Outdoor enthusiast and local conservationist Trish Drinkle is spearheading the cleanup project of an abandoned squatters camp in the Kitchener Valley 6 km east of Hwy 3 along the Leadville Forest Service Road.
Two years have passed since the squatters camp has been abandoned, yet a mess remains, which is concerning for many backcountry enthusiasts. Local conservationist Trish Drinkle explains. “Access to the backcountry is a privilege we can’t take for granted. When there are catastrophic man-made messes in the backcountry, they are a surefire way to prompt closures and restricted access. We need to protect and preserve our backcountry.”
Drinkle further explains that wildlife including bears have been scavenging the abandoned camp, creating even more cause for concern. “A trailer and lean-to left behind have collapsed under the weight of last year’s snowfall crushing and destroyed all of the contents inside. It’s time to get this mess out of the backcountry”.
The squatter who lived in the camp did not have permission or a mining permit to live in the location which brings up the question of who is legally responsible for cleaning up the site now?
A few months ago Drinkle contacted the Department of Natural Resources asking for assistance in the cleanup. “I received a phone call from the Department of Natural Resources informing me that there was no government funding to help clean up this type of ecological disaster, and it is low on their list of priorities.” In response, Drinkle asked the Department of Natural Resources for help to gain legal access to clean up the site.
“Believe it or not, we cannot just go up to the campsite and start removing items. Everything needs to go through legal channels, so there are no legal ramifications from the squatter regarding the removal of personal possessions that were left behind.”
The process to gain legal access to the camp began last week, and the Creston Valley community is coming together to help with the cleanup efforts. Funding, equipment, and man-hours for the cleanup project have been generously donated by Creston Valley residents, businesses and church volunteers. Drinkle will be organizing a meeting to gather all volunteers together to formulate a plan of action. “It’s incredible to see how quickly our community pulls together for the common good. We’re on our own with this cleanup project but that’s ok we can do this!”.