For the week of June 20 - June 26, 2001

Rainbow Family promotes a tread-lightly message

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"Treat local folks with great kindness. Drive safely and share this love wherever you go. We love you." 

From Rap 701, 
rules for departing the Rainbow Gathering

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Since the first Rainbow Gathering in Granby, Colo., in 1972, Rainbow participants have preached a homily of low-impact public lands camping and harmonious community living.

Immediate impacts from the tens of thousands of visitors who attend the annual Rainbow Gatherings can be extreme, but the Rainbow Family has left a paper trail of letters from satisfied district rangers, who reported they found event sites to be in surprisingly good condition when the throngs departed.

"Your commitment to caring for the land was demonstrated by your thoroughness and attention to detail and the district appreciates your hard work and cooperation in meeting resource objectives," wrote Big Summit District Ranger Susan Skalski following the 1997 Rainbow Gathering near Prineville, Ore.

And that’s the way it’s been following most of the annual Rainbow Gatherings, which have been held in every region of the United States.

"There’s not one single spot in 30 years of having this event where the Forest Service has been able to say there’s been any kind of lasting damage," said Santa Fe, N.M., resident Garrick Beck, who’s taken on the roll of unofficial spokesman for this year’s event. It will be held in the woods somewhere between Stanley and Lowman.

Beck said flyers, called Raps, will be passed out at the event near Stanley. Raps (like let’s rap and talk a while) are the rules Rainbows are encouraged to follow during the 10-day event, June 28 through July 7.

Rap 107, called "Gathering Consciousness," encourages protection of public lands and helps promote a sense of community during the event.

"Walk softly. Harm no living thing. Harmonize. Camp together. Community fires only, each with a five-gallon water bucket and shovel for fire protection. Clean up poop (from pets). Violence is contrary to the spirit," reads Rap 107.

Rap 701, "Happy Trails," establishes rules to follow when leaving the gathering.

"Pack up all your trash and take it away. Take it far away. Do not impact the small towns near the gathering. Dismantle and disappear your encampment. Vanish all traces. Naturalize. When an area is clean and clear, scatter logs, branches, leaves to look natural. Disappear trails. Renew forest habitat.

"Treat local folks with great kindness. Drive safely and share this love wherever you go. We love you."

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.