- When we pulled onto the road that goes up to Sundance, there was a big flashing sign which read, "Chains, Snow Tires or 4 Wheel Drive is Required By Law". We kept on driving anyway.
- When we pulled into the parking lot above Aspen Grove we were in a U.S. Forest Service Fee Area. We didn't pay the fee*.
- About a half mile up the trail there were big warning signs prohibiting us from going any further on the trail under the penalty of a $1000 fine and 6 months in jail. We went anyway.
* I have an annual pass but I just forgot to display it in the car before we left. We did have a ticket when we came back, but I just wrote my annual pass number on the ticket and dropped it into the pay box.
4 comments:
But don't you think your lawlessness is unfair to the taxpayers who would shoulder the financial burden of a search and rescue? To say nothing of the personal safety of the rescuers had you become stranded, lost, or otherwise unable to get yourself out of the area restricted by law.
I see and understand your point Jeff, but I think that there is a difference between being lawless and being wreckless. Had I come across a section of the trail that looked dangerous I would have turned back. As far as I could tell, there was no good reason for that section of the trail to be closed. It was in much better condition than other sections of the trail that were actually still open. The Stuart Falls trail was accessible from the Aspen Grove cross country ski trail (we found out when we ran into it). The final section of the trail that ran between the cross country ski trail and Stuart Falls was much more dangerous than the section of trail at the beginning of the hike; and yet there were no signs up there prohibiting hiking.
Any time that you go hiking in the wilderness you have the potential of getting into an accident and becoming a burden to a search and rescue team. From what I understand, there are weekly incidents on the Timpanogos trail over the summer; and that's when there isn't even any snow on the trail. The best way to reduce your potential burden to a search and rescue team is to hike safe.
When I come across a sign that says that "this trail is closed from November to April", I read that as, "We don't have the resources to monitor the safety of this trail on a more regular basis over the winter, so hike at your own risk and if your ass gets stuck on the trail then you will be fined for your stupidity".
Although I don't know Jeff.. this will seem a bit like an attach - but it's not intended. I was just intrigued by the "taxpayer burden" portion of the response. I then reflect upon how much taxes I pay every year - which don't benefit me that much. I think part of paying taxes is taking responsibility for other peoples decisions. And although I agree with the concept that an individual should not burden the masses, but that is how our country is. And so like Dan says, perhaps it wasn't dangerous, but rather they couldn't afford to staff the area (or more appropriately the decided to use the funds to continue paying for a Rehab center). Again - I don't mean to sound... mean ;-) I say to Dan - have fun, take a chance, we may get old one of these days.
Late once again (btw, I'm reading these chronologically backwards)...I couldn't help to notice that your intro mentions Lisa's absence; and I can't help but wonder if she had been, how much more mundane your blog would've been in describing how your day had been filled with following all the rules instead... (from, Jen)
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