Author Topic: Angeles National Forest News! (Read 394409 times)

Joe Schmoe · « **Reply #160 on:** Dec 20, 13, 08:27:35 PM »

On the topic of Jackson Lake, the caretaker of Camp Coulter Pines across the street should keep their pitbull secured, not chasing people 50 yards down the road towards Big Pines Hwy. It would be a shame for people.........or the dog...........to be injured in some kind of incident as a result of unintentional...............or intentional.............negligence. I imagine that might be an issue for the Forest Service. It's their land, right?

SNOW · « **Reply #161 on:** Dec 20, 13, 09:35:29 PM »

I wonder how long those new signs will survive. If history repeats itself, and probably will, they will be short lived.

Cheapskate · « **Reply #162 on:** Dec 21, 13, 06:38:14 AM »

I don't quite follow the comment....vandals will destroy the signs? Or the Forest Service will change their mind and remove them?

Elk · « **Reply #163 on:** Dec 21, 13, 07:45:26 AM »

Quote from: Joe Schmoe on Dec 20, 13, 08:27:35 PM

On the topic of Jackson Lake, the caretaker of Camp Coulter Pines across the street should keep their pitbull secured, not chasing people 50 yards down the road towards Big Pines Hwy. It would be a shame for people.........or the dog...........to be injured in some kind of incident as a result of unintentional...............or intentional.............negligence. I imagine that might be an issue for the Forest Service. It's their land, right?

I think you have the wrong camp associated with the dog. To the best of my knowledge, there is no one with a dog living at Coulter Pines. I believe the dog you speak of is from the people who live at the Hawthorne Youth Camp, which is next door to Coulter Pines. Put the blame and responsibility where it belongs... on the actual owner of the dog. If there is a problem with a dog, you should report it.

K9luvr · « **Reply #164 on:** Dec 21, 13, 11:24:08 AM »

Quote from: Leftfield on Dec 17, 13, 06:34:42 PM

Are they going to tear down all those No Parking signs along Hwy 2?

Highway 2 is a state highway. It would be up to Caltrans to decide if they needed to be removed.

Leftfield · « **Reply #165 on:** Dec 21, 13, 02:19:37 PM »

I ll bite Largomorph....How many folks are assigned on those various days?

Joe Schmoe · « **Reply #166 on:** Dec 21, 13, 09:14:25 PM »

Quote from: Elk on Dec 21, 13, 07:45:26 AM

. I believe the dog you speak of is from the people who live at the Hawthorne Youth Camp, which is next door to Coulter Pines. Put the blame and responsibility where it belongs

The situation wasn't exactly conducive to lingering and taking note of which camp is which. It's the camp at the end of the road that begins on the north side of Big Pines Hwy directly across from Jackson Lake. Just don't blame me when the dog chases you halfway back down the road you just came up.

As for reporting it, there are board members here who tend the forest. They seem like the kind of people who care about stuff. They can do something or not...this is about as reporty as I want to get with it.

RobertW · « **Reply #167 on:** Dec 22, 13, 09:02:07 AM »

Quote from: Leftfield on Dec 21, 13, 02:19:37 PM

I ll bite Largomorph....How many folks are assigned on those various days?

I'll take this one Largomorph. While there are exceptions the general staffing is as follows and it doesn't change just because it is a heavy snow play day.

Generally "Recreation" personnel working the Big Pines area, Area "38", (the Assistant Recreation Officer and REC 34) only work Monday through Friday and are off during the weekends. During the week you may find our LEOs, Edward 17 and/or Edward 12 patrolling our area as well. USFS "Fire" personnel (Engine 38, 338, 37 and Patrol 38) are staffed throughout the week and one of our Volunteers, Volunteer 335, is often helping with patrolling, water testing, etc.

As mentioned, paid USFS Recreation personnel is generally off on the weekend leaving only the Volunteers to handle Recreation duties and work with "Fire" personnel and the LEOs who are also staffed during the weekends. Of the Volunteer Pool, seven of which are the most active, you will usually find at least two out on the weekends.

You can always check the Resource Status on this website to check the staffing of Engine 38, 338, 37, Patrol 38 and our Edward units.

http://www.wildcad.net/WCCA-ANF.htm

RobertW · « **Reply #168 on:** Dec 22, 13, 09:11:35 AM »

Yesterday Volunteers 332 and 334 were working. They report no violations of the Jackson Lake Closure Order and that while there were light to moderate levels of snow players along Angeles Crest Hwy, all were orderly and just having a good time. Outside of Inspiration Point everyone had their Adventure Passes displayed where they were required.

Angeles Crest Highway IS open to La Canada.

Leftfield · « **Reply #169 on:** Dec 22, 13, 10:33:29 PM »

Having just two people working Monday through Friday when most of the visitors are here on the weekends doesnt makes sense to me. Of course considering the magnitude of the area, having just two paid staff doesnt makes sense either. You might as well "pass the keys" to the public and say "help yourself and dont forget to lock up on the way out".

By the way, using acronyms like LEOs do not communicate a thing to me and very likely to others as well. Please spell it out.
thanks

AvocadoFlyer · « **Reply #170 on:** Dec 23, 13, 04:44:07 AM »

LEO = Law Enforcement Officer

RobertW · « **Reply #171 on:** Dec 23, 13, 08:01:10 AM »

Quote from: Firefly65 on Dec 23, 13, 04:44:07 AM

LEO = Law Enforcement Officer

They are the USFS Federal Cops that carry big guns.

Leftfield, you'd be surprised how much just two paid REC people can get done along with the help of some of the Organizational Camps. All the trash cans that were filled to capacity over the weekend will be emptied and the restrooms will all be resupplied with TP. By Saturday, everything is ready for Forest Visitors. During heavy snow play days the Fenner Crew does a great job in cleaning up the hwy and turnouts of all the trash left behind.

There used to be three paid REC people before the Big Pines station closed, but with the help of the Volunteers I think you'll find that our area of the Forest is looking pretty good and the visitors to the Big Pines area are taken care of pretty well even with understaffing.

Wrightwood · « **Reply #172 on:** Dec 25, 13, 11:28:48 AM »

Just heard ANF radio traffic indicating kids on the ice at Jackson Lake

Wrightwood · « **Reply #173 on:** Dec 25, 13, 12:17:20 PM »

ANF person reported back to dispatch that he explained to a dozen or more people the dangers of being on the ice. They all said they hadn't seen the signs.

Leftfield · « **Reply #174 on:** Dec 25, 13, 12:25:55 PM »

Park Service should count their blessings for all those "we dont have to but did it anyway" volunteers. I hope they will find some way to thank them but I ll add my kudos now...thanks volunteers and Merry Christmas

Elk · « **Reply #175 on:** Dec 25, 13, 01:19:27 PM »

Quote from: Wrightwood on Dec 25, 13, 11:28:48 AM

Just heard ANF radio traffic indicating kids on the ice at Jackson Lake

I have lived and worked in this area for the last 13 Christmas' and it is always a problem on Christmas Day. More so than any other day of the year. I am convinced that signs do not help. It will take enforcement by live bodies to inform the public and write citations if necessary. This forest is different than most others. It is too close to too many people who have no idea the dangers that are involved in something that they perceive as innocent fun. I hope that the FS is able to provide enough coverage to avoid another problem.

K9luvr · « **Reply #176 on:** Dec 26, 13, 10:42:15 PM »

It is a problem anywhere there is a large urban interface with "wild" lands. The Tonto out of Phoenix, the Coronado out of Tucson, and the Sandia district of the Cibola just outside of Albuquerque has a lot of the same issues. I joke with the other rangers here on the Cibola that "you deal with resource issues, I babysit flatlanders..." People have no concept of how dangerous things are just literally out of their back yard. We had one woman DEMANDING that New Mexico Game and Fish kill all of the mountain lions and bears in the Sandia Mountains so that it would be safe for her and her family to come and recreate in the National Forest. The whole "front range" on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado get the flatlanders from Denver (and tourists) coming up to do "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" activities. People have just become so removed from nature they really don't have a clue. Plus, there is no "resiliency" anymore. When I saw people throwing tantrums over their packages being 1-2 days late from UPS or FedEx I just kept thinking to myself, "was it only 2-3 generations ago that this country went thru the Great Depression and World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War where we thought the entire world was going to be blown up?" I am so sick of the "my life is supposed to be PERFECT--and if my life isn't PERFECT it is YOUR FAULT that my life is not PERFECT!" (can you tell I had a bad day dealing with the woman SCREAMING at me because I told her she could not decorate the trees along the highway that were on National Forest land...."

The problem with having people work on Christmas Day is it is a federal holiday. That means, you have to pay double time (up to eight hours of holiday worked along with their administrative leave pay) and 1.5 after 8 hours. With our limited budgets, that's one of the things that goes out the window. Here on my current district, we can barely afford Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day along with Sunday differential. Outside of the summer season, we don't have anyone working on Sundays in recreation because we just don't have the money to cover it. Heck, I had to sign an emergency requisition to purchase toilet paper back in September!

O.K. I'll get off my

lagomorphmom · « **Reply #177 on:** Dec 27, 13, 01:09:50 PM »

k9lvr, I really do think you need a reality show. Maybe your own YouTube channel??? If CA Fish and Wildlife can do it, so can you! But I'd PAY to watch yours!!! Hugs! Sloth

Toolman · « **Reply #178 on:** Dec 28, 13, 07:20:36 AM »

Quote from: RobertW on Dec 23, 13, 08:01:10 AM

They are the USFS Federal Cops that carry big guns.

Leftfield, you'd be surprised how much just two paid REC people can get done along with the help of some of the Organizational Camps. All the trash cans that were filled to capacity over the weekend will be emptied and the restrooms will all be resupplied with TP. By Saturday, everything is ready for Forest Visitors. During heavy snow play days the Fenner Crew does a great job in cleaning up the hwy and turnouts of all the trash left behind.

There used to be three paid REC people before the Big Pines station closed, but with the help of the Volunteers I think you'll find that our area of the Forest is looking pretty good and the visitors to the Big Pines area are taken care of pretty well even with understaffing.

TP = Toilet Paper

Tall Trees · « **Reply #179 on:** Jan 11, 14, 09:49:26 PM »

I had to travel to Frenchman's Flat today to take some photographs for a report. Frenchmen's Flat is located at Piru Creek adjacent to the boundary of the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest near Oak Flats west of Interstate 5. I always wondered why this place was named Frenchman's Flat? In the 1800"s settlers in the Tejon Pass found an oak tree that was inscribed "Peter Lebec killed by a grizzly bear" they then named the town site Lebec. Fur trappers from the Hudson Bay Fur company in Canada were all over the Western US trapping beaver in those early days and many of them were French or French speaking dialect from up north. Perhaps Pete Lebec was trapping beaver on the Piru creek and the Frenchman's Flat area was named after him.