[cdt-l] Mt. Taylor

Wed Oct 3 12:23:46 CDT 2007

A lack of respect for native American cultures and sacred areas will not help any of us who are trying to work through complex issues with a variety of tribes and local residents. In fact it creates increased opposition to the Trail. The posting below is very unfortunate and not at all in the spirit of those of us who are trying to get local communities along the CDT to become more enthusiastic about helping.
The Forest Service and other land managers that are striving for a completed CDT should be commended for the work that they do trying to bring together local and national interests. This is difficult no matter where you are, but especially difficult in the areas the Trail traverses in New Mexico.

Bruce Ward
Executive Director
Continental Divide Trail Alliance
PO Box 628 
Pine, CO 80470

Tel.  303  838 3760
Cell: 303 917 1476
Fax: 303 838 3960

Shipping Address:
CDTA
13700 Highway 285
Pine CO 80470
" I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you, not to the exclusion of ...cooperation with others, but with the strength of conviction that you can move others by your own efforts, the chances are you'll be a person worthy of your own respects. "

- Neil Simon, (b. 1927)
American playwright, screenwriter 

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From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Ryan Jordan
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:05 AM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [cdt-l] Mt. Taylor

Clearly, lots going on politically down in that area. Thanks for the education everyone and forgive my dogmatic approach!
Ryan

On 10/3/07, Ginny & Jim Owen <spiritbear2k at hotmail.com> wrote: 

	Dick - 
	The CDT has never been officially routed over Mt Taylor - they procrastinated on designating the trail that way because the mountain is one of the 4 sacred mountains of the Navajo.  I lost respect for that argument in 1999 when we were sitting at the top of Taylor and a group of Navajos topped the mountain - on their bigass ATV's.  I've since gained a little knowledge about the Navajo - and lost a lot of respect for the gutlessness of the Forest Service - and the gubmint in general.  Of course, since I worked as a contractor for da gubmint for 40+ years, I've had lots of time and opportunity to lose whatever respect I ever had for the bureaucracy.  

	In any case, last year they routed hikers along the road around Taylor when they closed the Forest - and allowed Tom B to put out water caches.  Suspicion is that they did that as a test case as much as for the fire danger represented by the hikers.  But then - I'm a cynic, too.  

	Yes - the Mt Taylor route that we walked in '99 had springs - and in '06 there was a rumor that the springs were still flowing.  But with the Forest closed, only a few hikers managed to go that way.  One question that occurs is - how many of the SOBO's went over Taylor - and what was the water situation later in the year?  

	Walk softly,
	Jim
	-----------------------------------------------------------
	http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/ 

	Hi Jim: I must have missed something. Did the Forest Service route the trail around Taylor? I remember Gooseberry spring at the base and two others just the other side of Taylor (within a days walk) that were flowing water so cold you could chew it. Does the CDT still use T77 up and over Mt. Taylor? --Dick E. Bird 

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