Signs Missing on the High Passes?

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
BSquared
Founding Member
Posts: 958
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:31 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Jericho, VT

Signs Missing on the High Passes?

Post by BSquared »

Something bothering me left over from our 2004 JTM trek: didn't there used to be a lot more signs in the passes, giving the name of the pass and its elevation? We saw a sign on Forester and one on Trail Crest. Period. Well... there were also two signs on Donahue, but they only talked about the change in jurisdiction between Yosemite NP and Ansel Adams Wilderness. But nothing whatsoever on Silver, Seldon, Muir (well, there is the hut ;) ) Mather, Pinchot, or Glenn. I know there used to be signs on Donahue and Glenn ... how about the rest?
User avatar
Buck Forester
Founding Member
Posts: 452
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:38 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Lincoln, CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

Post by Buck Forester »

Sign, sign, everhwhere a sign. I have also noticed plenty of passes with no signs, but I don't mind so much. I guess they do make good trophy shots but in some ways it's nice to get to the top of a pass and see no sign, just the wilderness on the other side.
quentinc
Topix Expert
Posts: 890
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:28 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Los Angeles

Post by quentinc »

I've noticed the sign at Glenn missing, but like Buck, I don't miss it very much. ;)
User avatar
Snow Nymph
Founding Member
Posts: 2042
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 6:43 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Contact:

Post by Snow Nymph »

When we did the JMT in 2001, I think we only saw the few you mentioned.
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
gdurkee
Founding Member
Posts: 774
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:20 pm
Experience: N/A

signs in the backcountry

Post by gdurkee »

Part of the minimalist philosophy that's developed over the last 30 years. Before about 1975 there were signs absolutely everywhere -- creek crossings, meadows, passes. That plus trail registers created a lot of extraneous clutter. So as they've been deteriorating, they just haven't been replaced. In a few cases, they've been yanked. There's a "Whitney Creek" sign not too far from this computer... .

The Forester sign is there because it's, technically, a park boundary between Sequoia and Kings. Same with Trail Crest. I do vaguely remember one on Glen. It's only disappeared in the last 10 years, but don't know why.

With photoshop, you can always put one into your hero shots, and even raise the elevation.

George
User avatar
SSSdave
Topix Addict
Posts: 3523
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Silicon Valley
Contact:

Post by SSSdave »

I find it hard to believe people are relating that signs out on trails whether just along trails, at lakes, at passes, or at junctions is somehow negative. Like having a sign at a pass diminishes the wilderness experience or such? How stupid a thought! How can one make such a complaint when it is right on a trail that in itself is far more obvious than a sign? Just walk a few feet to the side and you are not going to see the sign or the trail. Any of these signs are fine with me. In fact I'd like to see more signs in the backcountry and have suggested that to rangers many times. Especially those that instruct visitors on proper behavior like not camping at illegal locations, making fires above elevation limits, etc. If someone wishes to develop a minimalist philosophy fine but please lets leave the petty aspects of our trail systems out of it and instead put that energy into something more worthwhile like removing the myriad illegal fire pits.

...David
User avatar
gdurkee
Founding Member
Posts: 774
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:20 pm
Experience: N/A

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Post by gdurkee »

Well, I don't know that I'd put it in the "stupid" category. It's one of those "honest disagreements by reasonable people" things.

At the moment (and for quite sometime) that philosophy has been dominant. (This, incidentally, puts you way behind the curve since it's been maybe 30 years we've been at this..). Wilderness and backcountry are hugely psychologically dependent. Sure there's a trail there. In addition, a zillion people and sheep and cattle have been over the area in the last 100+ years. The idea, though, is to make the individual feel, as much as possible, that they're the only ones out there. A weird balancing act but that's what it's really all about. So to give that tenuous feeling of wilderness, the NPS and USFS have been getting rid of intrusive distractions -- extraneous signs, cabins, fences etc. They're not even close to consistent and often hypocritical about it, but there you go. The USFS thinks that even the signs should be minimalist and for a long time wouldn't (may not still??) put mileages on them. The happy campers should check their map is their philosophy.

So, at risk of being in the "stupid" category myself, I agree with it. In addition to reducing what to me and my buddies is clutter, it also gets people to pull their maps out more often -- keeping them oriented and, one hopes, improves their map skills.

I also wrestle with the need for instructional signs. How necessary vs. more clutter? I'm never sure how much good they do. If a particular area has a recurrent problem I usually put up a strongly worded sign, though have to admit it's hard to tell if it has much effect. Most people know the rules and the ones who ignore them know exactly what they're doing -- they just figure no one is watching or "it doesn't matter ... it's just for one night."

But, good news!, we're always hard at work getting rid of fire rings. Dealing with signs does not in any way diminish the energy that goes into that endless and joyful task.

Regards,

George
User avatar
BSquared
Founding Member
Posts: 958
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:31 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Jericho, VT

Post by BSquared »

Thanks for the meaty replies, especially to you, George. I guess I must be dating myself when I talk about the signs I used to see ;) yes, it was certainly before 1975 that I saw the signs on Glenn Pass and Donahue... For whatever it's worth, I still think the high-pass signs, at least, were worth it -- I guess I like the implicit message of congratulations they convey. I'm also relieved that people aren't swiping them as quickly as the PS and FS can put them up; I was a little afraid that a souvenir mentality had siezed the backcountry!
User avatar
gdurkee
Founding Member
Posts: 774
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:20 pm
Experience: N/A

signs

Post by gdurkee »

You know, maybe we could put in a little black box that delivers sustained applause for anyone over 50 who stumbles across a 12,000+ pass or peak. It evaluates each hiker based on a algorithm of grey hair and knee pain... .

Might work.

g.
Shawn
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1061
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:56 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Post by Shawn »

Guess I figured people were just stealing the signs? Why would the park service remove the sign and leave the post, like this one on top of Sawtooth Pass? The post has not been there thirty years, yet it is drilled into granite?

Image
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: divination, Google [Bot], khamike, sekihiker and 137 guests