| OCT 8-9 | SAT-SUN | DESERT PEAKS |
New York Butte (10,668), Pleasant (9690): Do these Trans-Sierra peaks by Lone Pine with us. Sat 5900' gain, long hard day up New York Butte (unless we get enough 4WD participants), Sun 1300' 6 mi from Cerro Gordo Mine to Pleasant. Bring festive foods to share it Sat night carcamp. Send SASE to leader - AND SINCE TIME IS SHORT, MEET AT LONE PINE RANGER STATION AT 6 am Oct. 8.
Asst: MARIS VALKASS. Leader: KAREN LEONARD
Dear Sage Editor:
I am responding to Igor's letter about U.S. National Parks in the last Sage. I too have spent a vacation touring western Natl. Parks, but have formed a differing opinion to Igor's. I noted 4 areas in which the U.S. Park Service excels: tourist amenities (toilets, drinking water, etc.), information, interpretation and preservation of back country wilderness. Some examples: In Captiol Reef rangers suggested a lovely 60+ mile dirt road in park and adjacent BLM land for a mt. bike ride. We had the awesome scenery to ourselves and were grateful that they had informed us which roads were still blocked by snow. At Yellowstone thousands of tourists plan their geyser viewing by the daily eruption schedule rangers post at the visitor center. I took advantage of that then enjoyed a pristine blue hot pool and several bubblers ALONE on a trail just a few miles from the congested road. In Rocky Mt. N.P. raised trails protect the tundra from too many feet but allow visitors to become knowledgeable about arctic vegetation firsthand. In Grand Teton NP. the Indian museum at Coulter Bay is a work of art in itself. Another visitor center in Grand Teton provided an excellent geology lesson with a computer simulation of the Teton's geologic history.
My wanderings in our National Parks where enriched by information about natural history, archaeology, ecology and history gained at the visitor centers. The many non-hiking tourists also enjoyed their visit, but did not disturb my walks nor destroy the backcountry. Igor sees a distinction between "park" and "wilderness." I feel a National Park includes wilderness, non wilderness, but unique, areas and basic tourist amenities which make it possible for us to experience the park.
Hurrah" for our National Park Service and Mojave National Park!
