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 hen
we think of the word ³wilderness² we think beautiful thoughts of
quiet times spent in deep personal reflection far away from the
daily hustle and bustle. Something worth fighting for. Something
worth preserving. Every one of us shares this desire to find such
a place. Everyone, from the very young to the very old, who has
ever floated the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, privately
or commercially, by motor or oar, has in some way felt the true
essence of wilderness. So what is ³wilderness management?² To me
it is an oxymoron. What we really mean is wilderness preservation.
To "manage" the Grand Canyon for wilderness is to attempt
to control it. It is to say who can and can- not discover its secrets,
and that is wrong. Speaking on behalf of a lot of river guides,
the Hatch Amendment did not "derail" the wilderness management
plan. Rather, it saved the river from disaster. It has provided
the opportunity for more than the few, the proud, and the brave
to see the Canyon by boat. A very large percentage of passengers
on motor trips cannot, do not, and would not feel comfortable, safe,
or satisfied on a smaller rowing trip. That is a fact. We are given
a small menu of choices for wilderness management: A) Wilderness
or B) Potential Wilderness. Believe it or not, both mean the elimination
of motors from the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, preserving
it only for those who are able to participate in a rowing trip.
What is needed is a plan that does not separate the Grand Canyon
from the Colorado River.
We need a plan that does not curtail or restrict current operations
on the river. The Grand Canyon is a National Park and should set
new standards for park management. No one wants another dam here.
But the obsolete idea of wilderness management as it stands will,
if invoked, build a bureaucratic dam. It will block access, create
more government regulations on an already overburdened system, and
back up the waiting list into a lake of red tape for everyone. Less
than 25,000 people a year see Grand Canyon by boat. Honestly, that
is not a large number for the area the river corridor encompasses.
The problem is that most of us want to run our trips in May, June,
and part of July. Spread the season out. If you want a true wilderness
experience, go down the river in the winter, early spring, or fall.
The skill level of the private boaters has increased as well as
their numbers. Letıs recognize that there is a need for more private
allocation. This allocation can be built into the Spring, Fall and
Winter season. It should not come out of the commercial sector.
Letıs build on what we have, not destroy it. Letıs build new, long-
lasting standards that will provide the opportunity for everyone
to experience the wonders of the Grand Canyon. Letıs develop scholarships
that would sponsor educational and youth trips. Letıs use the aid
of computer modeling to help avoid assigned campsites and congestion.
Letıs allow all commercial companies the option to run both motors
and oar powered trips. The outfitters currently are in a fight for
their livelihoods. They are a big target and easy to shoot at. Most
of them are family-owned businesses that have been in operation
for generations. Sad to say each year there are fewer and fewer
of them.
Whether you want to admit it or not, every one of them does an
outstanding job of serving those who not only need but also prefer
a guided river trip. Wilderness is in the heart and soul of the
Canyon and that is where you will find it, preserve it, and protect
it for everyone.
Bob Grusy
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