Fwd: Re: Re: Pacific Crest Trail

[Nancy DuPont <Htrails@Earthlink.net>]

Oops, I got my hands slapped on this one!  The memo following contains my 
reply and all correspondence about horse accidents on the Pacific Crest 
National Scenic Trail.  Maybe Toby Horst can address this...I am always 
perplexed in that whether the USFS has funding or not, most of the work is 
done in the office.  I am sorry I made a remark like that now knowing how 
small or non existent the trails budget is.  It is the main reason we go to 
Washington DC in March to ask for funding for trail repair.  Bob Balou is 
dead right! If we equestrians do not get out and lobby and make our 
presence known in the big arena we can kiss our trails goodbye. I try to 
make that point with the ridecampers and endurance riders -- and last year 
we were pleased that Connie Berto came to DC on behalf of the AERC.
This year I have not heard any offers that were solid. Many inquiries, that 
is all.

In this memo I wish to address the board of directors of AERC -- will they 
set aside a budget for trail protection? Will they send a representative to 
Washington DC to speak to Congress and Senate?  And meet the leaders of 
the   USFS who make decisions about the trails they ride?  I await a reply.


>Reply-To: "Bob Ballou" <director@pcta.org>
>From: "Bob Ballou" <pcta@mindspring.com>
>To: "Nancy DuPont" <Htrails@earthlink.net>
>Cc: "Reuben Rajala" <trails@pcta.org>, "David Foscue" <foscue@techline.com>
>Subject: Re: Re:   Pacific Crest Trail
>Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2000 14:11:34 -0800
>Organization: Pacific Crest Trail Association
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2919.6600
>
>Nancy,
>
>I'm assuming you have read David Foscue's reply to Mary, and know that
>we care about equestrians use of the PCT as much as we do about
>hikers'.
>
>However, I must take exception to your suggestion that "the USFS
>should get out from their desks and on to the trail!!!"  Perhaps you
>aren't following the funding trends for the USFS now that you're
>working for the NPS, but the USFS didn't receive a dime more for its
>operational needs in FY2000 than it did in FY1999.  They have cut
>staff to the bone in nearly every phase of their operations, including
>trail crews, and darn few of them are wearing a single hat anymore.
>
>Come to Washington, DC prepared to lobby strong for more funding for
>all the agencies and all the trails.  Bring Mary's story, with
>documents to back it up, and let's work together to assure that the
>PCT and feeder trails are maintained for stock use.  To not do so will
>eventually see them open only to hikers.
>
>In the meantime, I will ask Reuben to follow-up with the appropriate
>USFS employee(s) to get their angle on the story, as it's my
>experience that there's always more than one angle to these things.
>It may well be that the dangerous areas have been improved in the past
>four years - it can take that long to get a major project like a
>bridge funded.  Of course, who he talks with today may not of been
>there in 1996 since there have been many changes of personnel since
>this incident.  Which leads to the logical question; why are we just
>hearing about this?
>
>If this complaint was triggered by a bad experience this past summer
>or fall, it might be because Washington experienced the heaviest
>snowfall ever recorded, and the crews - volunteer and USFS alike - had
>very little time to get out up the PCT and do trail maintenance
>between the melt-out and the time snow started to fall again.
>
>While you're getting an answer to that question, you might find out if
>Mary is involved with any BCHW chapter.  They do a lot of trail
>maintenance work - especially the stuff that's in deep, many miles
>from a trailhead and hard for foot-bound workers - and they would
>probably welcome more workers.
>
>s/Bob Ballou
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Nancy DuPont" <Htrails@Earthlink.net>
>To: <director@pcta.org>
>Cc: <mtnriderII@webtv.net>
>Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 8:15 PM
>Subject: Fwd: Re: Pacific Crest Trail
>
>
> > Bob, I am forwarding this on to you and copying Mary on it as well.
>This
> > is well documented and I believe should be addressed.  You said you
>wanted
> > specifics and I think Mary has done a good job of giving you
>location,
> > altitude and everything you need to take action.  I would like a
>follow up
> > on this, ok? Sounds like the USFS should get out from their desks
>and on to
> > the trail!!!
> >
> >
> > >X-WebTV-Signature: 1
> > >
>ETAtAhUAlZZWaMSPjx19KDz4m6XR2HlcHeQCFAEyJ918ILeW1L24RMIx3hI9duAL
> > >From: mtnriderII@webtv.net (Mary Sutliff)
> > >Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 17:46:15 -0800 (PST)
> > >To: trails@pcta.org (Reuben Rajala, PCTA Director of Trail
>Operations)
> > >Cc: goforth@cio.net, foscue@techline.com, htrails@earthlink.net,
> > >         director@pct.org
> > >Subject:  Re:   Pacific Crest Trail
> > >
> > >In September of 1996 my husband, Gene and I and a friend, Del
> > >Poindexter,  were riding the section of the PCT.  We started at
>Rainy
> > >Pass on Hwy 20 and our destination was Stevens Pass on Hwy.2.  We
>had
> > >checked with all the ranger distrists that the trail went through
>and
> > >were told that there were no significant problems for our horse
>party.
> > >The first accident we experienced was minor and occured on the
>bridge
> > >over the Suiattle in the Darington RD.  The major accident that
>resulted
> > >in the death of one of Del's horses occured at the 4400' level
>between
> > >Milk Creek and Mica Lake on the Lime Mtn Quad.  A week later
>another
> > >accident  occured in the same general vicinity resulting in the
>death of
> > >another horse.  This is not acceptable to me.  Both accidents were
>the
> > >direct result of poor trail maintainence and incorrect information
>given
> > >out by the USFS.            If you would like copies of the letters
>I
> > >sent to the forest service please send me your mailing address and
>I
> > >will forward them to you.
> > >We have had other experiences on the PCT in Washington that only
> > >reinforce my belief that the trail is not maintained to horse
>standards.
> > >We pack our horses often and have been traveling Washington's
>trails
> > >since the late 1960's.  We are not inexperienced mountain travelers
>and
> > >I feel the risk on the PCT in Washington is not acceptable for
>horseman.
> >
> > Nancy DuPont, Executive Director
> > Heritage Trails
> > 1350 Castle Rock Road
> > Walnut Creek, CA 94598
> >
> > Our Mission: To preserve and protect trails and answer the question,
>"Where
> > are you going to ride your horses, and where are you going to keep
>them."
> > Telephone (925)937-7661 FAX (925) 943-7431
> >

Nancy DuPont, Executive Director
Heritage Trails
1350 Castle Rock Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Our Mission: To preserve and protect trails and answer the question, "Where 
are you going to ride your horses, and where are you going to keep them."
Telephone (925)937-7661 FAX (925) 943-7431