[pct-l] Problems on the PCT

Glen Winters glenbwint at yahoo.com
Sun Sep 30 21:02:32 CDT 2012


Congratulations, we have managed to scare off another potential contributor to the pctl. Flame him for thinking things aren't perfect on the trail. What would you say to me if I was against Obama care, oh wait a minute I mean I'm for Obama care. Yeah, now I should get flamed by every flamer here on the list. 

I don't see whats wrong with having an opinion, one might even change his opinion with constructive criticism or become more entrenched in his belief instead of just deciding there's a bunch of pack mules on this list. He makes some valid points. Should pack horse/mules for profit be allowed in national parks? Should we more stringently enforce water quality standards over raising cattle? Do you feel strongly enough about it to write a letter?
I was in Yosemite last week hiked half dome and Tuolumne meadows up over Donahue pass last week. I did not see a huge problem from horse manure or smell even though I was on the JMT for a short amount of time. I was more shocked by the price at Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite valley at $600 to $1,200 a night. As luck would have it a tent cabin was available for $60. I'm not quite ready to write my congressman over 600 plus dollars for a hotel room in a national park probably run for profit like the horse packers on the JMT.
Cattle grazing is a little more complex an issue for one thing you could bring up the grandfather clause issue. Average per capita beef consumption in the US is between 50 and 60 lbs. Most federal grazing lands in the US are administered by the BLM, not to mention all the private land owners who run cattle. My question would be how do you propose to fix the problem? Should we fence off all the waterways maybe 200 ft from rivers, lakes, creeks and springs, I kinda like not having cattle gate after cattle gate to open and close as I hike? Should we limit cows per acre, the cows will still foul water as they go to drink at least once or twice a day. Should we require Americans to become vegetarians and outlaw cattle? Should cattle only be allowed in feedlots, if so how do you dispose the waste and where are they allowed to foul the air for miles around? If you have a solution then I'll push for it in Idaho. Have you ever walked the first couple hundred
 miles on the Idaho Centennial Trail? Too save a 12 to 15 mile round trip hike down to the Bruneau river and fairly clean water I drank treated water from thunderstorms collected with my tent and scooped water out of mud puddles on the cow poop incrusted roads. 

Since I didn't enjoy drinking cow poop water maybe I should sell all my gear also. You flamers can all go become He men and buy a pair of hockey sticks

Argentina



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