Today's Photo

November -- no "shout outs" at this podium

Prayers for the families and victims of the Fort Hood tragedy. To our Veterans, and to the courageous men and women of our military around the world, a heartfelt "thank you" for your service.

October update, sitting on the couch...

Alright, it's because I'm watching Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea on PBS. And while I think it's an excellent series, it appears that the writers have been sold a bill of goods by the National Park Service. The narrators and commentators routinely describe Yellowstone as "the first national park in the world" when it was actually the second; and they say Sequoia was the third national park. (It was fifth) All of this is based on the half-truths promoted by the NPS since the days of Stephen Mather, who admitted that Hot Springs was the first national park, insisting that Yellowstone was the first national nature park. Mather went so far as to say that Hot Springs wasn't really like a national park. Unfortunately those words set the tone for almost a century of misinformation. Burns is probably unaware of the facts, or else they've just decided to withhold information for the sake of the storyline.

For those who would like to know the truth, Hot Springs Reservation was protected in 1832 by an act of Congress as a National Park. Yellowstone was set aside in 1872, Mackinac Island in 1875, Yosemite and Sequoia in 1890. Mackinac was returned to the people of Michigan in 1895. Now you know the real story.

August update, still from the Sierras...

Interesting give-and-take going on concerning the future name of a 13,927 ft summit located in Sequoia National Park/Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness, 1 mile northwest of Mount Whitney. It is generally known to the public as Mount Morgenson, honoring former NPS ranger Randy Morgenson (1942-1996). For some reason, the muckey-mucks vested with the power to bestow officiousness for place-names in California have decided that Ranger Randy is unworthy. His efforts to protect and preserve the meadows of the high Sierras are sufficient. Add to that his years of seasonal service -- underpaid, non-pensioned -- as a park ranger. Truly this man was an examplary civil servant. Anyway, the geological place-name potentates made their ruling a couple years back, so one side of the give-and-take is quiet. The task now is to make the most of this name, use it, write it in maps you may own, inscribe it in log books at trail heads. "I hope to photograph Mt. Morgenson" and things like that. If enough smart people use that name, it really won't matter what the authorities say. Isn't there enough stuff named after greedy politicians? Shouldn't we have at least one tribute to an underpaid, selfless public servant? Mount Morgenson. Anyway, here's a photo by "Phreakdigital" of Horsetail Falls in Desolation Wilderness, just west of Lake Tahoe. Click the pic to join us on the trail!

A quick word from Northern California, Late July 2009

In case you were wondering, trail etiquette is generally better in California than New England. Just about the best indicator of trail etiquette is the understanding that uphill traffic has the right of way. In the White Mountains (NH) and Green Mountains (VT) on three recent treks, the percentage of downhill hikers who demonstrated this was, sadly, zero. The numbers in California over the past few weeks -- hiking in Lassen, Desolation Wilderness, and Yosemite -- were substantially better, about twelve percent. That's nothing to brag about, but it says that awareness in Cali is infinitely better than in New England. Hmmm.

Northern California, July 2009

Here I am driving up a winding section of 395 heading into Lee Vining stuck behind yet another "Cruise America" RV (these things are like bugs this year) managing 17 mph. The nice thing is that they put huge color decals all over these rent-and-drive RVs...and this one has a beautiful photo of the place I'm trying to get to.

USFS trail policy in Central Vermont, June 2009

Deer Leap Trail at Sherburne Pass is an interesting study in Forest Service management of an "over-used" trail. Even if you don't know this trail, you'll eventually feel the ramifications of what is going on here. At one time this was a difficult scramble over and around rocks to reach the viewpoint. It was seldom used decades ago, but as more and more Americans discovered hiking, it became subject to overuse. Eventually a new route was created, to allow the old scars to heal. (The USFS also offers some vague language about the trail crossing some ground that is sacred to native Americans, and that we should respect their wishes.) What is interesting is that the old front route is theoretically closed, and use is definitely discouraged but not prevented. I can tell you that although the destination is the same, the current route pales in comparison to the enjoyment of the old rock scramble. I can also tell you that the old route is still used by some -- I saw hikers enter it at the viewpoint for a quick return down to the highway. More and more people in the wilderness means more and more impact, and we get just a little bit closer to day-use permits, and more restrictive permits in places that already have them. I don't like closures any more than the next hiker, but we must do what is best for the land and the majority of visitors, rather than our own sense of enjoyment or false sense of entitlement. And I'm really not looking forward to the day I find a ranger sitting at the trailhead, monitoring everything. So let's do our part...closed means closed.

It's not politics, it's geology...

Delicate Arch Climb -- Update June 16, 2006
On May 7th, 2006 Moab UT climber Dean Potter did the unthinkable by climbing Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Utah. Originally Potter boasted of his actions, and sponsor Patagonia revealed a spine of jelly. But we're pleased to say that just over one month later -- thanks to the outrage in the outdoor community -- Potter and Patagonia admit their mistake. Please click here for more of the story.

Fall-out on Trekking Poles: A recent "article" in the LA Times, co-authored by yours truly, turned out to be more like the pre-match prattle heard in professional wrestling than anything else. To set the record straight, here's a link to our new page all about trekking poles. Includes the "pros" and "cons," and a special guest rebuttal prompted by the LA Times piece.

National Park fans: Just launched our new National Parks Trivia & Stuff page. Still under construction, but feel free to check it out and give me your feedback rb(at)slackpacker(dot)com. Also, we're pleased to point out another media mention in the L.A. Times they picked up on my rant on trekking poles. My comments in the Casper, Wyoming Star-Tribune a while back were much more intelligent...Click here and look for mentions of slackpacker.com near the end of the article.

-- Rick Bolger
rick(at)slackpacker(dot)com

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