RE: [Paddlewise] Commando Camping

Hi Matt and All,

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of Matt Broze
>
> I don't profess to know much about the Maine Island Trail. I have heard
> Paddlewise contributor Rob Cookson does though as he was once a
> guide there,
> I believe. Are you out there Rob? Care to comment?

I think Matt is baiting me for a small rant here.  Correct me if I'm wrong
Matt but isn't this the first conversation we ever had?  Back in '92 fresh
from the east coast I wandered into Mariner looking for work (which I found
later that day at PWS but that's another story) and somehow MITA came up.
My opinion is just that, and what I observed is strictly anecdotal and my
conclusions are simply my own.  This is definitely not a politically correct
or popular opinion but then again I've always thought being politically
correct and popular were both overrated and better left to those running for
office.  Anyhow my experience is limited to the Penobscot bay area off
Stonington.

I'm not sure when MITA was formed but it was still in it's infancy in '88
when I began guiding full time.  In those days kayaks in the bay were rare
and ours was the only company leading tours and what few other kayakers we
saw were usually rag-tag hippy locals (are you out there Dan Kennedy?)  The
Islands were for the most part in their natural state with untouched
interiors and a ring of plastic trash (oilcans and such) at the high tide
line.  Clamming was good and since almost no one ate muscles they were
plentiful too.

Now in my mind MITA had good intentions and wanted to preserve a resource
and help ensure access...  BUT-  in this area of the bay there were already
lots of public Islands where access was already secure, they just weren't
well known.  It seemed to me that some individuals really wanted growth of
MITA (I'm not going to speculate why I'll just keep assuming that they were
well meaning) and that meant soliciting members.  And that they did.  Soon
people were calling or stopping in to ask about the "trail" "how do we get
to the trail, where does the trail start, how do I follow the trail".  Usage
went up and by people who had no business being on the water, no chart or
compass, no skills etc.  The bay went from totally vacant to overcrowded
with MITA members at a rapid rate.

MITA wanted to be environmentally friendly and encouraged members to pick up
and haul out trash from the islands-and that they did, the little ring of
high-tide poly disappeared.  BUT-  soon there were trails running into the
interiors of the islands and limbs were being cut to allow room for more
tents and all the driftwood was burned (I know that may seem hard for you
west coasters to fathom but there isn't that much on east coast islands) and
the granite was scarred with fire-rings and ewwww what was that I stepped
in.  Yup the islands were becoming big litter boxes.  Most of the islands in
Penobscot Bay have are granite with a fine duff on top and not much more,
and now that was being dug up and used as shallow graves for human waste.

Now you might argue that as an outfitter I was part of the problem but from
my way of thinking I was teaching responsible use of the islands as well as
safety.  I have never kindled a fire, cut a limb or left waste human or
otherwise on any of those islands.  I was fortunate to have worked for a
wonderful woman who had very strong island ethics and for that I'm grateful.
Curiously it was probably her safety conscious practices (not renting boats
etc) not to mention the loss of her best guide to the west coast, that
eventually put her out of business (no need to be humble while ranting).

You may think that I'm just bitter about having to share MY islands with the
rest of the world and in part you would be right but on the other hand I
think MITA created the very problem they were seeking to avoid.  I have not
kept up with them or their politics but last I knew if you wanted to build a
big ole fire and squat in the bushes that was fine by them and for that I'm
pissed.

Anyway that's just what I think.

Cheers,

Rob- Who is just back from Maine and who didn't fight the hoards to camp on
his favorite islands but squeezed his fat but into a tiny rodeo boat and
surfed the hell out of his favorite wave in the world.





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