From: rcte4@jetson.uh.edu (Carpenter, Scot M.)
Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle
Subject: Re: No Defense of Motors, was Whitewater Rafting, was Canoeing
Date: 10 Apr 92 18:30:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: jetson.10APR199213302176
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Houston
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Apr9.153248.20592@ncar.ucar.edu>, ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern) writes...
>In article <9APR199205295074@jetson.uh.edu>, rcte4@jetson.uh.edu 
>  (Carpenter, Scot M.) writes:
> > 
> >       Rafts:	Mom and Pop in the wild water.  Ever the elitist, I sneered
> >       at the idea of (shudder) GASOLINE OUTBOARD MOTORS on the grand canyon,
> >       but then I thought about it this way...if we had no mechanism for 
> >       out of shape (or handicapped) people to experience the canyon in 3 
> >       to 5 days (their alloted/affordable vacation), they would never 
> >       experience it except as the hordes that stare over the edge from 
> >       Bright Angel lodge, with cocktail in hand.
> > 
> >       Rafts, and don't forget the other big-water rigs like the snouts and
> >       Georgie's 3 raft gonzo rigs, open up the river for a lot of folks that
> >       what otherwise sit at home watching Wheel of Fortune and think "Why
> >       should I worry about the X River or Canyon?"
> 
>I deleted a lot, sorry.  But I think that out-of-shape, elderly, and 
>handicapped people can ride on a guided oar raft almost as easily as on 
>a pig-boat.  With a nice self-bailing boat, all they have to do is sit 
>and read their romance novels, and occasionally look up at the scenery, 
>just like the people we saw on pig-boats did.  They can take out at
>Phantom Ranch and ride mules up for a 7-day trip.  Hell, I'll even 
>concede the helipad downriver of Lava.
> 
>We did see older people on commercial oar rafts.  They looked like 
>they were enjoying themselves.  
> 
>THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR MOTORBOATS IN THE GRAND CANYON.  Accessibility
>arguments, when taken too far, destroy what we are trying to make
>accessible.  Should we go to Rocky Mountain National Park and pave a
>road up Long's Peak?  Put a tramway up Half Dome?
> 
      No, I think an escalator up Half Dome would be better; keeps you out
      in the wind and weather....

      Yeah, maybe I was getting carried away....it did turn from a defense
of RAFTS into a defense of outboards.....
      I have heard of oar boat outfitters doing trips for handicapped (as in
wheelchairs) recently, and the physical requirements on an oar boat for 
passengers aren't really any greater.
      I will admit it is a trifle irritating to have the snouts blow by at what
seems like 10-15 mph just when you're really enjoying the peace and quiet...
(or hanging over the side taking care of other matters).
      It seems that motors on the colorado are more a matter of precedence;
they were there before the park service took over, and the commercial outfits
still have a lot of clout.  There may be no excuse, but I doubt we will see
them go. 

|	 Visualize a Piece 		|	My Inner Child		|
|	   of the Action		|	     was a 		|
|					|	  miscarriage		|
|	Scot Carpenter RCTE4@Jetson.uh.edu  Ma Bell lies.....		|
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