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TIL I counted 14 unofficial campsites on the last 9 miles of the Timberline Trail near Mt Hood
I hiked the Timberline Trail last August and started counting every spot where someone had clearly pitched a tent outside the designated sites, and I stopped at 14 with 9 miles still to go. Some were just a flat patch of dirt with a rock ring, others had fire scars, and a few were right on the edge of a drop. So do we need stricter rules and permits out there, or is it better to leave it open and just hope people pack out what they bring?
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christopher_coleman1729d ago
Fourteen in 9 miles means the problem is way bigger than a few lazy backpackers. If you want to fix it, permits only work when there are enough rangers to actually check them, and right now there barely are. The real answer is probably a mix of limits during peak season and more money for patrols, because hoping people do the right thing has clearly not worked.
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