* ruff draft (unedited) to a column piece I’m writing
In Alaska, during the 1960s, there was a stretch of the Seward Highway a few miles out of Anchorage, along Turnagain Arm, decimated with ugly spray paint messages. I’m talking about a scenic and beautiful section of road adored by locals and tourists alike. Most of the vandalism was undoubtedly performed by teenagers, either spraying their names on rocks, or favorite boyfriends or girlfriends. Peace symbols were popular and there were several in all different hues. I knew some of the guys and gals responsible.
This section of the Seward Highway eventually became a real eyesore, with the legislature eventually making it a crime to deface public lands. The Alaska State Troopers were strict on enforcement, and if someone was caught doing such they were prosecuted. After these painted messages were removed via sandblasting by volunteers and state workers, the graffiti stopped.
I just read an article about a family from Arizona traveling to Utah, and one of their children desecrating a scenic rock on BLM land. The defaced boulder is located near Catacomb Rock, a popular four-wheel driving destination near Moab, on land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. “The Finnfam – 2023” was written on it with a chalky substance.
These people were eventually caught, with the father telling BLM officials it wouldn’t happen again. No mention of a fine or punishment was mentioned in this story. Hopefully, something was done to the culprit, although with the BLM, I highly doubt it.
SARA Park is one of my favorite places to hike or just take in the scenery. Sadly, desecration of a large mound took place there sometime in the near past. As big a peace symbol as it is, people had to have seen the work taking place. Why it’s being left up is incomprehensible, as this circular collection of loose rocks takes away from the serenity of the area. I now call it Desecration Rock for good reason.
I understand that Lake Havasu City owns or manages the 1,082.11 acres. If that’s the case, why isn’t something being done to reel in those responsible for destroying this landscape? Those rocks need to be re-scattered. SARA Park doesn’t need an L.A. touch here by any means and I’m sure plenty of others will agree.
Ten years ago, two homeless people were camping on a hill not far from my house. I use the word homeless quite loosely here. Those folks were young enough and definitely physically capable of working. The word vagrant or bum is totally appropriate for me and that’s all that matters.
The guy and gal would hike up and start a campfire most every night, then hit the sack. They didn’t realize how far their voices and moaning sounds carried when it was dark and quiet outside. By sunrise they were gone. One neighbor said that he saw this couple at Rotary Park during the day, merely sitting, drinking, and smoking.
I climbed up one morning after they’d departed, finding trash of all kind scattered about. Making a call to the local BLM office, the receptionist connected me to an enforcement officer. This man said that he’d take care of things. Far as I know, the guy never came out to look because he was supposed to follow up.
Making another call to the same official several months later, I told him not to worry about removing all of that trash on the hill, because with one match, I was going to magically make things disappear. He got upset at this point, saying I couldn’t do that, regardless that there was no trees or shrubbery up there to catch fire. I’d evidently become the bad person in his mind, not the two people having created the mess. It was a big joke amongst a couple of friends in our neighborhood, that I was going to burn this rocky section of desert to the ground.
The vagrant’s trash consisted of discarded cardboard boxes, a well-used, slimy looking sleeping bag, plastic liquor and water bottles up the gazoo, soup cans, along with plenty of discarded hypodermic needles and syringes. The winds eventually dispersed things, and I’m sure it’s still out there, scattered from here to Tupelo.
If enforcement of our public lands is not a priority with BLM or city officials, Havasu and it’s surrounding area could soon resemble Los Angeles. Graffiti criminals are erroneously labeled as artists there. Let’s not follow in their footpath.
A clear message to say we don’t condone such destructive behavior in Lake Havasu City is for a group of volunteers to descend on Desecration Rock, and much like a giant human eraser, wipe the slate clean. I’m sure SARA would thank them greatly for it!
I like to write junk... 