This was an email addressed to the moderators and administrator of WrightwoodCalif.com.
March 05, 2005
This is regarding a series of posts on your public forum that I have run across recently. Under >Hot Topics >Weekend invasion of the snow players, a series of posts that is instigated by diget7 on the 25 of February, has some serious accusations that are completely untrue. I have seen other posts regarding the Acorn Trail and the land surrounding the top of Acorn Drive, as well as the "Acorn Shrew", which have appeared in the past, but have not commented since they contain very little truth and are mostly gossip. This last series of posts has me very concerned, however. I will shed some light on a few things in this message, and would appreciate it if this were to be posted on the boards, are at least parts of it, to settle the matter.
I live at the top of Acorn Dr., and I happen to be the son of the "Acorn Shrew", or "Troll", or any of a number of names she has been called on this Web site. In direct response diget7 and their post, nobody had a shotgun pulled on them, or were threatened with the use of shotgun at the top of Acorn Dr. That is a very serious accusation that is a complete lie. There is not a shotgun, nor any type of firearm on this property, and even if there was, it would not be used for such reasons. This is a completely ludicrous statement, and is an insult to my family!
Yes there were altercations at the top of this road that weekend, but everyone in town had similar problems. I was at the top of Acorn all weekend, and know what went on. One altercation even resulted in the snow player pulling down her pants and relieving herself in the middle of the street in front of our house, then asking for some toilet paper afterwards! Yet even that did not involve the mention of shotgun, let alone brandishing one at somebody. My mother runs a business out of her home and can not have these kinds of allegations posted on a public forum such as this.
As to the question of property, and who owns the road, the trail, and the land to the trail, I will explain: The entire portion of Acorn Dr. above the entrance to Camp Mariastella is private property. That is where the big "No Trespassing" sign is located. This is broken into several sections, the very top of which, the 250 feet or so just before the gate, is owned by my mother, the "Acorn Shrew."
She has a deed, and it is recognized by the County of San Bernardino as being her property, and she reports it on her taxes as such. This deed has an easement for foot traffic only, and anyone on foot is allowed, actually encouraged, to use the road. Vehicles on the other hand, are not included in this easement. When hikers use the road, they are not accosted or threatened, in any way. Our family is full of avid hikers and we enjoy their traffic and their conversation. When there is a confrontation, it is because people park their cars where they are not allowed to be.
There are several reasons for this.
(A.) The gate must remain clear for fire crews and water company at all times, this includes our vehicles as well. By parking in front of the gate, you make the access road unusable.
(B.) The Pacific Crest trail has hikers that hike for days, if not weeks, and they feel that the top of Acorn is a good spot to park their car while they are gone. This poses a big problem if just one or two cars are left there unattended.
(C.) Our driveway constantly gets blocked to where we cannot leave to go to town, to work, or anywhere else. People have even parked in our driveway, and would continue to do so if they are not told to otherwise.
(D.) It's just a matter of principle that people should respect their neighbors and their property. We do not park in your yard, please don't park in ours. It is clearly posted several times going up the road so there is no mystery to situation.
As for the forest past the gate, it is private as well. It is owned by Camp Mariastella and is not Forest Service land for another 1/2 of a mile (give or take), where the dirt road ends and the trail starts. They are in complete agreement with our views of keeping vehicles off the road, as are our neigbors.
Hikers are more than welcome, as are snow players, as long as their cars remain at the bottom of the hill. It is a matter of respect for other people's property. We would invite those that introduce themselves up to use our driveway, but very rarely do we even get a friendly "hello". People come here expecting a confrontation and are most often the first to raise their voice or scream insults. It is public postings such as this that cause such expectations. We do not want these conflicts to continue, but we are not going to ignore the disrespect shown to us either. So the next time you want to come and hike in Acorn Canyon, please be courteous enough to park on public land, and introduce yourselves as you pass, for you might find that we are very friendly people that want to get along with people we meet.
Thank you,
Chris Sellinger, top of Acorn Dr.
