Ruben Perez is an idiot, and the bad part is that he is not unique. I have been wanting to write about Ruben since I took a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park last year, but I’ve been sticking to more local issues.
I have never met the man who has offended me so significantly, and I am certain there are other Ruben Perezes in the country to whom I apologize for my abrupt assessment. I’m sure there are people who do not hold me in high regard, and I hate to think other John Winkelmans may be misjudged because of me.
But I am certain that the aforementioned Mr. Perez is a selfish jerk, and he has company. Ruben carved his name into the white bark of one of the signature aspen trees at Rocky Mountain National. His handiwork stands out among the destruction because he used his full name, while many others proudly defaced the pristine nature of the national park with only their initials.
Many may consider the vandalism a minor infraction. Obviously there are a lot of people who commit the crime. There are millions of aspens in the national park and throughout the Colorado range, so why worry about a few getting knifed on along the trails. The thousands of hikers who compact the soil around the trees may be doing even more damage.
On the contrary, those who take only pictures and leave only footprints are much better stewards of the public resource. People who leave their litter, pick the wildflowers, poach the wildlife, ignite wildfires, and whittle the woodlands for their own satisfaction are all criminals.
Aside from evidence of those obvious transgressions, everything else about our visit was awesome. Ruben and his ilk could not ruin the trip. From the highest peaks of the continental United States to the falls and streams that flow with pristine waters, Rocky Mountain National is a true treasure. Abundant wildlife navigate the unspoiled parts of the wilderness, while roads and trails allow access to visitors of all capabilities.
I was reminded of Ruben and the Rockies recently when I went to visit another natural wonder a little closer to home. With nothing else in its vicinity, the state’s largest bur oak tree stands sentry amid the vast Missouri River bottomlands southwest of Columbia, Missouri. For about 400 years it has been witness to history, and now it attracts attention from motorists who drive under its large shadow.
The National Park Service recognizes it as a landmark along the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail. It wasn’t as big when Meriwether and William passed it 200-plus years ago, but “The Big Tree” was part of the landscape as the Corps of Discovery worked their way west.
An NPS release lists the tree’s circumference at 287 inches. It is about 90 feet tall with a 130-foot spread. “It would take four full-grown men to be able to wrap their arms around the trunk.”
The tree has survived storms, floods, droughts, lightning strikes and fire, but its biggest scar is the damage done by vandals who spray-painted it with vulgarities and slurs among other lettering. The paint has the potential to complicate the trees ability to absorb carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, but using chemicals to clean the graffiti off would be more dangerous for the tree.
According to a story from the Columbia Missourian online, the vandalism took place in 2016. The recommendation at the time was to let time allow the paint to fade, but in 2023 the damage is still obvious and ugly. I took pictures of the mess, but the offending words are still legible, so I will not share those shots. At least the photo from across the road still looks majestic.
Ruben Perez is an idiot for carving his full name into a national park tree, but that term doesn’t adequately describe whoever is responsible for the defacing an historic landmark that has stoically and solidly stood the test of time and then some.
Originally published in Outdoor Guide Magazine in July 2023.
Don't Call Me Outdoor John 
Unfortunately there are far too many of these idiots in the world.
LikeLike