I take the example of Humphrey's Basin. As you know, this is a very desolate, tree-free (for the most part) moonscape, huge in volume. 5 years ago, they sent up a group of rangers to go though the basin, and clean and restore it. They dismantled over 800 "constructed" campsites, and returned them to pristene condition.
I did not know, until last week, that SEKI employs 2 full time people, who do nothing but climb the eastern passes, and restore campsite areas over the crest. It takes them all summer to go over each pass, and clean up the messes that've been left.
I can easily tell the places that get camped at a lot: I look up. What I see are ropes hanging from tree branches where bear-bagging has failed, over and over again.
How could there be 800 "constructed" campsites in this area? What materials did they "construct" them of mostly above treeline without wood to build with or to burn and no campfires permitted. What could these "campsites" be other than rock windbreaks? No ropes dangling from trees. Something isn't adding up and I'm wondering what we're accomplishing with these tax dollars for moving rocks around.
Humphrey's basin has roughly 60 "lakes," a few big ones but most of them small, many of them more like ponds. So we're paying people to move rocks at 800 sites, on average about 15 sites around each little lake. Think about that, 15 rock sites at each lake, something like Trail Camp. For what purpose? Aren't people going to just move the rocks back over the following years?
Interesting side note: Humphrey's basin is a major horse packing area with great fly fishing. Might there be a connection between these 800 camps and the extra "stuff" they bring in compared to the typical backpacker hiking a load over Piute Pass? Most hikers are headed right by the Humphrey Basin lakes on down to the JMT.
I won't be able to reply for a week or so because we've organized a group camp this weekend and then I'll be doing half the Tahoe Rim Trail and then Shasta with my daughter if all goes as planned. This thread is one of the best ever and I look forward to more debate when I return. Thanks Ken for stirring the pot. We often disagree, but respectfully so.
