leisure time isn't enough. We must also make sure that cultural and recreational outlets are available so that this leisure time can be used more effectively.

In Southern California, present winter recreation facilities are extremely limited. The average family in this area cannot afford to participate in winter sports without a financial hardship because we have no "day use" areas which offer the dependable snow cover necessary for winter sports. In the many other areas of the U.S., winter sports are considered healthy family recreation and are not limited to the comparatively small portion of the population who can afford frequent week end trips away from home.

2. I believe that the economy of San Bernardino County needs the boost that it would receive from having a major winter sports area located on Mt. San Gorgonio. I am of course, interested in this from the standpoint of jobs and generally in having more money in circulation in the San Bernardino area. As you may know, we have had to face the problem of the partial closing of one of the military bases in our county. This has naturally had a detrimental effect on our economy. I feel that it would be desirable to diversify our economy and place greater reliance on our recreation resources, the potential for which is very great. The demand for recreation cannot be "cut back" but will continue to grow at an ever increasing rate, both because of our exploding population and increased leisure time.

The hundreds of thousands of dollars now flowing from Southern California to Northern California, and out of state, could stay right here and help to solve the problems our economy faces. I am also convinced that San Bernardino would find that if it had the only major winter sports area in Southern California, new businesses would be more inclined to locate here. Availability of recreational facilities for employees is becoming an important consideration of business as the competition for skilled employees increases.

I know that many of the people in organized labor in San Bernardino are very interested in this legislation for the reasons outlined above. Several are members of the "San Bernardino County Citizens for San Gorgonio," for instance, William Lentz, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Central Labor Council, who is out of town today and therefore unable to be with us.

We feel that a controlled "day" use winter recreation area on San Gorgonio could fulfill the winter recreation needs of Southern California, while at the same time, helping to solve some of the problems of our economy in San Bernardino County.

STATEMENT OF MRS. SUSAN LLOYD, LAKEWOOD, CALIF.

I appear here as an individual and not in an official capacity. However as background I am currently the representative of the Langlaufers Ski Club to the Southern Council of the Far West Ski Association. The Langlaufers, in most years have 250 to 280 members who currently must travel to Central California to find reliable snow. I join with these other individuals to go to such resorts as Mammoth, June Mountain, Yosemite on chartered buses. However, traveling by bus is more expensive than by auto. For example: One individuals share of the cost of a chartered bus is apprx. $12.67. The same individual could go by car pool at a much lower cost. Yet, due to the long drive of approximately 6 hours from Lakewood to Mammoth, for example, car pools have much to be desired from a safety standpoint.

In contrast, a car pool trip to San Gorgonio utilizing the roads as they presently exist would require only 24 hours. Within a year or two, freeways currently under construction near to Lakewood when completed would reduce this trip to approximately 2 hours. I present this data to you so you can understand the severe financial restrictions to a family budget even one trip a month to the Sierras would cause. Thus the average family cannot afford to spend apprx. $100 for a weekend trip up North where they have to pay for lodging besides transportation. In contrast, a family could go to San Gorgonio if it were developed as a ski resort with the restrictions contained in H.R. 6891, and not have to remain overnight. Then the average Los Angeles family could afford to become ardent skiers and not just utilize the local hill for snow play. It is my observation that the local resorts do not attract whole families. In other words, I have noticed that most of the people who utilize current Southern California Ski Resorts are teen agers. This may be explained by the lack of snow constantly at current Southern California resorts.

As the average family has many demands upon the time of its members, to hold a day open for the whole family to go skiing in Southern California would require that the snow could be relied upon to be present. Since local ski resorts cannot be relied upon, the individual members of the family are allowed to make separate plans.

I should remind you gentlemen skiing is one of the few sports where all members of a family over 5 years of age can participate in the winter. Thus to encourage families of Southern California to exercise together the passage of H.R. 6891 or any of the other similar bills would solve in my opinion a serious shortcoming in the Southern California recreational program. Therefore I urge you to approve H.R. 6891 or a similar bill with a do pass recommendation.

STATEMENT OF MRS. JOHN F. WORMAN, PASADENA, CALIF.

This statement, as an additional argument against destroying the heart of the San Gorgonio Wilderness for a commercial ski establishment, is sent with the earnest request it be made a part of the record on the San Gorgonio Field Hearings held Nov. 16-17, '65 at San Bernardino, California.

With the ever increase of population, the recreations and sports of a generation ago are becoming impractical for this and impossible for future generations to be enjoyed by the masses. Take hunting and horsemanship, as an example to which I propose to show ski enjoyment by the general public at large should be added.

Up to 25 years ago my husband and I enjoyed hunting quail, deer etc. in the Los Angeles area, but as population increased this became more dangerous, more expensive and more offensive from the civic view. Our sons were not encouraged to take up the sport and scores of our friends gave it up as we did. What if all the inveterate hunters had proposed taking over vast areas to open hunting preserves to the incoming masses on a commercial basis. Hundreds to thousands would have swarmed the land and the very essence of the sport would have been perverted to the total destruction of game, verdure, to forest fires, drinking bouts and all-around carousels which I have been informed are now taking place in several well known ski resort areas driving the old-time ski enthusiasts far afield. Likewise, to a horse raiser as myself, city bridle paths are becoming very rare indeed and back yard stables totally demolished, horse farms to subdivisions.

We cannot always pass on to our children the same pleasures and enjoyment of sports we enjoyed, and it is too bad these pleasures first have to be denied the poor until further progress takes them away from the rich also for two simple reasons- -the growing expense and luxury of most sports and the greater number of poor than rich.

But, there is one thing we can assure our children's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, poor and rich alike, if we recognize the absolute necessity of truly preserving the best of this world's natural wilderness beauty, with studied foresight and proper regulation. Future generations can, at least, enjoy and have the inspiring sight and understanding afforded by rationing our resources which, if dissipated now for really selfish and short-sighted enjoyment, and profit of a few promoters, will not even allow posterity the benefit of research and study which is the basis of our present progress toward conquering even wider spheres.

STATEMENT OF EARL MONEY, PRESIDENT, SINGLE SKI CLUB, LOS ANGELES, CALIF. I speak to you today, not only as an individual, but as an elected officer of a large Los Angeles Ski Club, consisting of young unmarried adults.

The question has been asked, "Why do we want a winter recreation area on Mt. San Gorgonio?" There are several reasons, first concerns distance and second is cost. Last year members of the Single Ski Club of Los Angeles traveled in excess of 10,000 miles to participate in the sport of their choice, paying over $40,000 for transportation, lodging, and lift fees. If Mt. San Gorgonio were available, I'm sure that the cost, and dangers of long distance travel would be lowered considerably.

As you gentlemen know, the unmarried adult pays a much higher income tax rate, so naturally we feel our opinions should weigh heavily in determining how the land that is controlled by our government is used.

The opponents of this bill say, "Save it for our children", well there again we feel that most of the young adults in the Los Angeles area will have children in the near future, and we feel that our children need an area to play, and ski on dependable snow.

Thank you very much for your time and interest.

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM J. CONKLIN, COLTON, CALIF.

I am not a member of any outdoor or conservation group, but express my views as those of myself as an individual. However, a number of my friends also share these feelings.

I have lived in this area all my life and have camped and hiked in the San Gorgonio Wilderness area on many occasions since I was 12 years old. I personally experience a great deal of enjoyment and relaxation in this type of recreation, and I feel that the natural gradeur of the Wilderness area as it now exists, unblemished by so-called "development", has a particularly tonic effect on a person subject to the stresses of modern living. It is this that we modern day Americans need more than still more "development".

I personally feel a deep sense of gratitude to those who through their foresight and efforts have made possible for us to benefit from this unspoiled Wilderness Area. Consequently we should strive all the more to pass on to our children this heritage and trust which we are so fortunate to enjoy. We need what the vast primitive stillness and grandeur of such an area as the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area can do for a human being. This is the commodity we must keep available to succeeding generations of Americans.

As a subdivider and builder I favor progress, but I feel that the Wilderness area is not the place for the intrusion of this so-called "progress". On the contrary, I feel that the rapid pace of progress in Southern California all the more emphasizes the need for the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area to remain a primitive Wilderness, an inviolate natural area where an American can retreat to commune with his soul, to commune with his God.

I say, lets keep the blades of the bulldozers out of the greatest remaining area in Southern California which is still untouched by "progress". I, for one, will not rest until the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area is secure from any threats of violation.

STATEMENT OF WAYNE A. HELD, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA STATE DIVISION, IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA

The Izaak Walton League of America is an organization of citizens dedicated to the wise use of our natural resources. This includes the safeguarding of special reservations such as parks, wildlife refuges, and national forest wilderness areas such as the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. These areas have been set aside for legislation to preserve a specific feature of our wonderful out-of-doors so that future generations may also be able to see and appreciate the glorious heritage which is ours.

The wilderness areas were not set aside to suit the desires and needs of assorted groups and individuals at their will, but were given this distinction in order to preserve the primitive conditions which still exist within their boundaries and to stop encroachment for designs other than the primary purpose.

The San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, renowned for its Arctic-Alpine Forest Life Zone and its outstanding examples of Ice Age geology, is also known for the ideal wildlife habitat which may be observed in its natural environment which extends from 7,000 to 11,500 feet in elevation.

Because of its close proximity to large population centers, this area is used by a great many organizational groups, including Boy and Girl Scouts, Young Men's Christian Association, Various Church and private groups as well as innumerable individuals during all seasons of the year. The use of this area by these individuals is principally to experience "wilderness recreation", but a great many

persons also travel in and through the area just to observe the "natural state" specific to this locale.

The writer has spent many hours as a youth and an adult in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, hiking, camping and skiing, and recognizes the benefits derived from this 35,000 acres of forest land. It is also known personally that the acreage which is being considered for removal from wilderness classification is the very heart of the area most heavily used because of its primitiveness.

The above testimony points out why the Izaak Walton League of America is opposed to the placement of a commercial ski area or resort within the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, and why we feel that such reclassification of this land would be an act which would remove forever the opportunity for youth and adults to observe this truly primitive forest area as nature produced it. This would destroy a part of the rightful heritage which belongs to this and all future generations.

STATEMENT OF ALLEN GREENE, PRESIDENT, THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB

The Colorado Mountain Club does not approve of the provisions of the six identical bills introduced by California Representatives which would remove a large part of the center of the San Gorgonio Wilderness from the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The wilderness character of this land has never been questioned and in view of the fact that the San Gorgonio Wilderness is the most heavily used wilderness area of the entire National Wilderness Preservation System it seems inconceivable that any serious proposal would be made to remove the heartland of this area to provide for development incompatible with wilderness.

It is felt that any question regarding units of the National Wilderness Preservation System is a matter of national importance. The San Gorgonio Wilderness is of great value to the people of Southern California as a family, all-season recreation area and with the strides being taken and to be taken in the near future in rapid transportation it is obvious that this area will assume greater and greater importance as a wilderness area for the recreational use of people living far from metropolitan Los Angeles.

Within Southern California the San Gorgonio Wilderness is unique in that it is the only one of the three major high mountain areas where the wilderness characteristics have not been obliterated by development for commercial recreation. This alone should warrant its unimpaird retention within the National Wilderness Preservation System, and the present usage of this area for wilderness recreation indicates a need for considering the addition of wilderness type land to the present designated Wilderness Area.

STATEMENT OF MRS. D. W. LEAHY, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

1. MY REASON FOR SPEAKING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE: DEDICATION TO PRESERVING A FEW ACRES OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY IN THEIR NATURAL STATE

I am here to speak in opposition to H.R. 6891 and the five related bills as an individual who is impelled in a modest way to follow in the footsteps of such men as Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Le Conte, who helped save the beautiful face of America for us all to enjoy. Without their foresight, commercial interests would have ruined our great natural wonders. I cannot see their work lost by the failure of the present generation to preserve a few parts of our country in its original wilderness status for us and for future generations.

2. PRIVATE INDUSTRY VS. GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL

I am a firm believer in private enterprise without which our country would never have attained its present material abundance. I believe in as little governmental interference in our lives as is possible. However, private enterprise frequently overlooks esthetic values and conservation needs in its understandable endeavor to succeed financially. One need only to travel through the Redwood Empire to see the effects of unwise lumbering practices which have resulted in barren hillsides and devastating floods. Or note how development has almost

destroyed the California Condor by interference with its nesting grounds. I could go on and on with examples but I merely give these two illustrations to indicate that the only way I can see to preserve a few areas of our great country is for the government to protect them from development.

3. SKIING IS A FINE SPORT

I want the committee members to know that I have no objections to downhill skiing. I do not ski myself but I have a teenaged son who is taking it up with my approval and encouragement. It appears to be a delightful sport and I try to encourage my children to participate in such outdoor activities as a healthful substitute for urban entertainments. However, here are ski lifts all over our Southern California mountains and the Sierra, particularly the Mammoth area, is available for downhill skiing about eight or nine months of the year. On the other hand in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, we have just one of such size and diversity in Southern California.

4. USEFULNESS OF THE SAN GORGONIO WILDERNESS AREA

I understand that the bills to which I have referred (H.R. 6891 et al.) do not specifically mention skiing as the reason for setting aside 3,500 acres of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for development as a family winter recreational area. However, since past efforts have been made to secure a portion of the wilderness area for downhill skiing development, I presume that this is one of the reasons for the request. Regardless of the purposes for which the area is requested, there will be access roads and some facilities installed. Once this is done, the area is no longer wilderness. It may be true that this is the most desirable area for downhill skiing in Southern California, but it is also true that the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area is the only Southern California wild area which encompasses the range of life zones from the Artic-Alpine at the top to the desert areas below. The "replacement" provided in Section 3 of H.R. 6891 does not replace such a range. I know that youth groups are experiencing more and more difficulty in finding suitable backpacking and camping areas. The San Gorgonio Wilderness Area is the only such area I know of in Southern California which can be used by such groups as well as by naturalists, backpackers, overland skiers and those of us who love the great outdoors. It is simply a matter of keeping one wild area intact against the great population pressures of Southern California.

5. SUMMARY

Last year the Congress showed great wisdom in the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The lands affected are not Yosemites and Grand Canyons but just a few remaining wild areas in the country under federal protection for the preservation of their natural state for the enjoyment of all the people. The San Gorgonio Wilderness Area is among those included in this protection. Therefore, I urge the membership of this subcommittee to oppose all six bills which have been introduced to use any part of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for development.

Thank you for your time and attention.

STATEMENT OF DR. GERALD M. SCHERBA, CHAIRMAN, DIVISION OF NATURAL SCIENCES, CALIFORNIA STATE COLLEGE AT SAN BERNARDINO

I wish to speak, as a private citizen, and as a field biologist about the value of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area as a scientific resource both for the instruction of future biologists and for the research problems that can be investigated there.

VALUE FOR INSTRUCTION

Biology classes in botany and ecology from a dozen colleges and universities in the area regularly visit the Wilderness area in order to study its undisturbed mountain streams, meadows and montane plant communities. San Gorgonio offers an excellent site for the examination of the zonation of the biota with