P.O. Box 1911
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Dear Editor,
It has been very interesting to note the differing opinions expressed by those who have written in support of BMTC as to what are its actual purposes! One person feels it exists to serve the general public, another thinks it is basically for Sierra Club members. A third expressed the opinion that BMTC did not bring hordes of people into the wilderness who would not otherwise be there, while the letter written by Ken Jones implies that bringing these hordes of people into wilderness areas to deliberately create a situation of overcrowding and overuse will aid in the creation of more wilderness areas-an end which hardly justifies the means and will only lead to more excessive wilderness entry restrictions. In any event, in spite of all pro-BMTC arguments, the fact remains that the continued existence of the BMTC is contrary to the current philosophy of the Sierra Club regarding back-country use. The BMTC, by its very existence, encourages more and more people to visit the backcountry, while the Sierra Club now discourages back-country use by supporting entry quotas and other restrictions imposed by the Park and Forest Service.
Before there was a BMTC, those who were really interested still found their way into the mountains through the various activity sections of the Sierra Club--100 Peaks, Desert Peaks, Rock Climbing, Sierra Peaks. Now there are even more activity groups to fill an even greater variety of interests and provide a variety of experiences through sharing of knowledge, by observation, and by formal training within a special activity section. This process may be a little slower but in the long run tends to produce a more sincerely interested and more thoroughly experienced and physically conditioned mountain traveler and trip leader (and Sierra Club member).
If one of the main objectives of the BMTC is to inform potential back-country users of the purposes of the Sierra Club, this certainly could be accomplished, without the existence of a large bureaucracy, by directly contacting non-Sierra Club groups conducting mountaineering courses. The Sierra Club can continue to take care of its own members (and guests) through its various activity sections--a method which worked quite well long before BMTC was even thought of.
It may be interesting to note that through the incidents which prompted the writing of Mr. Siemens' letter in the first place, the BMTC has brought this questioning of its existence upon itself. And in spite of agreements to the contrary, these incidents continue to occur.
Barbara Lilley
| LEADER NEEDED: CONTACT DICK
BEAN OCT 22-25 FRI-MON SIERRA SINGLES BUS TRIP M: Superstition Mtns Backpack: Lv Fri eve to spend Veterans Day weekend looking for Lost Dutchman Mine, old murder sites, mysterious Spanish hieroglyphics & OPTIONAL class 4 climb of Weavers Needle (4553'), trailhead is 2400'; l8mi rt, 1300' gain. Send list of backpacking experience, age, sex, membership number, h & w phone, 2 large sase and $50 check ($55 non-mem) payable to SIERRA SINGLES to Leader: DICK BEAN. CoLeaders: CHUCK KOPENEC. Asst: ANNE FOX. This qualifies as BMTC experience trip & is open to couples & singles with kids. Dick needs a rock climber to lead Weavers Needle. Dick Bean, 7932 Westlawn, Los Angeles, Ca. 90045 213-645-0792 |