Letter protesting San G closure
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:29 pm
jnoiron@fs.fed.us
Dear Ms. Noiron,
I am writing to protest the unnecessary closure of the hiking trails in the San Gorgonio wilderness. It is a shame that such an overly restrictive approach is used in the name of "public safety" and “resource protection.”
Temporary closures in areas with much larger fires (e.g. Yosemite Ferguson fire, San Jacinto Cranston fire) are essential to protect people and resources. However, the indefinite closure of San Gorgonio hiking trails due to a small fire on the far west edge of the wilderness is ridiculous and unnecessary. Sadly, the managers of the San Bernardino National Forest seem to have a history of using fire as an excuse to keep us out of our wilderness for prolonged time periods (e.g. 2015 Lake fire).
As noted by columnist Jim Matthews: http://www.vvdailypress.com/sports/2018 ... wilderness
"Yet, we have been conditioned to having these closures take place for increasing durations of time after fires. This is simply wrong and wrong-headed management. Any fire closure lasting more than a couple of weeks past when the fire is completely contained is an affront to public recreation users that have a great track record of caring for our public land.”
Any risk in a wilderness area can be used as an excuse to shut down access to public lands. Should we limit access to trails with dead trees because they might fall on hikers? Ultimately, we are responsible for our own safety when we head outdoors.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Ellen Coleman, MA, MPH, RD, CSSD
Sports dietitian and avid hiker
Dear Ms. Noiron,
I am writing to protest the unnecessary closure of the hiking trails in the San Gorgonio wilderness. It is a shame that such an overly restrictive approach is used in the name of "public safety" and “resource protection.”
Temporary closures in areas with much larger fires (e.g. Yosemite Ferguson fire, San Jacinto Cranston fire) are essential to protect people and resources. However, the indefinite closure of San Gorgonio hiking trails due to a small fire on the far west edge of the wilderness is ridiculous and unnecessary. Sadly, the managers of the San Bernardino National Forest seem to have a history of using fire as an excuse to keep us out of our wilderness for prolonged time periods (e.g. 2015 Lake fire).
As noted by columnist Jim Matthews: http://www.vvdailypress.com/sports/2018 ... wilderness
"Yet, we have been conditioned to having these closures take place for increasing durations of time after fires. This is simply wrong and wrong-headed management. Any fire closure lasting more than a couple of weeks past when the fire is completely contained is an affront to public recreation users that have a great track record of caring for our public land.”
Any risk in a wilderness area can be used as an excuse to shut down access to public lands. Should we limit access to trails with dead trees because they might fall on hikers? Ultimately, we are responsible for our own safety when we head outdoors.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Ellen Coleman, MA, MPH, RD, CSSD
Sports dietitian and avid hiker