About North Fork boat slides and river toilets

Last week’s column mentioned concerns that at least some recreationists have regarding Forest Service management of the North Fork River. River launch sites at the international border and at Ford Ranger Station were rebuilt last summer, and both have some problems. In both cases, the boat slides are too narrow and too far apart, making launching very difficult for some inflatables.

Forest Service representatives admitted having multiple complaints, and they intend to make changes. Possible solution is to simply add a third slide between the two already in place to make it possible to slide a boat down lengthwise instead of sideways.

Even though the slides are poorly designed at the border, they block vehicles from driving out on the gravel beach so that even after you get your boat down the slide, you will need to carry it across the gravel bar to the river in late summer. Previously, you could drive out on the gravel and unload your boat at the river’s edge. Assessing the damage caused by vehicles on a gravel bar is above my pay grade, but I wouldn’t think it could have been extensive.

At Ford, the launch site was improved by removing the terraces that made launching and especially boat take-out much easier than the old slides.

Biggest concern in my mind is the lack of sanitary toilets at the Sondreson Meadow river access site. Camping is allowed, and it’s not uncommon for there to be as many as 10 or more widely dispersed campers in the area. In previous years, there have been two Mountain Men Rendezvous at this site, with hundreds of tents.

The mountain men set up Porta-Potties just outside the camp area, and when they left they cleaned the entire site, picking up every scrap of paper and obliterating every fire pit. It was hard to tell hundreds had camped there for a week.

Today, with no sanitary facilities, it’s a mess. It’s not uncommon to see wads of toilet paper blowing across the meadow, and you better step carefully if you venture into the woods.

Despite the fact that there’s a toilet at the border, Ford and Polebridge access sites, Forest Service officials claim that Wild and Scenic River rules prevent installation of toilets at Sondreson Meadows. I say that’s a bunch of baloney.

There’s an obvious need, and more educational signs will not solve the problem. Where the people camp, they will need a toilet. Where a lot of people camp, the need is magnified. The only solution is to install one or more toilets. Unless, of course, the Forest Service wants to close the popular camping and river access site. What do you think?