Well done America and this Forum

[Tim Collins]

Dear American's,

Just a note of thanks to you all.

My partner and I are just back to Australia from Yosemite. We walked from Twin Lakes (Mono Village) through Crown Lake, Mule, Matterhorn, Volunteer, Benson and back home via Peeler. A fantastic 7 days. We also had two great days in Bridleveil.

Although we had never visited Yosemite before, the help we got via this forum meant that our planning and execution was faultless.

People often tell me "Europe for cities, USA for national parks". This trip was prove beyond boubt. The park is very well run and I was hugley impressed by the lack of rubbish out in the wilderness areas.

Just one thing though .............. you guys have got to find a way of getting the mule companies to pack out the manure. All that Mule shit is ruining the walks and really polluting the beautiful lakes. Nowhere more so than the beautiful Benson Lake. Although most people describe it as the Riviera of the Sierra, its more like the four legged toilet of the Sierra.

Thanks to all the posters and hosts of this site. You're a bunch of champions. Hope to see you in Yosemite one day.

BTW we saw bears. It was awesome

[orion]

good to hear you had a great trip! for a week of backpacking, that was a great route to take.

as for the horses and mules, i couldn't agree with you more, but there are still places they don't go, and when you see those you really notice the difference.

the problem is, to get rid of them, you would have to do away with the high sierra camps (villages) and all of that is grandfathered in under traditional uses, and makes good money. until folks realize riding horses and using pack mules in a national park (unless a ranger on duty) is about as seemly in this day and age as blowing cigarette smoke in a baby's face, nothing is liable to change.

[bill-e-g]

Well said.
Add to that their pention for leaving the mules
run around at night with cowbells on....
I will only go to Benson v early now.
People need to write to the sup. of Yose and complain.
Glad u had fun Tim.