What’s not to like about the woman who helps Grand Canyon visitors reclaim their lost items? Our nature-loving readers reached out in response to Lily Snider’s Alta Newsletter. Got something to say? We’d love to hear from you. Email letters@altaonline.com. Please include your name, city, state, and phone number so we can contact you. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.
GIVING ROSE HER FLOWERS
I love the article by Lily Snider on Rose Lowe, the woman who runs the lost and found in the Grand Canyon. First, the topic being someone who doesn’t do something flashy. “Just” a regular human, working hard and getting her job done, over decades. Second, it’s a job you don’t necessarily think about—until you lose your camera. Third, the writer showed that Lowe is a caring and reflective person who deserves recognition.
So well-written and interesting. It helped me feel glad to be a member of the human race.
Laura Merlo
San Rafael, California
IGNORE THE MEDIA
We were in Yosemite National Park, the jewel in the crown of the system, last month. The weather was spectacular, but due to climate change, the rivers are low—but wonderful for swimming and gazing. The park has eliminated the reservation system that I thought was working really well to control overcrowding and delays and traffic jams. In my opinion, removing the system was a really bad decision, especially based upon all the media coverage of tourists waiting hours in line to get into the park, traffic, no parking spaces in the valley, crowded trails, etc.
That notwithstanding, our personal experience was a very brief 15-minute wait at the south entrance and no unmanageable traffic. I encourage people to take advantage of the wonders of our national parks. The bad press depresses attendance and really adversely affects the “gateway communities” and vendors within the park by reducing the tourist traffic on which they survive.
Cuts in the budget have reduced the number of rangers and other park employees, further stressing the park’s ability to support the visitors and reducing the enjoyment of visiting our wonderful national parks. So, your readers should consider ways in which to support the parks and ensure their availability to survive and thrive for future generations, not just today’s visitors.
Hon. Joe W. Hilberman, Ret.
Los Angeles, California•
