STATEMENT OF ARTHUR M. ROBINSON, INDIVIDUAL, RIVERSIDE, CALIF. Mr. ROBINSON. I am 40 years old, married and have four children; twin boys age 6 and a twin boy and girl age 3 years. I am in favor of opening a portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for family winter recreational use; including the installation of ski lifts, provided the required development remains within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service so as to insure the proper development of the area allotted. Basically, this hearing is concerned with recreation and specifically we are considering the desires of skiers and other winter sport enthusiasts. Like so many skiers, I was first introduced to the sport in college. It is an individual sport that gives one a feeling of accomplishment. It is also a sport that our whole family can participate in together and one that we will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Excluding travel costs, skiing is no more expensive than golf, bowling, or other sports requiring special facilities, the equipment costs are no more than for golf, surfing, or a well-equipped backpacker. Since it is a challenging sport, students find in skiing a purpose for which to conserve their money and time so as to enjoy its pleasures. Unlike many school sports, they will, if the facilities are available be able to enjoy the sport through their adulthood. The San Gorgonio area because of its north facing and high altitude provides the only reliable snow in southern California. Having this area opened to skiing will allow the southern California skier a chance to enjoy the winter activity a greater number of days per year, every year. It will reduce the travel required for many skiers and for many parents it will relieve them of the concern for their children driving these many miles from northern areas at night, tired from a day's skiing, and often in foul weather. I am aware that there are many camps outside the wilderness area that include in their activities hiking in the wilderness area and that these campers naturally learn to appreciate the beauties of this area. The same is true for the winter sport enthusiast, who cannot help but be impressed with the natural beauty of the area and while on the mountain derives the same pleasures of his "commune with nature" as his summer counterpart. One particular notable difference between the summer backpacker. and the winter skier is that far more women participate in winter skiing than in summer backpacking. The point, however, is that to be in the mountain surroundings has the same "therapeutic" effect on the winter sport enthusiast as on the summer hiker and that both of these users are people of equal responsibility in their care and concern for the area. The desire for the opening of this area will continue to mount as the southern California population increases and as winter sports grow. The technical problem of sanitation, roads, parking, and lift location are discussed by others more qualified than myself. However, it is obvious that those using the area, if served by lifts and other facilities, would have greater safety facilities available than the skier now using the area. These facilities and roads would make the area more available in the event of an emergency, such as a plane crashing into the mountains. The San Bernardino, Redlands, Riverside area would benefit from the day-use of the proposed skiing facility by providing lodging and restaurant facilities that now are mainly in use in the summertime. According to the weather reports, the storm now in progress is producing snow above 7,000 feet. None of the present facilities in southern California could operate, but if there were facilities on San Gorgonio, snow would be falling on the whole area proposed for lifts and skiers would be planning on their Thanksgiving trips to "San G" rather than Alta, Mammoth, or the Tahoe area. Thank you, gentlemen. Mr. BARING. Thank you, sir. We will have our next speaker, Mr. Corsaut. STATEMENT OF THOMAS E. CORSAUT, INDIVIDUAL, LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Mr. CORSAUT. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, counsel, and staff. My name is Thomas Corsaut. I reside in Los Angeles, and am here today to testify in favor of Congressman Dyal's family winter recreation bill, H.R. 6891. The San Gorgonio area is really two distinctly different areas. One-tenth of the area is mountainous-high and unforested Alpine terrain, much of which is ideal for skiing. Some nine-tenths of the area, about 31,500 acres, is wooded, and is utilized for camping and hiking. The mountain area is remote from the camping area, being more than 2 miles to the southeast. If this area is opened for skiing, there would be a seasonal separation just as distinct as the geographical separation. The camping season runs about from May through October, while the skiing season would cover the months of November through April. The area is clearly suitable for both camping and skiing without compromising the enjoyment of either group. Since its advent in this country only 30 years ago, skiing has become an immensely popular form of recreation, and the outlook is for more and more Americans to take up skiing in almost geometric proportions. Currently, about 2 percent of the U.S. population goes skiing. There are approximately 340,000 skiers in California, of which 160,000 live in the Greater Los Angeles area. Mount San Gorgonio's altitude assures the only reliable skiing in southern California. Its proximity to our burgeoning metropolitan area is another major factor which should not be overlooked, since the nearest reliable skiing is now 350 miles distant. Skiing entails the use of ski lift facilities; without lifts, it is merely another and more strenuous form of hiking, in which only a hardy few could participate. Learning to ski is virtually impossible when 80 percent of one's time and energy is expended trudging up a slope. Skiing is an exciting and adventuresome form of recreation, and, as in any challenging sport, there are occasional accidents and injuries, a few of which must receive prompt treatment. STATEMENT OF ARTHUR M. ROBINSON, INDIVIDUAL, RIVERSIDE, CALIF. Mr. ROBINSON. I am 40 years old, married and have four children; twin boys age 6 and a twin boy and girl age 3 years. I am in favor of opening a portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for family winter recreational use; including the installation of ski lifts, provided the required development remains within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service so as to insure the proper development of the area allotted. Basically, this hearing is concerned with recreation and specifically we are considering the desires of skiers and other winter sport enthusiasts. Like so many skiers, I was first introduced to the sport in college. It is an individual sport that gives one a feeling of accomplishment. It is also a sport that our whole family can participate in together and one that we will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Excluding travel costs, skiing is no more expensive than golf, bowling, or other sports requiring special facilities, the equipment costs are no more than for golf, surfing, or a well-equipped backpacker. Since it is a challenging sport, students find in skiing a purpose for which to conserve their money and time so as to enjoy its pleasures. Unlike many school sports, they will, if the facilities are available be able to enjoy the sport through their adulthood. The San Gorgonio area because of its north facing and high altitude provides the only reliable snow in southern California. Having this area opened to skiing will allow the southern California skier a chance to enjoy the winter activity a greater number of days per year, every year. It will reduce the travel required for many skiers and for many parents it will relieve them of the concern for their children driving these many miles from northern areas at night, tired from a day's skiing, and often in foul weather. I am aware that there are many camps outside the wilderness area that include in their activities hiking in the wilderness area and that these campers naturally learn to appreciate the beauties of this area. The same is true for the winter sport enthusiast, who cannot help but be impressed with the natural beauty of the area and while on the mountain derives the same pleasures of his "commune with nature" as his summer counterpart. One particular notable difference between the summer backpacker and the winter skier is that far more women participate in winter skiing than in summer backpacking. The point, however, is that to be in the mountain surroundings has the same "therapeutic" effect on the winter sport enthusiast as on the summer hiker and that both of these users are people of equal responsibility in their care and concern for the area. The desire for the opening of this area will continue to mount as the southern California population increases and as winter sports grow. The technical problem of sanitation, roads, parking, and lift location are discussed by others more qualified than myself. However, it is obvious that those using the area, if served by lifts and other facilities, would have greater safety facilities available than the skier now using the area. Scouting embraces skiing. In Long Beach, two Scout troops offer dryland courses each year, and had 85 boys in it last year. If there were ski facilities on San Gorgonio where the snow is reliable, every troop could, in the winter, offer this wonderfully healthy sport in their program. Long Beach has over 15,000 skiers who are forced to drive 350 miles or more in order to ski most of the year. Mammoth and June Moun tains cater to over 7,000 skiers every weekend. In spite-well, when there is local snow, the weekend total runs well over 50,000. In spite of these numbers, the local ski areas are unable to expand their facilities to accommodate the growing number of skiers because of the lack of snow. Snow making at best is a pacifier. The area that the skiers are asking for is almost unused in the summer because it is above timberline, but it is not steep enough for climbers. They use the South Ridge. The number of skiers are growing each year at the rate of 20 percent. This public land should be put to work for all the people. It should be used all year. Giving this rightfully belonged land to the skiers will in no way work a hardship on the naturalists, but if it is allowed to remain restricted from the skiers, it will work a definite hardship on the skiing public of southern California. Thank you. Mr. BARING. Are there any questions? Apparently there are none, thank you very much, and we will call the next panel. The panel will consist of speakers Mr. Keith Wegeman; Sally Hudson, and John Blatt. First will be Mr. Wegeman. STATEMENT OF KEITH WEGEMAN, FORMER OLYMPIC SKIER, IN FAVOR OF H.R. 6891 Mr. WEGEMAN. Gentlemen, my name is Keith Wegeman and I am an ex-Olympian in favor of H.R. 6891. I speak as a skier, an ex-Olympian, and, also, as a mountaineer. In years past, a crucial time, someone put skis on my shoulder and a rucksack on my back and pointed me to the mountains and my life was never quite the same. With an extensive skiing background and mountaineering experience as well as an intensive interest in the youth of our country, I have been keenly aware of San Gorgonio and its potential for many years. Once again, the battle is joined in splitting the conservationists' camp for both skiers and hikers and campers and that particular group. We want the hikers on one side and the skiers on the other and that is the way they want to categorize them. Lincoln once said, "When you understand the man, you can't hate him." There is much bitterness in this fight. How can we arrive at a constructive solution unless both sides understand the whole of the problem? A good access road is therefore another necessity. The limited amount of skiing (or, I should say ski-hiking) which now occurs in this area is fraught with serious risk. I feel that, in the interests of all the people, San Gorgonio should be opened for skiing, with adequate lifts and an access road. There is opposition to this view-that's why we are here today. The driving force behind this opposition comes from only one organization-the Sierra Club-a medieval institution which stubbornly, blatantly, and selfishly refuses to recognize the tremendous impact and change which skiing has made upon our outdoor recreational habits during the past 30 years. The pressure exerted by the Sierra Club amounts to dictatorial power over our recreational lands and, in the matter at hand, denies benefits to the many for the dubious sake of a few. The absurdity of the view held by the Sierra Club is even more clearly evident in winter, when many thousands of skiers must travel 650 miles in a weekend to avail themselves of reliable snow conditions, while the same snow conditions are only 85 miles away, but off limits. Gentlemen, I am both a camper and a skier. I know that the San Gorgonio area is thoroughly suitable for both summer and winter recreation. There are two valuable and distinct areas at San Gorgonio, and one of them is now being wasted. "The greatest good for the greatest number in the long run," a policy expressed by the Forest Service, is not now being followed. I propose, therefore, that the San Gorgonio area be opened for skiing. Minority influence upon the utilization of this area must cease. San Gorgonio is not the property of the Sierra Club; it belongs to all the people. Thank you. Mr. BARING. Thank you, sir. I would like to tell the witnesses that I believe this is not a rebuttal period. This period is supposed to be given to those who could not be present yesterday. Rather than an attack on an individual club, I think the testimony should be given in the line of some positive statement of why the skiing should be accomplished rather than a direct attack on an organization. [Applause.] Are there any questions? Apparently there are none; thank you very much, gentlemen. STATEMENT OF ROBERT N. RICHMOND, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR, MEMBER, AND STAFFER OF THE BOY SCOUT TRIBE OF TAHQUITZ Mr. RICHMOND. I thank you for the opportunity to speak in behalf of skiing on San Gorgonio. I am a native son of California, and have been active in scouting, starting as a Cub Scout, on into the Scout movement, becoming a Life Scout, and a member and staffer of the tribe of Tahquitz, and have remained active as an examiner for skiing, archery, fishing, camping, and other sports merit badges. |