[pct-l] Park Rangers

[J J]

Rachel,

You helped clarify my thinking. A friend and I had a bad experience in Yosemite. We had hung our clean utensils in an orange sack for drying, and were awakened at about midnight when a volunteer ranger had dumped the bag on the ground and kicked it. She thought it was a food bag. Action before questions. Inexperience and overzealousness, probably.

But. Having read what your mother experienced, I wonder how dispassionate I could be when scofflaws practice inappropriate behavior in the wilderness. Thanks for your message.

Walk well,
J J

On Feb 25, 2012, at 1:08 PM, Rachel Dysart wrote:

> Hello Mikey.  I'm sorry to hear that your friends had a bad experience.  I grew up in the Sierra National Forest just outside of Yosemite and my mother worked for the NPS in Yosemite and my Dad was USFS.  I think in any profession you will find over zealous people who like to exercise their power in a way that's not too kind or fair.  In general though I think the park has many caring and passionate people who want to protect the park and the wildlife.  Personally I'm glad that the fine is that high for not containing your food properly.  Too many times my Mom would come home from work in tears with stories of park bears being put-down.  It's really important to keep the bears safe and wild and the people who walk in their land safe.  Every time I read of someone saying they don't pack their food in a canister (where it's required) my heart aches because it's the wildlife that suffers from their ego and ignorance.  I appreciate that we have
> advocates for the last few precious wild spaces and wildlife.  Peace.
> 
> - Rachel