Getting to the bottom of the Grand Canyon just got a little harder. The popular mule ride that helps visitors get to the bottom of the canyon is seeing a major cutback. A new plan approved by the National Park Service is decreasing the rides, something not everyone is happy about.
According to park officials, the number of mules allowed on the Bright Angel Trail will go from 40 to 10 riders daily. Why? "Mule rides have always been an important part of the visitor experience at Grand Canyon," stated acting-Superintendent Palma Wilson in a park release. "Our challenge with this plan was to balance that use with the protection of historic trails and to reduce the high cost of maintaining those trails. We believe this plan strikes such a balance."
Money wasn't the only contributing factor. Mules can get pretty messy, and cleaning trails cost time as well as money. But not everyone agrees with this new plan. Elderly and handicapped visitors may find a greater challenge with less mules to help transport to the bottom of the canyon. So what do you think? Do you agree with the NPS plan to cut back on mule rides? Share your thoughts!
Mule rides have been a part of the Grand Cayon trails for over a hundred years. It sadens me to hear about the cut back in the numbrer of mules a day that will make the trip.
This is unfortunate but understandable. I believe the use of mules should be restricted to the handicapped and the elderly. I know many people who took advantage of the mule rides when they were perfectly capable of hiking. I think if we restrict their usage, the 10 a day will be adequate.
With all due respect to John Tatman, I checked in Grand Canyon mule riders for over 5 years and can tell you with 110% certainty that it is by NO MEANS an easy trip. Oftentimes, we had to rule out certain individuals due to back, neck, hip and knee problems -no surprise, ailments that often affect the elderly. Handicapped individuals are carefully screened by the head wranglers to ensure that they have sufficient upper body strength and overall good health beyond their disabilities to endure what can potentially be a tough, hard trip.
Fortunately, there are more ways available than there were in years past to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, such as safari jeep tours, helicopter tours, rafting trips, etc. The only caveat is that these take you to areas outside the boundaries of the National Park, such as Glen Canyon (near Lake Powell) or Grand Canyon West on Hualapai Indian Tribal Lands. Here’s some more info about these Grand Canyon touring options ->: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhBHPTrK5ys
We tend to forget that we can overload an ecosystem. Our impact on these trails through mule fecal ground water contamination and accelerated erosion is obvious if you really give it some thought. These cutbacks are justified in my opinion.
So why not hire someone to follow each line of riders to pick up the mess each time. How much can they possibly leave? Surely one mule can carry all their poo back up to the top. Let it dry and sell it for campfires. How much can that possibly cost? How many PAID rides are there? Send them in groups and keep it organized. Each group has One Cleaner follow them. That should only take a few people tops. It shouldn’t cost more than the cost of a few Paid rides. What is the problem? How much profit do they really need to make?
Hi, I’m a Grand Canyon hiker since 1991 from Paris-France.
I completely agree with those cut backs.
1/ as stated in your paper, it damages seriously the Bright Angel Trail and creates a mess.
2/ although I do understand the wish of elderly people to get down and see the canyon from the river, most of them are not conscious of the heat danger even if you’re not hiking on foot.
As everyone can observe the main traffic takes place in the summer, which has the hottest months.
I am a member of GCFI and as such was in a group of elderly in 2003. We discovered that one of the hiker was suffering of a recent heart attack and wore a pacemaker. Thank god we discovered that before beginning the hike. But another member of the group was under medication for a serious nervous breakdown and got problems during the way down of the South Kaibab trail.
Those same problems can occur when you’re on a mule trip and no one will know until the accident occurs.Most people think this is a uneventful trip and are totally wrong.
One has to consider although it is not a pleasing conclusion that if you have reached a certain age or if you have health problems you cannot risk your life and OTHERS’ life who should come to your help.
GCN safety rules should be made stricter. In 2002 I met 2 young Chinese on the west Tonto trail carrying a backpack which probably weighted some 50 pounds! and they had less than half a gallon of water for 2! In march 1991 I saw a woman trying to descend the Bright Angel with high heals! the trail was literally an ice skating field!
Claude