oatmen, The time has come to stand up and be counted. For 23 years I've seen the screws tighten slowly, ever so slowly. Regulation here, regulation there “for the good of the Cañon.” Some were; most were horseshit, politically correct regulations. Now we're down to it. Peeing in a cup.
I never thought I'd do it. I did it to show I could, I guess. Ken Sleight's words ring in my ears right now. I can remember him standing up, fists clenched and saying “Don't budge an inch”.
He was so right. You cannot give these gum shoes one inch, not one! Because that's how they take your rights and freedom—one inch at a time.
We as an independent outfit of excellent professionals need to make a stand and be heard—not just by the Park Service but by other people in this country as well, that this infringement of our rights, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, will not be tolerated, at least not without a big fight.
Let the movement start with the Grand Cañon River Guides and other outfits will rally to the cause. So lawyers, guns and money—let's crank up the fight!

Doc Nicholson

The article in the fall bqr on Bill Beer really struck home. Bill made a comment that “...Margaret was far more than half that team.” My grandmother Mag (my Dad, Garth Marston, gave her the Mag moniker early on as Margaret is a mouthful for a two year-old) called herself a rim runner. While Dock regaled us with river stories, Mag gave us a feel for the Canyon and the country beyond. There's a whole lotta truth in what Bill said. It's been 30 years since she died but she's as much part of our river as Dock is. She was the grandest of ladies.
The bqr is super. Keep up the great work!

Nate Marston

ear Friends, Enclosed find my 1993 dues. I have given this renewal a lot of thought particularly after reading the last newsletter.
Two issues bother me. They both involve attitudes toward other users of the canyon. The first is the concept that John Hance was simply greedy, along with any one else that seeks their living in Grand Canyon other than river guides and park rangers. This idea was editorialized in an article regarding the Bat Guano mine towers and Roy Webb's comments about preserving Grand Canyon mining history.
The second issue hits very close to home with me: Airplanes in Grand Canyon. As many guides know, I spent 25 years on the river and then joined an air service which was built by flying river customers to and from their trips and also provided support in emergencies. Lake Mead Air was begun by Earl Leseberg and most of the outfitters remember Earl as their Guardian Angel in the 1960s and ‘70s. Earl would go far out of his way to check up on trips when radios weren't very good and there weren't too many other trips on the river to assist an expedition in trouble.
For background, I was the person that first pointed out the degradation of the beaches to the park service way back in 1967. I was later responsible for the creation of Glen Canyon Environmental Studies through my personal association with Bob Broadbent, who was the Commissioner of Reclamation. Furthermore, I was the person who suggested the no motor season and I was also the person who suggested no flight zones. These concepts were promulgated as an acceptable and reasonable compromise between various canyon resource users.
In my opinion there is a selfish attitude among many guides that the only people entitled to make a living in and around Grand Canyon are oar/paddle guides and park rangers. I would like to see some serious self-examination of these issues by the elitist members of our organization who believe they are the only ones that care about the canyon.

Sincerely,

Art Gallenson