Vandalism at Johnson's Island/Carseland

On July 20, we reported a hazard that we had noticed at this boat launch. One source had described it as an accident that had resulted from a trailer axle hooking a concrete slab and flipping it up.

Shortly thereafter, a reader sent us this photo.

We think this is a more plausible explanation for what happened. And if so, this was not an 'accident'. We would call it vandalism.

Vandalism at McKinnon Flats

We made our first shuttle trip to McKinnon Flats today. The road is passable, but only because it's dry and hard packed. Otherwise, it's in terrible shape. 

However, what really got our attention was all the damage that had been done since our last trip there in early April. 

What kind of people do this?? 

The women's outdoor toilet was burned to the ground. And that, after it had been retrieved a mile or so downstream, after last year's flood.

The swinging gate has been taken off its post. Not sure how much damage was done to it.

This off-road trail is not new. It was begun a year or two back. But people are continuing to climb this hill. Eventually, the rain will begin eroding the tracks, and deep ruts will develop.

This off-road trail was blocked by posts that were installed last year, and the year before. Someone drove right through the two posts on the left side of this photo, cracking them off from the base. The second broken post is just out of view, on the left.

Logs set up in a fire ring, ready for the next visit.