FamilySherpa
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Tangled up in Rhododendron
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Post by FamilySherpa on Jul 5, 2016 12:49:14 GMT -8
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bp2go
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California
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Post by bp2go on Jul 5, 2016 12:49:41 GMT -8
I should mention that huckleberrystyle deserves a better welcome to the forum. I removed most of his first pot and explained why. Instead of getting all mad, he was very polite in his response and I sense he may in fact have more to contribute. All he needs to do now is jump back in to reveal his opinions on beets, bacon, kilts, okra, scotch,...! What did I miss? So a bit late, but I welcome huckleberrystyle.
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whistlepunk
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I was an award winning honor student once. I have no idea what happened...
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Post by whistlepunk on Jul 5, 2016 13:32:54 GMT -8
I'm sure there will be a day when our own wildlife agencies and parks have drones to collect data and/or police our parks. As unpopular as it may seem, I think it's just a matter of time. The agencies will have internal procedures and permitting systems to regulate use with tight controls, public notification, etc. I have no problem with official authorized use. Random uncontrolled public use -- yeah, that's a problem.
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RumiDude
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Post by RumiDude on Jul 5, 2016 13:33:44 GMT -8
Among of the reasons why I get out into the Wilderness is to gain that feeling of being untethered to the rest of the world, feeling free, and simply closer in tune to nature. For these reasons I forgo many things which interfere with my goals. I take much fewer photos now because I don't want the camera to get between me and the unfiltered experience. Many times I don't even take a camera. I try to reduce the electronic and other gadgets as much as possible. I quit taking my GPS altogether, though I may get a new one to use in special circumstances.
I am aware that my experience is nothing like the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but I want it to be as pure as it can be. I accept trails and trail structures, other users, old cabins, etc as part of the experience. I even accept high flying aircraft and the occasional sighting of satellites in the night sky. But my wish to have as pure unfiltered experience of the Wilderness as possible means drones are unwelcome in the Wilderness. My trip would not be ruined, but to the degree the drones gain my attention, to that degree my enjoyment would be diminished.
Rumi
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hikerjer
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Post by hikerjer on Jul 5, 2016 14:21:23 GMT -8
So how would you react to having a drone in your vicinity if you were out on a trip? I would be very PO'd. These things are the devil's toy. You done good, Steve. Thanks
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 5, 2016 14:43:27 GMT -8
Federal agencies already have procedures for special use such as SAR (the longer dwell time, cheaper flight costs and IR sensors make them good for that and wildfire mop up amongst other uses).
Private recreational flight inside wilderness area boundaries? That's a violation of the wilderness act for one (emergency exceptions don't apply to entrrtainment) and for two the list of fools caught harassing endangered species is already long enough to earn the things a total ban. Much easier to enforce than catching somebody in the act of running bighorn sheep over a cliff.
Seeming to acknowledge the legitimacy of such illegal acts by allowing the posting of the videos isn't within the spirit of what I see a backpacker's forum as being about.
Sounds like the poster just made a mistake.
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bp2go
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California
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Post by bp2go on Jul 5, 2016 15:22:01 GMT -8
I want to repeat: I should mention that huckleberrystyle deserves a better welcome to the forum. I removed most of his first post and explained why. Instead of getting all mad, he was very polite in his response and I sense he may in fact have more to contribute. Adding: he asked me to remove the thread he started, and he has seen the light. Really, let's just recognize that this problem was solved, and welcome the guy!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 5, 2016 15:22:13 GMT -8
Short answer? No.
Longer answer? Do you share your tequila?
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Post by froggiebecky on Jul 5, 2016 15:27:20 GMT -8
I'm another one who's on the fence, though I think given the context, it was absolutely appropriate to remove the links.
I've seen some really interesting and exciting uses under development in the scientific community, such as air sampling (obtaining samples at the level of "between a tower and an airplane" is really difficult, not to mention expensive. I've also seen a sonar hooked up to one that is capable of tracking bats (and automatically sending the data back to an ipad in the field). I would expect there would be some interesting uses for surveying wildlife in hard-to-access areas. Maybe even search and rescue (let's face it, drones are cheaper than helicopters)
But I also see that it dampens peoples' enjoyment of the outdoors, and the NPS has a clearly stated policy on 'joy-flying'.
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bp2go
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California
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Post by bp2go on Jul 5, 2016 15:31:08 GMT -8
I don't think I'ver ever seen those two words in the same sentence!
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RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on Jul 5, 2016 15:36:55 GMT -8
I don't think I'ver ever seen those two words in the same sentence! Surely he jests. Rumi.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2016 15:45:29 GMT -8
Anyhow, welcome huckleberrystyle . As you may notice, drones are a controversial topic here — as are dogs, guns, dogs carrying guns, dogs trying to convert heathen humans, and assorted other things. Normally, we would want your carefully considered opinion on bacon, brussels sprouts, men wearing kilts, dogs wearing kilts, beets, and I can't remember what all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2016 16:32:52 GMT -8
Returning to a few ideas broached by High Sierra Fan and FroggieBecky: National parks are not, strictly speaking, wilderness areas — though some national parks contain, or are managed as, wilderness areas. Wilderness areas prohibit motorized equipment, and I am not in favor of compromising that restriction — especially for personal or commercial use, by permit or not. In those national parks which are not managed as wilderness, the eventual, limited use of drones concerns me, but there could be a wider variety of circumstances to consider there.
Whatever advantages of drone use to search-and-rescue and/or scientific research, I am still not in favor of watering down the Wilderness Act. The last I read, the Federal Aviation Administration has no mandatory restriction on flight altitude over wilderness. The FAA has relied on a recommended lower limit of 2000 feet, as I recall. Perhaps what is needed is binding regulation on minimum flying altitude above wilderness both for passenger aircraft and drones.
If that minimum altitude is lowered for emergency use such as in SAR, fire monitoring, and perhaps even for valid scientific research, I still see no provision in the Wilderness Act allowing the use of drones at low altitude. And frankly, as much as I value wildlife research, I am not in favor of compromising wilderness for research. Often our research leaves us far short of conclusive evidence, anyway. So compromising wilderness only to decide that "we still do not know" is not good enough reason to compromise wilderness to begin with.
Even wildlife research can get over-bearing and intrusive. We need more appreciation for wilderness left as wilderness and for ecosystems left to be themselves — absent our compulsion to "manage," and accomplish little more than interference.
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johnnyray
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Post by johnnyray on Jul 5, 2016 16:40:04 GMT -8
If anyone droned me I would probably try to bring it down. Maybe a rock or stick would do the job if it got close enough. Some people manage to be annoying enough in the backcountry this is just one more step over the line.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jul 5, 2016 16:52:01 GMT -8
I'd moon it. It would either crash on its own or the pilot would never fly it again.
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