Go Away!

At the top of the Recreational Activities page of the National Forest website it says "National Forests and Grasslands offer a diversity of outdoor opportunities. These lands are yours - to visit, to care for, but most of all, to enjoy. What are you waiting for? Pack up your family and friends and head for adventure in America's Great Outdoors". The attitude of the management of the Angeles National Forest opposes this philosophy at every turn. They view visitors as a threat, a liability, and a general nuisance. Certainly there are a few visitors that fall into one or more of those categories, but the solution to the problems that might otherwise have them work for a living is to close the forest whenever the slightest excuse can be conjured, or to make the facilities so inhospitable that nobody would want to visit.

In defense of a few in mind, they are simply inept. But most of the management just wants cruise along in their cushy government job, rarely leaving the office, rarely entering the forest, and never wanting to make a decision. And then there are the dangerous ones - those with hidden agendas. More on that later.

Keep in mind that I am not necessarily talking about the folks in the field, and I am definitely not talking about other forests. The Angeles, however, is completely dysfunctional.

As time permits, I will give examples of what I've said so far. I don't want to make anyone angry, I really just want bring my concerns to the attention of those that do not have day-to-day involvement with this forest's administration, with the hope of correcting some of the problems.

We mountain enthusiasts would gladly help if we know what the problems are; we would participate in discussion if we weren't talked down to. The quote above reminds us that the National Forests are OUR land. Let's reclaim it!