I wonder if safety is the real reason for this decision? Just a thought....
I have run 7 Death Valley marathons over the years put on by Dave Horning and Envirosports (mostly through Titus Canyon, a couple road races also). The races have always been professionally organized and run with port potties at the beginning and end of the races; busing to and from the start and finish, AND the requirement that when you picked up your number, you showed your park entrance pass. The hotels were always booked for the races.....
Yes, park rangers were always present to oversee the race. But I always thought that the cost of the rangers being present was offset by the entrance fee that runners paid to the park and by the cost of the accommodations.
Anyway, this is sad if carried out and all organized events are cancelled.
paul
