National Forests not as popular, but Inyo may be an exception!! (LA Times Dec. 16, 2008) This is what has caused the Sierra Club and Clubs like them t

BS Ranch Perspective:

 

The government is proposing to close the Inyo National Forest from People using it for Recreational use, such as Cross Country Skiing, or Snowmobiling maybe Four Wheeling in the high Country, either way all these will be closed off in some cases so will the use of Mules and mule teams for trailed in camping and hunting, the whole area is all protected from the footsteps of man, that is what I have heard that the Sierra Club is after! Yet, in most cases those that go four wheeling their tread tracks are not there in one year let alone in two, Oh! But the freak's that are worried about the bush that gets run over by the person driving the Four Wheel Drive Vehicle, I can say that the plant usually doesn't have any problem with the tire that has just ran it over, it recovers in a year or two, again the plant and the dirt are both recovering in a year or two, with no sign that there was anyone there before!!

 

BS Ranch

---

« Whale watchers should be on the lookout for Chopfin, the transient orca | Main | Kelly Clark, working toward 2010 Olympic Games, joins U.S. Snowboarding » National forests not as popular, but Inyo may be an exception 12:31 PM, December 16, 2008 These findings are not surprising and yet another sad reminder that today's gadget-minded kids and even their parents are spending less time tuning in to nature: The U.S. Forest Service recently issued a report stating that visits to national forests have dropped sharply -- from 204.8 million in 2001 to 178.6 million in 2007, a 16.6% decline. Some areas are worse than others. In the Pacific Northwest, visitation is down by nearly 30%, but in California it's down only 7%. Indeed, California has its bright spots, one of them being the Inyo National Forest, which includes such breathtaking parcels as the Ansel Adams Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness (and its towering centerpiece, Mt. Whitney). The Inyo Register, quoting an Inyo National Forest officer and using anecdotal evidence from retailers, reports that preliminary findings indicate an increase in visitation. The INF's Jeff Marsolais told the newspaper that visitor sampling was done in 2002 and 2005 and a draft of these findings was produced in July 2007. Data are still being refined but point to an upward trend expected to continue for the next several years. As for the rest of the country, who knows what's going through people's minds. Outdoor recreation is, compared with most sporting events and other types of vacationing, a great value. It helps keep the fat off children and provides them with an understanding and, hopefully, an appreciation of the natural world. That's healthier for them and essential for the future health of our national forests. -- Pete Thomas Photo: Snowmobilers negotiate an Inyo National Forest trail near Mammoth Lakes. Credit: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times