Healing a Heart Lesion: Report of a Miracle

This is a photo of artwork on display in front of INFO on July 4th along with the story behind it and was forwarded to me by a long time gatherer



from the August/September, 2010 N.W. Regional Assembly


To All Family: A Free-Verse HeartSong Prayer

Following sound counsel, we fabricated signs. On Masonite kicked down from a Sandpoint recycler, we attempted to orient our fellow gatherers. They were handsome pieces showing direction, warning or tidbits of advice.

Let's focus on the particular sign in question. It was placed at a Tin the road. The C. A. L. M. was down the hill to the left, Main Meadow was to the right. The winged heart at its center was a vibrant blood red. The sign was affixed to a tree.

Days past as we enjoyed the Gathering process. Autumn was approaching but mostly the weather held fair. We barely noticed a sprinkle but the sign was transformed before our eyes. Water droplets caused the Main Meadow letters & the heart to bleed.

An as yet still unidentified 'young hippie female' saw the sign & added an OM sign in the center of the heart with the words, “The heart of the Rainbow will bleed if her children don't unite”.

We all stumble in life yet each of us is a unique blessing. Some come to rainbow for social reasons; some are activists or Constitutionalists; some have political ambitions; some Divine messengers. All of us long for true family.

We stepped out of the world to do a work. We have well survived the trials & testings of these first 40 years! Herein lies the challenge for survival through the next...

Search out & Release the Negative Vapors in your own Heart

We choose to love, by grace, & forgive. Root out jealousy, anger, hatred, shame, ego & disappointment. Speak blessing not cursing. Respect, humility, mercy, joy, compassion, LOVE are the true economy to freedom. Seeds of peace sown, raise a righteous harvest. Be slow to anger & long to listen.

The prayer for peace stars within. Is it time to do some more homework?


I love you all,

Respectfully,

PS. What a wonderful gathering this is !!!!

Thanks Abba & James for the liberty to paraphrase

Marie Hanson (RIP)

Marie and Bandit @ the gathering

While the search for Marie's remains is over, and no doubt the thoughts of many gatherers are looking to the future and this summers gathering, let's take a few minutes to remember Marie.  There's an article this week in Seattle Weekly on Marie and the gathering. The gathering parts are a bit sensational if you ask me, but it's a good recap of the how Marie's remains were found and the story thus far.  But as they say, it's not over til it's over. 

Marie Hanson’s Family Finding Closure

From (MyNews4.com & KRNV) South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – Loved ones of a South Lake Tahoe woman who went missing nearly 3 months ago say they’re beginning to find closure.

Marie Hanson’s Family Finding Closure

Marie RIP

--From 10/10/11 Updated on 10/11/11
Marie's family has confirmed that the remains found yesterday at the site in Washington are Marie's.

Services will be held this Saturday, October 15th at Sierra Community Church, Sierra Bvd in South Lake Tahoe at noon.

1. The Search Fund has now become the Marie Hanson Memorial Fund ... Donations can be made at 1036 Al Tahoe Blvd. S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
or at mariehansonmissing.com. All donations will help the family with expenses. Most people have life insurance, but Marie did not.
2. Please come show support for Marie's family and friends by attending Saturdays Memorial Service. Please bring a dish if you are able.
3. Pray, Pray and Pray for her family and friends. She is sorely missed by us all.

For those who were at the gathering, Marie's body was found  up the Rd 32/3220 (past the 150 road and before Road 166), before you come to the big "drop-off" .... Her body was on the far side of the road - about 200 yards off the road. An investigation is underway. Once there is more information to share, it will be shared.

--From 10/9/11
Late this afternoon the Skamania County Sheriff informed Marie's family that human remains and jewelry were found at the search site. Positive identification has not been made, however the remains were located near Marie's camp, and there are no other missing persons reported. Sheriff officers will remain at the site throughout the investigation.

Marie's family requests that you allow them their privacy for a couple of days. When positive identification is made, we will post the news.

Thank you friends for your loving support.

Family and Friends Searched for Marie Last Weekend

Last weekend, gatherers, local folks, local law enforcement and Marie's friends gathered on the site to search for Marie. At this point there is a very high probability that Marie's body is up there although it has not yet been found. Cadaver dogs will search again for her remains over the next few days.  For an interview with Marie's daughter on what the search turned up,  click here.

We love you Marie!

Fundraiser for Search Efforts on Sept 24 in Woodland, WA

Searching for Marie Before the First Snow Fall ~Sept 30/Oct 1~

 

Inviting all people in the area or from distant lands to rendezvous at the site of the 2011 Annual Gathering of the Tribes to search for Marie before the first snow fall.  Meet around 10 AM on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1st on US Forest Service Road 3111 -- about a mile west of the Lone Butt Snow Park. Road 3111 picks up a 1/4 mile west of the  intersection of Wind River/Meadow Creek and Forest Service Road 30 (also called Lone Butte). Drive about another 1/2 to 3/4 mile and you'll see find the search party.  the intersection of US Forest Service Road 32 and 150 (back gate)...  For directions, click here. 


We need self-sufficient persons... i.e. people who have their own transportation and, hopefully, bring a Search Partner as we will be using the buddy system so we don't loose anyone else.
 
Bring warm, brightly covered clothes... Hunting season is upon us and we don't want you to get shot.

We'll be asking all volunteers to go through a workshop concerning the search -- please honor this process as we want to find Marie and protect any evidence we may encounter while making sure you stay safe.  If you come, you are liable for your own safety. This is rough country so be prepared for freezing temperatures and wet weather. Wear hiking boots. Be prepared for bugs, bugs and more bugs.

We will be doing "grid work" meaning walking close with one another for 2 days.
We respectfully ask you to move out of the immediate area Saturday night - people will probably retreat to a campground in the area. Folks on site will plug you in once you're there.  Marie's family will be with us and it would be great if a few people can come and focus their energy on supporting the family during this stressful and emotional time. 

We strongly encourage all local town folks to come participate in this search.  We need your help  ~~ the more legs the better and you all know this area better than we do.


EVERYONE, please take the time to watch this video and see if you remember seeing Mellow on the evening of July 7, anytime on July 8 or July 9 & 10.  Cathy is in the background when Mellow is being interviewed.
 

~~ HOW TO HELP EVEN IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE SEARCH ~~

We're trying to reach out to any person who was at the gathering on July 7 and/or 8th and who may have been on the road past the 150 gate on FS Road 32 near Omnivore Cafe and 1 mile in either direction on 32. If you were in that area and saw any of these people, this car or this dog, please email me, post anonymously to this blog, contact the family directly or either of the sheriff's departments involved in this case.

    * Skamania County Sheriff - Detective Tim Garrity
    * (509) 427-9490
    * Case #11-05271

    * Or South Lake Tahoe Police
    * (530)542-6100
    * Case #1107-1214

Mystery Man Who May Have Seen Marie on July 7

Bandit the Dog

Marie and Bandit

Mello

Cathy, aka Cat

Marie with young child

Cathy's Car. Marie was last seen on USFS Road 32 the night of July 7 near this car. If you remember seeing anything around this car between sundown on July 7 and July 10, you may have the missing info that will help us find Marie.

Other than Mystery Man, we know who everyone else is. So if you know who Mystery Man is, please ask him to share what he and Marie talked about that last day.
On a tangential issue, I'm looking for information on anyone who did ceremony at the gathering in a tent with a shaman named Troy where Bandit the dog was present.


Please download and distribute this flyer in your local co-ops, head shops, dispensaries or any place you can think of in your area were hippies or gatherers might visit.  For general info and more photos of Marie, click here.


Please help in what ever way you can. Contact the media in your community and get the message out. In forty years of gathering, we have yet to loose anyone from the gathering site. Please don't let Marie be the first one.  This is our chance to show the local folks how we walk our talk.  Let's help Marie's family find closure by finding her remains so they can morn, celebrate her life and bury her according to their beliefs.


And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  
~~ Nelson Mandela

The Dog That Everyone Remembers (with Marie)

I'm trying to get a higher resolution photo, but in the meantime, do you remember meeting "Bandit" the dog at Loven Ovens or Safe Swinging. Bandit would have been accompanied by Mellow, Marie or Cathy.

Bandit & Marie

The Search for Marie Continues and Goes Back to the Land

Cathy's Saturn

Marie was last seen late on the night of July 8 camped near this car on the 3220 road (where all the cars were parked), past the 150 road/gate (Kitchen Drop Off, Ominvore Cafe, dirt road to Loven Ovens).

She was camping with Mellow and Cathy, aka Cat or Cheshire Cat. For photos of all three, click here.  If anyone saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy on July 7, 8 or 9, every detail of when and where the interaction happened is very important. Also critical is things like the vibes you got, what kind of a mood they were in, what they were doing and even what they were wearing.  If you remember anything, you can contact the sheriff (509-427-9490) or you can contact the family by going to the Find Marie Hanson website.  If you prefer, you can call me at 858-405-7503 or email me.  Finally, if  you want to remain anonymous, post a comment on this blog with any information you may have. 

July 6 Mystery Man

There was a man Marie was seen with on July 6. He is described by the witness as a white male adult, late 40’s or 50’s, approximately 5’08”, and a thin build and is shown in the sketch to the left. He wore many silver necklaces with medallions, and had rings on his fingers, wore a dark colored Duster type jacket and carried a cane. If you know who he is or are him, we are trying to figure out what was going on with Marie on July 6th.

Also, anyone who was around a dog named "Bandit." The dog was white with a black patch of fur over the eye like lil raskles or a racoon. Hence the bandit name. The dog was being care taken by the man in the sketch. The dog's owner was Cathy. The dog never left Cathy's lap once she arrived at the gathering. 

  

Shanti Sena Search Party

This weekend (Labor Day Weekend), folks will be going back up to the site for three days of searching for Marie Hanson and camping with each other. The search will be through rough terrain, so bring your hiking boots, rope, basic camping gear, plenty of drinking water and some food. This is not a gathering, but a Shanti Sena Search Party and Camp-out to see if we can find Marie Hanson's body. The directions to the gathering are here.


When searching, please use the buddy system, at least 3 people within visual sight of each other at all times.  The reason for three is that if someone gets hurt, one person stays with the hurt person, one person goes for help. Furthermore, this will allow you to serve as each other's witnesses in case you find anything.

If you go to the land and find what you believe may be human remains, do not touch anything. Keep everyone back from the spot, send someone to call the sheriff and leave at least 3 people near the site. Take photos if you have a camera.  THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.  There may be evidence on the body which we do not want to contaminate. 

Finally if you  have any information about Marie Hanson’s whereabouts feel free to contact Detective Tim Garrity at the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office at 509-427-9490 or email him.

Can you help find out what happened to Marie?

Marie

For forty years this family has gathered and to the best of my knowledge we've never lost anyone.  Let's make sure Marie doesn't stay lost.  If she's alive, all her family needs from her is a phone call.  If Marie is deceased, her family wants her body back so they can grieve and bury her.

Marie came to the gathering with Cathy and Mellow. She was last seen on the morning of July 7th.

Cathy

Marie’s family is now asking everyone who saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy at any time during the gathering come forward with dates, times and specifics about locations and people who were seen with Marie.  If you met any of these people at the gathering, know the details may help us find Marie who has now been missing for over a month. Her grandchildren are hurting and finding out what happened to Marie will help them and the rest of her family heal. Don't leave Marie's grandchildren crying for her.

Mellow

• Marie arrived at the Gathering on July 2nd with “Mellow” and camped near Lovin’ Oven.
• She and Mellow moved their camp to the Rear Gate on July 5th.
• They were joined by Mellow’s girlfriend Cathy on July 6th.
• The last sighting of Marie was the morning of July 7th near the rear gate. She never came back to camp, leaving all of her belongings.
• Mellow searched for Marie, showing her ID to people at the Gathering until the morning of July 10th, when he and Cathy returned home.

If you saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy at the gathering, please contact the family or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can post your comments on this message.  If you wish, you can email me any information you have with instructions to not reveal where I got it and I will honor your privacy.  All we want is to find Marie: dead or alive.

Even if you don't remember these three people, if you were near the rear gate (150 Road -- kitchen supply drop off; handicapped parking; Omnivore Cafe) on July 7, please contact me with everything you can remember about that morning. No detail is too small.  For more information, photos and details of the search efforts to date, visit http://mariehansonmissing.com/.

Please share this plea with everyone you know who attended the Washington Gathering this year. 

Marie's Family is Heartbroken

For the latest plea for help and sanity, click here.

Cleanup Seems to Be Done

I got a call from a friend who was at cleanup and he's left the site and apparently so has everyone else.  He will share a cleanup report in a few days. 

Marie is still missing

Marie is in jeans on the right in the photo

I find it very strange for a 54 year old woman to blow off her husband, kids and grand kids.  For more information and the groovy flyer you can distribute in your area, click here.  Or see the Missing Mom post from a few weeks ago.  Also, anyone from Jesus Camp, Kidde Camp or Lovin’ Oven who may have seen Marie or spoken to her please contact the family.

Rainbow Music

A kind brother has a webiste full of recordings he has made of folks making music at the Gathering in Washington (and other years as well).  Check it out when you're homesick.

Cleanup Update

I don't have much info about cleanup at present. Until I post something that says clean up is done, it will be ongoing.  Word I heard was that trash was a big issue and at this point I would expect cleanup will go on until sometime during the first week of August.

The folks doing cleanup can always use some extra hands, so if you have a day or two and you live in the area, go back up and put some sweat equity into the gathering. Bring work gloves, a shovel and ask any dirty amazing family what needs doing.  If you do go back up and it fits into your budget, bring some fresh fruit or even ice cream (if you have the coolers for it) to boost moral.  True Rainbow Magic is ice cream at the end of a long time of hard work.

Word is that the mosquitoes hatched and are out in force, so prepare yourself.

Did you get a ticket on the road into the gathering?

If so, please read the top of this blog if you don't know how the game is played.  If you didn't deal with your ticket, Jeff Kline has offered to try to help you sort it out (at no cost).  Email him. 

Or leave your contact info as a comment to this post, and someone will be in touch.

Learning Lessons

For those of you who hang out with me, you've heard me share this rap, but I'll reiterate just for the hipstory of it.

The gathering was under siege by the United States Forest Service (USFS)  from the late nineties until 2008 with the worst years seeming to be from about 2001 building to the incident in Wyoming in 2008 (where the USFS cops shot pepper spray guns at folks in Kid Village). 

During these years, myself and many long time experienced gatherers put most of our time and energy into dealing with the USFS not into dealing with our own internal issues.  I'm not saying those of us who did that where right or wrong, I'm just saying that from my point of view that's what happened.  I know personally that besides endless permit issues, I spent a lot of time trying to keep my family, especially my young brothers and sisters, from getting arrested.  At the time it seemed like a good idea.  When I have it to do over again, I may do the same thing only I'll have a different perspective on it.

However, ten years in the gathering is an entire generation. An entire generation of people who started coming to gatherings where main council rarely happened, people weren't willing to step up and focalize things for fear of being labeled a "leader" and going to prison for it like so many of our very wise long time gatherers did.   An entire generation where proper sanitation techniques weren't being appropriately shared with new kitchens, where recycling has gone the way of poodle skirts, where people didn't feel main council was a good place to bring their problems, concerns or ideas for the positive evolution of the planet.

During these years, there was a lot of focus on the "individual" nature of the gathering as proof we shouldn't have to sign a permit and very little focus on the "collective" nature of the gathering.  Even though we are individuals, we are also creating a temporary community which has a "collective" nature.  I'm not talking in a legal sense because I feel as if trying to define who we are in reaction to law is a losing proposition. We need to define who we are based on our collective and individual visions of what this gathering, this family, this world can become. 

Starting in 2009, we started having main council daily from July 1 through 6 (excluding the 4th).  (Thank you David and Cody for your hard work in grounding our gathering.)  I feel the energy shifting.  People are coming and discussing real issues on the land. Nuts and bolts problems that we need to solve together.  We do have a shortage of long time gatherers and especially the "earlies" at main council.   The less experienced gatherers are hungry for what you have to share.

The hipstories have returned with people sharing collective stories from 1972 on to the present. We have workshops galore now after years of diminishing workshops. 

However, we can't drop our own traditions for ten years and then except people who never knew them to pick up the moment we stop feeling under siege from the government.  Since the spring of 2008, I  have created an annual blog for each gathering where I rap about stuff I have learned in my years of gatherings.  This is just one way to share the hard won knowledge and wisdom of this family.  I know other people in this family are doing their part to share the wisdom in whatever manner each person sees fit.  We really need to ramp this up, but not from a place of, I'm smart and you're dumb, but with this entire history of how we got to this point.  Because the problem isn't the less experienced  gatherers, its the more experienced ones who dropped the ball (for valid reasons).

Some experienced scouts started a page on Facebook to discuss scouting and share their knowledge with less experienced folks. (Great idea) and the discussions and ideas are flowing freely there on the topic of site selection.

This year specifically, I felt that lack of a site specific Rap 107 contributed to our struggles with keeping people camped back from the creek and not swimming in the creek. It was my understanding that some of the younger family didn't want the environmental impact of the paper. I can respect that
position, but we need a very small Rap 107 (printed on 100% recycled paper) that everyone gets coming in which includes site specific issues like Bull Trout eggs getting ready to hatch - hence we need to protect the creeks.  That sure would have save me personally a lot of stress.

I'm sure everyone reading this has other ideas on how we can increase the speed at which people are learning gathering basics and our hipstory. I truly believe this is the heart of the various problems so many people are bitching about. 

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Peace out!

Rainbow Guides lost in transit

They were shipped back and forth the country and never made it to the gathering.  However, the guides were printed and are available by following these directions:

Some 2011 Rainbow Guides are now at my house and ready to be sent by regular mail to anyone who sends a request to Rainbow Guide. You can also ask to be sent via e-mail a PDF file of it. You can ask for more than one copy, and amounts of up to 75 can be sent to regional focalizers.

If you want to be included in the 2012 Guide, you can send an entry by  Clicking here or sending an e-mail to Liz.

 

The Guide is available at no cost to anyone who wants one, but it costs $1.09 for the stamp and approx $1.85 for the envelope to send one guide thru the mail. It cost 42 cents to print and ship from the printer one issue of the 2011 Guide. Contributions of more than than the total of these amounts help to make up for the people who don't contribute, and to print the Guide next year.

You can direct PayPal to send money here.

You can also send small bills ($20 or less) thru the mail safely to:

Rainbow Guide

3015 Oklahoma Ave.

Muskogee, OK 74401

Do not send checks or money orders made out to "Rainbow Guide". There exists no personal or business checking account with that name where they can be cashed.

Another lost brother (who is now found)

Dennis is OK and is hitchhiking home.  

Since we had two missing women, (one who has been found one who is still missing) it's only fitting that we now have a second missing man.  All we're asking is that he contact someone and let them know he's doing OK.  He's an adult so he doesn't have to, but when folks are worried about you, it's nice to let them know you're doing OK from time to time.

**Begin forwarded message**

My brother, Bruce Davis, attended the Rainbow gathering and we have not had contact from him since.  He was supposed to be in Colorado by last week, but has never arrived.  I understand that someone named Virgil saw him on July 5th at the Gathering and said Bruce was in "good spirits with good vibes."

Could you please post this information and ask the Blog readers to send information if they have seen Bruce or know where he is? If you do, please email Hildreth.

Personal Reflections

I came into this gathering a bit hesitant (due to personal issues).   I packed heavy and managed to stay warm and dry the entire gathering (even during the stretch of rain that lasted 36 hours straight).  Here are some of my own thoughts and reflections.

Due to the snow, seed camp got a late start.  Although I arrived on June 23rd and there were kitchens already set up by then, the gathering seemed like a ghost town. I hiked around the meadow trying to find some place to camp and couldn't find any place that felt like a place.  I ended up spending two nights at the gate by FS Road 150 where I had friends.  A lot of kitchens came in late and the money started coming into the magic hat pretty late as well.  Getting such a late start on seed camp was hard to recover from although people worked hard.

I participated in the Town Hall Meeting the night of June 24. There was a great turn out and lots of good conversations happening. For a copy of the handouts that were distributed at the meeting, click here.  (Warning! It's a large file). Once back on the land, I ended up plugging into INFO and spent most of my gathering hanging out there and trying to help other people have a positive gathering.

Gathering participants met with the USFS Resourse folks and worked out an unsigned operating plan on the land. Click here to see the PDF version I scanned.

One of the things I really noticed this year is that there are a lot of amazing and wonderful younger family plugging into to kitchens and getting things done.  Yet it still seems like some of the tasks that deal with the gathering as a whole are under represented by the younger folks.  Some examples:  meeting with the Sheriff and Emergency Medical Services in the area; working out gathering logistics with the USFS Resource Advisers on the land, dealing with the circle on the 4th, and parking.  I didn't really realize this until after I left but as I was thinking back on these things, I realized we as a family need to do a better job of making sure our younger family knows how to work as individuals with various government agencies and how to think about gathering wide issues (such as not camping next to the creek, protecting our non-human family and coming to the town meetings).  I guess this is food for thought for next year.

I met hundreds of day trippers and over nighters. Starting on the night of July 1st, they came in droves. Arriving by car at 1 PM and by the time they made it into the gathering, dinner circle was winding down and the day trippers had flip flops and hoodies - many didn't even have flashlights.  Every evening as it got dark, they landed at INFO, lost and not sure how to get back to their cars--cold, hungry and thirsty.  We tried to help them as best we could, but it was tough.  Despite all the warm clothing people brought to share with others, it went as fast as it came in.

Despite the high numbers of first time gatherers, most everything rolled on peacefully and positively.  The nights were cold. The nights were cold. Some of the days were cold as well, but the sun did come out for the weekend of the 4th.

The Rainbow Guide went into shipping hell and never made it to the gathering, nor was there an Always Free, but a new focalizer for Always Free has stepped up so I'm thinking good thoughts for next year.

Thanks to my wonderful friend Cody's hard work at facilitating Main Council, it happened every day. I made it twice and we had people discussing pressing issues regarding the gathering. I also made it to the Cyber Council and it was great to put some faces to people I only know online. We had a lot of people listening in to the discussions and some very good points were made. The two best points where that using the Internet to share directions, raps, etc. is great, but that we need to remember we make decisions on the land. The other good suggestion is when circulating info on the Internet, always include information on what a gathering is, a few of the raps, and make sure people understand what they are going to when someone post directions to a rainbow related event.

We had the usual Shanti Sena issues and lots of people plugging in.  There was a Shanti Sena Council on July 3rd that had a small group of people sharing methods and styles of dealing with various issues. There was a lot of discussion on preventative measures and how people can make sure that no one is getting lost or starting to feud with their neighbors. We had a great mix of young folks who have been actively doing Shanti Sena and experienced folks.

Because most of the meadows were marshes, dinner circle happened on a small spit of dry land between Montana Mudd and Rainbow Crystal Kitchen.  It was cozy to say the least.  On the 4th, there were two circles: a small intimate one in the dinner circle meadow and a large one that spanned the perimeter of Main Marsh.  The children made it to the side of the circle where they stayed before the oming even started (kids were a bit early if you ask me).  The circle at the far end was pretty sparse with fingers stretched out to touch fingers, but I think we closed the circle before the Om broke.

The USFS Resource Advisers came in a couple of days at the end of June and July 1st. Other than that, Gary Campbell and Mary King came in and walked around a few days.  While about 150 people received tickets on the road, the LEO DID NOT server warrants in the gathering.  I repeat, there were no bands of armed and hunting law enforcement officers inside the gathering. I only heard six up a few times in almost two weeks.  From July 2nd until July 6th, we didn't see any forest service.  They did return on July 6th although I was driving out when they were coming in so I don't know why they were coming into the gathering.

For what ever reason, we never manifested a Welcome Home. There where 3 or 4 gates depending on how you counted them and people coming in all of them.  This made it very confusing to direct people out as everyone came in via the "main gate."  Luckily 3 of the 4 gathers dumped people out very close to info, but I know a lot of people had a hard time with the chaotic energy where they came in and it would have helped out a lot to have a Welcome Home camp that was actively greeting people.  The INFO crew was out in force on the busy nights welcoming people home and helping them find the camps they were looking for.

The parking scene was a bit tight. Much of the road side parking was covered in snow drifts that were 2-3 feet high when I drove out on the 6th.  I came into the gathering twice and both times was greeted by a friendly and peaceful face (Thank you front gate - you rocked!).  Unfortunately, some of our family is pretty stupid when it comes to parking and a few people did get their cars towed, but for the most part, we controlled the road and it was tough to stay on top of it.  The USFS LEOS did close the road for 12-14 hours, but then the blockade came down and people started double parking and blocking the road.  Hey family!  DO NOT EVER PARK SO A FIRE TRUCK AND/OR AMBULANCE CANNOT GET THROUGH.  We have medical emergencies all the time and need to get our family medical help.  Don't be an ass.  If you have to park 5 miles away so you're not blocking the road, do so. The life you save may be your own.

I was also dismayed at how many people think pitching a tent two feet from the bank of a creek is OK.  Never, never, never camp on the bank.  All the foot traffic causes erosion in the banks and that's not good for fishes and other creatures who live in the creek.  Plus this sort of damage is very hard to repair. Creeks are sensitive areas.  This year in particular, Bull Trout eggs were getting ready to hatch downstream.  Stirring up dirt in the creek can plug the air holes in the eggs and prevent them from hatching.  Please remember to consider all the living creatures who depend on the ecosystems in which we gather.  A standard rule of thumb is 50 feet back from surface waters.

A big shout out to the folks on the land early who shoveled snow to get into the gathering. That's hard core energy and I'm glad it was you, not me.

Loving all of you!