Pink Plastic Ribbons on Skline. UGH!!!

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Hi Everyone,
Well, I tried to do #308 on Skyline this Saturday, but I just didn't have it in me. Made it to 5,000ft and turned around.
I should have just crawled all the rest of the way, but, I didn't want to take a chance. I pulled over 12 plastic pink ribbons
from trees and scrubs on my way up to 5,000. Really???? Why oh why do some groups have to do this??? If your going to
put these ridiculous ribbons on the trees and schrubs, at least have the last person removed them. We all share this trial with
a lot of wildlife and these creatures do not know that these ribbons are toxic. On top of that, 3 were placed in the wrong areas
so that anyone following them, went off the trail. So much for knowing the trail. I am also going to ask a lot of you to
stay away from Grubbs Gulley. The top of the trail is collapasing and that gulley cannot handle all the boots and poles going up that section.
I have been placing rocks across a lot of the areas that we all need to not go across. So many of you do the right thing and I am so proud to
see how responsbile a lot of you are.
Thanks for letting me rant and rave.
Happy Trails to all of you and may we all have a safe hiking season on Skyline
Doreen

[RMRUpete]

Did the Skyline to the Tram today with Idyllwild friends Jon and Anne (Her First Time) today in 7 hours and Jon got all the other pink ribbons up to Grubs notch. We could see no reason for them at all. Did see your blocking of side trails and stayed on the main trail accept for a couple of places were I had my head down and there was no blocking and I got off a little. Keep up the great work and hopefully all the regulars will help to keep the trail in good shape.

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Thank you so much for helping me with the rest of those ribbons.
I will continue to do what I can to protect that trail from getting any more destroyed than it already is,
I appreciate all the help so many of you have given to this most
beautiful place that we all love
Doreen

[Florian]

Did the Skyline to the Tram today with Idyllwild friends Jon and Anne (Her First Time) today in 7 hours and Jon got all the other pink ribbons up to Grubs notch.

Jon and i often share fire lookout duties at Tahquitz Peak. He and Anne are wonderful people.

Things like the ribbons and spray paint arrows are some of the reasons i don't really enjoy the Skyline much any longer. Sigh.

-Florian

[DancesWithTheMountains]

So good hear from you FLorian. I was wondering what happened to you. I know its disappointing to see what
is happening to the trail, but, we can stay on top of it and keep it pristine by letting hikers know what they can do
to help with keeping this trail intact. All it takes is an awareness of where we put our boots and especially important
are the hiking group leaders. They are the ones that really need to direct their groups to stay on the trail. Its really
all that simple. As for those white dots and green arrows etc, they should not be placed anywhere on the trail. Some of
them are in the wrong place!!! Don't stay away too long Florian. Your just as much a part of this trail as I am.
Happy Trails to you my friend
Doreen '

[Wildhorse]

The abuse of wild lands is growing.

I untied about 30 of these in a remote wilderness area today.

People who need these markers should not be hiking in such places. They are not hikers. They are imposters.

[cynthia23]

I went up on SKyline on Saturday just to 2500 and I too found and removed a pink ribbon. What the hell is wrong with these people? How can they think this is a good plan?? I understand when very casual hikers trash the wilderness, i.e. the kind of people who maybe go thirty minutes up a trail every couple of months or so. People like that don't know anything about wilderness. But someone who is climbing Skyline has to be extremely well conditioned, and the only way to get that well conditioned is by doing lots and lots of long, strenuous hikes. How can such a person--a person who has spent a lot of time hiking--honestly think "It's fine to leave fifty pink plastic ribbons all behind us."?? I simply don't get it. I wish we could hear from these people so I could understand their rationale.

Doreen, thank you so much for your ongoing efforts to maintain the trail.

[cab]

I took down a bunch of ribbons between Baldy and Dawson a month or so ago. I ran into one of the members of the group that was placing them and she told me they were environmentally friendly ribbons. LOL.

[zippetydude]

Hmmm. That doesn't release them from the responsibility of removing them when they're on their way out. Still, I wonder if the substance is made of something that will decay into dust in a week or two? Anybody know anything about this stuff?

z

[Ellen]

Howdy Doreen, Skyline Queen

ARRGH OK, I feel better now.

Thanks to you and other nice folks, Sally, Marilyn and I didn't see any pink ribbons on our way up yesterday.

First the orange dots and now this.

Miles of smiles and hugs,
Ellen