RideCamp@endurance.net
Fw: Outlaw Trail Preservation Opportunity
There has been quite a bit of discussion lately
on equestrian trail preservation. In 1984 Sharon and I started the AERC
Trails Committee, wrote the charter that is still in place today and spent 11
years avidly working on trail preservation in the US and Canada. Now
the Outlaw Trail Historical Endurance Ride needs your help if it and the
equestrian trials are to continue to exist. As many letters as possible
are needed to support the continuance of this activity as the BLM Draft Plan
does away with it. For more information see the attached below.
Thank you for your support, Crockett
The following information is being provided to
help those of you who are interested in preserving horse activities within the
new Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and the continuation of the
Outlaw Trail Historical Endurance Ride.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
published its Draft Management Plan for comment on
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). Comment deadline
is February 12,1999.
Alternative A (No Action) is the only
Alternative that would allow the 21 year old Outlaw Trail Historical Ride to
continue. Alternatives B-E become more and more restrictive on use
limiting group size to 12. These Alternatives do away with the Outlaw
Trail Historical Ride.
It appears comments cannot be sent through
email. Comments must be mailed to:
Mr.. Pete Wilkins,
Team Leader
Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument
337 South Main Street, Suite 010
Cedar City, Utah
84720
(435) 865-5100
Following is some information that could be used
in commenting:
- The Outlaw Trail Historical Ride (OT) is a
Heritage Industry that was started in 1978.
- A Heritage Industry is a business that
simulates the activities of historic, non motorized, nostalgic happenings that focus on maintaining the agrarian
setting and life style of the area. In the case of the OT it is using
horses to travel a considerable distance through an area to a
destination..........not in circles as most rides...........as did John Wesley
Powell, Mormon Pioneers, The Indians, the rangers and of course the Wild
Bunch.
- The Heritage Industry
concept was supposed to be a focus of the GSENM. Limiting group size of 12
does in most of the outfitter and guide operations. The group size of 12
limit would make Heritage Industries only available for the elite and rich in
order to make it profitable as entries would be very expensive.
- The OT was created to bring an economic boost
to the communities of Teasdale, Boulder, Escalante, Tropic, Cannonville and
Johnson Canyon. In the earlier days the riders and crews coming to town
was a big event and a considerable economic boost. It still is a noted
event but over the years as the area's notoriety has increased many other
recreational activities have been developed.
- For about the past six years there has been a
group size limit of 12 in the Escalante Canyon. The OT was still as
allowed there since by that time of the ride it was shown that groupsize ran
from one to five or six in a group.
- Impact form the OT is minimal as compared to
campers and very large groups that do not need permits to ride and camp
Throughout the GSENM. i.e. the OT riders merely ride through the country
rather quickly (4-9 mph) enjoying the scenery and taking pictures.
- It is important that all riders comment on the
draft plan even if it is just one hand written sentence.
- It would be good to comment on what the OT
experience was for you or the value of knowing the opportunity is available for
your future plans.
- Bureau of Land Management administered
land is just that................It is land that is owned by you, the citizens
of the US, the BLM is supposed to be managing for you. You are the ranch
owner..........the BLM is your ranch manager. Many times and it appears to
be the case in the GSENM Draft Plan that the land managers are placing their
values and their concepts into the alternatives. This is a natural
sociological phenomenon as they view themselves as the professional who knows
what is best for you. That is why it is so import that you comment on the
draft plan for your "ranch"!
- The GSENM Scoping meeting held in Santa Fe was
the largest attended meeting. The attendees general input was leave the
area as is, a "self discovery'" area. No signs, no development,
no interpretation.........just leave it as is so as not to draw escalated
attention and visitation that would erode the remote aura that was once greatly
embraced.
Your effort in preserving this event and future
equine activities is greatly appreciated.
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