Portland, OR - Sandy River "Nails or spikes - several inches long - have been drilled or pounded into the river's rocks. In recent weeks, the nails have ripped open two rafts, including Josh Linn's 16-foot pontoon raft." http://www.katu.com/stories/75807.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, Mar 18, 2005 at 04:28:20AM -0800, Jackie Myers wrote: > "Nails or spikes - several inches long - have been drilled or pounded > into the river's rocks. In recent weeks, the nails have ripped open two > rafts, including Josh Linn's 16-foot pontoon raft." Yow. Someone needs to find the perps and prosecute them for attempted murder -- because that's *exactly* what this is. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
[Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (including headers/footers/sig lines/extraneous text from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material in addition to removing header/trailers when replying to posts.] Thanks for the post Jackie. Do they think this is vandalism or is there some motivated group trying to keep people off the river? Why would anybody go to that much trouble just to make trouble for someone else? Stephen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Myers" <jackie_at_paddlewise.net> > Portland, OR - Sandy River > > "Nails or spikes - several inches long - have been drilled or pounded into > the river's rocks. In recent weeks, the nails have ripped open two rafts, > including Josh Linn's 16-foot pontoon raft." > > http://www.katu.com/stories/75807.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: "Stephen F Logan" <sfl1222_at_sbcglobal.net> > Do they think this is vandalism or is there > some motivated group trying to keep people > off the river? I don't know. I was thinking maybe a paddler here might have more info about the area and what's up. I do know there can be a lot of animosity between land owners and those using the river for recreation purposes but I can't say that's the problem here. Could be some enviro nut job, as far as I know. > Why would anybody > go to that much trouble just to make trouble for someone else? Reminds me of the nut job they arrested here in Orange County that was burying nails in childrens playgrounds. There is no good answer for that. jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_rockandwater.net> > Yow. Someone needs to find the perps and prosecute them for attempted > murder -- because that's *exactly* what this is. I agree. This certainly is no "prank." Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: "Stephen F Logan" <sfl1222_at_sbcglobal.net> > Do they think this is vandalism or is there > some motivated group trying to keep people > off the river? I just watched the video stream provided by the news website. The katu news spokesperson said the U.S. Forest Service has described this as an act of eco terrorism. There was no explanation about why the USFS said that. I guess the eco-terrorists don't realize that wildlife also uses the river. Right now, the water levels are low and exposing many of the spikes that will be under water when the levels return to normal. A whitewater paddler interviewed in the video expressed his concern about this cowardly act (cowardly being my word) spreading to other rivers. jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Jackie Myers" <jackie_at_muddypuppies.com> > I just watched the video stream provided by the news > website. The katu news spokesperson said the U.S. Forest > Service has described this as an act of eco terrorism. > There was no explanation about why the USFS said that. > I guess the eco-terrorists don't realize that wildlife > also uses the river. I've been following this story. It is far from clear who put those spikes there. Anybody, from someone who wants rafters off the water in lieu of steelhead fishers, to an eco terrorist, to some random nut job, could have done this. It is premature to conclude who did it. This is out of character for the Earthfirst, etc., set. Their actions are much more focused. In any case, the spikes will soon be removed as low water continues to plague the Northwest ... we are in drought mode ... they will be fully exposed and easy to spot. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, Mar 18, 2005 at 11:41:50AM -0800, Jackie Myers wrote: > A whitewater paddler interviewed in the video expressed > his concern about this cowardly act (cowardly being my > word) spreading to other rivers. FYI, on thing that we have seen -- although not, as far as I know, in many years -- is the use of wire/barbed-wire strung across streams at paddler height. Let me distinguish that from "cattle fences", or whatever folks call 'em in various parts of the world: these are wire-and-board constructions that are used to keep livestock from wandering off; they're usually found on small, sleepy streams; and their builders are clearly not trying to injure anyone, they're just trying to keep the cows (or whatever) at home. One usually doesn't run into these, at least around here (east coast USA), unless paddling some pretty small creeks in rural areas, and *usually* it's just not a problem to see them well in advance and either move the boards out of the way temporarily to get through, or portage around them, or just paddle right past 'em. (Many are in disrepair but still serving their intended purpose anyway: the cows believe that they can't get through, therefore they don't. Paddlers are usually smart enough not to fall for this trick. ;-) ) Anyway, barbed wire has been used sporadically in places where river access issues became _very_ contentious. It's usually accompanied by vandalism to paddler vehicles and other forms of harrassment. But *this*...given the location and the method, this is aimed much more broadly, if one can even say that it's "aimed" at all. A tip of the helmet to those folks who are out there ripping them out. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: "Dave Kruger" <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> > > I guess the eco-terrorists don't realize that wildlife > > also uses the river. > > I've been following this story. It is far from clear who put those spikes > there. As I said, I don't know why USFS has made the "eco-terrorist" comment (if the reporter was quoting correctly). Maybe it has something to do with the fact that nails and spikes seem to be a favored tool-of-the-trade for eco-terrorists (not to be confused with environmentalists). A google search on - environmental terrorists nails spikes - produces thousands of links. Some real eye-opening reading at some of those links. > It is premature to conclude who did it. This is out of character for the > Earthfirst, etc., set. Their actions are much more focused. What do you mean by "focused?" What's "etc."? Does that include ELF and ALF and Sea Shepard? Earthfirst wasn't mentioned in the article or video. Did the USFS name EF in your area? > In any case, the spikes will soon be removed as low water continues to plague > the Northwest ... we are in drought mode ... they will be fully exposed and > easy to spot. Some of the spikes have been found underwater because the guides were *looking* for them and two ripped inflatables found some of them. jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rich Kulawiec wrote: >But *this*...given the location and the method, this is aimed much >more broadly, if one can even say that it's "aimed" at all. > >A tip of the helmet to those folks who are out there ripping them out. > > I hope they are being saved and given to the authorities as evidence of a very serious threat to life. GaryJ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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