Letters, letters, letters

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To the Editor:

In regard to the letter from Gary Pages (The Nugget, March 19) about the use of trails by horses and pack animals - we would like to know what Mr. Pages thinks should give him special privileges to enjoy the wilderness to the exclusion of others.

All we American citizens own the forest; it's there for all of us to enjoy. Hikers and riders alike.

Mr. Pages needs to know that those of us who ride horses in the mountains do so because we enjoy our animals, not because we are lazy and/or out of shape. He also needs to know that hoses clubs spend many hours volunteering their time to maintain trails, build horse camps, and provide assistance in search and rescue.

On a more individual level, we can tell you first hand about those of us horseback riders who have hauled out injured, lost and foot-weary hikers who have ventured out in the wilderness and gotten in over their heads and have gratefully relied on our assistance (and our animals) in getting back to the parking lot.

We have hauled food in to hikers who got out on the trail and misjudged the length of their hikes and the amount of their provisions. We haul out trash on every ride left behind by those who pack it in and can't be bothered to pack it out.

So don't tell us that we riders don't deserve the right or the pleasure of visiting the wilderness areas, because we do. We contribute, we don't just use.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Knox, Susie Aylor, Patty Swarens, Pat Stephenson, Judy Kell, Kay Teufel

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To the Editor:

This is a response to Gary M. Pages regarding his letter to the editor in the March 19 Nugget.

Where shall I begin to defend us lazy and/or out-of-shape horseback riders who have as much right to these public trails as you and other foot travelers do?

Do you really think you could enjoy a hike on a trail, that hasn't had all the 2-3-foot diameter blow-down trees cut out of the way? Yes, maybe you don't mind stepping over one or two of them, but it must not have occurred to you how many hundreds of wind blown trees there are every year.

How many times have you volunteered to clean and maintain any of the trails you use? And do you realize how many of us horseback riders are out there every year doing just that, so that you, we, and others can enjoy the beauty of the wilderness that we all have the right to?

In these days it seems inevitable that the fees are to be imposed because of over-use. But I can't imagine why you think that you should have exclusive rights to the trails.

Sincerely,

Diane Swanson

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To the Editor:

Recently the Sisters High School soccer teams completed a fund raiser called the "Great Spring Tree Sale". We would like to thank all the people who purchased trees and helped support our program.

Also, many thanks to Mark Peterson for organizing the project and making sure everyone got the trees they wanted.

But, most of all, we want to thank Tim Clasen for his generous donation of the trees from his nursery in Tumalo. It was by his initiative that this project came to reality. His time and resources are greatly appreciated.

Rod Morris

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To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to the people who live in Sisters. Last night my wife and I were out, for our usual walk around the town.

We were walking down Locust in the 25 mile-per-hour area when my wife decided to cross the street. You see, her vision isn't that great but she is a real deer to me.

As she started to cross the street I told her to watch out because it's dark at 9:20 p.m., but you know how our deer wives can be stubborn. Half way across the street a huge dark vehicle came flying down the road going well over the posted speed.

All I could think about was my poor deer wife, and the worst thing is that she was hit so hard. She flew into the air, her back was broken, her legs, she had internal bleeding, and all she could think about was getting out of the road.

The driver didn't even stop, just kept on going. But I will say a kind young woman in her early 20's did. Also one of her friends in a pickup truck stopped to help my deer wife. They helped her get out of the street, and to the side of the road. She was still alive and kept trying to move, the young lady softly stroked her hair, and told her things would be all right.

The young man went for help right away; I knew were he was going and I just couldn't stand it. But the Sisters Police came and they had these kind young people leave. I can't bear to finish the story because the ending is too sad, but my deer departed loving wife is no longer here.

Sincerely,

Mr. Buck Deer(Rebecca Leese