OCR Text |
Show 7 Community fKT Comments . . . ' As indicated by a Page 1 headline in this week's issue, there appears to be more smoke than fire in the recent flap in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park between resort owner Jay Pratt, National Park Rangers and visitors to the Park over the Memorial Day weekend. Despite pleas for specific information regarding incidents of abuse, Unit Manager Glen Alexander had not, as of Tuesday, received any. In addition, a meeting Monday in San Juan County among people involved, and with the San Juan County Commission, appeared to iron out some of the difficulties that have arisen between private and government interests in the Needles district. That's good. I was particularly encouraged by statements from Canyonlands Superintendent Pete Parry this week that there was no intention of making life so difficult for the neighboring resort that it could no longer afford to exist. On the contrary, Parry said that if the resort folded, as Mr. Pratt indicated it might last week, tremendous additional pressures would be brought against the National Park Service to provide gasoline and other services that are now being provided by the local entrepreneur who is operating on a 6tate section surrounded on three sides by the National Park. I have been traveling into the Needles District for twenty-five years. And for many of those years I carried extra gas in leaky cans in the back of a jeep. That's not pleasant, but it was necessary until the resort opened some ten years ago. Sure, prices are higher at the resort, but it's a long way from town. I remember, back in the early 50's, when gas was selling for two bits a gallon in Moab, we used to beg gas from the good folks at the Dougout Ranch for 50 cents a gallon, and we were darned glad to get it. It would be a shame to see the whole thing go up in a clowd of flack, and would only serve to further isolate a section of canyonlands can-yonlands that's already too isolated for the general traveler. As for the comments about ranger rudeness, it's understandable that tempers might flare after a busy day marked by too many people attempting to use inadequate park facilities at the same time. But that's part of a ranger's job. It's always been my feeling that those who are paid by public monies owe an added degree of courtesy and respect to those who are paying their salaries be they city office receptionists or National Park rangers. With all but a few exceptions over the years, the NPS ranger staff in Canyonlands has conducted itself in an exemplary manner, and it is to be hoped that this record will continue. I'm not sorry the matter came to public light. It has always been my belief that the best way to stop a rumor mill from grinding on is to bring out the points at issue and discuss them openly. That was our motivation in developing our story last week, and if we had to do it again, there is very little we would do differently. sjt News of serious fire on Boulder Mountain this week, set to clear out unwanted brush and trees, gives us the opportunity to say a word about the care with fire on our own La Sal Mountains. With temperatures climbing into the 100's regularly, lots of local folk will be taking to the cool of the high country as often as possible. This water-scarce year is going to pose some difficult problems on the mountain if people 8Te not scrupulously careful with their campfires, matches and cigarette butts. As we all know, a serious forest fire on our mountains could be devastating, aesthetically and otherwise. |