The meeting of June 21 with two representatives, Laurel Boyers and Susan Gonshor, from Yosemite National Park (YNP) was attended by 11, eleven, equestrians. Very discouraging, but what followed was even more so.

The two ladies presented a summary, with slides, of the five alternatives to the present management plan. NONE of the alternatives plan for any horse camping sites in the valley floor. ZERO. In fact, currently the only place you can keep your horse in the valley is by boarding at the concessionaire stables, if they are open and operating and if they can accommodate you. And, under 3 alternatives, the stables are scheduled to be closed. We horse people held a small meeting after the main gathering and drew up the following position paper. Please read them, and include those you find most important into your own communication.

PLEASE NOTE: Only an outpouring of comments from equestrians will change this plan and bring horse camping back to the valley floor. We eleven did what we could, but the rest is up to you and concerned equestrians elsewhere.

Send comments to: Yosemite Valley Plan, Attn. Cindy Bauer, CEO; P.O. Box 577, Yosemite CA 95389. Fax: 209-372-0456. email:yose_planning@nps.gov

Please send copies to David Mihalic, Superintendent of YNP, same address. Add a copy to your congressperson would be a great idea too.

VISITOR AMENITIES

1. There are no horse camping sites planned for the future of YNP. Page 2-159 of "Alternatives Considered" states: "This (horse camp) alternative was dismissed due to its inability to meet the project objectives" (i.e., balancing restoration of area and protection of wilderness VS. development of visitor facilities). "Outfitting some sites within the proposed campgrounds to accommodate people who want to bring private stock to Yosemite Valley was considered but removed from further consideration due to concerns that could not be resolved. These include safety issues, potential conflicts between pets and stock, and resource considerations. Sites away from other campgrounds were found to be incompatible with adjacent uses, or were recognized as potentially causing adverse effects on the natural environment...Horse camps are currently available in other parts of the park, including Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Tuolumne Meadows, and Hetch Hetchy." No evidence to substantiate the negative allegations was attached.

2. We need an adequate horse camping site on the valley floor.

3. Alternatives #2 and 4 allow for five "parking spaces" of undetermined size, plus a "corral," to accommodate day use of equestrians. Alternative 5 relocates the concessionaire stables, with possible visitor boarding. Three alternatives eliminate the stables, and none of the alternatives plan for horse campsites.

4. We need more room in the staging area for day use-a minimum of 15 to 25 maximum, with water. Comment: five "parking spaces" for day use is not adequate.

5. The "corral" planned with the five spaces is non-functional. Remove the corral, and replace it with more and larger parking facilities for rigs (at least 35 feet in length per rig).

6. Horse staging areas must have adjacent campsites for riders. The concept of unattended horses (in bear country, yet!) is unacceptable. This has serious safety flaws for the stock as well as liability issues to YNP.

7. Keep the rental stable concession. This provides some stabling for private stock visiting Yosemite. The rent string serves up to 25,000 clients each season. The proposed elimination of this concession denies the elderly, the disabled, and younger children of opportunities to use the trails above the valley floor. Question: how many visiting horses will be allowed to board at the stables?

8. A loop dirt trail for horses is planned around the valley floor. We approve of this, but who can use it without adequate staging areas and horse campsites?

9. We need to keep as many stock access points as possible between the valley floor and the high country.

10. A reservation system for horse campsites and staging areas is essential.

11. Except by special arrangement, two nights' stay per rig should be permitted. This would allow the campsites to be more widely available for use by other equestrians.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

12. A reasonable fee structure for horse camping and day use should be established. 13. The equine industry is a major economic force, nation-wide. The economic benefits should be better utilized by the NPS.

14. Documentation should be provided to support claims that establishing a horse camp in Yosemite Valley would not meet "project objectives" or cause "safety issues, potential conflicts...and resource considerations."

15. Statements that the present location of rental stables impacts riparian areas and water quality of runoff should be supported by tests run by environmental biologists. Where are the test results?

16. The plans allow for a large component of employee housing within the valley floor. Suggest housing them outside the valley floor should significantly reduce that employee lodging; this would better accommodate visitors and public usage.

VISITOR INTEREST AND HISTORICAL VALUE

17. John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt visited Yosemite on horseback, as did Pershing. From 1890 onward for several score years, the U.S. Cavalry rode from the Presidio in San Francisco to Yosemite to patrol the valley, every summer. Horses are part of the tradition of the valley in ways that bicycles, rock climbing, skateboards, etc., even automobiles, will never achieve. It is unthinkable to destroy this historical tradition by not allowing horse camping in the valley. To eliminate horses from the valley floor would be to negate one of the stated goals of the NPA: "...to conserve the scenery and natural and historic objects...and to provide for the enjoyment of the same..." The article in park handouts, "Loving Yosemite Valley-Planning Its Future" states that the NPS is charged with "...helping people experience and understand the landscape and histories with which we are inextricably linked." Horses an humans have a mutual history extending back 7,000 years!

18. Ask to be put on the mailing list for future information about the plans for Yosemite National Park.

To us who were there, this is part of the trend to eliminate horses from ALL national parks. If only 11 people will attend a well-advertised meeting (and some took time off from work), I am not optimistic about the future. I hope that many of you will write, and please SHARE this with others. Remember, the deadline for receipt of comments is the 7th of July, 2000.

Information was provided by
Connie Berto
Trails Chair Emeritus of AERC