[pct-l] who pays?

[Mark Liechty]

Donna Saufley wrote:
The Pacific Crest is a National Scenic Trail, established by an act of 
Congress in 1968. It's lead agency is the the U.S. Forest Service, under 
the Department of Agriculture.

There is no threat whatsoever now or in the foreseeable future to the 
ability for hikers to hike the PCT legally (with permits), with the 
exception of limited closures due to fires or damage.
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I am not sure we are having the same discussion.   Are you saying the 
PCTA has total control of all of the roads, parking lots, side trails 
and other things that are needed for the PCT?  

If so then it is great that the PCTA has a guaranteed funding source 
that is not likely to be cut.  But I am guessing that this is not the case.

While the trail itself may be open the ability to get to it has ties 
that depend on City, County, State, National Park, National Forest and 
private access points.    If I were on the final vote panel to close the 
XYZ trailhead parking lot and close the access road or fix the 
stoplights where little kids get run over coming home from school the 
parking lot and back roads are getting shut down.  Not because I want 
them to close but because my voters are not the people on those trails.

Since the people on the trail demand services the City, State, County, 
cannot provide they will not just let the road be open in a primitive 
manner do to maintenance and liability issues.  Closing the road and 
putting up a no-trespassing sign may even increase revenue.   Closing 
the roads and access points will save me law enforcement dollars since 
there is no need to patrol the areas. 

So yes, the trail will be "open" but if you cannot resupply or get to is 
that may not matter.

I am not being a pessimist.  I am being a realist.  If the hiking 
community built it's argument in advance it will be much easier then 
standing against other organized special interests who have been working 
on their arguments for longer with stronger needs to remain in 
existence.  "Public good" = close the trails.   "We pay our taxes" = 
yeah, but not enough.  "Federal mandate" = no money to pay for the 
mandate and what do you do if it is ignored?

But this is an interesting discussion.

Mark "Blankie" Liechty
mlaccs @ mlaccs . com