Tree Sitters Abandon Perches at Ski Area

AP ^ | Wed, Sep 24, 2003

[presidio9]

Environmental activists who had camped 80 feet up a pair of red oaks for more than a month climbed down early Tuesday as workers began removing trees to make way for a ski area.

"They have vacated their nests," said David Crowley, an owner of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area.

The two had been in the trees since Aug. 1 to try to block development of the ski area. Jason Kotoch, a spokesman for the environmental activist group EarthFirst!, said they abandoned their platforms when workers began tree removal.

"We said we would be there until our presence was effective in preventing any cutting," Kotoch said. "As long as they were cutting the trees down it was not effective."

One of the activists said workers from the ski area cut down their food and water supplies they had hung from ropes. She also said police officers patrolling the area began intimidating them, but she would not elaborate.

"It became a dangerous situation for us to be in," said the activist, a 21-year-old who calls herself Dandi Lyon.

The activists were concerned that the ski area cuts too close to a buffer zone that protects an old-growth forest already bordered by a road and bisected by hiking trails.

The edge of the proposed cutting area is about 650 feet from the old-growth forest — a distance that state environmental agencies and the state's highest court have said is plenty to keep the 300-year-old trees protected.

[Dog]

"We said we would be there until our presence was effective in preventing any cutting," Kotoch said. "As long as they were cutting the trees down it was not effective."

LOL!

[Snowy]

"They have vacated their nests,"
"a 21-year-old who calls herself Dandi Lyon"

LOL! **snort!** *tears*

[smokinleroy]

Protestors? We don't see no protestors!

BzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzz

[kdmhcdcfld]

I'd keep my eye on this. These tree-huggers probably gave up their posts in lieu of what the Earth Liberation Front has planned for this development...

[KellyAdmirer]

"It became a dangerous situation for us to be in," said the activist

Hey Einstein, camping up in the trees in the first place was the most dangerous thing about the whole situation.

[upchuck]

I have it on good authority from a trusted source who shall, naturally, remain anonomous that the tree-huggers may have left the trees physically but that spiritually they are still up there. They left these^ behind up in the trees as a testimony to their beliefs.

[TexasNative2000]

"We said we would be there until our presence was effective in preventing any cutting," Kotoch said. "As long as they were cutting the trees down it was not effective."

A stunning display of logic.

[theDentist]

I'd imagine the ELF folks will be paying a visit with gasoline, kerosene, matches and cans of spray paint soon enough. Their actions are becoming more violent, and their collective ego is more arrogant by the day. They'll see this as a challenge to their cause.