[Awclist] Fwd: Paddling In Yosemite

Fri Feb 22 10:25:57 MST 2013

Interesting,

--Cliff

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Herm Hoops" <hoops at ubtanet.com>
> Subject: Paddling In Yosemite
> Date: February 22, 2013 10:14:26 AM MST
> To: "Herm Hoops" <hoops at ubtanet.com>
> 
> To all:  There is a draft plat that has a small possibility of opening the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers in Yosemite National Park to river running.  Now, I don’t normally get involved in river and environmental issues beyond the Colorado Plateau, (it’s way too time consuming and depressing!) but I think this is significant.  There is information below and I have attached my letter – you may use and modify it if you want to.
>  
> Here’s why it is important:
> It opens at opportunity for commercial and private river running that did not previously exist.  It has the opportunity to increase economies of river and river related issues.  And it brings a new group into the realm of understanding the importance of water in the West, National Parks and the environment in general.  If you interact with something and enjoy it – you will likely work to preserve it and become in similar issues across the nation.  I recognize the difficulties in promoting commercial multi-day river trips these days and you should consider that if you are at outfitter in that category.  But if you do a good job selling your company and what it offers your company should be on solid financial ground.
>  
> Herm Hoops
>  
>  
> Herm,
> I am sure that your former employer would like to hear from you.
> Hope things are good with you.  I still pull out your Lunar Lander pic when I need a little "pic me up".
>  
> Dave
>  
> Dave Steindorf
> California Stewardship Director
> American Whitewater
> 4 Baroni Drive
> Chico, CA 95928
> Office 530.343.1871
> Cell 530.518.2729
>  
> Join or donate today!
> www.americanwhitewater.org
>  
>  
> 
>  
> I think that most of you have paddled in Yosemite at some point in your paddling career.  I am sure that you were aware that it was, and still is, illegal to paddle on almost all of the rivers in the Park. It is time for that Park policy to change, and now is our opportunity to do just that. As some of you may be aware, the Park Service is in the process of revamping the Wild and Scenic Management plans for the Merced and Tuolumne.  I have been working for the past five years to move the Park Service on this issue.  The draft plans are out, and while paddling is allowed in some of the alternatives, the preferred alternatives still ban paddling on most of these two rivers.  The good news is that I believe that the Park management is not wed to keeping this ban in place.  I am meeting with the Superintendent next week. My hope I can convince him to allow paddling in the final plan.
>  
> Here is how you can help. The Park needs to hear from the boating community about how special these rivers are and that you support lifting the prohibitions on paddling. If you're comfortable with it, let them know that people, such as yourselves, have been doing these runs for years, and as far as I know, without incident.  This is your Park–why should pursuing your passion be a crime? Particularly since paddling is consistent with wilderness and one of the reasons that the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act came into existence.  To be clear, we support appropriate use limits necessary to protect this special place for current and future generations. Below is a letter from Richard Montgomery that makes the point well. Individual comments are due to the Park by March 18th for the Tuolumne and April 18th for the Merced. For more information, visit: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/31618/
>  
>  I am sure that I have missed some people that should be on this list, so please forward this email to them.
>  
> Let me know if you have any questions.
>  
> Thanks,
> Dave
>  
>  
>  
> Dave Steindorf
> California Stewardship Director
> American Whitewater
> 4 Baroni Drive
> Chico, CA 95928
> Office 530.343.1871
> Cell 530.518.2729
>  
> Join or donate today!
> www.americanwhitewater.org
>  
> Dear  Superintendent Don Neubacher,  Yosemite National Park:
> 
>  I write  regarding the Merced and Tuolumne River Plan.
> I urge you to lift all bans on boating within the park.
> 
> In 1983 I paddled and hiked the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
> from Tuolumne Meadows to Hetch Hetchy with Lars Holbek, Chuck
> Stanley, Royal Robbins, Doug Tompkins  and several others.    This was the 1st time
> that stretch of river had been navigated with a boat, to our knowledge.
> It was an awe-inspiring, bonding and sometimes frightening experience for us.
> The beauty of floating through Tuolumne meadows in the predawn,
> the dust of the trail as we hiked around John Muir Gorge, the power of WaterWheel Falls,
> watching my friends whoop and holler, bouncing safely down 20 foot sliding falls,  and the sublime beauty
> of entering Hetch Hetchy valley remains with me to this day.
> That adventure was   illegal then.  We
> had to spend a good portion of  our energies avoiding rangers.
> That  adventure continues to be illegal,  despite
> the world-wide fame of the Canyon and its waters,
> and the fact that it is still frequently run.
> 
> On several  occassions some of these same friends paddled the main  Merced within the park boundary.
> I skipped out  on these adventures, in part just to  avoid the hassles with the rangers.
> I have paddled the South Merced several times from the Awhanee down to
> the confluence with the main Merced.
> 
> I believe that the National Parks were instituted for all to enjoy,
> including the  paddling public.
>  The   standard argument against boating in parks (or anywhere) is that it is not safe.
>    A  standard counter argument  begins: and climbing is?    Leaving  these arguments
> aside,  let me simply say that I believe that it is not the  Park Service's mission to keep us safe,
> or to decide the particular way in which we choose
> to be surrounded by   the mountains.  Part of the Park Service's mission is
> certainly to insure that those of us travelling through the park have a minimal impact
> on its flora, fauna and even rocks:  that we do not destroy,
> as we pass through.   Paddling is minimally invasive,
> leaving even less trace than climbing or hiking.
>  Please open up the park to boaters.
> 
> I also ask that  the Glen Aulin camping site and cabins
> ought to remain open.  This site is great draw for the public
> and beautifully maintained.  I remember paddling under the bridge
> with all the campers there, and how happy they all seemed.
> 
> I will close by saying that
> I was  pleased to see   some boating opportunities     offered in
> some of the   alternatives, particularly in alternative 2.
> But I strongly urge you  to simply open up the park to
> boating.  Water and paddle  is as viable a means of moving through
> the park as  as rock  and rope, and even less invasive.
> 
> sincerely  Richard Montgomery
> 
> Santa Cruz, CA  95064
>  
>  

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