Horses, hikers a bad mix in Sierra

I read Christopher Reynolds’ article on his horse trip into the Eastern Sierra and wanted to de-tenderfoot him [“Tenderfoot Trail,” Aug. 20].

I have hiked all over the Sierrathe last 45 years but have stopped because of my most recent trip, which was consistent with a trend I’ve seen.

The number of horses and mules has increased, not a good thing.

Here are some of the problems:

1. They are heavy animals with small, metal-clad feet. This means that the poundper-inch impact on any trail is enormous and damaging.

2. Horses poop along the trail. This draws flies. A person hiking would be swatting at flies all along the trail. 3. When packers stop to set up camp, the horses and mules stop too. They are led off to another area (because it’s not good to set up a camp overrun by flies). This causes trampling of another area and, of course, more horse/ mule poop to breed more flies.

Next time Reynolds wants to go somewhere, he should put a pack on his back and walk there.

Perhaps he can ask at the Forest Service in town where the best trail is that doesn’t have flies. Doug Lappi Del Mar

Thank you for Reynolds’ story, which generated many memories for me. In the 1950s, my family joined with several others for annual vacations along Rock Creek.

The highlight was a day trip on horseback from Rock Creek Pack Station.

The Pack Station is an institution. I am so glad to hear it’s still generating new happy memories. Susan A. Herney Sunland