I have lived in and owned property in this area for over eight years, and can honestly say that the entire area of over a quarter million acres is not now and never has been designed for the use of the general public nor even the average outdoorsman with limited equipment. The San Gorgonio wilderness area is part of an area covering over a quarter of a million acres, and talking apples and apples, you cannot consider one area without including the other. Therefore, the true area in question is more in the realm of one quarter million acres. These quarter million acres of public lands administered by State and Federal Governments have eight (8) improved camp grounds, and two (2) picnic grounds designed for the public's use. These facilities are so inadequate that on the average summer weekends hundreds of campers are turned away. I have seen many weekends when the Forestry Department has placed signs at the Mill Creek ranger station, at the entrance to the mountain area, stating that the campgrounds are closed or all filled up. The other use of the area is by the non-profit camps which use their facilities at full capacity only during those months when school is out which is less than three months out of the year. A very large number of the people who use the San Gorgonio area are those who have the privilege of using the private camps. I have been one of the more fortunate people who has had the chance to live in this area and have been able to see it, and know it as it really is. As vast and as beautiful as this area is, 99% of the population do not know that it even exists because of its very, very limited usable area. Those who oppose this use of and improvement of public lands can't validly oppose this if they are taking into consideration what is good for the majority. Right is right, and it is only right that all of the some 8,000,000 taxpayers surrounding this area get every chance offered to them to use and see this wonderful mountain country, any time of the year. It is there for us all to use if we wish some day, but not as it exists today. Hon. WAYNE ASPINALL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C., November 8, 1965. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: It has come to my attention that the House Subcommittee on Public Lands will conduct hearings in San Bernardino, California on proposals to provide skiing facilities in the San Gorgonio Wilderness area. I have a very deep interest in every issue affecting the Wilderness areas and I am strongly opposed to any proposal which would allow a commercial ski development to cut into the heart of the San Gorgonio area. You will recall that an unsuccessful attempt was made in 1964 to provide for skiing facilities within the San Gorgonio Wilderness area when the Congress passed the Wilderness Act. I opposed the proposal then and I oppose it now. I wish to be included among those who are expressing their views on this issue in order that I might register my strong opposition to it. With every good wish, Sincerely, JOHN D. DINGELL, Hon. WALTER S. BARING, PALM SPRINGS, CALIF., November 16, 1965. Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Lands San Bernardino, Calif.: We very much appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of legislation and proposals which will provide for the opening of a portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for family winter recreational use. The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, over the past many years, has advocated, supported and worked vigorously to provide legislation and facilities which would make pos sible the visitation to, and use of, this area's mountain, desert and wilderness areas. We wish now to reaffirm our earlier position supporting legislation which will make available use of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area to our citizens, to our thousands of visitors each year and to the people of California and the Nation. It has been a pleasant experience to have initiated and brought to realization the Palm Springs aerial tramway, which stands as an example of what can be done, in a compatible manner, to make our mountains and wilderness areas available to countless California residents and visitors throughout the Nation. We believe that opening the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area to winter recrea tional use will not only serve the growing demands for such facilities but will provide a pleasurable use strictly compatible with the wilderness, mountain and desert areas which surround it. We urge your favorable support of and positive action for legislation which will make this possible. PALM SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LONNIE HOOD, General Manager. RIDGECREST, CALIF., November 17, 1965. Hon. WALTER S. BARING, National Orange Show Building, The China Lake Ski Club the largest and one of the oldest recreational associations in upper Mojave Desert with 150 members who ski and hike requests your committee attention to our strong support of congressional action to permit recreational skiing in multiuse of Mount San Gorgonio. Such action will be welcomed by almost all southern Californians who like ourselves use the mountains and recognize that with increasing population we must use them for many recreational types of use. Hon. WALTER S. BARING, National Orange Show Building, San Bernardino, Calif.: CHINA LAKE SKI CLUB, REDONDO BEACH, CALIF., November 16, 1965. The people of southern California need the ski of San Gorgonio desperately. We hope your committee will do its best to bring this dream to our skiers. Hon. KEN W. DYAL, San Bernardino, Calif.: SOUTH BAY SKI CLUB. BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., November 15, 1965. I would like to clarify a notice you received from the Big Bear Sportsmans Club where they have objected to the opening of the San Gorgonio ski area. This notice is misleading as it represents the opinion of the board of directors and not the membership in general. I am a member of this club and have many friends that are also members and we are heartily in favor of your bill to open this area to skiing. Representative WALTER S. BARING, San Bernardino, Calif.: WARREN J. SMITHSON, Jr. LONG BEACH, CALIF., November 16, 1965. Scandia Norseman Ski Club of Los Angeles numbering over 100 members unanimously encourages and supports the development of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area for skiing. ELBERT PEDERSEN, President. ANGELS CAMP, CALIF., November 17, 1965. COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, California Garden Club, Inc., at official board meeting voted to oppose bills of Mr. Dyal et al. which would permit ski slide development in San Gorgonio wilderness. CALIFORNIA GARDEN CLUB, INC. FULLERTON, Calif., November 15, 1965. HOUSE INTERIOR SUBCOMMITTEE, Hearing Room, City Hall, San Bernardino, Calif.: Defeat H.R. 6891. Save the wilderness area for our use and other nature lovers. FULLERTON BOY SCOUT TROOP 11. SKI WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Hon. WAYNE ASPINALL, Chairman, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: I requested time to speak at the hearings on San Gorgonio in November in San Bernardino, but could not be there due to inclement weather and transportation and personal problems. It is my understanding that those who could not be heard might send their statements direct to you. Therefore, on behalf of myself and the Ski Writers Association of Southern California I enclose twenty copies of our resolution of October 4, 1965, and in addition on behalf of myself I enclose twenty copies each of my winter sports columns of November 23, 1965, and of December 10, 1965, for your consideration. (In the column of December 10, the material of interest to you in particular begins with paragraph 19.) It is my personal hope that your committee will seriously consider the suggestions I have made in my column of November 23, 1965, so that skiers may ski and at the same time the unique esthetic and natural qualities of the Slushy Meadows area, the only Alpine meadow of its kind in the world, and other special terrain of the area will be preserved unspoiled. Yours respectfully, RESOLUTION ESTHERANNE BILLINGS. Whereas, millions of potential winter recreationists in the Greater Los Angeles Basin and Southern California have suffered through many relatively snowless winters at the presently-developed mountain resorts, and Whereas, this is a condition which will continue to exist because these resorts are at marginal temperature levels, except in unusual circumstances, and Whereas, there exists within the upper regions of the San Gorgonio Wild Area thousands of acres of semi-Alpine terrain consistently covered with skiable snow through the months of a normal winter season, and Whereas, the State of California at present is proceeding with establishment of a State Park in what is commonly known as the Hart Bar Ranch Area adjacent to the San Gorgonio Wild Area, and Whereas, it is a commonly accepted evaluation based on experience and terrain studies by qualified observers that the altitude of the Hart Bar Ranch facility still will fail to provide consistent snow coverage for winter sports, and Whereas, painstaking studies over several years have established that a winter sports area of outstanding quality could be developed in approximately ten per cent of the San Gorgonio Wild Area-in the upper regions now used comparatively lightly in summer and virtually not at all in winter, and Whereas, with proper and enlightened planning such a winter sports area could be developed which would not destroy the unique and esthetic and natural qualities of the San Gorgonio Wild Area, but would actually enhance them. Therefore be it resolved, by the Ski Writers Association of Southern California, that the Congress of the United States approve the legislation now before it setting aside the section prescribed in that legislation for creating a winter recreation facility in the upper reaches of the San Gorgonio Wild Area to answer the growing need for Southern California winter recreational facilities and to enhance the unique esthetic and natural qualities of the area for all citizens. While congressmen met in San Bernardino last week to hear testimony on opening a portion of the San Gorgonio Wild Area to lift skiing, snow fell on the Sierra Nevada. Snow, too, farther up on San Gorgonio, perhaps above the 9100-ft. elevation, where skiers would like to have their ski area located. As congressmen listened to "conservationist" vs. "skier" arguments in San Bernardino, the skiers packed boards on transportation and headed for Mammoth Mountain (carrying chains, of course). Yes, chains! Buy yours if you haven't already. Every skier, though his byword is spontaneity, plans ahead when it comes to safety. Chains for tires, safety straps for skis, proper adjustment for bindings—all these things have been checked out for weeks waiting for snow by true skiers. Well, it's here. Get off the prayer rug-unless "summer" returns, your room investment at Mammoth or June Mountain for the traditional Thanksgiving holiday trek was a good one. Both are about 40 miles north of Bishop, California. Local skiing depends on a storm with low enough temperatures to deposit snow rather than rain. For the week end, Mammoth, which opened Tuesday with two feet of powder, is packing its runs by cat. The area is operating three chairs and two T-bars. For latest information call (213) 894-6466. June Mountain opened this week end with 18 to 30 inches of packed powder from its 10,212 summit to the Chalet Schweizerhof atop the first ski lift. But what's happening in our back yard in regard to San Gorgonio? The congressional hearing will continue in Washington, D.C., and results will eventually be brought before Congress as a whole for vote. On Oct. 4, 1965, the Ski Writers Association of Southern California adopted its long-considered resolution related to opening the controversial area. Since the document was formlated by press, radio, and television writers as well as photographers who have made it a point to become aware of the issues involved, it is of importance to readers. The gist, included in the summary section, reads as follows: "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ski Writers Association of Southern California, that the Congress of the United States approve the legislation now before it setting aside the section prescribed in that legislation for creating a winter recreation facility in the upper reaches of the San Gorgonio wild area to answer the growing need for Southern California winter recreation facilities and to enhance the unique esthetic and natural qualities of the area for all citizens." When and if San Gorgonio is opened to lift skiing, there must be restrictions built into the legislation if the latter part of the SWA of SC resolution is to be guaranteed. And it must be guaranteed to protect the interests of both conservationist and skier. Skiers want to ski and would be satisfied with any one of several locations within the area requested, but investors would push for the heart of the Wild Area, which is the unique section which must be protected. This writer believes it can be protected with Congress guaranteed restrictions laying out basic requirements for the United States Forest Service to include in 58-133-67-32 the prospectus it develops for bidders on development and additionally that the legislation should be amended to include them. The area could then be of benefit to "all citizens" and the USFS aim of "multiple use" would be a reality rather than an ideal. These restrictions are respectfully suggested to be as follows: (1) entry to be by rapid transit subway with no roads or parking lots within the boundaries of the present Wild Area; (2) comfort facilities and other constructions to be below ground at the inside terminal with only a stairway or ramp entry shelter above ground; (3) these minimum facilities and particularly the subway to be closed except during the ski season, and (4) lift towers to be designed portable for use only during the ski season and to be removed at its close. If such requirements discourage some bidders, they would not discourage all those we have heard whose only wish is to open the area so skiers can ski and Olympic hopefuls can train. Let's have some reader comments on this. We wouldn't recommend horseback riding to improve skiing, but we're told the bowed legs one is supposed to get from the sport is a skiing asset. Yes, that's what veteran June Mountain ski instructor Gary Rogers told us last week end. Bow-legged skiers can edge their skis more positively and with less effort than straight-legged, and certainly knock-kneed, skiers. So Gary builds up his instep a bit in the direction of a "bow." Can't you see this as a topic for apres-ski talk? Instead of, "What are you skiing on this season?" it will be, "What instep-builder are you using?" We can picture a whole new industry growing up on a par with skis, boots, and poles. Varieties will be designated for pleasure skiing or racing, with the latter in slalom, giant slalom, and downhill models. Length and camber of the “builder" will be very controversial, of course, as will be degree of flexibility versus stiffness in design, with better models an intricate combination of the latter two, naturally. Manufacturers will be vying to get their models on the top racers, with the thing the more mysterious because only the racer himself will know what he really has down there inside his boot! How would you know? Maybe he was born with those efficiently curved legs and only claims instep-builders for snow appeal! Well, anyway, lessons are a great asset in themselves to the skier, and we enjoyed ours with Gary. At the start of the season, they're especially helpful to any skier to build confidence and remind one of bad habits and how to eliminate them. The June Mountain ski school is directed by Toby Von Euw and includes a number of competent instructors who teach the American technique. June Mountain itself, north of Bishop, Cal., has a number of improvements to report. The Hutson Haus snack bar and comfort station in Hutson Meadows allows skiers to remain on the Back Mountain all day and still have hot food and a place to relax. There also are 20 acres of new and widened runs. We skied the whole of the area, including the challenging Face with its expertclass terrain. The snow conditions were excellent, and all runs completely covered with packed powder. Chairlift One, which services the Face and also carries skiers to the Grand Chalet Schweitzerhof, had no waiting line throughout the day, so skiing this area could be continuous. This lift also has a 37% increase in downhill capacity to the parking area. Though some skiers ski the Face to the bottom, most ride Chairlift One, and the increase eases bottlenecks at day's end. Other runs had either no lift lines or very short ones. The parking area has been increased by 21⁄2 paved acres, allowing parking for a total of 600 cars. In town, a discotheque and restaurant is a new addition, plus a bed increase of 150. Almost finished is a new luxury dining spot, something June Lake has needed to round out evening entertainment. All in all, there's a new look to the whole area, and it's worth a visit. |