cannabisnews.com: Forest Service Monitors Idaho Festival Forest Service Monitors Idaho Festival Posted by FoM on June 28, 2001 at 08:20:38 PT By Mark Warbis, Associated Press Writer Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Rainbow Family followers have begun streaming into the forest-ringed meadows of central Idaho for their annual festival of peace and love, which this year is under close scrutiny because of its proximity to endangered salmon habitat.More than 5,000 people were already camped out over a 9-square-mile area in the remote Bear Valley of the Boise National Forest on Wednesday. As many as 20,000 were expected by the peak on July 4. "It's like a big Grateful Dead concert without Jerry Garcia," said Buck Feist of the Forest Service National Incident Management Team.The gathering has been taking place across America for three decades - often with controversy. The Forest Service considers the event illegal because the Rainbow Family did not apply for a permit.Authorities worry the gathering will harm sensitive salmon spawning habitat that officials have recently invested $6 million in improving.Gov. Dirk Kempthorne toured the encampment Wednesday and issued an emergency declaration, making state resources available to Boise County to cope with the gathering.The Forest Service was issuing scores of citations for safety, traffic, occupancy and drug and alcohol violations, and has been trying to herd them into the least sensitive areas."The core Rainbows are very, very peaceful and accepting, and I think they're pretty sentimental about their environment," Feist said. "There's another group that's almost as large, if not larger, that's there because it's a good environment to party in."As members began to arrive in preparation for the start of the gathering Thursday, dogs roamed everywhere through the camps Rainbow Family followers use as general meeting places. There was everything from makeshift shelters to high-tech tents and a jury-rigged RV park for the expensive motor homes that made the trip.Newly built mud-and-concrete ovens marked kitchen areas. Special areas were set off for yoga meditation, medical care and Bible study.The hallmark of the Rainbow Family is that it is not organized and has no leaders, representatives or spokesmen. People operate on their own, and true followers argue they need no permit to gather on public land. Some readily describe themselves as anarchists.Bear Valley, Idaho On the Net:Rainbow Family: http://www.welcomehome.orgBoise National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/boiseSource: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)Author: Mark Warbis, Associated Press WriterPublished: Thursday, June 28, 2001Copyright: 2001 Seattle Post-IntelligencerContact: editpage seattle-pi.comWebsite: http://www.seattle-pi.com/Related Links:Rainbow Farmhttp://rainbowfarmcampground.com/Rainbow Related Websiteshttp://rainbow.toad.com/related.htmlCannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Dan B on June 28, 2001 at 18:11:39 PT: Secondhand Testimonial I talked with my sister a couple of days ago, and she said that my nephew (19 years old in August) went up to the Rainbow camp and met some wonderful people. She explained to me about the various camps up at Bear Valley, specifically that the alcohol-consumers were in a separate camp, and that many of the Rainbows are artisans and craftspersons who barter their wares (and weed) for food, etc. She said my nephew had a great time and felt very much at peace in the non-alcohol camp. I was glad to hear of her support for him going up again to spend several days during the main festival. He is a good kid who has had a difficult life, and I hope he finds some peace of mind for at least a while up there. The people are friendly, and the atmosphere is non-destructive. The forest service has little to worry about in terms of these people ruining the habitat. Most are nature lovers, and I believe they will act to respect the planet, just as they preach.Cheers to my sis', and cheers to my nephew.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by sm247 on June 28, 2001 at 14:21:06 PT Rainbow family lives I think the rainbow gatherings keep the true American spirit living Freedom in its purest form. I think the parrks people should do more to "work with" the rainbow family. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by jAHn on June 28, 2001 at 13:28:07 PT If you haven't had the experience... ...Lend yourself a favor if ya live closeby, or are in NEED of a Getaway from the "Concrete Jungle" us animals are forced to Inhabit. Hey, since I'm on the subject of "Priveleges", can I ask if Living in a Mainstream Home is a Privelege like driving? A dangerous one!I'm off of that subject. The Gathering is SOO Kewl! You're likely to run into a few good RARE bands that'll play at Granola Funk, and a Plethora of other types of Entertainment on the "Main Stage!" I did some Vocal effects for a band, "Stilts", two years ago in Allegheny Forest, Pennsylvania and HAD A BLAST ((not a cannon type, more like a THC gland EXPLODING into a mist of Hashdust, WHOA)). They accomodated us with a nice supply of Electricity to utilize microphones and amps during our settime! I had A WONDERFUL THYME! Don't Stop at that, though...take a Naked walk through a stream and check out some of the Sculptures that some kids do in the streams with rocks piled up to mimic MANY abstract forms of everyday life. Do yourself a favor and TRADE for a drum that someone put their Dearest time into creating, or stop for a talk with a Lonely artist- sitting by a tree- drawing some Hemp leaves! See what you can trade for a picture! It's not like a picture from the Guggenheim, but THAT"S the POINT...Enjoy the Rarities that life has to offer. Instead of buying Repros. of Mass Produced Neglect in a local "Chopping Mall." Think that's it? Have fun!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment