Letter: Public wreaks havoc in Alpine County

Some of the trash found in Alpine County. Photo/Provided

To the community,

So sad to have to contact you all under these circumstances, but I felt it important to share with you my most recent experience in Alpine County. On Mother’s Day, we rode our horses into the Carson River Hot Springs from the north on a little used trail as we have done for almost 20 years. Used by hikers, mountain bikes and horses for many years this area is closed to motor vehicle use, but unfortunately vehicles have begun to push from this direction, widening the trail and damaging vegetation. This was only the warm up to what we would find at Markleeville’s big attraction on the Carson River.

The pictures I took speak for themselves, but everybody at the local, state and federal level should be embarrassed by the level of resource destruction, trash and filth that has been visited upon this beautiful place. Live trees are being hacked to pieces for firewood, great piles of trash and broken glass are everywhere, and shooters have left thousands of spent shells littering the ground. Worse, the trash and tire tracks are now beginning to climb the once pristine northern slopes of the canyon, with broken glass and spent casing littering the hillside. We have many more photos and video if you are interested in seeing the extent of the damage. Better yet, drive there and see firsthand what people are capable of.

It is out hope that someone, one or more of you, will make it their mission to restore and protect this special place. Clearly, the unfettered access by thousands of off road users is not working. While most are probably responsible, those who are not need to held accountable. Not only does this precious resource need to be cleaned up, but  also protected for generations to come.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob and Tita Anderson, South Lake Tahoe