I haven't had non-local snowplayers on my property for a couple of years, until today. Nice family with 5 or 6 kids sledding down driveways on their boogie boards, and making soda snow cones in the snow in my front yard (thought that one was quite clever). I hate to chase away people just looking to have fun playing in the snow, but it's just not safe sledding down a steep driveway into the street! I asked them who they were visiting up here and they said "nobody", they came up from Orange County. I always ask, just in case they are friends of the neighbors. I asked them if they were aware that there were designated snow play areas and a tubing park up by mtn high. They had no idea that there were such places, so, I gave them directions, they packed up, and headed out for better snow and a safer play area. I am convinced, that many city dwelling people don't understand that the entire forest area is not for public play. They see snow, and believe it's okay to play in it, even if it is someones front yard. Anyhow, I hope that this particular OC family finds a nice place to play in the snow today, and does not just move on down the street to someone else's front yard.
As difficult as it is sometimes to remain patient during snow season with the winter visitors, I agree with forestgal, most are just up here to enjoy what we often take for granted, the beautiful scenery. We must also remember, that our local merchants rely on the revenue these people bring to town.
I have lived here for 19 years, and have had my share of wintertime tresspassers. Most are just nice people with kids excited to play in the snow. I still don't get how they don't think that there is anything wrong in sledding down your driveway, but I try and give them the benefit of the doubt. Only once did I have someone get hostile, and that was a man that somehow made it up my steep slick driveway, he yelled and cursed at me because my driveway was not easy to maneuver! I had to drive his car out for him. There was also the time someone got their Christmas tree from my yard. They chopped a nice little spruce down with an axe. When I asked them why they cut down one of my trees, they said they did not have the money to buy one! Considering they were yielding an axe, and the damage was already done, I went back inside and locked the doors! There are some crazy people out there!
Ok, that was my wintertime 2 cents worth on the subject, and just remember, if you get so frustrated with the winter craziness up here that you feel as though you are going to blow your top, you can always stick your head in the snow and cool off!
