Commercial packers streaming in and out of the Sierra wildernesses and national parks have far too great an impact for whatever benefit they're providing. The absolutely destroy trails, then go on and create braided parallel trails, and so forth.

A typical scenerio I see is they'll haul in half a dozen clients and stuff--lots and lots of stuff--return to home base, then go back in to fetch them a few days later. That means four trips on the trails by at least twenty head so six people can spend a week or so in the backcountry.

I simply don't see why a small group of "elitists" should be allowed to have that much of an impact. It would take hundreds of backpackers to cause an equivalent impact. Also, the packers are quite uneven in their own practices, and I've seen some appalling impacts from their behaviors. Giving the benefit of a doubt, I'll say this is the exception and not the rule, but it doesn't take but a handful to have a real impact in the rather fragile high country.

Now, ask me what I really think. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

FWIW I'm not much bothered by endurance riders and other horse folks who're transporting themselves, or pack animal alternatives like llamas and goats, so long as they're following ethical low-impact practices.