Re: [Paddlewise] "Commando" Camping

A true guerrilla camper would not be advertising the technique (or their
favorite camping spots). I couldn't believe that Ralph wrote about it in his
book. This is roughly equivalent of writing an article in the newspaper
describing your secret (but illegal) fishing hole. Not only will hundreds of
fishermen descend on it and ruin the fishing but the game warden will be
there waiting to arrest them to teach them a lesson. Best sometimes to just
keep your mouth shut and your pen holstered. A kayaker in real need will
figure out what they need to do. We don't need to encourage new paddlers to
break the law by describing how it is done and romanticizing it.

The major problem that has made kayakers unwelcome in the San Juans was not
guerrilla camping. Campsites were relatively plentiful (at least until the
Water Trails organization sold them down the river). The problem is the fact
that most of the beaches in the San Juans are really the public's property
(usually to the high tide line). The owners of the uplands have always
treated the beaches as though they owned them. They could keep terrestrial
tourists off them by limiting access and by putting pressure on their
neighbors to do the same. So to prevent an invasion from the sea (and more
kayakers taking a stroll down that public beach in front of their house when
they can't legally just go get the shotgun and fire a few warning shots over
their "No trespassing" signs and the kayakers beyond them) they must devise
more sinister methods. They have sought to put their "property" out of reach
of most kayakers, just like they did with earthbound tourists, by organizing
to limit a kayaker's access to the water anywhere on "their" islands. They
have been quite successful at this and now every access point I used to use
from the ferry has been closed. This is too bad because kayakers mostly need
to now take their cars on the ferry to get access to the water.

Matt Broze (who tries very hard not to be a guerrilla kayak camper but
realizes that on occasion there is not really any other sane choice)
http://www.marinerkayaks.com



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