US Forest Service

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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I was backpacking in the Sierras this weekend with a couple of friends, and on the way out we met a US Forest Service guy who was heading out onto the trail to check up on backpackers and clean up their mess (with a huge poop shovel tied to his backpack). He checked our permit (which we of course had) and chatted a bit with us about where we camped and which trails we took.

We are nature-conscious and enjoy the nature, so we backpack and camp by the book. But let's say this Forest Service guy meets a group out in the desolation, and they don't have a permit. What is he going to do? Call a helicopter to pick them up? Write them out a ticket? What if they don't have a driving license on them?
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
escort you out

Ok, he could do that if you were a mile away from the trailhead. But 10 miles? The Desolation is huge.
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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Originally posted by: jagec
Kill you and eat your corpse.

Yeah, no kidding. He probably had a knife with him, too. Big, shiny, fvck off knife. Gun's for a show, knife for a pro. (c)
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
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My neighbor works with the forestry service. When he heads out to his government truck I see him with a bowie and 9mm on his belt.
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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Originally posted by: Dirigible
Ticket.

Ticket to John Doe? You could give any bogus info on the trail, and he wouldn't be able to verify it in any way.
 
Nov 5, 2001
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Originally posted by: paulney
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
escort you out

Ok, he could do that if you were a mile away from the trailhead. But 10 miles? The Desolation is huge.

Why not? He'd hike 10 miles to find you if he had to. Unless he had something pressing, I bet he would.
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: paulney
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
escort you out

Ok, he could do that if you were a mile away from the trailhead. But 10 miles? The Desolation is huge.

Why not? He'd hike 10 miles to find you if he had to. Unless he had something pressing, I bet he would.

10 miles is half a day of hiking in the Sierras if you are hauling ass. I don't think he'd be able to escort you out from that far. I think he'd just write out a permit on the spot and take the money for it right there and then. That is if you had any money on you.
 

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
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he wouldd call the very wrath of nature down upon you....all the animals would heed his call and chase you out of the park....

or i think he sprays you with bear love scent...its up to you to get out of the park before the love sick and horny bears find you....
 

thehstrybean

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2004
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I was backpacking the AT and our group got separated (by an hour or two), and a ranger (with gun, knife, ax, and shovel) stopped us and asked us for our permit. He didn't really care that we didn't have one with us (even though we were supposed to).
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
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Originally posted by: paulney
Originally posted by: Dirigible
Ticket.

Ticket to John Doe? You could give any bogus info on the trail, and he wouldn't be able to verify it in any way.

The ranger will give you a ticket based on who you say you are. Also, it's not a good idea to leave your wallet in your car in a parking area, so lots of people bring their wallet when backpacking and will have ID.

I don't know if it's the same in national forests/parks/etc. but I've gotten ticketed in the park (for speeding on a mountain bike). I happened to have my ID with me, but I asked what would happen if I didn't. The ranger said that if they thought someone was lying to them they'd either radio in and check (may not be possible based on where you are) or take someone into custody. If you are lying, you're in much deeper trouble than if you just took the ticket.

Edit: "Without a permit you can and will be sited by Rangers who patrol and will ask you to produce your permit at their request.The penalties of not having your permit are steep to say the least,and you will be cited and have to appear in court. You will at this time be told by the issuing Ranger to leave the area and some rangers have been known to escort violaters out of the area." http://ohoh.essortment.com/backpackinghiki_rfen.htm (Who knows how much of an authority that web site is? It was the first one I found. :p)
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
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Originally posted by: pontifex
a permit for what? hiking?

you have to have a permit to hike?????

In a lot of places, you need a permit for more than day-use, yes. I've definitely had my permit checked while backpacking. Have you not backpacked much, or does this only happen in the west?
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
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Originally posted by: Dirigible
Originally posted by: pontifex
a permit for what? hiking?

you have to have a permit to hike?????

In a lot of places, you need a permit for more than day-use, yes. I've definitely had my permit checked while backpacking. Have you not backpacked much, or does this only happen in the west?

i've never backpacked. it just seemed silly to have to have a permit to do so.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
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ah, the "every person in a position of power is a power hungry douchebag" crew has arrived.