gays adult

This was on page five of the front section of today’s Boulder Daily Camera. Now everybody on the front range is talking about us.

‘Rainbow’ man accused in stabbing Gypsy group usually peaceful, gathering in Nederland

By Christine Reid, Camera Staff Writer
May 26, 2006

A member of the Rainbow Family angered over another family member’s refusal to help him "regulate" others camping at Ruby Gulch stabbed him in the neck, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Joshua Sunchild Silva, known by his Rainbow name of Karma Chip, is facing first-degree assault and felony menacing charges in the stabbing of Gilbert Hernandez, 31, Wednesday morning in the campsite near the 40500 block of Colo 72. Silva, 32, is being held in the Boulder County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Hernandez was released from the hospital Thursday and returned to camp, according to authorities.

He told deputies that Silva woke him up to ask for his help, and when Hernandez refused, the two began arguing and Silva hit him in the face. Hernandez fought back, he said, and Silva retrieved a knife and stabbed him. Silva then followed Hernandez into a tent with the knife but was pushed out by another person, Hernandez told officers.

The Rainbow Family, also commonly known as modern hippies, began filling the Nederland campground about a month ago as part of their annual pilgrimage to the area. Authorities are expecting to see more than the 40 who are already in town as news spreads of the group’s main gathering, which features art and music and is rumored to take place this summer somewhere on Colorado’s Western Slope.

"Ninety-five percent of the (Rainbow) people are pretty good people," Nederland Town Marshall Ken Robinson said. "But there’s always that 5 percent who are a complete drain on the system, and a drag to people camping near them."

Robinson said more minor crimes typically rise with their arrival, such as theft of food from grocery stores and drug and alcohol overdoses.

At a gathering in Modoc National Forest in northern California in 2004, one Rainbow member was jailed for allegedly beating another nearly to death with a shovel for driving too fast through a campground.

Robinson said it would be unfair to label all Rainbow people as trouble.

"After the stabbing, half a dozen helped (Hernandez), followed up with his medical care, cared for him and are helping him today follow up with treatment," Robinson said. "There were a lot of kind acts happening out of that one act of violence."

Boulder Sheriff Lt. Phil West said when Rainbow Family members do get in trouble, it can be a daunting task of identifying them because most have aliases. Silva identified himself to authorities as Joshua Marquedtson.

When deputies learned his real name it was discovered that he was wanted on a probation violation out of California on a deadly weapon assault conviction. West said California authorities are not planning to extradite him.

Copyright 2006, DailyCamera. All Rights Reserved.
I’ve been up to the Ned holding camp recently, so if anybody has questions…

By the way, I thought the town marshall used an interesting choice of words when he said certain people are a ‘drain’.
Keep us postesd, thanks man…

Mike…
I think Ned’s used to the freaks after all these years.
And grateful the "it’s in Ned" rumours were pure BS.
and I’d bet he knows the Drainbow term.
Most of the community does. (I’ve freiends that have been town council)
recently a burner friend of mine said that burning man was the origin of the term "drainbow" in 1989… I laughed so hard that I nearly spilled my beer.
Ok is this holding camp still there or have they moved, does anyone know exactly how to get to a holding camp (or seed camp)?
Yeah, it’s still there. I went out there today for a short visit, the so-called ‘troublemakers’ left and now there are a bunch of new faces in camp. They seem like decent enough folks, everyone I talked to was cheerful today, and the holding camp has been cleaned up a bit. They all seemed healthy and well-fed.
Seed camp hasn’t started quite yet, mama.
More newspaper stories: this one is from the Rocky Mountain News
‘Rainbow Family’ to gather near Steamboat Springs

By Associated Press
June 10, 2006

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - Routt County is bracing for 20,000 to 60,000 members of the "Rainbow Family" to converge on a site on national forest land for the group’s weeklong annual gathering in July.

An advance party of about 150 people visited the area this weekend to look for a suitable site for the event, often described as a huge gathering of hippies. One of the advance party, who identified himself as Bodhi, said the group is looking at five potential locations.

"We need a fresh water source, one main meadow that is 100 acres or larger and about five to 10 square miles of hippie land," he told the Steamboat Pilot and Today newspaper.

"And we will need another large meadow to accommodate thousands of vehicles," he said.

Bodhi predicted 60,000 people would attend. Mike Zopf, director of the county health department, said the number would likely be closer to 20,000.

Routt County Sheriff John Warner said he has met with the advance group. He said he plans to assemble a law-enforcement team for the event that includes Steamboat Springs police and firefighters, the State Patrol, Routt National Forest rangers and others.
And this one is from the Steamboat Pilot Journal:

Over the rainbow

Naturalist group gathers for peace

By , Arts and entertainment editor

Sunday, June 11, 2006

A temporary city — comprised of tens of thousands of residents who go by one-word names such as Stone and Star — will be erected next month in Routt National Forest.

The Rainbow Family of Living Light has decided to hold its Rainbow Gathering from July 1 to 7 on forestland in Northwest Colorado, most likely in Routt County. An advance group of 150 to 200 people are at the Hinman campground in North Routt County this weekend to determine the best site for what can best be described as the largest gathering of hippies in North America.

The Rainbow Family has been holding these gatherings on National Forest Service land since 1972 to promote world peace and keep the Bill of Rights alive. The only requirement to be a part of the family — which claims to be the world’s largest non-organization of non-members ı is to have a belly button. Among the clans that attend the annual gathering are the Magic Bowl Kitchen, Graceland Tea Mansion, Zipolites and Hare Krishnas.

"You will see a very functional city of 60,000 people existing in harmony and peace and showing an alternative to society," said Bodhi, one of the advance team members camping at Hinman this weekend.

Bodhi said the group is considering four or five sites within a 50-mile radius of the campground.

"We need a fresh water source, one main meadow that is 100 acres or larger and about five to 10 square miles

of hippie land," Bodhi said. "And we will need another large meadow to accommodate thousands of vehicles."

Gathering’s impact

The public gathering during a major tourist week for both Routt National Forest and Steamboat Springs has grabbed the attention of area law enforcement and public health officials.

Mike Zopf, the director of the Routt County Department of Environmental Health, said the gathering is unlike anything the county has ever seen. Zopf attended a presentation about a previous Rainbow Gathering held in 1992 near Paonia in Delta County. Zopf anticipates 20,000 people — not the 60,000 predicted by Bodhi — will attend this year’s gathering. "That’s about the permanent population of Routt County," Zopf said. "It’s not like anything we have ever hosted."

Sheriff John Warner has met with group members at the Hinman campground.

"There have been basically no problems up to now because we’ve established a good communication system," Warner said.

Law enforcement

Warner’s biggest concern with the event is public safety. According to a report issued after the 1992 gathering in Colorado, there were two deaths (a married couple died of an overdose of muscle relaxers), three births, five reports of sexual assault, 310 citations issued and 43 arrests on charges ranging from child abuse to wildlife violations.

The Rainbow Family uses a method of self-policing at the gatherings. One such method is for a member to yell the word "shantacani" when someone is in need of help or conflict arises. At that time, those in the vicinity of the incident will link hands around the conflict until it is defused.

Area law enforcement will do its own policing at the event. Warner said the Sheriff’s Office will put together an incident management team that will include members of the Steamboat Springs Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue, Routt National Forest Service and other agencies.

"We certainly want to work with them on a medical evaluation plan," Warner said. "No matter what kind of gathering you have, a possibility of illness or injury exists, and we need a plan to get paramedics and ambulances to them if needed."

Warner said traffic issues and conflicts between the Rainbow Family and other users of the public land also are of significant concern. "They will be here during the busiest weekend in Steamboat and Routt County," he said.

Public health

Zopf has had discussions with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Like Warner, he will put together a team of three people who will visit the gathering daily. Zopf said the team’s focus will be on environmental health issues such as sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, water supply and food service sanitation.

"The (Rainbow Family) has done this over many, many years, and they are fairly well-organized," Zopf said. "They have addressed many of the concerns — the basic premise of the group is to be gentle to the land, and the ideals of the group are to minimize the impact on the environment. But obviously, that’s somewhat counter to holding a gathering of this size in the National Forest."

Anytime there is a gathering of more than 75 people using National Forest land, Kent Foster, the acting district ranger for the Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears district of the Routt National Forest, wants to make sure they are provided for in a safe and healthy environment.

"Their activities should not put them at risk for retribution of anyone else. Public safety and protection of the environment is the main goal," Foster said. "Anytime you have that many people in one area, there is the potential for resource damage."

Every account Foster has read indicates the family works hard to restore the land to after the gathering ends. The report on the 1992 gathering said the family did a good job with clean-up and that lasting environmental impacts were minimal.

"They may be practicing some civil disobedience, but hopefully we’ll respect one another, and that will be it," Foster said.

Economic impacts

Any large gathering of people needs food and other goods. Foster thinks this need will help local businesses.

Bodhi suggests that stores stock up on sleeping bags, tarps, tobacco and candy bars. Once at the gathering, participants rely on the barter system.

"The only things you need to bring are shiny rocks for trading and a cup, bowl and spoon," he said.

The report on the 1992 gathering said the economic impact of the event was mixed.

"The large influx of people resulted in unusual lines at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores," the report states. "Crowds congregated in downtown Paonia during the period before the main gathering. There were complaints of public urination, public nudity, panhandling and loitering. Similar complaints were reported in Delta and Hotchkiss."

Several local stores saw a brief boost in business, particularly a natural foods store and a local hardware store. One restaurant was able to exchange free meals for building improvements done by gathering participants.

However, the economic costs of the 1992 event also were high. The cumulative cost to agencies that assisted with handling the gathering — the Colorado State Patrol, Division of Wildlife, Delta County, National Forest Service and hospital and ambulance services — totaled $573,000. That’s about $750,000 in 2006 dollars.

The celebration

Bodhi said he attends the Rainbow Gathering every year for the spirituality.

"I can go to all of these different camps and experience great spiritual benefits," Bodhi said. "There’s a reason why everyone is here — to find their source of spiritual growth."

Most of the ceremonies and rituals practiced by the family are based on Native American culture. For example, during the spring council, members sit in a circle and pass a feather, which signifies the holder’s permission to voice his or her opinion about the site selection.

The main ceremony of the gathering, the prayer for peace, takes place on July 4. After a morning of silence, participants will go to the meadow at noon to hold hands in a large circle, Bodhi said.

"You can hardly see the person in front of you," he said. "Then we start to ‘ohm.’ It’s a very powerful experience."

After about 40 minutes, a children’s parade comes through to break the circle and everyone celebrates.

"I enjoy the prayer for peace because of the amazing amount of tranquility you get inside," said Ceraphin, another member of the Rainbow Family. "We all come here for peace and to save ourselves and the earth."

Despite the numerous concerns regarding any large gathering, Foster said he isn’t worried.

This one is from New West-voice of the Rocky Mountains (I’m not familiar with New West and I don’t know if it is a print newspaper or an online journal)

Gathering the Tribes

Rainbow Family to Touch Down in Colo.

By Richard Martin, 6-12-06

If you were in the Steamboat Springs area over the weekend you might have seen a group of slightly gnarly-looking, generally longhaired folks passing through wearing looks of beatific contentment and slightly bemused disregard for their surroundings. In common parlance, hippies.

This was an advance guard of about 150 members of , and they were scouting the area for a much larger "gathering of the tribes" planned for Routt County the first week in July.

Then, the annual North American Rainbow Gathering is expected draw at least 20,000 (according to Forest Service officials) and up to 60,000 (according to interviewed by the Steamboat Pilot Journal) to a spot that has "a fresh water source, one main meadow that is 100 acres or larger and about five to 10 square miles of hippie land," Bodhi explained.

It’s easy to ridicule the Rainbowers, with their harlequin garb, their anarchic millenarian ideals and their bogus Native American prophecies. In general they seem to have wandered out of the last Grateful Dead concert before Jerry died and to now have too much time on their hands.

Since the Family are live-off-landers, the Rainbow gathering doesn’t contribute to the local economy like biker fests, and it lacks the pseudo techno-cool of Burning Man, which has pretty much taken over as the wild and crazy annual alternative crowd scene to make. And local bureaucrats, of course, see them as a drug-crazed horde descending on some unsuspecting rural community as inevitably every year as boll weevils.

In truth, a fair number of the Family are bourgeois in their 51-week-a-year lives. And they are quick to point out that in some ways the Rainbow Family resembles other unworldly groups with wacko spiritualist beliefs who broke off to seek a better way of life in the West, that the drug use at the Gathering is no higher per capita than at your average Bonnie Raitt concert, and that local law-enforcement invariably comment afterward, with some surprise, on how accommodating and pleasant the Rainbowers are. The Rainbow Family ran an active and long-lived .

Some Forest Service apparatchiks conduct a running battle with the Family, saying that they need official approval to gather in such numbers on federal land, but the Rainbow Gathering organizers (to the extent there are any; Rainbow philosophy believes that no one speaks for the tribe) adamantly , saying they are simply exercising their First Amendment rights.

Living in Boulder, I feel like I get plenty of exposure to the Rainbow tribes, and I do not envy the fulltime residents or the police officers of Steamboat this summer. Regardless of weather it’s going to be a long hot July in Routt County.

But I’m kind of glad they’re going to be out there.
"Since the Family are live-off-landers, the Rainbow gathering doesn’t contribute to the local economy like biker fests"

They’ll be singing a different tune when its over. I remember the story of that one store in Montanna 2000 that was about to go bankrupt, and they got enough buissness to save their store in the end… Gotta love a happy ending….

Mike…
please keep us posted about anything screwed up happening
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The Martin piece is good for some laughs.

Ms. Plean has written a great piece otoh. I sent thanks to her editor at the Pilot.
This from Friday’s Pilot:

"Two members of the Rainbow Family were given verbal warnings Wednesday afternoon for loitering in front of City Market and 7-Eleven. A 23-year-old transient woman was arrested Wednesday on because she reportedly was harassing convenience store patrons for money at 7-Eleven. "

no matter what scene you’re in you run into shady people. I used to be all about the rave scene (i’m currently very jaded about that scene), but there are shady people in that scene. I don’t understand why people are arrested or warned when they are simply asking for spare change. There will be bad apples everywhere you go and the media feeds on them. See you all out in CO! Look for me!
Another story from the Steamboat Pilot:
A Rainbow discussion

Officials bracing for impact of group’s gathering on Steamboat

By

Friday, June 16, 2006

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light already have arrived in Routt County, and Steamboat Springs officials have begun ramping up for the tens of thousands still to come.

U.S. Forest Service officials estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 members of the Rainbow Family will gather in Big Red Park in North Routt from July 1 to 7.

The Rainbow Gathering is an annual event held around the July 4 holiday. It began in 1972. Last year’s event in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia drew an estimated 15,000 people, the Forest Service reported. The 2004 event peaked at 19,000 people in the Modoc National Forest in California.

Forest Service officials said Thursday that the more than 74 members that have arrived in North Routt have not submitted a special use permit and are gathered illegally.

A permit is required for noncommercial group use of U.S. National Forest land for any gathering or activity of 75 or more people. The permit is free.

A forum is planned for June 23 to inform the public about the potential impacts the group may have on the city and how residents can best be prepared to handle the situation.

Public Safety Director J.D. Hays said officers with the Steamboat Springs Police Department, Routt County Sheriff’s Office and employees of the Routt County Office of Emergency Management have started discussions about what might happen in the city with the arrival of an additional 20,000 people during the Fourth of July weekend.

"Law enforcement plans to gear up and modify shifts to deal with the situation," he said. "At this point, we’re not anticipating having any kind of problems that we wouldn’t expect to see with any group of this size."

Police officers already have issued a few tickets to individuals who have been caught loitering or panhandling in front of convenience, grocery and retail stores.

Two members of the Rainbow Family were given verbal warnings Wednesday afternoon for loitering in front of City Market and 7-Eleven. A 23-year-old transient woman was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of loitering because she reportedly was harassing convenience store patrons for money at 7-Eleven.

Police Capt. Joel Rae said the issues officers have been handling haven’t been taxing yet, but he anticipates the loitering, panhandling, overnight camping and thefts to increase as more members of the family reach Routt County.

"What we’re seeing now is indicative of things to come," he said.

Rae said members of the Rainbow Family need to be aware of the city’s municipal ordinance that makes "loitering for the purpose of begging" and camping overnight within city limits illegal.

"This is going to be a no-tolerance situation," he said. "Those who do beg will be issued tickets, as will those who are caught camping in city parks, or anywhere in the city."

While police have safety and legal concerns, other city officials are concerned with the impact on local residents and business owners.

U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Denise Ottaviano said she does not think the members of the Rainbow Family will be spending much time in Steamboat Springs because their purpose is to be outside in nature.

However, Ottaviano said residents should be aware that the members of the Rainbow Family will visit Steamboat Springs and surrounding municipalities to get supplies, which could cause some strain on business owners or patrons. To access the gathering site, participants must travel through Steamboat Springs.

"We really don’t anticipate them being in town, other than to get supplies," Ottaviano said. "They will be in town at some point to get groceries or other supplies they’ll need."

Sandy Evans Hall, executive vice president of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Assoc-

iation, said she is encouraging local businesses to recognize that several thousands of people may be patronizing their businesses and that they should be prepared.

"We want to make sure all of our businesses are prepared for this. Stock up on inventory and staffing levels," she said. "Stock up the customer service levels."

Interim city manager Wendy DuBord said Wednesday that the city always has invited visitors and that she hopes the residents of Steamboat Springs will understand that there might be strains on transportation as the members of the Rainbow Family come through the city.

"We’ve always been a very welcoming community," she said. "We open our doors to people who are here for the same reasons we are.

"We would like to stress that the local citizens and visitors alike should take it easy that (Fourth of July) weekend. Traffic might be more congested, and there might be longer wait lines at restaurants, but I encourage everyone to just slow down and enjoy the scenery and the weekend."

George Krawzoff, the city’s director of transit and transportation services, said some of the traffic issues that inevitably will arise can be soothed if people pay attention to parking limits and use alternative transportation.

"As more people and more cars come to town, it’s important to recognize the two-hour parking limits on the streets," he said. "Don’t try to rub the chalk off your tires, move your car and then come back. You’ll still be ticketed.

"It’s important we have these spaces available to accommodate everyone."

Krawzoff said he encourages everyone to take advantage of the Main Street Steamboat Springs shuttle and free Steamboat Springs Transit bus system during the Fourth of July weekend.
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Details on the town meeting:
What: Community forum regarding Rainbow Family of Living Light
Where: Citizens Meeting Room, Centennial Hall, 124 10th St.
When: 9 a.m., June 23
Call: City of Steamboat Springs, 879-2060

Also check out the public forum on the Steamboat Pilot website. Some locals sound like they are getting agro already. Here’s the link:

man that one dood in them forums sure stirs the pot..

we just browsed it..

should make for some interesting reading when i have time..

thanks.. love n light..
oh an if ya run across local news video,,.. please post if able..

thanks.. love n light..
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This just in from the Steamboat Pilot Journal:

Concerns in the forest

Officers issue citations to Rainbow Family; fire a threat

By , Sports writer

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Gigi, the self-appointed Rainbow Family of Living Light gatekeeper, could do nothing Monday to stop the convoy of U.S. Forest Service law enforcement sport utility vehicles from rolling down Forest Service Road 505 to enter the Rainbow gathering’s main camping area.

"They have been coming up all day since yesterday, in and out, with mounted officers too," Gigi said before the 6 p.m. patrol that immediately shut down the road into the gathering.

Routt National Forest supervising forester Kent Foster said a squad of 30 law enforcement officials was brought in from across the country to prevent resource damage and enforce rules and regulations.

"Our biggest concern is fires," Foster said. "I checked things out the other day; they have their own internal fire watch to check untended fires, but I don’t know how effective that is."

Michelle Sarubbi, a Forest Service law enforcement officer brought in from California, explained the stakes at the forest service road block.

"This is dead serious. I’ve done way too many evacuations, and what worries me is that there’s only one way in and one way out," Sarubbi said. "There’s no other means for fire and rescue. If there’s a heart attack or stroke, your golden hour is gone."

Sarubbi said law enforcement teams moved methodically around campsites in the morning to gauge fire pits’ proximity to dead trees, whether there was water and shovels nearby and to ensure that campers were aware fires needed to be monitored continuously and completely extinguished.

"If there’s no fires or problems, then it’s worth every word and every second spent," Sarubbi said.

The timing of enforcement teams’ fire checks coincided with a National Weather Service Hazardous Weather Outlook Red Flag Warning issued Monday for eastern Utah and western Colorado. According to the service report, the combination of high temperatures, 30- to 40-mph wind gusts and low humidity created "critical fire weather conditions."

Much of the Routt National Forest also is filled with the dry fuel of dead trees affected by the pine beetle epidemic.

"There’s an area stand that’s 60 to 70 percent dead just east of where they are, some folks are already camped there," Foster said.

Inside the gathering, Rainbow campers at the centrally located supply site near the main water source were not concerned. Christopher and Blackfoot, a holistic medicine man, were tending a fire they used to boil stream water for portable use into "anything with a lid."

"We’ve got a shovel and a rake. I was here all last night watching (the fire). The weather’s not going to be bad," said Blackfoot, who has attended and treated patients at Rainbow gatherings for 29 years.

"The law enforcement officers have been kind," Christopher said. "This gathering’s for everyone, even them. We all have to behave to get along."

The cordial feelings may not last. Starting with Gigi, officers moved into the gathering area Monday evening, issuing illegal-gathering citations that require a mandatory summons before a federal magistrate. The officers also applied notices to vehicles informing participants they are in violation of federal regulations.

The Rainbow Family traditionally has resisted signing the Forest Service’s free special-use permit for groups of 75 members or more.

"They see the permit as a way for us to control them," Sarubbi said. "The control is to protect the resources and to help them have a better experience and a better forest when they leave."

Steamboat Pilot Journal: we been bumped to the front page of the newspaper:

Tensions run high in forest

Forest Service abandons checkpoint after incident with Rainbow group

By

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

CLARK — The Rainbow Family peace gathering turned hostile Tuesday when a group of attendees began hurling rocks and sticks at law enforcement officers, U.S. Forest Service officials said.

The incident forced the officers to abandon a checkpoint they had established near the entrance to the Rainbow gathering campsite in North Routt County, Forest Service spokeswoman Diann Ritschard said. Officers had not returned to the checkpoint as of Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at about 11 a.m. and involved Forest Service officers who were manning the checkpoint set up to issue citations to anyone attempting to enter the gathering. Citations were being issued because Rainbow Family members had not signed a free Forest Service special-use permit, which is required for gatherings of 75 or more people.

Before the Tuesday morning incident, Forest Service officials were blocking people from entering the gathering and telling them to "turn around," Forest Service spokeswoman Denise Ottaviano said.

Officials said a group of about 100 people — some of whom already were inside the gathering area — participated in the incident. Other participants included people waiting outside the checkpoint who were told they could not enter the gathering, Ritschard said.

No arrests were made, and the officers left the scene because they did not want to escalate the situation, Ritschard said. No officers were injured.

"This incident will be investigated, and we’re not exactly sure what course of action will be taken," Ritschard said. "The Forest Service is deciding what action to take."

In addition to Forest Service law enforcement officers, a Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputy also was at the checkpoint at the time of the incident, Ritschard said.

"The Forest Service is very serious about the safety of our officers and cooperators," Ritschard said.

Also Tuesday, an incomplete special-use permit application was submitted to the Forest Service, Ritschard said. She said the application contained profanity where the applicant was supposed to write the location of the gathering. The application can’t be accepted as submitted, Ritschard said.

Between 60 and 70 illegal gathering citations had been issued to Rainbow gathering attendees as of Tuesday morning. As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend the official peace gathering from July 1 to 7. About 500 people already have arrived.

Citations will be issued to people who use the closed trails or ignore other regulations, including:

■ Public nudity

■ Camping within 150 feet of any running stream or body of water

■ Placing kitchen facilities, food preparation areas, gray water pits or slit trenches within 300 feet of any running stream or body of water

■ Placing kitchen facilities, food preparation areas, gray water pits or slit trenches within 150 feet of any open road

■ Cutting any standing trees in the area described as: north of Forest Road 505, west of Forest Road 498, south of the private property in Big Red Park and east of Forest Road 500.

Also, about 15 miles of National Forest system motorized trails (numbers 1204 and 1199) near the Rainbow gathering have been closed. Ritschard said the trails were closed to keep the public away from the gathering.

"Most people would enjoy (trails) more at a place that is less congested," Ritschard said.

___Throwing rocks, huh? that’s not what I’ve heard from eyewitness acounts. Rainbow kids say that they Om-ed the feddies away. FS says people threw rocks at them. Who’s version of the story do you believe
Slightly different article from the Denver Rocky Mountain News, with comments from His Robness:

"Peace flees somewhere over the Rainbows …

Forest Service says communal group menaced officers

By Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News
June 21, 2006

It’s not starting out with an abundance of peace and love.

Federal forest officials Tuesday clashed with members of the Rainbow Family north of Steamboat Springs, where the free-spirited tribe plans to hold its annual summer gathering of as many as 20,000 celebrants next month.

The 35th annual Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes for World Peace & Healing is to be held July 1-7 in the Routt National Forest but so far hasn’t gotten a special-use permit.

Denise Ottaviano, an information officer for the National Incident Management Team, said about 15 U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers were forced to abandon a safety-and-information checkpoint after being encircled in a hostile manner by more than 200 Rainbows.

The conflict was sparked by the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to start issuing citations to early-bird Rainbow campers entering the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District - roughly 30 miles north-northeast of Steamboat Springs - without a special-use permit.

Ottaviano said the permit is required for a gathering of more than 74 people on Forest Service land.

About midday Tuesday, Ottaviano said, "a group of between 60 to 80 Rainbows started approaching the law enforcement officers from the interior of the gathering area in a very hostile manner.

"They broke up into groups and started surrounding the law enforcement officers at the checkpoint, and that incited the group of about 200 that was outside of the gathering area to then also approach and join in with the group that was already there, and start surrounding the law enforcement officers."

Ottaviano said that when the officers saw they were encircled, they drew their weapons but did not fire. They were then able to get into their cars and leave.

News of trouble in a planned paradise 10 days before the start of the Rainbows’ mass summer reveries didn’t sit well with Rob Savoye. He’s a 47-year-old Rainbow Family member who lives near Nederland and helped locate this year’s gathering site. He wasn’t present at Tuesday’s confrontation.

The problem with securing the required permit for the use of the federal land, Savoye said, is "nobody is in charge (of the Rainbows), and so nobody can sign a permit.

"We always say, anybody who looks like they’re in charge, obviously isn’t."

That reasoning won’t wash with the feds.

"They have the constitutional right to gather on national forest system land, as does any group for any reason," Ottaviano said. "But they also have the legal responsibility to obtain the free special-use permit."

The Rainbows’ permitting conflict has been played out for several years in a row, Savoye said.

"The last several years, somebody - most of the time unbeknownst to the rest of us - typically just jumps out of the woodwork to sign a permit, to save everybody from harassment," said Savoye, who describes himself as the Rainbows’ "self-appointed Web site maintainer."

The Rainbows’ literature describes the purpose of their annual summer communing with nature and one another as "expressing our sincere desire that there shall be peace on earth, harmony among all people."

or 303-892-2742"
Wonder when the LEOs & FS are going to realize that the fire danger of the Gathering area is going to drop once them hippies get all that dead wood cleaned up? Many kitchen & fire watch folks were in WY and helped fight that big fire; our kitchen folks developed newer & safer cook stoves every year after that. The cook stove in MT was all rock, 2 1/2 feet of the ground with wind protection on 3 sides and plenty of clear ground in the cooking room (the kitchen was so big in MT that we had a cooking room, a prep room, a kid room & a front room, plus the bliss pit & 2 hidden supply tents!)

page one of an inside section… jump break was just after "I hate hippies" comment. Great layout, guys [/sarcasm], but a nice send ‘em home zinger.

Feddies end checkpoint:

Refering to a No shirt, No shoes, No service sign.
"I had to put it up," Saari said of the sign. "You can’t come in here with no shoes. This is an old country store - my floor couldn’t take it."

I’ve had to stop going barefoot in my house, because I kept putting holes in my floor, my feet are dangerous. I wear combat boots to bed now, they are less destructive.
wow it sure starts off negative & way way down towards the bottom turns positive with the store ownders saying how nice & freindky we are & how they plan on going to the gathering
wonder how many locals read past the 1st few paragraphs though
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hhehehhehe they want hugs without bugs!!

heheheheehehehhe
wow something we have in common.. there uniforms just make them not understand..
outta uniform theyre no different then us, ya gotta remember that.
leavin cali we stopped at a convienience store 4 states away (driver was real sick ..ocpd..& needed to get to er) we asked a cop to call us an ambulance & the cops like "hey, dont take this the wrong way, but are you guys commin from a rainbow gathering?" we were shocked by the question being so far from cali at this point & he goes on to say "i worked a gathering a few years back & i just cant wait to go back to one outta uniform, you guys are all so vcool, sure ya might smokealil weed & muncha buncha shrooms but ya’ll are so peavceful, i just loved it" really made ya think..these guys in these uniforms are jst people with belly buttons doin a job they may hate, acting the way they are told to act
they maybe pricks in uniforms syure, but you many times get from them what u give em, u act confrontational or be an asshole to em & ya get beat up & dragged away in cuffs, but if u treat em with the respect & courtesy & freindliness u do all your brothers & sisters they do respond toit & they leave feeling the ol rainbow love we all feel..its theyre gathering too, make it good for them even if they’re there to make it bad for you (dont worry they cant possibly riun it)
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goodness me goodness me,, ya meen mouse is famous now???

man that article at a quick browse took my ass home an made me smile!!

ill read it thru,, well not right now,,..
luvin you turn up..

hehheehhee
Ahh, I also give big thanx! With all this talk of trouble from the leos I was getting a little scared I wasn’t going to get home, but to read this and see the pics made me smile and my soul can’t wait to be home Sunday!!!
just remember yer not home till ya are..

them that are paid to C tuit that ya have no home will do there best to see toit that ya dont get there..

no worrries..

if ya have none..:p

love n light..

Here’s another

“right”>

LAST ONE

wow!!! god these are amazing articles!
finaly the media is really taking notice of the truth …

now that will make this gathering VERY VERY interesting..

i see someone getting a ticket…
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From Today’s Pilot:

"Law enforcement: On June 26, while law enforcement officers walked the gathering to discuss resource concerns, gathering participants attempted to surround their position and became verbally abusive. When officers began questioning the individuals and attempted to obtain their identification, the individuals became uncooperative and ran from the officers. As the officers where in the process of apprehending the suspects a confrontation ensued. Fifteen Forest Service law enforcement officers were surrounded by a hostile crowd of approximately 200+ people from within the gathering. Individuals from the crowd assaulted three officers, pulled the suspects away, and piled on top of one of the suspects to prevent his apprehension. Officers were forced to defend themselves with the use of pepper spray and batons. Three officers received minor injuries that required medical attention including a female officer who was elbowed in the face and chest. Officers were able to escape the hostile crowd and take one person into custody."
what an amazing article….and it made my partner feel so much better. his daughter is there with his "stuck in the moment" ex-wife and is worried about his baby because he hasn’t heard a word. we assume there is no communication means there. but as i read the article to both he and myself, i was covered with goosebumps.

of course the media is making note. there is a consciousness so strong moving across the globe that its leaking into everywhere. even our media. lets hope sooner than later it gets in our rulers. but well money will always lead some people instead of love. but LOVE is spreading. i feel it and i know you do too even if there is fucked up shit going on in the world, when you dont listen to the reports but "be the change you want to see" you see so much truth passing into peoples consciousness. least that has been my experience. many people arent aware of it yet….but its happening.
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quick update: post had an article about a federal court filing by an attorney at the "steamboat Star Chamber" (the fire house cum courthouse).
Seems he was NOT allowed in until his clients were called…WTF: we have OPEN court here aside from family court.