High Sierra Topix

I think it is arrogant to either place ducks or remove them. I have placed ONE duck in the Sierra (ain't going to tell where it is so you duck-kickers cannot get rid of it). One example of a "good duck" I hope you guys do not kick down is the small one that marks the proper slot to go east-to-west over Pyra Queen Col. An example of a "bad duck" is the one that now marks where to go over the shoulder on the High Route between Blue Lakes and Twin Island Lakes. Nobody ever needed that until someone put it up.

The ultimate arrogance is to USE the duck yourself, then kick it down for others.

Daisy, funny you should mention the one between Twin Lakes and Blue Lake. If only there were just one! I saw several, marking different paths at various altitudes on that shoulder one could choose. And that's exactly why I can't stand ducks.

Daisy

What is arrogant about knocking down ducts that are scattered all over the place when there are multiple doable routes over easy terrain? Why doesn't the concept of "leave no trace" apply? I grant you there are a few places where a duck or two are approppriate but not where the route is obvious or there are multiple routes that will work.

Mike

Some ducks that appear frivilous in summer are very useful in winter when most of the terrain is under snow. I do not think I am the one who should judge what is needed or not. As for leave no trace, I could be more inclined if there were no trails, no trail signs, no bear boxes, no campgrounds. I do agree that there seems to be an "explosion" of ducks in the last 5 years or so. I think it is due to so much information on the internet. People who do not have, nor were mentored in wilderness ethics are now going out there. Often they see the wilderness as a playground for athletic pursuits and if ducks allow them to "go faster" they see nothing wrong with sticking up a bunch. Well placed ducks have always been part of mountaineering routes. In the past, these have been placed carefully. I agree that some ducks should stay; some should go. I just do not feel comfortable to be the one who decides. I DO take down ducks that mark someones favorite campsite. So, I too am inconsistent in my actions and thoughts.

This summer I did a 40-day route in the Wind River Mountains. On the Wind River Indian Reservation "ducks" more appropriately thought of as pyramids mark trails that are no longer maintained. These markers are 4 feet high and 3 feet square at the base. The trails have for all practical purposes grown over so without the ducks travel would be very difficult. Because of the ducks, at least some use of the route keeps the "trails" somewhat visible if you are a good tracker. Unfortunately a few people have started to place their own "ducks" which just complicates things and diverts enough travel that the original routes are often lost all together. In spite of the huge pyramid ducks, the Reservation is so much more a true wilderness than anything in the Sierra. I do not think ducks make or break the wilderness.

On the way down the Shepard Pass trail yesterday, there were at least 100 ducks along the trail all along the Anvil Camp stretch. Some were as close at 10 feet to each other. This is along a trail that is plain as day.



There aren't any there any more.

quentinc wrote:There aren't any there any more.

And I, for one, would like to say THANK YOU for that!

Cheers!

Context matters.

haha wow...tell us how you really feel!

I have never or will ever build a cairn, and I have never, or will ever kick one down. I dont have time to get all negative nelly while vibing the natural seritonin flushes released while tramping the mountains

Discussion about cairns in the backcountry a couple of years ago:
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Edit: Thanks for merging the threads.

I think KICK 'EM DOWN should go into your sig