Myrtle is Moaning

[whynotwalk]

Lake Myrtle that is ....

Yet more evidence of illegal campfires and wood hooking in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Hands up those walkers who DON'T know this is a Fuel Stove Only Area? And part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area? And underlain by peat, that can burn for months?

Years ago I thought we had "won" the battle to stop campfires being used in these areas. Maybe time to spread the word again ... and to resist the "oh it's just a little fire" urge that most of us have. These areas have suffered enough from fire without the walking community - that's us - adding to its woes.

cheers

Peter

Myrtle Campfire1.JPG (233.65 KiB) Viewed 5772 times

Last edited by whynotwalk on Tue 07 Feb, 2012 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

[ollster]

Gosh... bit surprised people are carrying hatchets in there. I would think pretty much all Tasmanian walkers would be well aware of the risks of starting peat fires in such areas.

[Liamy77]

What selfish idiots!

Lets hope other walkers/rangers dont catch em - hatchets can cut idiotic people too (insert insane evil lol).

[Kozzie]

I explained to a couple foreigners at butterfly that they had to put there fire out they just argued and ignored me. Not sure what you guys do in these situations?
I mean wineglass bay (cant get my head put of the whitsundays)

[stepbystep]

My last trip to Rhona(Nov2010) there was evidence of a campfire....

[ollster]

I explained to a couple foreigners at butterfly that they had to put there fire out they just argued and ignored me. Not sure what you guys do in these situations?

I hear peeing on a fire smells pretty off... maybe that?

[Nick S]

I explained to a couple foreigners at butterfly that they had to put there fire out they just argued and ignored me. Not sure what you guys do in these situations?

I hear peeing on a fire smells pretty off... maybe that?

Yeah just march into the middle of the camp and let loose on the fire. Sure way to clear the area. Certainly if high school camp experience is anything to go by..

[Vee]

Hi Peter
Thanks for posting your pictures. A friend and I went in to Myrtle, April 2011 and we too were horrified to find a similar mess. The standing half chopped tree was had very fresh hatchet marks; there were a couple of fresh campfires, still with ash and lots of large fresh cut logs maybe left for next bonfire party.

Along the shoreline in the bushes there was a big mess of human "youknowwhat" and about 20kms of toilet paper strewn about. No attempt to bury any of it. My friend and I figured it was no more than a week since these person's (or person?) had been there, so all we did was mark it in the logbook on our way out.

On that trip we walked over to Meston and Junction and no mess there. So it appears that these persons just camped at Myrtle. Maybe they will be back.

How is it possible to find these people and educate them??? Anyone from Parks have ideas?? How about walkers keeping watch on car regos and reporting damage if it coincides with meeting up with these people. I'm not too sure about you boys peeing on the campfire idea after all they have a hatchet

[Liamy77]

I think the other best way (other than ollster etc) is pull out your camera and start recording pics of them toasting themselves with their fire.... and any parked cars etc you find later and forward a copy of the lot to Parks.... I hear they love those kinda holiday snaps (but would prefer never to need to see them )

[tastrax]

Geotagged images are even better!

[pazzar]

There are similar campfire spots at Lake Bill. I noticed this when I was up there recently.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Maybe instead of seeing 10 PWS staff hanging around St Clair, it'd be nice to see them out in the field patrolling areas OTHER than the OT occasionally.....

[ollster]

Maybe instead of seeing 10 PWS staff hanging around St Clair, it'd be nice to see them out in the field patrolling areas OTHER than the OT occasionally.....

How dare you! I've seen them hanging around... umm... actually last time I saw one in the wild and not in the OLT area was probably crossing camp in 1997.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Besides Mt Field im not sure i've seen one ANYWHERE except the OT.

[ollster]

Besides Mt Field im not sure i've seen one ANYWHERE except the OT.

I've seen more spotted tail quolls, and they're on the endangered list...

[ILUVSWTAS]

Besides Mt Field im not sure i've seen one ANYWHERE except the OT.

I've seen more spotted tail quolls, and they're on the endangered list...

[Binder]

Rangers are on the endangered list too....

[ollster]

Rangers are on the endangered list too....

Maybe P&WS need to deputise some of the forum members? Or we could start up a vigilante squad.

[Binder]

I'd be in that Ollster.

Not officially of course...

[ollster]

I'd be in that Ollster.

Not officially of course...

The first rule of Fight Club...

[doogs]

There was some Americains on Schouuten Island who were upset about not being able to have a fire. Later that night there appeared to be a fire at the far end on the beach, but it sisappeared soon after. In the morning I went and had a look and found evidence of a fire. I guess they just lit the fire for their happy snaps
I would join an A team style de-plebbing-the-parks squad, especially if we got some tasers

[ILUVSWTAS]

There was some Americains on Schouuten Island who were upset about not being able to have a fire. Later that night there appeared to be a fire at the far end on the beach, but it sisappeared soon after. In the morning I went and had a look and found evidence of a fire. I guess they just lit the fire for their happy snaps
I would join an A team style de-plebbing-the-parks squad, especially if we got some tasers

Ditto. Deputise me and look out world!!

[ollster]

Ditto. Deputise me and look out world!!

Isn't there a reason you're not a forum mod?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Besides the obvious?? What would the fun in that be...? Much more fun to be a norm...

HOWEVER, having the power to boot ppl out of WHA's would be kind of sweet..... My first move would be to confiscate all of Kozzies gear so he can do himself no harm....

[Liamy77]

are you sure you dont already "vigilant"
Iluv is actually a very nice person .... for example- he is an avid organ donor folks.... (but we still haven't been able to work out where he gets so many organs from ? lol

[Kozzie]

hay hay hay HAY!! i need that gear! my foots feeling a little better so im going to try for woj soon
as for the deputizing.... i had authority once.....once

[ILUVSWTAS]

Cool mate well good luck!! WOJ is another very easy walk.... so take care out there huh!!

Hey Liam. I am an organ donar actually, not that anyone would benefit from having any of mine in them after the abuse i've put them through.
Although there is one in particular that would be quite popular among the gents

[Liamy77]

Although there is one in particular that would be quite popular among the gents

You know this from experience?!

[Graham51]

Last time I walked the South Coast Track we got to Little Deadmans Bay and someone had left a campfire going. This in the middle of summer with gale-force winds. I know fires are (or at that time were) permitted at some of those campsites but that doesn't account for the stupidity of some people who apparently don't realise they should be extinguished when you leave.
I left a note in the ranger box at the end of the walk saying something like that and suggesting that all the camps be fuel stove only but of course I never received any feedback.

[ollster]

Last time I walked the South Coast Track we got to Little Deadmans Bay and someone had left a campfire going. This in the middle of summer with gale-force winds.

There were fire "rings" last time I was at Caver's Camp below PB, too. If anyone here has seen the amazing forest around PB and along the shore of New River Lagoon, they'll appreciate how appalling it was to see people putting this all at risk.