Lightly: Protect the Fragile Alpine Ecosystems A Challenge to
Federal Land Managers to Protect the High Country From the
Impacts Caused by Pack Animals (10/10/04) The following letter
and set of recommendations, to help reduce the impacts
associated with pack and riding stock in the backcountry, was
sent to the Park Superintendents of Yosemite National Park and
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and the US Forest
Service Pacific Southwest Region on October 29, 2002. In
summary, I am not recommending restricting the use of pack
animals in the backcountry but recommend ways to reduce: (a) the
public health effects, bacteria, and pathogens from horse manure
from entering the water supply, (b) damage to sensitive alpine
habitats from grazing, and (c) repair of trees damaged from
barbed-wire (for fences and gates) wrapped tightly around tree
trunks. To address these concerns I suggested the following: (1)
a ban on open range grazing in wet alpine meadows and sensitive
habitats, (2) require packers supply the