Re: [pct-l] Re: Horses on the trail

[BLISTERFREE@delphi.com]

Dane, I wonder if you might be ignoring the fact that your mountain "home"
is not adapted to your, your horses', or your sheep's, presence.  It has
evolved without you or they, and can only remain in a natural balance
without you, or at best, with you making minimal impact on the land.  Even
if you perhaps feel that the manner in which you govern your and your
animals' actions is sound and proper, you must answer to the ethical question
of "what if everyone did what I'm doing?"  Would there be irreparable harm
done to the environment?  Clearly, yes.  So, just as in littering, it's not
just my litter, but the potential litter of everyone else, that indicates
why we should always act in good conscience toward the Earth.  I ran into
an interesting new attraction along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia earlier
this year.  Within 100 feet of the Trail was a grave.  Going closer to inspect
it, I realized it was a makeshift cross with a photo and letter atop it.  It
showed a young guy hugging his dog, with a eulogy for the deceased pooch and
an indication that the two had traveled as companions through these parts
during their lives.  So, basically, some guy buried his dog on the AT because
he felt a higher, emotional purpose in doing so.  But he didn't think of the
consequences of "what if everyone did what I'm doing?"  Can you imagine
Trailside pet graves running from Maine to Georgia?  Who needs this?  Who
needs just one?  We MUST think of everyone's needs and desires, and put them
just beyond NATURE's needs when travelling through the backcountry.  It
isn't ours - it's everyone's, and no one's to mess up.
- Blister>Free, GAME '96, CT-ME '97, GA-NY '98, Colorado Trail Aug'98
* From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List | For info http://www.hack.net/lists *

==============================================================================