[pct-l] Problems on the PCT

[Boris Trgovcich]

Thanks for your feedback J., and thank you for actually paying attention to what I was saying.  Yes, I do intend to research the horse and cow issues by contacting the regulatory agencies. And I will check out "Sweetgrass."

My post was about protecting the wilderness areas and leaving them a better place than we found them.  I think there is plenty room for both hikers and horses on the trail but conditions on the JMT can certainly use some improvement. Cows are just incredibly destructive in sensitive areas like meadows, seeps and springs.




________________________________
 From: "jmhow01 at yahoo.com" <jmhow01 at yahoo.com>
To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2012 10:26 AM
Subject: [pct-l]  Problems on the PCT
 
You pose some interesting questions, Boris, and I'm a little confused about some of the responses you've received. 

Seeing that you address domesticated animal use (NOT feral animals) in wilderness areas and on the trail, I don't 

see the connection between the other's responses.  You should definitely gather some more information from the 

appropriate 
officials on these topics and share the information on this thread. I'd, at least, be interested. 


In regards to your second question. I can tell you that wilderness areas (WAs) do allow some commercial activities 

(livestock grazing, mineral extraction, hunting, etc), but these regulations vary between states and WAs.  Most of 

the time, livestock grazing is permitted for farmers who've been grandfathered into the area, since they've used that 

land before it was designated a wilderness area.  There's a documentary on Netflix called "Sweetgrass" about goat 

farmers.  I'm almost certain those goats graze in Montana WAs since the farmers were grandfathered in.  One would 

likely confront great obstacles, if they sought to change these regulations. It may even require an act of congress. 


Also, I think your first bullet point raises an interesting question that you may not have intended to raise.  Why can 

domesticated horses (domesticated is the key word here) relieve themselves on trail, while humans can't?  Diapers 

actually seemed like a pretty good solution.  I  don't know much about this topic, so it would be very interesting to 

learn about the regulations.  I'm sure equestrian's know a great deal about this and probably should chime in.


I, admittedly, don't consider these issues big enough problems for me to write a letter, but I am interested.  


J  
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