High Sierra Topix

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petiti ... m/1y8xJBGm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If the stuff in the Alabama Hills is the same decorated boulder(s) I've seen there, I think it has been there a long time. I saw a similarly decorated boulder along the road through Lundy Canyon. It doesn't surprise me much to see such things along a paved road, near a major highway, and near a town. Frankly I found the ones I'm mentioning in this post somewhat entertaining, but would never engage in nor encourage such behavior. Generally speaking, taking it upon oneself to decorate public land, nature, or another's property without permission is blatantly disrespectful. It can easily become too widespread if allowed, supported, or encouraged.

Tagging type graffiti anywhere is ugly to my eyes and has occurred on private and public land within yards of my house (my fence, neighbor's fence, school walls, playground, public creekside trail structures, etc.). I've seen it on trailside picnic tables in a nearby county park and actually know the main perpetrator in that case very well. Quick removal, talking with and developing rapport with likely perpetrators and their peers, punishment when possible, and replacement with more constructive art are all attempts at solutions I have been involved with locally. Tagging seems to ebb and flow in waves as taggers compete with each other and as they are periodically dissuaded by efforts of those who try to slow them down.

Anyway, semi-permanent artwork in a wilderness area clearly crosses the line. If y'all feel like doing a tad more than venting on message boards, there is a Whitehouse.gov petition in response to the national park perpetrator currently gaining steam: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petiti ... m/1y8xJBGm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I shoud have looked at this more carefully. I mispoke (miswrote)
When it comes to garffiti I can be really self rightous.
Graffiti is just disgusting and mucho more so in Nat Parks

signed the petition. The only thing she should be allowed to put her "artwork" on is the inside of a federal prison cell, and made to paint it over with thick white paint every evening.

Here's an update:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/F ... 856747.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was asked to write an opinion piece for The Guardian about why this is so upsetting to so many people.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... sism-crime" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What I, and my friend Casey at Modern Hiker, have been trying to do is try to get a net positive out of this. So much anger and outrage have been expressed from behind keyboards, but I don't want a witch hunt, I want people who seem to care so much to actually DO something to better the parks.

We've tried to turn this unfortunate event into a call to action, even if it is just encouraging people to pick up an extra piece of garbage when they go out on their weekend hike. Hopefully we get some extra volunteers, funds, and vigilant eyes out of this.

LMBSGV wrote:Here's an update:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/F ... 856747.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Funny comment on the sfgate.com article: "She should be drawn and caricatured." lol