Author Topic: Snow players invade Wrightwood  (Read 1362301 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline in my dreams

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 686
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1540 on: Jan 12, 16, 06:53:58 PM »
The Cal Trans yard must have loved all the snow players in there Sunday around 1 in the afternoon playing on the cinder hill and playing in the snow on the ground. . .

Offline Wrightwood

  • Administrator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: Plenty of Posts!
  • Wildlife Gateway
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1541 on: Jan 13, 16, 11:41:41 AM »
Facebook:
Mountain Hardware
18 mins ago

The employees here at Mtn hardware not only work here in the store we also go out and pick up trash, and broken sleds. Just last week we had put in 22 hours of trash pickup . Also Monday while we were out we had several bags in our truck and Caltrans took our bags and disposed of them. We have also rented a extra dumpster for the extra we pick up!



Offline AvocadoFlyer

  • Bear
  • ****
  • Posts: 282
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1542 on: Jan 13, 16, 12:44:46 PM »
Mt Hardware...thanks!  You guys rock.  :2thumbsup: 

But part of me thinks that this stuff should be put on the local TV news - just a segment about all the visitors leaving trash and junk and invading property and how the locals have to clean up after them. 

Offline Bob C

  • Moderator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 970

Offline Wrightwood

  • Administrator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: Plenty of Posts!
  • Wildlife Gateway
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1544 on: Jan 13, 16, 03:55:49 PM »
There are also a number of newspaper articles that have been written.

WINTER WASTELAND
Many Wrightwood residents frustrated with tourists
http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150106/NEWS/150109921

Offline AvocadoFlyer

  • Bear
  • ****
  • Posts: 282
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1545 on: Jan 14, 16, 06:18:10 AM »
Amazing.  Wish we could put trash bins all over the place along with portapotty's.  Perhaps a few well placed and obvious signs could remind the snowplayers to take their trash home.  It always saddens me that some people have no respect, or no clue!

Offline Jim Wilkins

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 1275
  • Looking forward to the next 45 years....
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1546 on: Jan 14, 16, 07:55:41 PM »


Just in case that you think what we are experiencing here is abnormal...take a look at what the Cleaveland National Forest is facing when snow came to the mountains near San Diego.  It is obvious that Forests that near major metropolitan areas are simply not staffed nor have the budgets to deal with these mega crowds.  The staffing, infrastructure and budgets simply cannot begin to deal with it.  This forest was very blunt about the calamity that happened last weekend in their area.



http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cleveland/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD489193

Offline tcaarabians

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 1900
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1547 on: Jan 15, 16, 10:38:29 AM »
I just read the media posts in this thread about coverage regarding the problems WW encounters with the snow players.  I worked with media for 30 years or so. Any coverage is great. Our community needs a lot more coverage & in numerous media markets.  Rep. Paul Cook's office did include the Forest Service release in his recent newsletter (posted elsewhere on this site) I also sent a message to his office with the suggestion that it be distributed to local media.. in particular TV stations in the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking markets. I do not know if the Forest Service blankets that release to all major outlets. That needs to be done.

Think about it like the 'seat-belt safety' PSAs. That message has been airing for years. And, people still do not put on their seat-belts. But, a lot of people do.  You have to reinforce and reinforce the message. Or, as Richard Nixon said: "Just when you think you'll throw up if you have to say it again.. is when they hear you."  Not that I like to quote Nixon.. but he was right.

There is piece in the MP this week that mentions that there have been many inter-agency meetings to address the problems here. There should likely be more of them.  Both before the major weekends and following them to assess where changes could be made.  Now, that a major part of the forest is a National Monument.. perhaps Cook's office could assist to acquire additional funding/staffing for major holiday weekends.

Just some thoughts from me.  Happy to help if I can. I think the best way I could help is to assist with strategy in getting the word out .. over and over again. It is fine for folks to post their angst over the problem. But, being proactive on the problem is when you get results. Or, as Ringo Starr sang: "It don't come easy." cheryl o7o




Offline Wrightwood

  • Administrator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: Plenty of Posts!
  • Wildlife Gateway
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1548 on: Jan 15, 16, 10:46:36 AM »
Rep. Paul Cook's newsletter about snow players was good but it failed to provide or mention any Angeles National Forest information. (Wrightwood is administered by Angeles National Forest not San Bernardino National Forest).

Maybe Cook's staff only provided a list of Ranger Station located in the San Bernardino National Forest since the only local Ranger Station servicing the overwhelming snow player crowds in this area is the Big Pines Visitor Center and it hasn't been staffed for 3 years.
Note: The staffing of the Ranger Station was promised during the National Monument dedication.

Full newsletter
http://cookforms.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=4JHD6DTWSKRLO

Offline tcaarabians

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 1900
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1549 on: Jan 15, 16, 11:10:57 AM »
I noticed that too Wrightwood. Perhaps a message to his office would help?  Ya know, education comes before change.  cheryl o7o

Offline jek134

  • Squirrel
  • **
  • Posts: 50
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1550 on: Jan 15, 16, 01:23:12 PM »
What if we had some professionally made removable banners posted around town that kindly and respectfully remind visitors to take their trash? (I'm thinking banners like the team banners we have in Little League baseball.)I wouldn't mind having one on my property since we're on Hwy 2. Or maybe we could post them along the Wrightwood trail? Maybe if the tone of the signs is friendly, visitors might be more willing to respect the area or think twice about their actions?  ??? Just thinking out loud. Maybe we could have more trash cans around town? Maybe a map with designated public bathrooms and trash receptacles? Would we approach the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce for this? Who could we ask?   

Offline momlori

  • Mouse
  • *
  • Posts: 45
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1551 on: Jan 15, 16, 02:15:08 PM »
I like the idea of removable banners.  They could be used for several different messages as well as bathroom and trash locations

Offline AvocadoFlyer

  • Bear
  • ****
  • Posts: 282
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1552 on: Jan 15, 16, 03:04:51 PM »
Definitely more trash cans, perhaps renting a few big bins would be worth it?  And the banner idea - any sort of catchy, friendly signage would be great.  Are there any public restrooms around? 

Offline RennMan

  • Moderator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 729
  • N4MAN
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1553 on: Jan 16, 16, 08:23:31 AM »
There is one set of public restrooms in town, in the parking lot between the banks (when we had two banks in town).  These are accessable from Pine, Park and Evergreen, where a trail runs from the Veterans Memorial to the restrooms.

Mountain Hardware also has porta-potties, that they pay for.  Normally they have 2-3 in the outside garden shop, but I noticed that there are a few more now...

WEMSWILLIE

  • Guest
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1554 on: Jan 16, 16, 10:06:21 AM »
Has anyone noticed if there is traffic on the hwy 2, last Saturday it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from the 2 and 138 after work at 1:30.

Offline Jim Wilkins

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 1275
  • Looking forward to the next 45 years....
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1555 on: Jan 16, 16, 12:34:33 PM »
There is one set of public restrooms in town, in the parking lot between the banks (when we had two banks in town).  These are accessable from Pine, Park and Evergreen, where a trail runs from the Veterans Memorial to the restrooms.

Mountain Hardware also has porta-potties, that they pay for.  Normally they have 2-3 in the outside garden shop, but I noticed that there are a few more now...

Mountain Hardware has twelve (12) Porti Potties in the garden area.  They are immaculately clean.  That is as many as all the restrooms available to snowplayers from Wrightwood to Baden Powell parking lot in USFS restrooms.

Offline jek134

  • Squirrel
  • **
  • Posts: 50
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1556 on: Jan 16, 16, 01:03:58 PM »
There is barely any traffic outside. I'm at Hwy 2 and Sheep Creek and there are no cars outside as of now.

Offline Wrightwood

  • Administrator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: Plenty of Posts!
  • Wildlife Gateway
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1557 on: Jan 16, 16, 01:41:00 PM »
Because CHP is at the Stop Sign

Offline Wrightwood

  • Administrator
  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: Plenty of Posts!
  • Wildlife Gateway
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1558 on: Jan 16, 16, 02:41:52 PM »
Facebook
Kathleen Smith
22 mins

A Sheriff's officer is currently ticketing illegally parked vehicles with occupants playing in snow on private property on Finch.



1min ago Sheriff Deputy drove down Linnet Rd

Offline tcaarabians

  • Raccoon
  • *****
  • Posts: 1900
Re: Snow players invade Wrightwood
« Reply #1559 on: Jan 17, 16, 11:14:26 AM »
I love the idea of the banners.  Maybe something like the old Burma Shave billboards.. so the message changes as you proceed up the 2.   If they're funny people will remember them.  cheryl o7o