Neighbors around Hell Hole campsite say the place is living up to its name. The U.S Forest Service is asking for public input before making a decision to close the campsite in Oconee County to overnight camping. Sumter National Forest rangers say the conditions at the campsite near the Chauga River are unsanitary.
Neighbors agree. Sonya Moore used to think of the area around the campsite as serene and quiet. She says, “My sons and I have fished here for 20 years.”
But last year was their last visit to Hell Hole campground. Moore says, “It was really bad, beer cans all over the place.” It gets worse. Moore says she had to watch where she stepped. She says, “Say, ‘Uh oh, I stepped in...uh oh. That ain't good.”
Park rangers say campers have been leaving human waste...all around the campground...and not picking up their trash.
The U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed the campsite in October for overnight camping because the toilet was broken. Rangers told the Associated Press they've tried to make repairs, but problems have continued. Moore says she can't get over what she saw near the bathroom. Moore says, “It (the toilet) wasn't working. It was bad, and then it was all over the ground. It was awful.”
Moore is in favor of a plan by the Forest Service to close overnight camping at the Hell Hole campsite.
Beatrice Bush lives nearby. She agrees that there's a problem. Bush says, “It's disgusting, much less ain't sanitary, get in our water system.” But Bush doesn't want to ruin overnight camping for everyone. She says, “No they shouldn't close it down to camping, but they should have some people go in and have authorities go in and check it on a daily basis and get the ones who actually is doing the damage to the land.”
The camp is in the wild, but Bush says campers don't have to act that way. She adds, “People need to respect themselves, plus the land.”
The Forest Service is asking for your comments before making a decision to close overnight camping. Click here to contact them online or call 864-638-9568.
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