Foggy Lake is named that for a reason. A friend of mine and I went out for a quick overnight trip and as soon as evening rolled around the fog blew in and didn't relent. The upside was practically zero bugs and mild temperatures. Although foggy, it is a beautiful area with tarns, streams, wildflowers and all kinds of interesting rock formations.
.... and the downside... garbage, defacing of rock faces and a fire pit at every campsite even though fires are banned in this area! I know this area is too popular for its own good but what is up with some people. I have friends who can't camp without a campfire, they say it just isn't camping if you aren't burning something. But guess what? I don't invite them into the wilderness and if I do I tell them I will not allow campfires, especially in the alpine.
If you need to have a campfire, stay in a car campground and leave the wilderness for those of us who want to see it in all its beauty. Besides all the campfires I also found a garbage full of empty food packages and a used gas canister. We also found a swimsuit, shorts, dirty underwear and a belt. I also found a place where one or more people defecated and left a whole stash of dirty paper that looked like wet wipes or Swiffer pads partially stuffed under some rocks. I did not want to find this mess or deal with it, but I packed it all out.
If you are going out into the wilderness, please, practice Leave No Trace. If you are going to a popular area and want to leave it better than you found it pack in a plastic garbage bag and rubber gloves so you can clean up after the people whose parents never taught them better.
Sorry for the rant. I know 95% of the people who read, use and contribute to this site believe the same things and want nature to be preserved. For the other 5% please do better, respect nature and your fellow campers and do not have campfires where they are not permitted and please pack out all your trash. Please!
Comments
mato on Gothic Basin
A well-written gripe. Unfortunately, other than venting a little, it will do no good. In fact, it all seems to be getting worse. Blame it on social media, COVID, too many people, Gen X,Y,Z or whatever - it's just getting worse. And the sad part is that the people that are doing these things just don't care, so it doesn't even do any good to try to educate them. It doesn't take long for that 5% to eff things up, either. It seems the best we can hope for is if there are enough people, like you, that are willing to clean up after someone else. (I draw the line at dogpoop bags and TP)
Perhaps I've grown cynical over the years about something that I think should be intuitive. I don't know. I just can't understand why someone would want to deface the very thing they came to enjoy. So thank you for packing it out, and don't ever give up.
Nice photos,btw- I like the tent pic.
Posted by:
mato on Aug 14, 2025 10:45 PM
TabTabscott on Gothic Basin
Washington Hikers and Climbers people for sure. And the damn dog people and their bags of dogshit.
I am totally for a hiking LICENSE. And to get it you have to take a weekend long seminar in how to be in the mountains.
Posted by:
TabTabscott on Aug 15, 2025 05:55 AM
mato on Gothic Basin
Good idea - but I can already hear people screaming how their rights and freedoms are being taken away. Maybe that's the problem - that hiking is a right instead of a privilege, like driving a car. To get a hiking license would require passing an on-line presentation on hiking etiquette - at the least. Only then could you get a Forest Service Pass.
Posted by:
mato on Aug 15, 2025 09:18 AM
Just Plain Mike on Gothic Basin
yeah, I saw two bags of dog poop off the side of the trail on my way out but I was already carrying a bunch of garbage so I stuck those on top of logs. I was hoping dog people will step up and pack it out. :) Why do people even bag up the poop if they are just going to toss it off the trail?
Posted by:
Just Plain Mike on Aug 15, 2025 10:05 AM
slo go on Gothic Basin
Great shot of the tent and stark surroundings. As to trash/campfires I just think a lot of people are not taught respect growing up. As to educating them-good luck. They just don't care. SAD!
Posted by:
slo go on Aug 15, 2025 09:04 AM
Just Plain Mike on Gothic Basin
Thank you for comment on the photo. I once tried to convince someone to put out their illegal fire and they got defensive but maybe they were less likely to have fires in the alpine after that. I don't particularly like confrontation but if the other party ends up either better educated or wanting to avoid future conflicts maybe they will think twice. I don't go out in nature the be the LNT police but since I am on way to becoming a curmudgeon maybe I should embrace that side of myself.
Posted by:
Just Plain Mike on Aug 15, 2025 10:02 AM
Jasper & the Girl Scouts on Gothic Basin
Thank you Mike for your cleanup, even the disgusting ones. The 5% just need to keep speaking up, educating, and hopefully can influence some of these misguided privileged brats.
Posted by:
Jasper & the Girl Scouts on Aug 15, 2025 02:25 PM
hikerdadof2 on Gothic Basin
Thanks, Mike, for doing Cleanup Duty. You have inspired me to bring my own bag and gloves. Keep up the good work.
Posted by:
hikerdadof2 on Aug 20, 2025 07:02 AM