorado's wild spaces as much as anyone. But I also enjoy clean, uncontaminated, fresh water to drink.

Springs Utilities is taking the reasonable and prudent course in maintaining its policy regarding public access on the South Slope.

Mark Swan
Colorado Springs

We are back !!! Why is Colorado users seem so much more destructive?

I didn't die or even disappear really. I spent most of the past few months on large wildfires in Wyoming and Montana. I immediately noticed a difference in "forest users" in these areas. You could cover many many miles of National Forest lands without seeing the trash, graffiti, litter, and illegal social trails cut by misuse of 4x4's, ATV's or dirt bikes. Why? Historically, Colorado has been known as a place of tree huggers and nature lovers. Anyway, I returned to find the same bad manners and all too common misuse of our public lands.

Jeep Cherokee Rollover

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This was seen a week or two ago. Just another Jeep Cherokee 4x4 that fell on it's head while playing in the rocks. To this driver's credit, he was smart enough to make sure and get it out of the forest the same day he wrecked it. There isn't really much to tell here, but the truck just looks like it is about to cry itself. Maybe next time this guy would be better off parking his Jeep 4x4 Cherokee at the Broadmoor Hotel and letting the guys from Adventures OutWest do the Jeep driving. (grin)

Cheaper than the tow? aka Recycling in the Pikes Peak area

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So...You go muddin' in the Pike National Forest where the US Forest Service signs tell you not to and you get your fancy Ford diesel 4x4 stuck. You don't wanna spend the $500 to $1000 to have the offroad wrecker get you out...so 7 days later your Ford truck gets rolled over on its side by what we refer to as "the vultures" and your fancy Dana 60's or Dana 70's or whatever you used to have for axles are looted. A few days later, your Powerstroke diesel engine gets a bullet hole shot into it, and 3 guys show up in the middle of the night and try to help themselves to your tranny. Makes the tow look pretty cheap, eh? Now ... the tow is more expensive and all you get is what the vultures left you. Priceless!!! Note: that is NOT the photographers Dr. Pepper can. I guess you get thirsty removing axles at +9000 feet altitude.

Ford Truck Illegally Stuck in Mud : Driver Ignored Posted Signs

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OK , I have lost count. How many trucks have been seen stuck in mud just past the "no motor vehicles" signs in the past two weeks? If you look closely at the second picture you can see the top of one of the white signs jsut behind the truck. Look about half way back on the hood. There is over 10 of those same white signs posted within a couple 1000 feet of this stuck Ford. I was disappointed to find that this Ford was sporting a window decal from a local military base. It was noted that there was also a black Toyota Tacoma stuck here today too, but someone had pulled it out before we arrived.

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This was seen Tuesday afternoon at the bottom of Old Stage Road. Now all the neighbors agreed that it was a sign of trouble. Well...while it was a very built Jeep, it came back to the bus almost as clean as it left. There was no visible signs of mud play. The female passenger who didn't know mud play was not allowed admitted she encouraged the driver to leave the trail and play in the mud, but the driver told her no and explained that is what gets trail areas closed to motorized use. Well done!!! Thank you for being part of the solution and not part of the problem. It was noted that the Jeep did not have license plates on it, and it was explained that valid plates are required on Old Stage Road and Gold Camp Road, and either a plate or OHV sticker is required on the side roads.

420: And the kids say, "Why is the law always picking on us"

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Why would the Forest Service consider not allowing disbursed camping anymore? Why would the Forest Service close camp grounds? Well lets see here...here is a tree that some "Little Johnny" had to carve his "420" into. Wow...that make you a big tough pot smoker? No one is impressed. As my father would say, " Little puke..probably couldn't add the 3 digits together to save his life". Well hey...look on the bright side, this is definite justification for the Forest Service to show why their law enforcement now has drug sniffing K-9 units. Do you think this camp site will be regularly visited now by law enforcement looking for drugs? I bet so!

This campsite had been recently moved out of by a group of young folks. Do you see the trash bag left hanging in the tree in the second picture? Now while I was impressed the fire pit was not a total disgrace, the local wildlife would have had that bag scattered all over the campground if a good Samaritan had not been there to clean up after them.

I owe the Home Depot check out lady an apology.

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I recently got irritated when attempting to use the self check out at Home Depot. I scanned a few items and then scanned a can of orange spray paint that I used for a project at home. I could not see a valid reason to have an age requirement on spray paint. Well, welcome to the Pike National Forest, one of America's largest urban interfaces. Maybe the age limit needs to be set higher. Ok, lets go over this. It ain't pretty, it ain't artistic, it ain't funny or cute, IT IS WRONG AND STUPID. As I have said before, leave the paint at home. One more vote to limit public access to public lands.

Leave the paint at home!!!

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OK, so here is two examples of how two different groups marked where they wanted their friends to turn off the main road. Now if your friends ever call you and say "yeah, we have set up camp, just follow the yellow arrows painted on the trees or rocks...", let them know they are part of the weaker side of the gene pool. If on the other hand, your friends use a bright flag, a paper plate with a group name on it, etc. and are diligent to take it with after all have arrived, then let them know they are smarter then the average camper seen 'round these here parts. I am sure the Forest Service folks see painted and other semi-permanent marking as the perfect reason to give your campsite a closer than usual look. This is a prime example of where "leave no trace" applies to more then just motorized sports folks. Leave the paint at home!!! As a side note to ponder...the red flag was a group of adults camped on 372. The yellow paint was a large under aged party on 374.

My Jeep Has A 4 Inch Lift!!!

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So I settle in off to the side of the water crossing to watch. Two Jeeps are traveling together, the first one has tried to cross the water too fast, and has stalled her Jeep by getting water in her open intake. A USFS Volunteer has showed up and is explaining how you want to go just fast enough to keep positive exhaust pressure, but slow enough as to not force water up your air intake. The black Jeep sporting it's local military base permit winches the ladie's gold Jeep out, and the guy driving the black Jeep then proclaims "But I have a 4 inch lift". This comment is followed by one of the faster attempts at this crossing I have seen yet. Yep...you guessed it. The black Jeep quietly comes to rest in about the same spot the gold Jeep was just pulled from. Everyone seems to be good sports about spending the next several hours pulling spark plugs, cranking water out of cylinders, etc. It was a beautiful day... I went wheeling, but drove by a few times over the next several hours to find them still there "drying things out". MUST be a Jeep thing.

Once Again...the rule is NO HILLCLIMBING

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Ok, so here is a picture taken in Teller County, along Gold camp Road. Wow...does this mean you are cool? Is it like a macho thing? Let me clue you in here....one, those of you who do this are part of the reason trails and areas get closed. Thanks for being part of the problem. Secondly, years ago..when I was 16, I did the same kind of stuff, but we did it in a private sand pit on our family farm. Note that we got alot further then that, and we were driving a Ford Pinto station wagon. So...whatever it might be..it sure isn't tough or macho. It is against the rules, it gets trails closed, it is unsightly, it causes erosion, ... THINK!!!!

Ft. Carson Jeeper Makes Us All Proud

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This is something I had never planned having to ever blog about. This is a post of a GOOD THING. Yes, I know they are out there, but it is so rare to run across them and we get so tired of seeing the bad, it was a GREAT refresher to run across this. This military gentleman had picked up all this trash that morning and was jsut settling in to enjoy a beverage in his campsite as he waited for some friends to arrive. Thank You!!! Beverage deserved! The USFS ranger who gave these pictures to me and told me this guys story with such excitement, also said this guy said he usually ran with Colorado4x4 group, but this weekend was waiting for the Big Horn group. I guess the Big Horn club was coming up the next day to help the USFS do some trail maintenance on FSR 370C aka Eagle Rock Trail. Thank you all!

An old song goes, " Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs..."

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As an old song goes, " Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs..". Now, too bad no one reads them or follows their wisedom. When someone complains about why more and more travel management is required on public lands, think about what you see here. This Jeep driver decided to leave the marked trail and venture past the signs, markers, and flagged fence all indicating that the US Forest Service does NOT want or allow Jeeps and other motorized travel in their wetlands. I guess he missed all the clues here. This happened sometime Tuesday morning, June 19th, 2007. Now...before any of the self-propelled crowd such as hikers, mountain bikers, etc. get too self righteous here, we should take a good look at these photos. That is a mountain bike rack on top of this Jeep. This is someone who is part of the self-propelled crowd. As one of the signs this gentleman ignored reads, "Please respect the wetlands". The resource damage this driver did getting stuck was light. The resource damage he did getting it out was moderate.

Jeep End Over End Rollover

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Ouch!!! This appears to a case of too fast for conditions. The tracks look like the driver came around the corner too fast hit a high spot in the road, then stuck a tire in a washout on the low side of the road causing the Jeep to flip end over end, not roll sideways, landing upside down about 30 feet down the embankment. That had to hurt! This vehicle was recovered on a Friday afternoon, approximately 72 hours after the accident happened. The truck had been shot with a shotgun, stereo and winch stolen. I was surprised the front bumper and wheels and tires weren't gone as well.
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Nissan Murano: Unknown Story

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This Nissan Murano was seen Saturday night, June 16th, 2007 on Old Stage Road. The front tires are freely hanging in the air, and the rear tires are over an inch off the ground also. The vehicle is totally perpendicular to road. Oops!!!

Here's Your Sign. Can You Read It?

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Wow...Do you think Jeff Foxworthy might have known this guy when he made the phrase "Here's your sign!" so popular in relating to what he calls "stupid people"? Here is a vehicle sporting a window decal to a local military base parked in front of a fence with no less than 5 signs indicating that the property owner does NOT want the public to access from this point. The ground was fairly soft here and the only obvious tracks from this vehicle lead over to where the fence wire is spread and the tracks continue on the other side. Folks, we appreciate what you do for us in places like Iraq and around the globe, but this kinda stuff does not make me wanna see you in my neighborhood. Public access IS permitted from the east end of this reservoir for fishing. How long before such neglect for the rules leads to no public access? At a minimum this person is not helping the cause to have CSU to open South Slope / Seven Lakes to public hiking, are they? When a fence with a lock and 5 signs don't get the message across, I'm not sure what would. Future comment: "Hey son, I remember back in 2007 when I would disregard the fishing access rules. Thats why there is no more public access for you". I wonder if I ignored signs and fences on the local military base that this guys works if I would be treated so easily.

Isuzu: Smart Minds Drive What /Where?

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Isuzu's catch phrase currently is Isuzu: Smart Minds Drive Alike". Hmm, in this case, let's hope not. This Isuzu driver decided to not follow the US Forest Service rules and he went 4-wheeling off the trail. He got stuck and had to have Search and Rescue come get him back in November, 2006. The driver was seen borrowing his father-in-law's Jeep to try to get this stuck truck out of the still frozen mud the second week of June. 2007. I bet that made ole dad just so proud. On the bright side, if it had not been frozen in, it would have most likely been missing parts.

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Must Be A Jeep Thing

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Dare I say...This MUST be a Jeep thing..cause I don't understand. Why would you four wheel where you aren't supposed to? This was taken during winter of 2006, "at the pond" on Gold Camp Road in the Pike National Forest. The US Forest Service rules do NOT specify seasonal conditions to stay out of the wetlands, it just says stay out period. This person then made the grave error of leaving it over night and letting it freeze in.