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Show THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 1994 while grant monies are available to certain types of businesses from his office, the tram project would not qualify or be considered. Wilkinson added that he could refer the tram developers to other agencies, such as the Small Business Administration, but would make no recommendation to accompany such a referral. Mr. Wilkinson was somewhat overwhelmed by the phone calls, letters, and a petition from Grand County citizens who contacted his office; he wanted this newspaper to convey his sentiment, once more, that the Economic Development Office has no intention of providing grant money to the tram project PAGE 5 For example. Smith dtes an example at Yosemite National Park, where a man sued to require the Park Service to post a sign on top of the massive Half Dome. It warns hikers not to stand on the summit of the granite peak during electrical stonns...How about an IQ test as well for hikers who want to go up there? At Denali National Park on ML McKinley in Alaska, 26 stranded climbers have already been rescued this year. The NPS is now considering a $200dimber fee to offset some of the Search and Rescue expenses it incurs. And it has even considered a "no rescue" zone..xlimbers who enter such areas are on their own. Expect no assistance. . All this ties together quite well with the rising costs of search and rescue on the Sand Flats and other Grand County locations, where recreationists are getting themselves in trouble in ever increasing numbers. For the most part, die County has assumed responsibility and the cost for these S & R operations, and it continues to put an added strain on the Grand County budgeL The question has been asked many times before: Why can't the victims of these mishaps be held financially responsible for the expense? After all, if a jeep breaks down in the backcountry, no one assumes that the government is going to tow them to town for free. Why should a biker or a hiker be any different? Until now, this writer was under the impression that the state code prohibits counties from attempting to collect S & R expenses. But, in fad, according to Councilman Charlie Peterson, the issue is simply not addressed at alL No one really knows what rights, if any, the county has in that regard. The only way to answer the question is to levy the charges, wait for the recipient of the S & R efforts to refuse payment and take the guy to courL Or better yet, get die state legislature to address die issue, so that counties am pass along those expenses. Since many recreational users have simply forgotten that their own well-beilies mosdy with themselves, it might be a handy idea to erect a large sign along the Sand Flats Road to remind them. How about... ng ATTENTION! HIKERS, BIKERS, RECREATIONISTS OF ALL KINDS You are responsible for your own actions. IF: You become lost or Stranded, rimrocked One good deed deserves another... Early in July, Roger Travis, owner of Fat City Smokehouse, took a day off from the barbecue pit to explore the high country with his two daughters. Coming bade from Dark Canyon Roger attempted to drive through a small puddle that turned out to be a giant mudhole. His four wheel drive vehide completely bogged down in the quagmire, and after spending four hours trying to extricate the truck from file muck, Roger left the girls with the vehicle and set out on foot to find help. He walked 11 miles without seeing a soul, but around 9 PM, as the sun was fading behind die Henry Mountains, a hundred miles to die west, Roger came across an old truck. The truck had a flat tire that had been left unrepaired and almost looked as forlorn as die truck he'd left behind. Roger knocked on the door and awakened Mr. Bill Mitzdben. Bill, a retired native of the Pacific Northwest, had spent the day dimbing ML Peale only to return to his truck to find the flat Exhausted from the hike, and without a spare tire, Bill went to bed. Roger explained die situation to this total stranger, hoping to get a ride to town, but Bill was too tired to move. Instead, Bill pointed to an old motorcycle that leaned against the truck. "Here. Here's the key to the bike," explained Bill "Just bring it back when you're done." "You're kidding," said Roger. "You don't even know me." The old man shrugged. He didn't seem too concerned. Maybe it's that cherubic face of Roger's that swayed him. In any case, Roger fired up the old bike and took off down the mountain. Roger made it to town in under an hour, got his other truck, and drove back to the LaSals to retrieve his daughters, who were now beginning to wonder if they'd ever see civilization again. The next day, he returned the motorcycle to Bill, along with a new tire to replace the one that had blown out Bill saved Roger...Roger saved Bill. Symbiosis. The Pritchett Canyon road closure... What next? BLM with Charlie and have been and Grand County For mare than a year, the negotiating road to public access. Although the Pritchett of Nelson in Canyon jeep hopes Lucy the road has been used by reaeatianists for decades, that part of the road near its junction with the Egg Ranch Road is privately owned. Two yean ago, die Nelsons dosed die road to all those who would not pay a fee to cross their land. The Nelsons argue that it's their land and they are tired of seeing it trashed by recreational usen, tourists and locals alike. Critics have maintained that the dosure is a greedy attempt to cash in on the biker boom. In any case, the BLM, in cooperation with the County, has attempted to reach a settlement with the Nelsons, and it appears the effort has failed. According to the BLM's Brad Grosbeck, the across their property. They had agency offered die Nelsons the sum of $3500 for a right-of-wuntil the afternoon of July 22 to respond to the offer but the Nelsons did not reply. The BLM and Grand County must now dedde if they wish to pursue the matter through the process of condemnation or a court action. In the end, it may be the special interests most concerned about die road closure who must bear the cost of pursuing the matter. But at this moment, it doesn't appear the issue is any closer to being resolved than it was a year ago. ng ay Trail Liability on the Slickrockchurch Last summer six members of a northern Utah group spent several terrifying days on after Zion National near Kolob Creek Park, a seeing two of their leaders swept ledge in torrent Now, those survivors and the widows of the two victims are away by the million wrongful death and damage daims were rejected by the after their court $24.5 to going National Park Service. Despite the fact that the disaster occurred outside the park, despite in a century, and the fact that Southern Utah was experiencing one of the greatest snow run-of- fs the risks of in rappelling into a canyon recognizing despite the groups's apparent inexperience falls the in flood stage, the survivors believe that the blame for tragedy squarely on the shoulders Service. Park of the In an excellent story by Chris Smith in the July 17 Salt Lake Tribune, die author raises the question: When will people in this country begin to accept responsibility for their own actions and behavior? flood-swoll- en or snakebiL If you get dehydrated because you didn't have die good sense to take water, if your gonzo display of biking prowess leaves you with a busted leg, in if, essence, your lack of common sense leaves you in a state of extreme distress, BE PREPARED TO PAY FOR YOUR ERROR. WE WILL RESCUE YOU WE WILL CHARGE YOU. HAVE A NICE DAY. That should cut down the Search Sc Rescue budget, one way or the other. |