robably no other issue in the past 20 years has been so heated, so divisive and so misunderstood as that of Wilderness designation for the river corridor in Grand Canyon. In our last issue of the bqr, we included a questionnaire that we asked people to fill out and send back to us regarding the whole question of Wilderness in Grand Canyon.

As of January 4, we had received 174 responses (a far cry from the 4 we received in our last mailing), which have been summarized in the following article. 75 guides responded, 92 general members, 1 outfitter and 6 non-members. The responses ranged from people wanting a full Wilderness right now for the Canyon and the river, to suggestions for other solutions that no one has even thought of yet. We¹ve tried to print a representative sample of responses from all viewpoints. Only one thing was common to all the responses: everyone who wrote in expressed great love and respect for the river and the experience it provides. We were surprised and delighted by the amount people wrote, about their opinions, thoughts, fears, hopes and what they feel is important about the issues. We received five-page typed letters, and forms so crammed with writing on both sides that we could hardly read them.

Responses were mailed, faxed, e-mailed and phoned in, and we can¹t thank you enough for the effort and thought and care that you put into your responses. We couldn¹t publish all of the responses here, but they are on public record at the gcrg office and you are welcome to come sort through them if you like. We did see a few things that bear clarification or discussion. One person mentioned that he was glad to finally be given a chance to express his viewpoint and not just be told what one person at gcrg thinks about things. We have always asked for our members¹ input, all along, about every issue of importance to the community of river runners in Grand Canyon. We always welcome letters, phone calls, e-mails, articles for the bqr and visits, whether we have sent out a specific call for input or not.

We don¹t get a lot of input, but no one at gcrg has ever just expressed one individual opinion about these issues as the ³stance² of gcrg. We will always express the majority of opinions that are made known to us, and past writings, letters and discussions of the Wilderness issue have done just that. Several people mentioned disliking surveys that called for one single answer. So do we, but the fact is that the choices we gave you on this questionnaire are the only ones up for discussion at the Park. We threw in the other options to see what we might get. If someone wished to design something completely different, that could be done and might accomplish something, but as of yet there is nothing else in the works that we know of. Some responses from both guides and private boaters expressed the belief that Wilderness designation would give private boaters more allocation and quicker access. Wilderness and private boater access to the Colorado River are two completely separate issues. Some folks have been doing a splendid job of trying to link the two issues, but this is not just oversimplification, it is inaccurate and misleading.

The Wilderness issue is part of the Wilderness Management Plan, the access and allocation issues will be dealt with separately in the crmp. If there is a Wilderness protocol that the crmp needs to follow to accomplish shifts in access and allocation, it still does not necessarily translate to more or quicker access for any one user group. We need to help get private boaters on the river faster and find a way to work out a fair system for them, but this is not related to Wilderness status for the river. No matter how you feel about the two issues, keep them separate in your mind and discussions. We received a lot of good advice, suggestions and thoughts from your responses. We thank you for those, and for taking the time to read and think and care about the issues. One of the wisest things we saw written came from a former guide who said ³Šwhenever you don¹t take a firm stand on a position, the people who emotionally or financially have a commitment perceive any position not incontestably in favor to be one of opposition.² Ain¹t that the truth. Well, we can¹t take a ³firm stand² on this issue.

We refuse to divide our community over something as myopic as motors vs. oars. We all need to be bigger than that‹the Canyon certainly is. Grand Canyon River GuidesåçProbably no other issue in the past 20 years has been so heated, so divisive and so misunderstood as that of Wilderness designation for the river corridor in Grand Canyon. In our last issue of the bqr, we included a questionnaire that we asked people to fill out and send back to us regarding the whole question of Wilderness in Grand Canyon. As of January 4, we had received 174 responses (a far cry from the 4 we received in our last mailing), which have been summarized in the following article. 75 guides responded, 92 general members, 1 outfitter and 6 non-members.

The responses ranged from people wanting a full Wilderness right now for the Canyon and the river, to suggestions for other solutions that no one has even thought of yet. We¹ve tried to print a representative sample of responses from all viewpoints. Only one thing was common to all the responses: everyone who wrote in expressed great love and respect for the river and the experience it provides. We were surprised and delighted by the amount people wrote, about their opinions, thoughts, fears, hopes and what they feel is important about the issues. We received five-page typed letters, and forms so crammed with writing on both sides that we could hardly read them. Responses were mailed, faxed, e-mailed and phoned in, and we can¹t thank you enough for the effort and thought and care that you put into your responses.

We couldn¹t publish all of the responses here, but they are on public record at the gcrg office and you are welcome to come sort through them if you like. We did see a few things that bear clarification or discussion. One person mentioned that he was glad to finally be given a chance to express his viewpoint and not just be told what one person at gcrg thinks about things. We have always asked for our members¹ input, all along, about every issue of importance to the community of river runners in Grand Canyon. We always welcome letters, phone calls, e-mails, articles for the bqr and visits, whether we have sent out a specific call for input or not. We don¹t get a lot of input, but no one at gcrg has ever just expressed one individual opinion about these issues as the ³stance² of gcrg. We will always express the majority of opinions that are made known to us, and past writings, letters and discussions of the Wilderness issue have done just that. Several people mentioned disliking surveys that called for one single answer. So do we, but the fact is that the choices we gave you on this questionnaire are the only ones up for discussion at the Park. We threw in the other options to see what we might get. If someone wished to design something completely different, that could be done and might accomplish something, but as of yet there is nothing else in the works that we know of.

Some responses from both guides and private boaters expressed the belief that Wilderness designation would give private boaters more allocation and quicker access. Wilderness and private boater access to the Colorado River are two completely separate issues. Some folks have been doing a splendid job of trying to link the two issues, but this is not just oversimplification, it is inaccurate and misleading. The Wilderness issue is part of the Wilderness Management Plan, the access and allocation issues will be dealt with separately in the crmp. If there is a Wilderness protocol that the crmp needs to follow to accomplish shifts in access and allocation, it still does not necessarily translate to more or quicker access for any one user group. We need to help get private boaters on the river faster and find a way to work out a fair system for them, but this is not related to Wilderness status for the river.

No matter how you feel about the two issues, keep them separate in your mind and discussions. We received a lot of good advice, suggestions and thoughts from your responses. We thank you for those, and for taking the time to read and think and care about the issues. One of the wisest things we saw written came from a former guide who said ³Šwhenever you don¹t take a firm stand on a position, the people who emotionally or financially have a commitment perceive any position not incontestably in favor to be one of opposition.² Ain¹t that the truth. Well, we can¹t take a ³firm stand² on this issue. We refuse to divide our community over something as myopic as motors vs. oars. We all need to be bigger than that‹the Canyon certainly is.

Grand Canyon River Guides