THR $1XWYL'WSS SQCINTT 
                               14 Miantwood Place 
                                 Wasbington,D.. 
 
 
                                                        Nwsmber 18, 1938

 
 
 
TO *mbers of the eouncil 
 
 
     ezre's a problem that we shll have to cSosider. Please think it over

carefully and write me. 
 
      It concerns the Pacific Crest Trails Sstem which connects Cenads and
mexico 
upon and parallel with the crest of the CeSdcs and Sierra, 2696 miles, rising

in places higher than 11,000 feet. Or rather, it concerns the use to be msade
of 
it. 
 
     The trail consists of oll and connecting trails to make a continuous
way. 
Part of it is administered by the Forest 3ervice and part by the htionvl
Park 
Service. The National Park Service Advisory ý7omittee on Riking, of
which Clinton 
C. Clarke Is Chairtan, handles its progaws. Mr. Clarke deviec- and promoted

the trail and handles its programe. He is a member of the Wildemss 3ociety.

After three years of promoting extensive organised use by youth organtzation$
he 
has issue4 the following report on abackpfcking" the trail: 
 
      1--.Provides a more strenuous and attractive wilderness progrem that
builds 
          up a sounder physical develomsnt. 
     2---. Offers a cross-country exploring nrogram of romance and adventure
that 
          creates self-reliance, leadership, personality. 
     3---.Arouses a true love for Nature and hardy pioneering that is greatly
new e 
          in our too-artificial and too-mechanized civilization. 
     4---.Very important is the low cost over other methods of travel. The
only 
           item is for food, 21b., and 50 cents a day per man. (heanper than

           staying at home.) Three weeks vacation for $10. 
     5--- . As only good trails, signs and maps are needed, the primitive
wilderness 
           is preserved and no mechanical Aisturbance of the wilern.ess reauired.

     6---..a.kpacking hae been adopted officially by the )oy Scouts, Y. .C.A.,

          and is being placed in our Colleges, as a  Advanced CampiAK progrom

          for older boys, away from fixed, improved camps. 
 
     Therefore * he recommends * that hiking andi campoing be by b1acknpAcing,
and 
that the "racific Crest Trailwsy be conditioned for this method of travel
in 
order that the PcAifie Crest trailway may be preserved as a Primitive wilder-

ness pathway for hardy ex-plorer, nd nature lovers." 
 
     Fifteen years ago I hitke and camped with Stephen Mther over the highest

reach of this trail. It is least suited to freauent large    rowis of boys
(or 
men) of any trail I kow. Wany doubt whether the human btnefits sought at

this altitude cannot be better achieved on lower trails than this, leaving

these unique, Incomparabl, primeval, isolated heights to  ature and her silent

sturents. 
 
      I should like confidential opinions for later consiederations.