Well, I don't know what to say.  Those of us familiar with the Clackamas R.D. are quite aware of the free drunken lawlessness that occurs near town.  A friend of mine, new to Portland, camped along the Clackamas near Ripplebrook for his birthday.  This is his story.  What can we do?  It's frustrating, and seemingly pointless to pick up other's excrement....why is it so hard for people to show respect, for each other, for the wilds?  Guns, garbage, and ATVs, read on if you dare.

"Uneventful drive until I got to where the 224 makes a sharp left as it hits the Clackamas River.  Apparently someone forgot to turn because the guard rail was taken out and a few dozen cops, firemen, paramedics and a winch were there trying to pull out a car.  I wondered why I hadn't seen any cops at the Redland Road turnoff (always at least a few).  Got to Mouse Camp and the campsite was trashed.  Garbage everywhere.  They even left bags of garbage so the animals would have a chance to litter too (tearing it to shreds to lick the plates and stuff).  They also decided to use the road as a toilet and leave the used TP behind.  Trash all the way down to the trail and some on the trail.  They kicked down lots of thin trees along the trail.  They even smashed some of the old, rotted logs used to define the path to little pieces, carried them off and tried to burn them at the campsite (morons).  Since it was late I decided to just clean up my immediate area, eat dinner and go to sleep. Wanted to go to sleep early so I could get up at 5AM and fish.  Around 11PM rednecks show up.  Things were nice & loud for the next few hours.  Around 1:30 AM things quieted down and I went to sleep.

 Alarm went off at 5 but I didn't get up til 6.  Hung out with a very confident woodpecker (didn't seem to be afraid of me at all) and a very cute chipmunk while I had my Birthday morning coffee.  Grabbed my fishin' gear and headed down the road to the trail.  The rednecks had taken the camp right at the entrance to the trail.  I had to walk through their camp to get to the trail.  I was quickly stopped by two giant rottweilers growling and and one looked very vicious.  One of the guys came out and said hi then told his dogs to calm down.  One sat and looked friendly but the other wanted me.  The guy had to hold the dog back by his collar (as he was trying to pull away and get to me) as I went through the camp.  Walked about a mile down the trail before I found my first spot to try.  Went from spot to spot along the river trying different lures and bait but no luck.  Waded out to a bar of rocks in the middle of the river as I took in my surroundings.  Around 10 am, I could see from my vantage in the middle of the Clackamas River, the other campers walking down the path with their dogs and decided to head back to camp (fishless) while I had the chance to do so without being menaced by a dog.  Got o camp and made brunch (reheated dinner) and had a Birthday beer.  Widmer Nelson Imperial IPA. DAmn Good Stuff!  I never drink before 5pm, but it's my birthday.  Around 11:30 more people show up and at the second of the three camps along this road.  For a solo camp this is sure getting crowded.  And LOUD!  I started hearing cars and people everywhere.  Spent the next few hours hearing cars, ATVs, people yelling and gunshots.  I had planned to return to fishing at dusk but I eventually decided that this is not the solo camp or birthday that I wanted and went home at around 2PM (after picking up everything left by the previous dirtbags except the poo and used TP)."