I am an employee at the Stehekin Landing Resort. I cook five days a week and hike on my two days off whenever possible. I am unable to access many of the trailheads, due to the road closure; I would have to spend most of my time off hiking just to get to the trailhead, which effectively makes many hikes in the North Cascades National Park impossible for me. I also have a medical condition that makes hiking which is an activity that I treasure, difficult at best… adding two additional days to a hike is prohibitive physically. Appreciation of wilderness is in large part accomplished when individuals are allowed to experience, i.e., allowed access to, those areas. In the 1964 Wilderness Act the purpose is stated, "…and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness". I feel strongly that wilderness areas should be protected and I also feel strongly that a population who appreciates wilderness areas, is a population that protects those areas… Please honor the commitment in the 1964 Wilderness act and open the road so that access is available to all "the American people" once again. Sincerely, Normabeth
Conrad
|
|||||