[pct-l] Judge suspends horse packing in national parks (Sequoia-Kings)

[James A. Streeter]

Judge suspends horse packing in national parks 
Says packing in Kings Canyon, Sequoia violates federal law. 
By Marek Warszawski The Fresno Bee Wednesday, Apr. 04, 2012 

Horse packing in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is on hold
because a San Francisco judge says the parks are violating the
federal Wilderness Act.
The issue percolated for years before exploding last month, leaving
packers one chance in May to forestall a ban that many say will
cripple their industry.

Wednesday, Rep. Devin Nunes stoked the fire by blaming the Obama
administration for caving to environmentalists and not pushing for a
compromise.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon Superintendent Karen Taylor-Goodrich wrote in
a March 12 letter to 16 pack stations that no permits would be issued
until the matter is resolved in federal court.

More than two dozen other businesses that operate within the park are
also affected. These include back-country trips booked through REI,
Outward Bound or any other commercial guide services. 

A judge has suspended hosre packing in the Sequoia & Kings Canyon
National Park until a lawsuit is resolved involving the 3-year-old
lawsuit between the High Sierra Hikers Association and the National
Park Service.  
  
The park's action came as a shock to pack station owners just as
their phones are starting to ring from customers interested in
booking summer trips.

More of this Story --

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/04/2788652/national-parks-horse-packi
ng-on.html

I will post follow ups as this story continues.

YosemiteJames
Sierra Foothills