Snow players invade Wrightwood

[kew]

People that will play, light BBQs and fires in people's front yard, using the firewood stacked by the house, aren't going to be bothered by the threat of law enforcement and they sure not going to use a trash can. What has been overlooked in this discussion, is this is not a new problem. This has been going on for years and it gets worse every year. There are several discussions in this forum that discribes the problem in past years.

What concern me is that someday it will escalate to a point where some property owner will decide to take matters into their own hands and then all H--- will break loose.

[lagomorphmom]

What has been overlooked in this discussion, is this is not a new problem. This has been going on for years and it gets worse every year. There are several discussions in this forum that discribes the problem in past years.

I'm still pretty fresh in town and speaking for myself, it never occurred to me that this was a new problem. I thought that like most irksome things that are difficult to fix, we're just back 'in season' again and it's on everyone's radar.

What concern me is that someday it will escalate to a point where some property owner will decide to take matters into their own hands and then all H--- will break loose.

So maybe that's why we still need to pursue more solutions. That sounds Polly Anna, but this time I'm not. Maybe the best we can ever do is improve this situation if not solve it, but we certainly can't move forward if it's given up on.

I'm not sure that I understand your remark about a homeowner taking matters into their own hands, maybe you could expand your thought. I don't think you're blaming homeowners for not appreciating 'company' on their property or that they should live & let live, right? Otherwise, I agree, if we can't get more LEO enforcement for private property, I have to say that if it were me, I'd be pretty fit to be tied with such lack of respect for my space. None of us thought they were buying a park to share, right?

Ok, so it's an old problem, how can we move forward, reinvent the wheel? Say, what has been tried in the past as far as local government spending more money/attention on the enforcement issue? I'm just thinking off the top of my hat, but seems like we had some luck in that area this year, in particular I'm thinking of Chuck's efforts. I wonder how hard it would be to get someone like this to come up for a ski Sat/Sun to see the trash, trespassing, fires that are too big or don't get put out, walking on the lake, etc., etc. Some of y'all will laugh at the thought, but hey, if we don't ask...

[Breezymtns]

Sad but true....
THEY COME....
THEY SEEK....
THEY DESTROY

[Hillbillies]

Toot toot! 

I pretty much filled up one entire large trash bag at the last big turn out on LPC the other day.  As I was making my way up the slope and I noticed a big junked couch.  I tried with all my might, but I couldn't get it to fit into the bag.... 

[ezzpete]

What has been overlooked in this discussion, is this is not a new problem. This has been going on for years and it gets worse every year. There are several discussions in this forum that discribes the problem in past years.

I'm still pretty fresh in town and speaking for myself, it never occurred to me that this was a new problem. I thought that like most irksome things that are difficult to fix, we're just back 'in season' again and it's on everyone's radar.

What concern me is that someday it will escalate to a point where some property owner will decide to take matters into their own hands and then all H--- will break loose.

So maybe that's why we still need to pursue more solutions. That sounds Polly Anna, but this time I'm not. Maybe the best we can ever do is improve this situation if not solve it, but we certainly can't move forward if it's given up on.

I'm not sure that I understand your remark about a homeowner taking matters into their own hands, maybe you could expand your thought. I don't think you're blaming homeowners for not appreciating 'company' on their property or that they should live & let live, right? Otherwise, I agree, if we can't get more LEO enforcement for private property, I have to say that if it were me, I'd be pretty fit to be tied with such lack of respect for my space. None of us thought they were buying a park to share, right?

Ok, so it's an old problem, how can we move forward, reinvent the wheel? Say, what has been tried in the past as far as local government spending more money/attention on the enforcement issue? I'm just thinking off the top of my hat, but seems like we had some luck in that area this year, in particular I'm thinking of Chuck's efforts. I wonder how hard it would be to get someone like this to come up for a ski Sat/Sun to see the trash, trespassing, fires that are too big or don't get put out, walking on the lake, etc., etc. Some of y'all will laugh at the thought, but hey, if we don't ask...

maybe if we could get ICE to come up here the problem would disappear

[Freighthauler]

This brings back memories of my granddad and his ol' jeep with his shotgun in plain view and he would tell trespassers that they were trespassing. He would say it in a way that he would not tolerate that, but he would have this big ol' smile on his face. The trespassers always left. No questions and no comments.

[KathySC]

I have started to respond to this thread several times because the trash drives me crazy.  I participate in the Lone Pine Canyon and (sometimes) Hwy 2 pick-up's and am always amazed at how thoughtless people are. 

I haven't been to Disneyland in years, but I know, at least in the past, it was always known for being spotlessly clean.  Employees pick up after people that "accidently" litter and people realize littering there is not acceptable, so there is less littering.  That's the image Wrightwood needs. 

I am going to do something to get the ball rolling.  I will start by talking with CHUCK about anything the MAC can do.

I will bring the issue up the the WRIGHTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.  I believe we will be able to get assistance from CR&R based upon previous wonderful things I have seen them do for this community. 

Mountain High is active in the Chamber and on the MAC.  I will ask for their assistance.


I think we may need some volunteers.  Please PM me if you would be willing to participate in whatever is deemed necessary.  I don't think we will accomplish much if people here aren't willing to participate so I hope many will respond.

[Jilly]

Our property is spotless, and after the "big weekends" we clean it up again, and yet they keep coming.  I agree about things also getting out of hand.  My husband, son and son-in-law are all big guys, and the snow players are not phased by them.  We threaten to call the police (and do--always with no response).  Sometimes shouting "immigracion" will get a response, but not always.  My husband will park at the bottom of the driveway so that cars won't come up, and people will walk right past him seconds after he has just told someone it is private property.  We have so many signs posted it is an eyesore!    We are afraid to leave town on the days when we know that there will be snowplayers in town, and my husband basically spends his entire day chasing off folks.  Not a good way for a hardworking guy to spend his day off. 

People are just rude and don't think that rules and laws are for them (clearly many of them are already breaking our immigration laws, so that is no surprise!)  If you go to many parts of Mexico--even the tourist areas--there is an abundance of litter everywhere.  I think that some of the problem is cultural--they definitely don't care about littering our spaces.  The snow players are getting bolder and bolder every year, and we are afraid that someone is going to pull a gun--but it won't be us.  You should hear the screams and the threats that we get--and we are approaching the problem calmly because we are outnumbered.  ---We refinanced our house this year in order to build a fence across the front of our property.  Hopefully it will help--it is not a cheap solution.  Oh, we also have three dogs, and that doesn't seem to scare anyone.  Anybody have any other solutions other then paintball guns (which everyone suggests?)

[gypsywolf]

This may sound silly, but any way to set up an electric fence? It may be cheaper than a real fence.

[KWBoy]

Fencing is expensive it was about $9,000 to fence off 2.5 acres  If your going to use chain-link All American Fencing did a great job for us and also Best fencing does a good job too. Yes it is expensive but keeps most people off your property.

[Cal-Sportbike]

People won't play outside in the rain usually....so make it rain.

Get a good high pressure hose with very narrow (distance stream) nozzle. When snow players come out, you don't have to get near them. Just spray a stream of water 30-40' over to where they're all playing. It should be your "men" doing this since I would assume there could be people pissed off...but YOU'RE pissed off and needing to make it really unpleasant for people who trespass. Like I said, nobody likes being soaked down while they're sledding. And throwing clean water on someone is NOT considered an assault. In fact, it's one of the few things you can throw from a moving vehicle that is allowed.

[lagomorphmom]

This may sound silly, but any way to set up an electric fence? It may be cheaper than a real fence.

But way more expensive if you include the attorney fees for liability....   

[Surfer_Dude]

P And throwing clean water on someone is NOT considered an assault. In fact, it's one of the few things you can throw from a moving vehicle that is allowed.

Then you can hit them with chicken feathers.  That also isn't considered littering from a vehicle. 

[kew]

Then you can hit them with chicken feathers.  That also isn't considered littering from a vehicle. 

You must have a live bird, on board, of the same color as the feathers for this one to be legal

[Surfer_Dude]

Cal-sport has nine hens he is looking to give away.   Just drive-by feather those trespassers.

[hill okie]

KathySC!! Good for you, offering a solution instead of whining. Funny that no one's stepped up, huh? I like so many others prefer to take along trash bags on hikes and clean up after our not so bright bretherin'. We will keep things green up here, they can live as they choose, down there!

[Breezymtns]

Kathy I am interested in helping I will send you a pm.

Mountain Mom I am sorry to hear about your trespasser / litterer problems & everyone else on this forum experiencing these same issues:(  One thing that really bugs me about the law is that if someone is trespassing on your property you are liable IF YOUR dog bites them!  I do agree that most dogs are very good judges of character.  I grew up on ranches & we had the same problem many years ago.  My dad made a huge sign that read "HAVE GUN WILL SHOOT!"  We still got trespassers / dumpers.  He also made a really effective long strip of wood that he drove many huge nails through & covered it with dirt at the entrances to our property.  This has been a problem for years & it only gets worse as the population continues to grow & grow & grow.....  Not to mention many folks have ZERO respect of others or others possessions. 

[dreamcatcher]

People won't play outside in the rain usually....so make it rain.

Get a good high pressure hose with very narrow (distance stream) nozzle. When snow players come out, you don't have to get near them. Just spray a stream of water 30-40' over to where they're all playing. It should be your "men" doing this since I would assume there could be people pissed off...but YOU'RE pissed off and needing to make it really unpleasant for people who trespass. People won't play outside in the rain usually....so make it rain.

Oooh, that would be so fun to watch.  Bet they could sell tickets. 

[Bob C]

Oooh, that would be so fun to watch.  Bet they could sell tickets. 

I say, sprinkle itching powder all over the snow, and let 'em play in it

[Nutcracker]

I'm with you hill okie, I always carry out more than I carry in.

Well maybe not always......sometimes Lupine Camper is wearing the backpack.