Re: American River Ride

["BILL AND CORA GREENE" <bandc@teknett.com>]

 thouroughly concur with your message, having been from ca, American river
was one of my favourite rides. It was un-heard of the way this base camp was
set up. Got this info from another rider that was there also. It is
accurate. I personally camp w/ a tent, it is more effective for me, and to
be fined for such, is unconceivable.

----- Original Message -----
From: Gardner <slsf@foothill.net>
To: ride camp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2000 6:50 PM
Subject: RC: American River Ride


> I had the pleasure of attending the American River ride this weekend.
> Up on arrival I was quite surprised to see a number of signs posted at
> the park entrance saying camping was only allowed for those with self
> contained campers.  No tents, sleeping in pick-ups, or horse trailers
> was allowed.  This was being strictly enforced by a number of zealous
> park rangers.   Needless to say, this caught many off guard.  Some who
> had driven long distances suddenly found them selves without any place
> to spend the night.  Ride management said they didn't find out about
> this new regulation until the Monday before the ride.
>
> Ride management did their best to cope with a new and difficult
> situation.  I heard the opinion expressed that park management really
> doesn't want the endurance ride anymore and this is a way of perhaps
> creating regulations that would eventually just make it too difficult
> to hold an endurance ride at a state park.  I don't know if this is true
> or not.  I did question several rangers and got the impression that they
> thought this was as ridiculous, but they had been ordered to enforce
> it.  One ranger told me, "God knows what regulation the  State of
> California will come up with next".
>
> You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to get the rangers to give out
> the name of their boss. I did manage to obtain two names for interested
> parties to contact.  They are supervising ranger Mark Gibson and chief
> ranger Larry Froley.  They are headquartered at the California State
> Parks, American River District, 7806 Folsom-Auburn Road, Folsom, CA
> 95630.  The telephone for the office is 916-988-0205.
>
> As outraged as I am by this, I find that I really don't have the time to
> peruse this matter as it should be.  I would like to see these gentlemen
> answer the following questions.  1.  Why was this regulation made.  2.
> If sanitation is the issue, why wasn't ride management allowed to bring
> in portable units for the night.  3.  What can we do as park users to
> get a hearing on this matter.
>
> Somehow in talking with these public servants you get the feeling that
> they would really just like for everyone to just stop using the parks so
> their job would be easier.  Is there someone on ride camp who has the
> time to contact this office and see of these rangers have e-mail?  Then
> post it on ride camp so those who wish to be heard on that matter can
> easily make their feelings known to them.  Perhaps a hundred or so
> enquiry's into this would make a difference.  This is something where
> ride camp and the power of the internet might make a difference.
>
> We the citizens of California have hired these people to administer our
> public lands.  They are our employees, we are not their guests.  When
> they make an error in judgement, it is our duty to call the matter to
> their attention.  How about it ride camp, can we get something going
> here?!
>
> Phil Gardner
>
>
>
>
>
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