Mountain Lion - Arizona is giving serious consideration to a law removing the bounty from the mountain lion and removing the animal from the predator list. Only five western states still have the lion on the predator list. Gila River - The Corps of Engineers (bless their hearts) has made a proposal to build a 1000 foot wide channel along fifty miles of the lower Gila River near Yuma. This is just another step in their valiant effort to lay concrete from the mountains to the sea on every U. S. stream. Pyramid Lake - The Sierra Club has decided to intervene on the side of the Paiute Indians in their legal effort to maintain a reasonable level in the lake which is not only our most beautiful desert lake but also the life blood of the tribe. Death Valley - The National Park Service has ordered the development of a campground at Strozzi Ranch on the east side of the Grapevine Mountains in the northeastern part of the monument which will be accessed by a graded road. This would be in the middle of 150000 acres of de facto wilderness where there are still deer and other animals found infrequently in the monument. There has apparently been little or no discussion of these plans among the people in the NPS including the DVNM Superintendent and it appears to be the work of Director Hartzog who is being pressured by Senator Bible of Nevada who in turn is being pressured by the people of Beatty. The DPS urges you to write to George Hartzog, Director, NPS, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. with copies to NPS, Western Regional Office, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, 94102, and Senator Alan Bible, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20510. From the Las Vegas Group TRAILBLISTER - Apparently Thermal Energy Company has decided against building a power plant in the Spring Valley of the Armagosa Desert. A USFS report on the Spring Mountains seems to advocate the construction of a road (high speed highway) to run across the crest from Lee Canyon to Pahrump. It also advocated the extensive cutting of mature and overage ponderosa as a "sanitation" measure. The BLM has plans for the development of a recreational area in the Red Rock Canyon area of the Spring Range just north of Potosi. The rezoning of land in the area near US 95 and the Kyle Canyon Road has made it possible for the development of a subdivision in that area.

BOOK REVIEW

Grand Canyon Treks by Harvey Butchart (La Siesta Press) Harvey Butchart, a math professor at Northern Arizona University, has hiked and climbed in every area of the Grand Canyon and knows it like no one else. In this book he has published his notes which have been compiled over many years. This is not a book which is read in one sitting for pure enjoyment but rather to describe the routes and areas which he has visited. An absolute must while reading it is to have a copy of the Grand Canyon map (USGS Topo) in front of you. The writing style is incredibly tight and many things are packed into each paragraph. The book is divided into sections dealing with major trails and routes, but each section contains information about the surrounding country and minor overland routes as well. By the time you are finished reading your nice clean topo will be covered by innumerable notes, arrows, and other such scribblings. This book is invaluable for both the planning and execution on any trip into the inner canyon.

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