By Normal Frump
A reader came across this photo and sent it to us. We do not know who took it.
It was taken at a national park campsite. Seeing it makes our staff’s blood boil.
It’s really hard to understand people who toss trash out their car windows, or who feed a bear, which could ultimately result in its death due to becoming people-food dependent and aggressive about getting it. But this is about as bad as it gets.
We can only hope that whoever did this was caught.
Because of that person’s stupidity and lack of respect for nature and other campers, he or she (probably both) has forced everyone who later occupies the campsite to witness this destruction over and over again.
Frankly, the park should cut down the tree. It’s a reminder of the worst side of humanity.
I am sorry to upset you, as I probably have, because I know the readers of this newsletter would never do something like this. But, if you should ever witness someone being so destructive, contact the police or rangers immediately. The violators need to pay a steep fine and if the judge determines, spend a little time behind bars to ponder their ignorant behavior. Oh, this is so depressing!
I agree
Recently camped at a New York state park. In the toilet stalls were quite a bit of grafetti. Would you write on the bathroom walls in your home?
People are suppose to be the stewards of public lands, not the desecraters.
I do agree that it is wrong. Unfortunately some will do things out of ignorance. Also unfortunate that their act of love can cause anger.
Chuck:
This goes along with your opening editorial!
About the Visionary that would make RV Parking areas, ie. Walmart, Cabelas, etc.
Inconsiderate people would “NO DOUBT” Ruin it for everyone else.
Think about it! Why are Walmarts not allowing RVers to Overnight anymore? People who have NO Respect for anyone else or their property.
This is why many cities around the US don’t want RV parks in their back yards! They know Human Trash will eventually occupy those spaces and set up camp!
RVing can and should be an enjoyable experience, but is some cases, RVers are their own WORST ENEMIES!
See my previous comment. All campgrounds have rules and regulations posted at numerous locations through the area. It is up to the host to continuously remind people to abide by the rules. A host doesn’t have to be a jerk, but, fair and firm works. Yes, I have had people evicted from campgrounds for refusing to abide by the rules, yes, I have had campers given citations for being repeat violators. I have been called rather unpleasant unrepeatable things. A Ranger and I shared laughter when she forwarded me a Camp Host sign that been desecrated with an obscenity because a camper didn’t like me enforcing the rules. But, I have never been counseled for being out of line. Actually, I was actively recruited by Rangers and in one case by a District Ranger to work at their campgrounds. A campground is only as good as it’s host. If there are recurring problems, it’s not only the campers but primarily it’s the hosts fault.
Mandatory registration and a credit card on file for cleaning/damage fees would stop that.
This is a result of “dumbing down America’s children”. Been in place for many years. Most really have no concept of the beauty of Earth. They feel entitled and have no problem destroying nature or property they don’t own then, running away and hiding from their damages. Some think “It’s just a tree”. “Life” to them: Whatever they see on their cell phone. “Career” to them: Whatever I can do from my cell phone. ” Im gonna get my Masters in Tik Tok “! Most(emphasized) have no respect. No pride. Yes, upbringing is critical in creating a strong, reasonable mind. But, there are always some that need a size 13 tennis shoe across their self entitled asses!
(RVT: if the last word is offensive to some, please remove it or let me know. I think I’m within rules).
You’re fine, Robert. Thanks for asking. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Please don’t cut the tree down. Let’s patch up the tree to cover it up as much as possible. Nature’s ability to heal is unreal.
Repair the tree if you can. Lot’s of couples have carved their initials into the bark of trees, but privately and small.
If someone did this out in the middle of the forest, I would feel differently. (Though it is much larger than it really should be.) Doing this in a campsite, however, that’s just plain dumb and disrespectful to all future campers, as well as the park or campground.
I believe that we will see more of this type of behavior with thousands of “newbies” now buying RVs. Hopefully the majority will act responsibly but I fear that many won’t.
I agree with the fact that new, first timers will add to this problem. There is no one to clean up after them like staying in a motel/hotel.
The worst part is it will be the younger generation. A lot have no respect for anything.
I feel like that’s an over generalization.
Do the people that always blame the younger generation even stop to consider who raised that younger generation?
Who is really to blame?
I disagree. I spent the better part of 10 years full-timing while volunteering at National Parks, National Monuments and National Forests. It wasn’t newbies or the younger generation that repeatedly told me, with individual variations, “What do you mean I can’t do that? I’ve been camping here for 25 (15, 34, 20) years and no one has ever told me I can’t”. A vast majority of the campers are respectful, conscientious stewards of the campgrounds. But a few have given me new nicknames I can’t repeat here.
All you have to do is look at what is happening in our country right now, with all the destruction going on. People didnt get this way over night.
I was a campground host for the National Forest Service for a year. I saw MUCH worse, dumping at camp sites, trash everywhere, fires left burning, car parts left, food dumped, dead pets left behind, whole trees cut down, and much more.
I just sold my campground and the people today are really selfish. I think that is why there is so much bad stuff going on in the world today. Parents have not taught their kids how to act.
At a State Park I worked at I found a beautiful 30′ black locust tree dying at a site. The campers had peeled all the bark off from the ground up. Broke my heart.
I have been in RV Parks where the permanent campers outnumber the people passing through. I understand the concerns of city councilmen. We have a lot of trailer trash in some campgrounds because the owners of those campgrounds has allowed it to happen.
This type of behavior is unacceptable anywhere. Many parents don’t teach their children to respect other’s property and the National Parks are our property.
Please don’t complain about the long-term residents in small parks. Most of ours at our little RV park are there for work – as in traveling nurses, or crews building roads (for RVs to travel on) – or in the case of one of our crews – building a plant to make toilet paper – an essential need! LOL… We have wonderful full time residents in our little park and they pay our bills – we would not make it without them.
“Permanent campers” are not automatically “trailer trash”. We are currently in a Houston RV Park for at least six months to address a medical issue. So are many others. None of us think we are “trailer trash”. There are also quite a few obviously permanent never-leaving sites that are well kept and attractive.
Leaving the tree up unfortunately would embolden others to do the same, or worse. Whomever did it thought it would be there forever, like a tribute in an old movie. Maybe if they realized not only would they be fined if caught, their monument of undying love is temporary and cost the site a tree.
I would also put up posters with a picture of the tree, before and after it’s removal, with notice about the fine and why this behavior will not be tolerated.
Like Yellowstone?
All the explorer art has been replaced by don’t pet the Buffalo and that only applies to someone else.
No surprise. At our RV park, people have run over our electric posts and water posts (leaving a geyser behind as they simply drove off). People have stolen things like our hoses, tools and even an iron from the laundry. We have recently had someone using those ‘flushable’ wipes in their RV so much that our septic system failed. We paid over $500 to a septic company to dig out a trash bag full of them! One (half price) guy roamed the park late at night and helped himself to one of our fire rings in a storage area as well as some firewood from our stockpile for sale and built a roaring fire on the perfectly manicured grass on his site, burning out a large circle. And another guy completely clogged our hot tub by filling it with rose petals for a private ‘romantic’ evening. MOST RVers are terrific people – but the times have changed. We monitor our little park the best we can, but don’t have staff out all night. However, what we see on our cameras can be very interesting.
You ought to post what is caught by your cameras on YouTube!
Good idea, I’d be a subscriber.
Voyeurs! LOL
I think it’s dumb but I was expecting to see something far worse.
Leave the tree. Make a attempt to fill in the markings with ?. I’m sure someone out there has an idea. But to destroy a somewhat healthy tree that provides shade and shelter deserves attention. And if the person is caught that did the destruction, hang’m from that tree. Just a thought. Justice served.
The justice prescribed should be making the perpetrators plant more trees in the area. Too many are being destroyed by developers or fire or disease. With enough trees being planted and the sweat involved, perhaps a lesson will be learned.
Leave the tree, but place a small sign indicating that those who deface nature will be prosecuted. ie “Don’t be “that” guy”.
As with so many rude and inappropriate actions displayed by people today, the reason starts with EDUCATION, or rather the lack of it. Education starts in the home, a home with two parents. Young people who are taught manners and respect will be kinder and more respectful of nature, others’ property, and personal space.
I’d get some brown or pruning paint and paint the wound.it’ll grow around the wound.take a couple of years but the tree doesn’t have to be removed STUPID PEOPLE. The tree will last longer than most marriages.
Thomas, your idea is perfect, but you should have stopped before calling people, who don’t know about pruning paint, STUPID PEOPLE. Educating people first will highlight your excellent idea, not highlight and fixate on your name calling.
I think (hope) he was referring to the people that made the carving.
I thought so too.
The initials can be removed and the rest can be covered up with a bird feeder. Karma will catch up with these people soon enough just too bad we all won’t be there to see it. But still not as bad as the jerk(s) that go around the world spray painting their “art” in nature. It’s now up to us to See Something, Say Something, Do Something.
The tree can and should survive. I would suggest putting a sign by the tree saying in effect – Don’t be this person! It could also explain how long it might take for the bark to heal though the scar will still show.
And how much of a fine would be imposed – – – $50K!!
yea thats nothing compared to mt rushmore
Sad, but true. People are not getting out enough or refusing to see the things people do to many parks, presidential libraries and national monuments. This sadly is nothing new. As far as putting initials in trees, people have been doing that since the pioneer years.
So are you saying Mt. Rushmore is a destruction of nature? Hmmm. Have to think about that. You may have a point there.
Don’t try to understand that which is completely beyond understanding. If you want to do something, remember that these campers probably registered for the site. Report the damage to the camp ranger/office. There may be a prescribed procedure and at least a hefty fine may be in order.
I would think the initials would identify the persons involved… they could be charged with the damage. Bar them from usage of park property. The initials can be altered to other scars. The scars could be covered with warning sign to other lowlifes to not deface others property.
The offending people had to register for their site.The park service should have the info. needed to issue a citation.
That is destroying Federal property, which I’m certain is a crime.
This is basically graffiti on trees. What a disgrace!
Like tattoos. Graffiti on living things. So the younger generation find this acceptable. I know, I am an old fuddy duddy. At least where it concerns property that you do NOT own except in theory.
We have a rock “ limestone “ house and the rock came from an old peanut oil mill built in the 40’s. Some of the limestone of course were from the exterior walls of the mill, but most of the rock was from the basement. When the stone masons were placing the large rocks to fit certain angles of our house they found a rock where someone had carve an arrow A💘E initials in it. I really would love to locate this couple, but I have no way to do so anyway I wish they would have told me before placing it outside, I would have loved it in the house on the fireplace. People just do this stuff.. I’m guessing a young couple tent camping and wanted a memory of their vacation. We were in Glacier National Park last week and I was taking a picture of my Dalmatian up on the rock and people had carved all kinds of stuff in the rocks. When we go to the beach I get a stick and write in the sand “ WE WERE HERE IN 2020. Then the wave comes in and it goes away.
The park can trace the camper and charge them with damage to property?
I think Parks should take note of campers who trash sites, damage property And trespass them from returning to that Park or any other park.
I once reported a family for using a chainsaw to cut down a live tree for firewood in a state park campground. It took forever for a park ranger to get there, but the campers were evicted immediately. See something – say something.
Unfortunately, you can’t fix stupid!
I seem to recall that earlier this year or maybe last year a celebrity was charged with defacing property for carving her initials into rock at a National Park.
Instead of being angry or upset over this since there is nothing you can do about it just use as a reminder of what people do to nature, animals and people. It is this you wonder just how bad these people really are. IMO not yours
Definitely cut down the tree and don’t give any more morons ideas.
That would not solve the problem. That is like euthanizing a person who has had an amputation due to diabetes. More education in schools and like the person said above put instructions in a camp
Brochure and levy fines.
Nice thought but people do not read signs. Besides, signs should not be replacements for common sense and respect for someone else’s property. A tree in a campground is NOT their property. If they would do something this senseless and stupid, what else might they be capable of doing. What would be your feeling if the tree was in your yard? Or maybe the side of your house?
When very young, I was taken into the woods where my father and siblings grew up in the 1920’s. Each of those eleven children had their initials in a tree by the creek. That tree is still there, carving not so distinguishable now. Sure wish some of them were here too. While I do not advocate for defacing nature, sometimes I think these discussions go way too far with wishful penalties. Now this was also not “public lands”, but my grandfather’s farm. Wish we could go back to a more live/let live society and not wish such severity on our neighbors. I live in a growing community where it seems folks moving in want to exercise penalties onto those they see as offenders, hence ridiculous local ordnance and HOA rules. Will this end with neighbors watching neighbors?
People been doing this for hundreds of years. Or more. You think you can change it? Gdet over it and find something you CAN change to vent about.
And therein lies the problem. “Should be” doesn’t make a dent. Laws not enforced, are easily ignored. Simple behavioral psychology based on reward vs. reinforcement. Jails aren’t big enough for the new behavioral norms.
Laws can only be enforced if law enforcement has a presence. Given the budgetary situation in the National and most State parks and on public lands in general, that presence is impossible. In a deep sense, it is voters who are responsible for this.
Levy a serious fine if the park can track down the perpetrators and remove the tree to avoid tempting another couple to do the same. Its presence seriously detracts from the beauty of the location and is not an immovable object like a boulder etc.
Maybe carve the parks initials in the perpetrators. But remember, “you can’t cure stupid”.
I agree Fully
Did you guys never do this growing up? What we need to do is educate folks. Yes there are people out there who won’t listen but most will. Maybe a pamphlet in the tent box and given by the RV dealer when you buy a rig or when you check into a campground. People have been carving bark for who knows how many thousands of years. They need to learn you shouldn’t do it at a campsite, or water tower but that’s another subject. Far worse is the trash and human waste problem. We can complain about these folks all day long but until we find a way to educate them we’re partially to blame.
Unfortunately common sense is not so common.
I agree with you 100%. The destruction of our environment is becoming rampant. These illiterate and Ignorant bafoons are not being instructed properly both at home and in schools as to the importance of our natural world. I fear for our future.
You finish with cutting down the tree and I’m sure you got a lot of flack for that but you are right. It is no different than bring your dog into a park with sign saying not to! Once the floodgates of STUPID are opened it favors the stupid over the responsible and there is a simple term for it “Social Facilitation” That is why our towns are being desecrated and destroyed. we need to nip it in the bud. Sacrificing a tree will eliminate a sign that states it is Cool!, because it is NOT!
I am amazed by how many people on this forum seem to have an issue with cutting down the tree. No it will not change the fact that his happened, but it will stop other impressionable and ignorant people from getting the idea this is acceptable behavior. That tree is no more than thirty years old, probaably closer to ten. Trees are a renewable resource if we don’t allow them to be defacead and exposed to unnessecary bug infestation. Defacing some thing that does not belong to you seems to be a new normal. Getting the wrong message from this defacement is not the education people need. Just like the bear that finds out that people are a source for food and has to be put down because some one acted ignorantly, this tree needs to be removed.
For those who don’t get it, I suppose there could be some sort of pomp and circumstance where the public is invited in and shown that if you are caught defacing a tree you will be fined and here is what the person who defaced this tree caused.
While this particularly egregious example is reprehensible from where we stand right now, this is hardly a new phenomenon. I photographed many “arborglyphs” in the aspens of the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. I saw carvings as old as the 1940s, although I need the help of a federal forester to translate the now-callused carvings. Yes, the “good old days” of the ’40s. People aren’t any different now, there’s just more of them.
Turns out there were aspens being carved over a hundred years ago by Basque sheepherders, passing their time while tending their sheep. More info here.
Such a shame that people are morons. I was visiting the Vatican in Italy only to witness some teenager graffitiing the Coppola’s, while the parents took there. I must admit I lost my $hit and reprimanded the kid! And the parents said nothing, to me or to their kid!
you could be of service educating the morons that are desecrating America’s cities and historical monuments
I agree. This is destruction of a campground private property. What idiots they are who did this.
Wont they be able to know the culprit by site reservation?
I understand the carvings from years ago as the American Indians on the east coast we noted to do as well. But there were not the infestation of insects we have today as well as all the pollutants we have today. This behavior can only be culled but prosecution to the full extent of law. But unfortunately we have a system of judges that are way to liberal. So a slap on the hand and the process starts all over again. Those that are caught by us should take their picture and deliver it to the wardens, foresters, law enforcement including vehicle identification. And work to gets laws passed that makes the minimum fine of thousands and locked up until fine is paid and while locked up you’re being charged what the local hotel charges plus meals per day. It’s just a shame the lack of respect.
“Way too liberal”? Nonsense. Carving one’s initials into a tree would warrant a fine, perhaps community service at the park and a “slap on the hand”. That would be the full extent of the law there. Let’s leave incarceration for more serious crimes…
A slap on the hand would be a joke to them. Hefty fine is in order.
I agree it makes my blood boil and my stomach sick. But when you have the owner of Anderson Hitches doing the same thing in a National park a few years ago in as reported in this newsletter https://www.rvtravel.com/anderson843/.
Only getting a slap on his wrists and people continue to purchase his products what kind of message is that and he is supposed to be a responsible adult?
I refuse to have anything made by his company in my possession o help him profit from anything.
The state of the world makes me very sad these days.
Too bad a camping neighbor didn’t film them and take it straight to a ranger. This stuff drives me nuts.
I think the carving of trees is irresponsible and I also get frustrated that so many people think it is OK to string up a hammock or other things tied to trees. As far as I know that isn’t allowed in National Parks either, does damage to the trees. When I was in Big Bend this young couple arrived, strung up a hammock and a tight rope for walking on between the trees in front of my campsite. The couple was just having fun but totally oblivious to the rules. When a camp host came and told them to remove the lines they were so offended they left, never understanding what they had done…
This was done by someone who had a friend instead of a parent when they were growing up. A parent would have told them this is wrong, instead their adult friend said oh that’s so cute. COME ON PEOPLE, YOU MADE THAT CHILD NOW BE A PARENT TO THAT CHILD. YOU CAN BE FRIENDS WITH THEM WHEN THEYRE NO LONGER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
None of my Boy Scouts would have ever done anything like this. They were taught to respect nature, not deface it.
They should be able to tell with the initials by who was in that site. Give them a hefty fine and make them replace the tree themselves and dig the hole for it!
If this one year old post is about the tree in Joshua National Park, the two people who did this were 40 years old and fined $500 in November 2020……and the tree was repaired…..
The fine should have another zero behind it and banishment from State and Federal parks for life. And charged with a misdemeanor.
If in a National park it should be a felony, period. Huge fines and banishment.
I would hope they also paid for the repair!
More “Stupid Human Tricks”… It’s getting harder and harder to find a place remote enough to get away from all such evolutionary retrogrades.
As a retired Corrections Officer, I agree that the person should pay for the crime committed. But not with time behind bars. The person, regardless of age should be sent to a tattoo parlor and have it imbedded very deep into his skin as a reminder of what they destroyed.
It sure isn’t nice and it is disgusting, but there are a lot worse things going on in this here country of ours lately to be most worried about.
Big trouble starts with small acts. Stop it early.
Cutting down the tree is, in my opinion, not a good solution. Obviously, site registration records may identify the criminal as there are initials. Prosecution and huge fines is the best solution and banishment for life from all National Parks would go a long way toward dissuading this type of behavior. An arborist may be able to save the tree and the abominable defacement can be covered. The tree’s bark will likely regrow over the damage.
Having worked in Yellowstone NP, I have seen it all. People walking down the street or trails and just throw their trash, whatever it is in their hands, on the ground. One couple was cooking their dinner in a geyser to heat it up. People walking up to the bison like they were their pet dogs! Stupidity walks among us and they breed!
Cut it down; no make it a learning moment – put up a sign that says, stupid people did this – don’t show your stupidness to the world.
HIDE IT, camouflage it, cover it, etc as fast as you can. Do not give the punk’s the satisfaction of knowing it exist. A neighborhood had a problem with punk’s spray painting everything. They came up with a policy to paint over any graffiti on fence, business, etc within 48 hours of noticing it. “Don’t give the punks the satisfaction”. They quit painting everything knowing their “masterpiece” is going to be destroyed in hours, they are just wasting their money on spray paint. Plus, no civilized people want their kids to see that c”:”p! Hide it with a natural looking vine wrapped around it, properly carved information signs, etc. etc. etc. Put a brainstorming team together and use your imagination because this problem will need a feasible solution as it is only going to get worse. The worse thing they can do is leave it there for the punks to gloat over.
I guess I do not get angry like you do. Yes, I hope they are caught and prosecuted. Yes, adults have been carving initials & hearts for many years, usually smaller & privately. They have written names, drawings and dates on rocks. It becomes a crime when they alter something ancient. Instead, choose to clean up their mess, sort out what they left behind, donate, recycle or trash. Let’s see if we can fix that tree, and use the damage as a teaching tool. Please do not cut down a limb so you can park your RV there either.
There is a short hike to mirror lake in Yosemite from the campground. One of the things at mirror lake were all (about 30) cairns that had been created over the years. I watched in horror as a young boy knocked them all down and his father said nothing. We have the last pictures of them. Even then we were fearful of retribution from the father if we intervened….if he allowed his son to do that obviously doesn’t respect the environment.
While kicking those down is not very nice and I would never defend it. Aren’t the cairns themselves another form of vandalism? Sure they do not leave any permanent damage but 30 groups of people decided that the rest of us could not enjoy unspoiled natural beauty at Yellowstone.
Amen. Leave no sign. Your ego does not impress others.
I agree, cut down the tree. What a shame.
I agree with everybody about how disgusting this is. But a thought occurred to me. Did the ancients who made petroglyphs, carvings, etc. get in trouble for what they did? Don’t get me wrong- just wondering what the difference is.
The ancients used drawings as a way of communication. Now we have easier ways to communicate. With a mentality like this more than likely J and M’s relationship will not survive.
Back decades ago in an effort to discourage graffiti at Hueco Tanks State Park in Texas (reported to have more petroglyphs and pictographs than anywhere else in the US) they sandblasted modern graffiti off old drawings depicting a battle between natives, white solders and settlers. The result was almost total loss of the drawings forever! How do these parks discourage such actions? I say with a very stiff penalty and community service to the area and lots of advertising as to what will happen to offenders. Make it really cost, now find a judge that will support this!
An interesting take. Today’s graffiti may be a petroglyph for future generations. A more recent example would be Register Cliff on the Oregon trail.
Aren’t we supposed to be smarter than “The Ancients”?
Article is a year and a half old. Tree has healed or has been cut down and perpetrators have been dealt with. Probably a “stern” scolding and a have a nice day. Smh.
Do NOT cut the tree down. That would just exacerbate the damage and make the tree pay for a human’s sins. Also, leaving the tree there will remind all normal people how precious our parks are.
Cut down the tree? What sense does that make? That is the equivalent of sending the victim to jail for being a victim. Put some pitch over it.
Agree !!
While I am a “tree lover” I really think this tree should be removed. There will undoubtedly be those who think this is “cool” and will be inclined to carve their initials in other trees – could end up having a ‘domino effect’ in the future. A new tree could be planted in its place.
This damage took some time to achieve. Where were the people in the other campsites? Did they not see what was going on? By all means, do not approach the offenders and start a fight with them. Stay in your rig and call the rangers or campground host and let them know what is happening. This is beyond disgusting !!
I am not sure what park it was but Natl Geographic showed a picture of a rock that was part of a Native American tribe thing and it was defaced. Had four names etched into it. If they try to fix it it will only make things worse. I am like dudes WTF?