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Sue Flagg in California
>From: Nancy Dupont <htrails@earthlink.net>
>Subject: Press release for all newsletters
>
>Many of you requested an article suitable for your newsletters. Please feel
>free to cut or edit for space available. Names of those attending the
>meeting are still waiting approval.
>
>Yosemite, Into the 21st Century -
>Without horses
>
>We are entering the 21st century and we, as equestrians need to take a
>closer look and more involvement with the people who are in the process of
>adopting the Yosemite General Management Plan first approved in 1980 and now
>reaching a final decision. This plan has not included the use of horses in
>the Yosemite National Park.
>
>The public comment period for this plan will end on Friday, January 23,
>1998. (This has just been extended to February 1998 due to our many requests
>for additional time.) The park Superintendent, Stanley Albright said in a
>recent newsletter "We are seeking your input to assure that the final plan
>considers, to the greatest degree possible, the ideas, needs, and concerns
>of a broad range of people."
>
>George Cardinet and Nancy DuPont attended the last public workshop meeting
>on December 10th. On December 11, Jerry Mitchell, Chief of GMP
>Implementation met with George Cardinet, President of Heritage Trails that
>he would meet with a select group representing the equestrian interest at an
>agreed upon location and date. He also told George that he was not aware of
>much horse use or equestrian interest in the park. This is an opportunity,
>probably our last, to emphasize the importance of horse use in Yosemite
>National Park.
>
>We have suggested the meeting to be held on Friday, January 9th at 3 PM to 5
>PM including a catered dinner at 5 PM to allow additional discussion. The
>meeting will be held at the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association
>Clubhouse in Clayton. We are arranging overnight accommodations for those
>traveling any distance.
>
>Included in the meeting will be: (Names to be provided)
>
>Facts you should know:
>
>Yosemite, an 1169 square mile park (about the size of Rhode Island)
>established in October 1, 1890, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in
>the middle of the state of California.
>Yosemite, 94.45% wilderness containing 840 miles of trails originally built
>by and for stock use.
>First discovered by Walker, on horseback.
>First explored by John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt on horseback
>Trails maintained by the U.S. Army on horseback.
>Patrolled on horseback both in the backcountry and in the Valley.
>
>We need all individuals and organizations interested in supporting the
>inclusion of horses in the General Management Plan to write the addresses
>below and ask that we include the following:
>
>1. Group campsites so that the arriving horses do not have to leave the same
>day.
>2. Staging areas for offloading and leaving rigs while you ride the trails.
>3. Access to wilderness trails from Valley floor.
>4. Trails and trail access for horses. (For instance, they have already
>closed the old Wawona trail, the only access for horses to the Pohono Trail.
>The Valley trails have been paved over for bicycles)
>5. Retain the commercial stables for people to enjoy. Including Curry,
>Wawona, Tuolumne. This is the only way that non-athletic people can "hike"
>to some of the more beautiful backcountry areas.
>6. Mounted Patrol. Increase and maintain Mounted Ranger units in the front
>country for patrolling and friendly assistance to the public. Right now
>there is only one mounted ranger in the Valley. Should be increased to eight.
>7. Encourage a Mounted Volunteer Assistance program.
>8. Encourage use of volunteers with pack animals in trail maintenance work.
>
>(Please use your own words to address these issues but emphasize the
>inclusion of horses in their new plan.)
>
>Stanley Albright, Park Superintendent
>Yosemite National Park
>P O Box 577
>Yosemite, CA 95389
>Mr. Albright's direct telephone line: (209) 372-0204; FAX (209) 372-0617
>Email: Stanleyalbright@nps.gov or yos_vip@nps.gov
>Jerry M Mitchell, Chief, GMP Implementation Yosemite National Park. Office
>of the Superintendent (same address as above) Phone 209-372-0645 FAX:
>209-372-0456. Email: Jerry_Mitchell@nps.gov Jerry and Superintendent
>Albright are in the same office and in close communication.
>
>We, (Including: George Cardinet, Nancy DuPont, Geoffrey Carter, Bill Lane,
>Marty Brookman Kat Ryan, Billie Patrick, Don Rumsey, Johnny King) attended
>one or more of the public review workshops on November 20, December 4 and
>December 10.
>Quotes from the Plan:
>Recreation
>Page 40 of the Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan
>(Excerpts)
>"There would no longer be auto touring in Yosemite Valley, but guided tours
>and shuttle bus riding would be expanded.
>There would be more designated hiking and biking trails in a system that
>would be made more understandable and usable by the visiting public.
>Bicycle racks would be provided throughout the valley."
>(Editor note: There is no inclusion of horses, staging areas, and campsites.)
>"The use of private cars for transportation to recreation sites or
>trailheads would no longer be possible."
>
>"Although fewer campsites would be available, campers would be able to
>choose among three different types of camping: RV, auto/tent, and walk-in
>tent. In the East End of the valley the first tier of campgrounds would be
>available to all three types of campers."
>
>Note: This is where Curry Stables are located and the stables will be torn
>down.)
>The Stable area and apple orchard (established in 1859) will be replaced
>with this three-tiered campground. Just think of how confused the bears,
>deer and other critters will be when, instead of apples, they encounter
>RV's, tents and those delicious coolers to eat!
>
>"Wilderness hiking would continue to originate in the valley. Walking and
>day hiking would continue. Rock climbing and hang gliding would continue.
>(No mention here of horses on wilderness trails.)"
>
>Anyone who wants more information about saving the Yosemite Stables and
>commercial operation, call Kat Ryan at (650) 726-8119 or email:
>save.yosemitestable@mailexcite.com
>
>Text of George Cardinet presented at public Workshops:
>YOSEMITE VALLEY HORSE CAMP
>INTEGRITY OF NPS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
>
>On behalf of myself, Heritage Trails, California State Horsemen's
>Association and the public interest.
>
>I wish to narrate my association with Yosemite National Park to illustrate a
>knowledgeable intimacy. Going back to 1925 when a friend and I were there
>trying to find a summer job. Returning in our Model T Ford, we backed up the
>Old Big Oak Flat Road due to shortage of gas and the old Ford's dependence
>on gravity feed of fuel (there being no fuel pumps in those days.)
>
>In 1926, working for a pack outfit, we packed 75 hikers from Pinecrest,
>Tuolumne County into Yosemite via Huckleberry, Jack Main Canyon, Return
>Creek, Glen Aulen and Tuolumne Meadows.
>
>Returning in 1932 to recuperate from a bout with pneumonia and again in 1934
>on my Honeymoon. In 1984 with our family, this time to celebrate our Golden
>Wedding. In between, another visit or two. One for friends from Washington,
>DC similarly for a coupe from New York.
>
>In 1950 and 1951 over a hundred of us rode in from Mt. Bullion with the
>Merced-Mariposa Stockmen's Annual week long Trail Ride which concluded on
>the Valley Floor. We were met by the Superintendent of the Park each time,
>and he officiated in the presentation of awards each year. This was the
>second oldest group ride in the Nation when they were forced to abandon.
>They were no longer able to operate as the Park Service progressively
>applied prohibitive restrictions and limitations.
>
>
>This was a loss of considerable consequence to the Horsemen of California
>who for over 40 years were guided band introduced to this common treasure by
>the Merced group. Equine custodians, who along with all horsemen, former
>Yosemite Superintendent Mike Finley said were destined to be eliminated from
>the Park. His statement confirms our own conclusion though much disavowed,
>Yosemite National Park is embarked on a program to eliminate the horse from
>his historic and traditional presence in the Park.
>
>In 1988, Acting on behalf of the horsemen, we made representations to the
>National Park Service to provide a horse camp in Yosemite Valley. It is de
>facto exclusion with a capitol E not to have a safe haven after trailering
>for the many hours as most of us must do to visit our Valley.
>
>Yes! Said the Superintendent but "give us a few years to work it out."
>
>That welcome promise was emblazoned on our Fall 1988 newsletter atop a
>magnificent picture of the Valley taken from Old Inspiration Point.
>
>We did take a "few years" so for our annual ten day exploratory Ride this
>year we came back to Yosemite (over the years we have guided and introduced
>people to unused and unknown trails visiting 19 Wilderness areas.)
>
>Back to Yosemite after "a few years" there was no place to camp in the
>valley, forcing us to make arrangements outside the Park at a motel with our
>horses and descending to the Valley the next morning with part of the party
>holding horses while the drivers moved trailers to Monroe Meadows where they
>were returned to their horses and the group started on the ride to their
>destination, Red's Meadows which they reached a week later.
>
>Over the past 20 years in our program of visitor dispersal and
>reorientation, we have returned to Yosemite 4 times but only once through
>the Valley points of entry including: Mather Ranger Station (now closed to
>horses), Donahue Pass, Virginia Pass, White Wolf (now closed to horses),
>Tamarack Flat (now closed to Horses), Snow Flat (now closed to
>Horses)Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Creek (now closed to Horses).
>
>Historic Preservation would be meaningless without significant provision for
>the horse. He is the vital element of Yosemite's culture.
>
>The Valley was discovered by the Walker Party of 1833 on horseback.
>
>The first descent into the valley was by the Mariposa Battalion in 1851 on
>horseback.
>The army patrolled the park on horseback and the service continues to do so.
>How can you interpret these elemental historic events without recourse to
>the horse.
>
>Yosemite's patron saints, John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt explored the
>Valley on horseback.
>
>The earliest visitations were by horseback.
>
>Valid "Living History and Interpretation are false and meaningless without
>the horse.
>
>National Park Service "planning" should keep abreast of "Administration"
>
>"Administration" says the use of horses. "in western National Parks,
>predates the Parks themselves. Other than the flat brim, nothing seems more
>symbolic of the National Park Service than a ranger on horseback."
>
>Yosemite's road patrol ranger, Kent Delbon put it like this: "In a patrol
>car, I am a cop. On a horse, I am a ranger and people seek me out, I'm
>magnetic.
>
>We will furnish addenda to this but we only received a copy of your plan
>yesterday afternoon. Our first knowledge was in our Contra Costa Times
>editorial page the other day when one columnists's headline caught my eye.
>It said: "YOSEMITE TAKEN OVER BY TOTALITARIANS!" or words to that effect.
>
>You would have no automobile problem if you had followed a course of
>unworkable, unrealistic discrimination and perverse treatment such as has
>been accorded the Horse.
>We have resources, we have dedication, we have love and knowledge. We pledge
>them all to help bring about a sublime and equitable resolution to
>Yosemite's future.
>Nancy DuPont, Executive Director
>
>
>
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