[pct-l] Mendo Rider's request to the USFS for action in response to list posts

[Edward Anderson]

Hey Timothy,
 
You are over reacting! You are presuming that my contact with someone at the Angeles National Forest Office was to "demand" that they enforce the existing ban on campfires. I made no demand. Yes, the emails that I forwarded, especially the one from Gary, were to confirm my own observations. Twice, my life has been impacted by tragic fires. I am very concerned (maybe I am paranoid) about wildfires and how they might be started - especially in the Angeles National Forest - since I live in the hills above Agua Dulce, and not far from the PCT and the Angeles National Forest. The winds come from that direction. Campfires, outside designated campgrounds, are banned for very good reasons. The PCT hikers that Gary mentioned were not even aware that having a campfire was against the law. He noted that there was dry chaparral close to the fire ring.  One of the two groups that Gary mentioned willingly put out their illegal fire while the other would not
 (read Gary's post). The USFS person that I talked to told me that enforcement is virtually impossible, since they are under budgeted and therefore understaffed. I did suggest (I didn't demand) that conspicuous signs be put up at trail heads so all hikers will be informed of the fire danger and that camp fires are illegal. That might help. You are right, Timothy, that I am not tolerant of those who are willing to break the law and put the forest and people's homes at risk from wildfires. By the way, I ride just one horse on the PCT. I carry a knapsack while riding (It weighs up to 19 pounds when loaded. It becomes part of rider weight and is easier for the horse to carry than the dead weight of saddle bags and pommel bags) - and I often hike, leading my horse. I am very weight-conscious, and bulk-conscious. I have done a lot of backpacking and climbing in my past. Going by horse, as I do now, I carry the same things that the average PCT hiker
 would carry - plus what I need to care for my horse. An advantage of riding compared to hiking, and one that I never thought about prior to becoming a rider, is that I have a greater opportunity to enjoy the scenery. I don't have to watch where I place my feet. My horse is watching where he places his. I can turn my head 180 degrees and see more of the grand scenery on the PCT.
 
Respectfully,
MendoRider
 

________________________________
 From: Timothy Nye <timpnye at gmail.com>
To: Ernie Castillo <erniec01 at hotmail.com> 
Cc: "<pct-l at backcountry.net>" <pct-l at backcountry.net>; "<brick at brickrobbins.com>" <brick at brickrobbins.com> 
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 2:33 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mendo Rider's request to the USFS for action in response to list posts
  
Presumptuous. Self-righteous. Intolerant.

Selectively choosing those posts that conform to what he has decided is appropriate to provide the forest service with a demand they impose his view as to what constitutes appropriate behavior is wrong.  

What the PCTA posts and pre- existing Forest Service fire regulations are irrelevant to MendoRiders action. What additional actions are being sought? Warrantless pack searches for alcohol stoves? A new layer or trail police? Loss of the PCTA's ability to issue trail permit's? Or are these only possible unintended consequences of actions which are either not thought through or for which there is little regard.

I'm sure many of the old guard on PCT-L will quickly close ranks to protect one of their own or their own political view point, but whatever happened to hike your own hike?  Oh, I forgot. Mendo Rider rides a horse, but considers himself appreciative of weight issues since his
 horse(s) has to carry his gear as well as himself.

To be clear. I've never used an an alcohol stove. I usually use Esbits and less frequently a canister stove. I would not presume to proscribe limits or penalties on others. The point had, I thought, but apparently wrongly, been effectively made that increases in regulation is ineffective in regulating campfires.

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 17, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Ernie Castillo <erniec01 at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 
> The home page of the Pacific Crest Trail Associaton has a section that can't be missed. It's titled 
> Trail Closures due to Fires
> Under that heading you will also see a paragraph that states:
> 
> 
> Fire restrictions are in place for most sections of the PCT! Campfires are NOT currently allowed on much of the trail. Alcohol stoves are generally
 not allowed!
> 
> 
> ================= 
>> So now we have Mendo Rider forwarding emails from the list to the USFS
>> asking for action.
>> 
>> What do list members think of this?
>                        
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