The other day we were at the Verde River, hanging out in a lovely spot called Lower TAPCO River Access Point (RAP). This area has been developed by the Town of Clarkdale as a recreational site and a boat launch area for both commercial and non-commercial kayakers. We buy a yearly pass ($45 for Clarkdale residents) and we're there all the time, in every season. There's a big fat part of the river there, just below the first rapids: a big curving lagoon lined by shady willows and cottonwoods, perfect for swimming, picnicking, kayaking, tubing, dog walking, or just sitting by water's edge sipping a beer.
When the town cleaned up and developed this spot several years back, long-time locals who grew up here lamented the loss of their teenage party spot, grumbling about how it used to be free, and they used to camp out there and party out there and waaa, now it costs $5 for a parking pass! And you can't have a keg party or bonfire out there anymore like you did in high school in the 1970s and '80s. Boo hoo, babies.
I was at this spot a few times before they made it the recreational area, and it sucked. It was known locally as "the Gravel Pits" back then, and it was a mess. Broken glass, garbage, shell-casings, barbecued goat. We even found an abandoned Chevy Chevette carcass there as well as the occasional dead cow. There was a sense of danger about the place that negatively impacted the beauty of this rare Arizona riparian area.
It's much better now. Nature has returned to areas formerly trashed. The area is not overly developed, but orderly. Safe. Dirt parking areas. A port-a-john. Picnic tables. Some interpretive signage. Rules.
There are rules now.
Sometimes when we're there we don't see anybody else for hours.
But when we were there the other day, floating around in inner tubes with the dogs, sipping a beer, some folks rolled down to the boat launch in their big truck, parking it with the rear tires in the river so they could dangle their legs into the river. Their loud music playing on the car stereo. I couldn't paddle away fast enough from this obnoxious intrusion into nature. Dog off leash running loose, despite signs mentioning this wasn't allowed. Parked in the commercial boat launch unloading zone despite signs clearly designating it as such. (Eventually a commercial kayak company arrived and booted them, but they just moved to the public boat launch, ignoring the "10 minute only-unloading zone" sign).
Normally there is a "Verde River Ambassador", a ranger in a white truck , maintaining the rules, but that person is only there until 3pm, and it was just after.
I was reminded of what this area was like back before the rules. Of the times folks drove in the river, did donuts in the dirt, burned things, blasted music, left garbage and goats and Chevettes.
Just anyone doing whatever the hell they wanted with no thought of how their actions impacted others.
Suddenly it occurred to me that whenever people complain about not being able to do something they used to do, instead of blaming "progress" or the people from the modern day for this, blame someone from your own time--from back in the day. Blame some thoughtless person (or many thoughtless people) who ruined it for everyone because they didn't know how to behave. It takes only a few turkeys to ruin it for all.
They left garbage.
They took risks that got them injured or killed .
They trespassed a time too many.
They stole relics and artifacts and personal property.
They vandalized. They carved their names, spray-painted, shot holes, tore things apart.
They killed plants and trees and animals.
These people ruined your youthful memories, not any of the relative newcomers to this valley. .
I can complain too about stuff I used to have as a kid that no longer exists. Often time these things are gone for the same reason. Some jerks ruining it for everyone. I can lament the lack of roller rinks in the 21st century . I loved roller rinks! But they died off because too many people sued the rinks when they fell down and hurt themselves while skating, and the rink owners could no longer afford the liability. Because of a few assholes who could not take personal responsibility for their own injuries. It's not the fault of the person who lives in the apartment building or works in the restaurant that now exists where the roller rink used to be.
Fossil Springs, a beautiful travertine waterfall many miles outside of Camp Verde, is another example. A place that had wide open access, free camping, etc. but is now restricted, requiring a permit, because careless people trashed it. Leaving garbage, empty 18pks of Busch beer, diapers, fast food wrappers. I applaud the forest service for protecting it better.
You can't camp there anymore.
You know why?
That's right. A few creeps ruined it for us all.
Rules and protected areas conserve natural spots like this for EVERYONE.
Not just you and your secret club from days-gone-by. At least you have your memories.
Some of us never even got the chance.
Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon is a place that comes up often in the discussion of long-time locals griping about how much better things used to be. How it used to be less crowded. Used to be free. Cleaner. Before it was a State Park. All the fond childhood memories, now ruined by overcrowding, baby diapers and thoughtless people who don't know how to react with respect to this beautiful scene.
Truth be told, this "crown jewel" of the Arizona State Park system is probably one of the most crowded, over-used places in the entire state. There are rules, yet due to the sheer mass of people there throughout the summer, the ratio of thoughtless people increases to an excessive levels, resulting in:
Garbage
Vandalism
Injury
Traffic
E-Coli bacteria in the creek
Last time we were there, in April 2017 (because most locals avoid it), I was stunned by pulsating techno music being blasted at a picnic kiosk. It echoed over the entire park, inescapable (it is located in a canyon, after all).I don't even know how the family group in the kiosk, eating sandwiches next to the speaker, could hear themselves think. I asked a ranger about it and she just shrugged, like there was nothing to be done about it. To me, I was flummoxed not only by the crappy taste in music, but the utter thoughtlessness that everyone at the park would want to listen to that noise.
What will eventually happen is, there will be more rules at this park too. Because the few bad apples who don't know how to be thoughtful of others. You will need to request a permit in advance, like you have to do with Fossil Springs.You won't be able to park along the highway when the parking lot is full, because too many people fell 50 feet down from the road trying to scramble down into the park.(This seriously happened like 3 or 4 times this summer, resulting in First Responders rescuing injured people, and highway closed for rescue vehicles).
I wish I knew the solution to thoughtlessness. People with entitled behavior, thinking the world is for them alone to do as they wish. Most traffic accidents and automobile fatalities are a result of thoughtlessness.
Thoughtlessness is truly the root cause to so many problems in our world.
Not sure the cure.
The only thing I can do is be extra thoughtful.
I can push thoughtful energy into the universe. I can be gentle and graceful with others and follow the Golden Rule.
I can let people in when they're trying to merge into traffic.
I can drive the speed limit (or close to it), cruise in the right lane and use the left only for passing.
I can hold doors.
I can keep my dogs leashed.
I can enjoy nature quietly, listening to the sounds of the river.
I can leave things as I found them.
I can read signs and respect rules.
I can rescue lizards and bugs and birds.
This word isn't just for me to use up however I want. I'm not the only one here tryin' to survive.
There are thousands of ways to be thoughtful.
And honestly, there are far more thoughtful people than there are thoughtless.
Why do we let the thoughtless win?
