Posted by Todd Caudle on February 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Just a heads-up for all you photographers planning to shoot up on Rattlesnake Ridge — the geniuses who run the place have now declared the place off-limits. I had heard from another photographer that he had gotten accosted up there by a ranger and he talked to another group who did also. Keep in mind that, while there's no "official" trail up there, there's a well-defined social trail that leads to the top of the ridge and runs the length of it. We're not talking a trail that is susceptible to damage, as it has looked virtually the same for the entirety of the 30 years I've been going up there. Hell, even William Henry Jackson shot from up there! As far as I'm concerned, they can put whatever sign up they want, it won't stop me from going up there. They can put a 10' tall barbed-wire fence around the place, and I'll just take bolt cutters to get through it. I suggest others take the same stance. Can you imagine not ever being able to stand on that ridge and enjoy the view? Pathetic!
If anyone has any ideas about how to fight this, let me know.
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM
The view in question.
Posted by Stan Rose on February 18, 2012 at 11:55 AM
huh...guess im not surprised. Well, i was pretty much done with Rattlesnake anyhow, ill go tresspass in some other part of the park If they really want to protect their natural resources they should dynamite some of the McMansions that surround the place...
Love it :) They could do the same at Roxborough too, while they have the demolition kit to hand.
Posted by Bob Falcone on February 18, 2012 at 6:58 PM
Wow, that's a disappointing (and unnecessary) development.
Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has two divisions. One of those divisions has launched what I feel is an all-out assault on hikers (and by extension, photographers). In some areas, parking pull-outs have been blocked by large boulders, and even the official parking area at a popular trailhead has had half its parking space eliminated by large boulders. All of this is causing people to park in the road, and walk down narrow roads to get to popular scenic overlooks.
Todd, contact me directly and I will try to point you to someone who might be able to help.
As for taking photos from Rattlesnake Ridge (a well-deserved name, BTW), many of us have done it many times, but it's a very nice view and a good place to take people who haven't seen or shot from there. It's a shame someone is trying to stop its use.
Posted by Richard Olsen on February 18, 2012 at 8:18 PM
Todd...Do you have an opinion on this??
One ranger or supervisor can cause lots of havoc for many a nature respecting photog and that's sad!
Posted by Don Grall on February 19, 2012 at 1:29 AM
That's a typical reaction by governmental authorities at all levels! The easiest way for them to manage resources is to limit public access, thus their job becomes way easier, even though it takes away from the original intent behind creating public parks and recreation areas.
Maybe a law needs to be passed to prevent these bureaucrats from taking the easy way out and define public parks and recreations areas to have public access the top priority. It might be a difficult thing to do, since government is all about creating restrictions, but not impossible!
Posted by Angela Classen on February 19, 2012 at 1:38 AM
Todd, don't be afraid to tell us how you really feel Judging from the photo you posted, I can see why you're upset and flipping the bird to the rangers. It's a shame someone in charge has suddenly decided people shouldn't be allowed to use a trail that's been there for eons. I feel your pain...
Posted by Kane Engelbert on February 19, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Todd, I'm surprised by the lack of clouds? And where the heck is the famous watermark?
Posted by Bill Bean on February 19, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Just like the bumper sticker I had in the 60's....A.Q.A. ALWAYS Question Authority!
Seriously, like Don said, in this age of reducing spending and limited resources the easiest way to deal with it is limit access. If it takes 3 rangers to patrol a specific area effectively and you only have 2 rangers, you need to shrink the area. Not a popular decision with photographers but it is what it is.
Posted by D J Kuklinski on February 19, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Go get 'em, Todd!
Posted by Stan Rose on February 20, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Maybe a law needs to be passed to prevent these bureaucrats from taking the easy way out and define public parks and recreations areas to have public access the top priority. It might be a difficult thing to do, since government is all about creating restrictions, but not impossible!
Don, with all respect, i strongly disagree with that idea--personally i say "restrict, restrict, RESTRICT" Its the only way to protect our dwindling natural areas with 500,000,000 citizens and growing all the time. The 'original intent' unfortunately doesn't work so well in the 21st century. Just use some intelligence and common sense--that's where the bureaucrats go wrong. In this case, what they should have done already is have an established trail there, instead of the hodgepodge of routes created by 'eons' of visitors. The 'social trail' mentioned by Todd would be the obvious choice (i use it!).
Posted by Pam Colander on February 20, 2012 at 7:44 PM
I agree with Stan.....I know, weird
Posted by Roger Rouch on February 20, 2012 at 8:44 PM
I have to agree with Stan on this one, but have some understanding of these things. Some of our Jefferson country open spaces have become so popular, with each special interest group making a social trail for their activity, that social trails start to affect the aesthetics of places. Hikers short cut switchbacks, mountain bikers make trails to gnarly challenges and cause other problems, birders make trails to hot spots, and eventually understaffed parks people are forced to make one size fits all rules. Too many people and not enough management resources.
Hopefully this can have a favorable outcome. And hopefully, Todd, you won't get hauled off for your Occupy Rattlesnake Ridge protest.
Posted by Pam Colander on February 21, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Hey Todd...when you get thrown in the slammer I'll bake you a cake with camera batteries in it
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 21, 2012 at 7:01 PM
"Occupy Rattlesnake Ridge"....that's a great idea Roger.
We could make it the March group activity.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 21, 2012 at 10:28 PM
A year ago I had been working for the City of Colorado Springs almost five years and could have pointed you to the right person there. In the last year there has been nearly 100% turnover at the top levels of the City administration. That said, they were pretty good at keeping the website up to date with department head contact info.
One person who you could start with is Nick Kittle (I believe he is still there). Let me know if you need his email address.
Of course the other option is to bring it up with the elected officials.
Of course I could add a whole lot more color to my opinion of the political dynamics of Colorado Springs, but I've gladly put that in my rearview mirror.
Posted by Ken Wyatt on February 24, 2012 at 12:44 PM
There's a petition being circulated to open up the trail. Please see the separate posting dated 2/24/12.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 26, 2012 at 8:10 PM
This email in today;
_____________________________________
Hello,
I am simply requesting a comment from Nature Photographers.net about a recent forum post found at:
I do not believe the photo found on the link follows your Nature Photographers Code of Conduct. Since there is a petition beginning around this subject, there will be more discussions to come here at the Garden of the Gods. I would simply like to request a statement from Nature Photographers Online Magazine about this specific forum post and if you support this type of action against established park rules and regulations.
Thank you,
Bret Tennis
Program Coordinator
Garden of the Gods
719-219-0108
Discussion
18 repliesIf anyone has any ideas about how to fight this, let me know.
Love it :) They could do the same at Roxborough too, while they have the demolition kit to hand.
Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has two divisions. One of those divisions has launched what I feel is an all-out assault on hikers (and by extension, photographers). In some areas, parking pull-outs have been blocked by large boulders, and even the official parking area at a popular trailhead has had half its parking space eliminated by large boulders. All of this is causing people to park in the road, and walk down narrow roads to get to popular scenic overlooks.
Todd, contact me directly and I will try to point you to someone who might be able to help.
As for taking photos from Rattlesnake Ridge (a well-deserved name, BTW), many of us have done it many times, but it's a very nice view and a good place to take people who haven't seen or shot from there. It's a shame someone is trying to stop its use.
One ranger or supervisor can cause lots of havoc for many a nature respecting photog and that's sad!
Maybe a law needs to be passed to prevent these bureaucrats from taking the easy way out and define public parks and recreations areas to have public access the top priority. It might be a difficult thing to do, since government is all about creating restrictions, but not impossible!
Seriously, like Don said, in this age of reducing spending and limited resources the easiest way to deal with it is limit access. If it takes 3 rangers to patrol a specific area effectively and you only have 2 rangers, you need to shrink the area. Not a popular decision with photographers but it is what it is.
Don, with all respect, i strongly disagree with that idea--personally i say "restrict, restrict, RESTRICT" Its the only way to protect our dwindling natural areas with 500,000,000 citizens and growing all the time. The 'original intent' unfortunately doesn't work so well in the 21st century. Just use some intelligence and common sense--that's where the bureaucrats go wrong. In this case, what they should have done already is have an established trail there, instead of the hodgepodge of routes created by 'eons' of visitors. The 'social trail' mentioned by Todd would be the obvious choice (i use it!).
Hopefully this can have a favorable outcome. And hopefully, Todd, you won't get hauled off for your Occupy Rattlesnake Ridge protest.
We could make it the March group activity.
One person who you could start with is Nick Kittle (I believe he is still there). Let me know if you need his email address.
Of course the other option is to bring it up with the elected officials.
Of course I could add a whole lot more color to my opinion of the political dynamics of Colorado Springs, but I've gladly put that in my rearview mirror.
_____________________________________
Hello,
I am simply requesting a comment from Nature Photographers.net about a recent forum post found at:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=69063&CGISESSID=001a2df0d2b97bc6f1ae01df260741c6&u=28823
I do not believe the photo found on the link follows your Nature Photographers Code of Conduct. Since there is a petition beginning around this subject, there will be more discussions to come here at the Garden of the Gods. I would simply like to request a statement from Nature Photographers Online Magazine about this specific forum post and if you support this type of action against established park rules and regulations.
Thank you,
Bret Tennis
Program Coordinator
Garden of the Gods
719-219-0108
___________________________________________
Perhaps Bret is the guy to talk to.