A Message to the Plastic Ribbon Fairy

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm pleading with you, Sir or Madam Plastic Ribbon Fairy, please stop leaving your "gifts" in the forest.

[elbowman]

I have mixed feelings about the Ribbon Fairy. Sometime it's helpful. Some of the trails are not maintained well by the FS.

Other times I would agree, way to many ribbons that go no where and only confuse you.

I guess it depends on the day's circumstance whether you hate or love the fairy.

Eric 

[DavidR]

Haha, or at least head down White Oak Hollow.

[Pathfinder]

I can certainly sympathize with you, Josh.  Nevertheless, I think it is a losing battle, because the Plastic Ribbon Fairy has too many accomplices.  Like Eric I must admit that there have been times when I have been helped by the ribbons.  It definitely spoils atmosphere of the woods. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

I've only been confused by the fairy. Confused why he/she didn't just buy a darned GPS with all the money wasted on plastic tape, and the risk of fines for littering. Also confused due to mixed flag messages.

[SmokeDiver]

Some of the tape didn't seem to be marking the trail, is it possible that some of it is marking downed trees to be cut and removed? I noticed alot of tape near these felled trees.

[AlabamaDan]

Are trails marked with blazes in Sipsey/Bankhead?

[montysano]

Yeah, I hate to be bushwhacking off trail and come upon teh plastic.  It has no place in a wilderness area.

[MobileBackpacker]

Ive noticed the ribbon taping and hopefully it is the biodegradeable starch kind. we use to use these while delineating wetlands, they eventually disintegrate or are eaten by bugs.

I found some earlier this year along Quillan creek, it marked the way out of the canyon but it was a nuisance to the wildness of Quillan.

thanks but no thanks

[Lostsheep]

I noticed a bit of this plastic on some trees along FT201/FT202 (near Johnson cemetary) over the 10/16-18 weekend. Some was on downed trees, so I'm not sure what it's for.

It would be nice if it were gone though.

[SmokeDiver]

Here's my question, should we remove them when we see them? I don't know who put them there and for what purpose. I'd hate to be the cause of some would be adventurer getting lost because I removed his tapes, even if he shouldn't be leaving trash around.

[Lostsheep]

I called the ranger station and apparently, it's something the hunters do in the area. They recommended leaving it in the trees, but if it's on the ground, it's trash.

Seems as though the hunters use it to mark their areas/stands/trails during the season.

The park service has no knowledge of it or any current projects tied to it.

[elbowman]

Hello All,


"I found some earlier this year along Quillan creek, it marked the way out of the canyon but it was a nuisance to the wildness of Quillan."

Many of us on the board are weekend warriors and are not locals to Lawrence and Winston county. I personally like being able to go to new place like Quillan and be helped with a marked route out.

Some of the places I have read about on this board indicate that in some spots, you simply cannot just walk out of a spot. I read alot of steep canyons, huge log jams etc.

I vote for not killing the ribbon fairy.

Eric

[MobileBackpacker]

I guess its in how you view the wilderness. Part of the enjoyment i get out of hiking in Sipsey is the fact that it is a wilderness area. It doesnt have handrails along the cliff ridges and concrete steps leading down the canyon to the waterfalls, its difficult terrain and its enter at your own risk. The Sipsey is a one of the few places that is somewhat wild here in the south and that shouldnt be sacrificed because areas are difficult to get in and out of. We shouldnt be littering up the joint for the sake of ease. Do your research or take a someone who knows the area if you dont feel comfortable with the terrain.

[SmokeDiver]

As far as using them to mark your return route I don't see a problem with that, just collect them on your way out and don't get carried away. I just hate to see bright pink ribbons all over the place.