Comments on: Are the Grand Canyon Mules an Endangered Specie? http://www.trekkingpoleenvy.com/are-the-grand-canyon-mules-an-endangered-specie/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Casey http://www.trekkingpoleenvy.com/are-the-grand-canyon-mules-an-endangered-specie/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Casey Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:03:08 +0000 http://www.trekkingpoleenvy.com/?p=1427#comment-677 As the former manager of these mule operations, I would like to point out some perspective that has been left out. First, it should be pointed out that the trails were built for the mules in the first place, decades before the first recreational hiker stepped foot in the canyon. Second, the figures you have presented are incorrect. The 2.8 million is Xanterra's total earnings. The mule concession itself, takes in between 300,000 and 500,000, and it is from this revenue alone that the NPS is paid for trail maintenance. The bars hotels and restaraunts that Xanterra own to not contribute to trail maintenance. Further, the fact is that there was no issue with trail damage until 15 years ago, when the current NPS trail maintenance supervisor was hired. Since then, NPS trail crew changed focus, rarely working on inner canyon trails anymore, they build bike paths to nowhere in the pinyon and juniper on the rim, and spend weeks on river trips (on the clock). They have recieved millions for trail maintenance and have wasted it. A linear absence of vegetation in the desert is a wash, and as washes, inner canyon trails need no help from man nor beast to get rough. The condition of the trails is due to negligence by the NPS trail crews to deal with the effects of seasonal rainstorms. It is clear to anyone of us who have been involved with this situation that this neglect was intentional. Let the trails fall apart, then blame the mules, then NPS has the perfect excuse to bend to the wishes of their friends, the Sierra Club, and get rid of this historical icon. I requested many times while I was in charge of the mule operations to take full responsibility for trail maintenance. I could have used that money to keep a fully equipped crew on those trails, and today those trails would be in top condition, unfortunately that opportunuity was denied. NPS was given the money and they squandered it. I have never understood why so many hikers resent sharing the trails with mules. Over three hundred miles of inner canyon trails, and mules have been restricted to less than thirty miles of trails to use. And all of these trails, without exception, were built for stock use originally. The mule folks have always been happy to share the trails they built and maintain with hikers, I think it is too bad this decency has been so one sided... As the former manager of these mule operations, I would like to point out some perspective that has been left out. First, it should be pointed out that the trails were built for the mules in the first place, decades before the first recreational hiker stepped foot in the canyon. Second, the figures you have presented are incorrect. The 2.8 million is Xanterra’s total earnings. The mule concession itself, takes in between 300,000 and 500,000, and it is from this revenue alone that the NPS is paid for trail maintenance. The bars hotels and restaraunts that Xanterra own to not contribute to trail maintenance.
Further, the fact is that there was no issue with trail damage until 15 years ago, when the current NPS trail maintenance supervisor was hired. Since then, NPS trail crew changed focus, rarely working on inner canyon trails anymore, they build bike paths to nowhere in the pinyon and juniper on the rim, and spend weeks on river trips (on the clock). They have recieved millions for trail maintenance and have wasted it.
A linear absence of vegetation in the desert is a wash, and as washes, inner canyon trails need no help from man nor beast to get rough. The condition of the trails is due to negligence by the NPS trail crews to deal with the effects of seasonal rainstorms.
It is clear to anyone of us who have been involved with this situation that this neglect was intentional. Let the trails fall apart, then blame the mules, then NPS has the perfect excuse to bend to the wishes of their friends, the Sierra Club, and get rid of this historical icon.
I requested many times while I was in charge of the mule operations to take full responsibility for trail maintenance. I could have used that money to keep a fully equipped crew on those trails, and today those trails would be in top condition, unfortunately that opportunuity was denied. NPS was given the money and they squandered it.
I have never understood why so many hikers resent sharing the trails with mules. Over three hundred miles of inner canyon trails, and mules have been restricted to less than thirty miles of trails to use. And all of these trails, without exception, were built for stock use originally. The mule folks have always been happy to share the trails they built and maintain with hikers, I think it is too bad this decency has been so one sided…

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