Hippy scum Rainbow Family coming to CO

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Oct 5, 2018
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The Rainbows had once set up camp in an area of USFS land where I used to work on the Colorado Front Range. I remember the first time I came across the area after they were gone and there were hundreds of those green Coleman propane tanks (and other trash) left over. It's a bad scene when they're around.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2015
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Colorado
Quick look at the map, is this the area up north of Granby? Unit 18 area? Didn’t half of that burn last year…so now they will go and destroy the other half…

I don’t understand how they can gather 3,000, much less 30k people!!! That’s crazy to me. I think you have to get a permit to film production in national forest, but you can host a rager…interesting.
 

swavescatter

Pain in the butt!
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Apr 3, 2021
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This group came to Taos a year or so ago - didn't seem like it was as bad as anticipated because the authorities tried to get in front of it. The previous time they came out they did leave a huge mess and thrash the forest area pretty bad.
 

ColoradoV

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Nov 10, 2013
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Rainbows are a especially stinky brand of broke “east of the Mississippi” type hippies. “The earth will heal” is about as good as you can hope with those jokers…

Burning man is much different. More of a art centric Silicon Valley hippie w a huge disposable income and equally good at paperwork.. While not perfect Burners actually have a giant budget, shower, and clean up.. Hell you can fly into the airport at bm and skydive out of the same airport. The rainbow folks just move on and leave the mess as well as stragglers 😂.

My father in law was the gc for burning man 15+ years when Larry was alive - he moved on once Larry died. I have been to Burning Man more times than I care to admit but not so much since my kids are older. Have to compliment the father in law as there not much better than eating dinner in San Francisco when he has on his “kill the hippie’s” black T-shirt on w sleeves cut off 😂👌 ….
 

M_talking10

Lil-Rokslider
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Mar 26, 2022
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Never heard of this rainbow group. Hopefully not more than a one time thing for CO
 

fngTony

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The Rainbows had once set up camp in an area of USFS land where I used to work on the Colorado Front Range. I remember the first time I came across the area after they were gone and there were hundreds of those green Coleman propane tanks (and other trash) left over. It's a bad scene when they're around.
Pike NF?
 

WTFJohn

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May 1, 2018
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CO
I've heard some places they've been they worked well with the FS on clean up.

I've heard zero people suggest that the Rainbow Family should be welcomed back to anywhere they've ever been. The area they 'occupied' around Steamboat still isn't back to 100%. If you hunt or recreate (or for some of us, live) anywhere they are considering (or hear rumors thereof), call the local FS office, Sherriff, county commissioners, etc... to make your position known.

A 30,000-person strong (even half that number is insane) event involving drugs, booze, cooking fires, open sewer pits, etc.. should not be tolerated at any point on public lands without going through the existing permit system; but especially during fire season. Throw in the general dirtbaggery & thievery that also tends to accompany this group and you'll quickly learn you don't want them around.
 
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Fullfan

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Jul 31, 2016
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Nw/Pa
Was assigned two Diff rainbow family gatherings here in Pa. They come from all walks of life, peaceful gatherings. Had more problems with the non rainbows wanting to get in and see what the gathering was all about. They will come early and stay late. The part of the national forest was cleaned up when they all finally left.
 
Joined
Feb 3, 2014
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Boundary Co. Idaho
They are popular over here in my area. In the nicest way possible, the ones I've seen do nothing positive for the environment and the footprint in which they party.

1000s of people schitting and pissing all over the same footprint is never a good thing. And that's aside from the garbage they'll leave.
 

Fullfan

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Jul 31, 2016
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Nw/Pa
Pic of Father Christmas. From the 09 Pa gathering.
 

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JeffP_Or

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Jul 1, 2020
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PDX
Probably like so many others - all depends on where it happens, the general access to the location, and the attitude of those attending.
I believe they have been to Oregon twice? For certain once in the last decade - much controversy leading up to it. I do not believe it can be said they were 'no trace' by any means and it was a disgrace by somes definition when they left. The crowd was not as big as touted, there was damage [significant depending on what narrative you wanted to push], and the majority were willing to leave it in bad condition - that said, many stayed behind and worked to clean up the site.
I do agree the level of hipocracy seemed high at the time but that is par for the course these days - IMO. Whenever a significant number or people gathers in one area, you won't want them and you won't want them back.
 
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Zeke6951

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 19, 2017
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113
Location
Kentucky
I think it was in 2016 the Rainbow Group was just south of Norwood, CO. They were trickling out of the area at the beginning of archery season. There were no where near 30,000 but it was a cluster. A CO told me that they had poached a couple of elk. I did drive through the area just to see the spectacle. A more sorry looking bunch I have never seen. They pushed the few elk that were there to who knows where. When I drove through the FS was making them clean up some of their mess. They had small to medium groups with bucket and shovels cleaning up the excrement from each individual camp and burying it. The individuals were begging for anything they thought we might give them, food, paper products etc.
One story I heard but can't verify is that one of the men with dreadlocks got a spider infestation in the dreads. He was taken to the hospital unconscious and in pretty poor shape. The doc shaved his head to treat the guy. After the dude recovered he sued the hospital for cutting his dreadlocks without his permission.
 
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