Canyon National Parks Mitchel P

RANGELANOS 11(1), February1989 3

Recreational Pack Stock Managementin Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Mitchel P. McClaran

HORSES, MULES, BURROS, AND RECENTLYllamas forests to 6,500 ft; lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and goats, are usedto transportvisitors andtheir supp- dominated forests to 9,500 ft; treeline forests of foxtail lies to backcountry and wilderness areas in the west- pine (P. balfouriana); and alpine fell fields above ern United States.These animals were so synonymous 11,000 ft. Over 200 meadows are scattered along with backcountry travel that Aldo Leopold (1921) drainages and stacked behind glacial moraines and defined the minimum size of wilderness area as a con- debris from 6,000-11,000ft (Fig. 2). Variation in spe- tinuous stretch of country big enough to absorb a cies composition and productivity in these meadowsis 2-week trip with pack stock. Although pack stock use due mainly to elevation effects on growing season has declined inthe past 30years, approximately 11% of length and water table depth (Ratliff 1985). all visitors use stock when visiting wilderness areas (Washburne and Cole 1983). Of particular interest to resource managers is the status of pack stock management in these backcountry areas. The history of pack stockuse and managementin Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks provides an excellent case study to evaluate the application of traditional range management principles in a non-traditional, recreation setting. Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 to protectthe magnificent groves of giant Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron gigantea), and expanded to its current boundariesin 1926. Initially, Kings Canyon National Park was withdrawn from the publicdomain as part of the Forest Reserve System in 1891, and in 1940 was transferred to the National Park Service. Although legally separate parks, their proximity logically led to joint administration (Fig. 1). Located in the southern Sierra Nevada, the parks encompass over 850,000 of which acres, 85% is part of the National Wilderness 1. Preservation FIg. Location ofSequoia arid Kings CanyonNational Parks, Cali- System. Both parks are also part of the fornia. Dottedlines are main accessroads; there areno roadsthat United Nations Man and the Biosphere Programme's cross east-westthrough the Parks. International Reserve Biosphere network of outstand- Like other federal land management agencies, the ing protected samplesof the world's major ecosystems. National Park Service attempts to satisfy multiple Backcountry elevations rangefrom 2,000 ft to 14,495 Two that to conflictare at goals. goals appear preserva- ft the crest of Mt. Whitney, the highest point in tion of natural resources and providing recreational conterminous United States. Topography varies from opportunities. Enabling legislation directed the Ser- U-shaped glacial valleys with steep, sheer walls, to vice"to conserve the scenery and the natural and his- subalpinetablelands perched above these valleys, and toric objects and the wild life therein and to provide for massive jumbles of house-sized granite boulders and the of the same in such a manner and that enjoyment by jagged spires pierce the passing clouds. Plant such means as will leave them unimpaired for the communities varyfrom oak woodland and chaparral at enjoyment of future generations" (United StatesCon- lower elevations; mixed conifer and giant Sequoia gress 1916). Park Service regulations permit pack stock to at levelsthat do Author Is with the Division of Range Resources,School of Renewable graze backcountry vegetation Natural Resources, Universityof Arizona,Tucson 85721. not significantly alter native animal and plant popula- The author wishesto thank Paul Fodor and hisstaff ofbackcountry rangers atSequoia and Kings Canyon National Parksfor inspiration and assistance, tions or conflict with otherrecreational uses(National and Audrey Goldsmith forconstructive comments onan earlier draft ofthis article. Photograph by Ansel Adams courtesy of the Trustees of the Ansel Park Service 1988). Adams Publishing Rights Trust. All rights reserved. 4 RANGELANDS11(1), February1989

Natural Resource Plans are developedfor each Park last allotment was closed in 1986 followingthe death of to meet the dual objectives of preservation and visita- an original permittee. tion.Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parksrecent- By the 1930's recreational pack stock use in the lyfinished aStock Use and MeadowManagement Plan entire Sierra Nevada increased significantly, and by as a supplementto the Natural ResourcePlan (Sequoia the 1940's 60 pack stations were in operation with over and Kings Canyon National Park 1986).Theobjectives 3,000 horses and mules for hire (Livermore 1947). The of the plan call for pack stock use to continue at cur- historyof packstock use in Sequoiaand Kings Canyon rent levels, while establishing regulations based on can be traced from the evolution of Sierra Club spon- range managementprinciples to keep stock usewithin sored outings since the turn of the century. the carryingcapacity of the basic natural resources. The Sierra Club sponsored their first annual High Trip in 1901. As many as 250 people spent a month in History of Recreational Pack Stock Use the backcountry, moving camp 1-2 times aweek. More Changes in pack stock use have been influenced by than 100 pack and saddle stock and 15-20 packers increased ecological awareness, new backpacking were commissioned from nearby pack stations to equipment, and changing perspectives of visitors and move commissary and 50 lb of each member's dun- administrators. nage to and from the trailhead and between camps. Recreational pack stock use was initially limited by Most members chose to hike, but some opted to ride, low demand and lack of forage due to sheep and cattle especially over steep terrain. HighTrips were the heart grazing before park establishment. Early park staff and soul of the club; old friendships were renewed, spent much of their time pursuing trespass livestock new ones born, and new members recruited while in and lamenting the lack of feed for recreational stock the Sierran backcountry (Fig. 3). The latter was given users prior to the expansion of Sequoia National Park as the most significant reason to continue the High in 1926. In 1910Superintendent E.S. Wrightnoted that Trip in the face of mounting criticism of the distur- "Tourists in the Kern Countryfind scant feed for their bance to meadowand othernatural resources by such stock; a few thousand head of cattle are driven in every large groups (Brower 1948). year from the south..." (National Park Service 1910). To reduce their impacts, the Sierra Club commissi- Four cattleallotments grandfathered into Kings Canyon oned E.L. Sumnerto evaluateand recommendimprove- National Park limitedforage for pack stock, but by the ments in their backcountry pack stock practices.After late 1950's cattle numbers had been reduced and the forty-two High Trips (no trips were held in 1918,

Fig. 2. LowerRangerMead- ow at 8,700 ft in Kings CanyonNational Park isa populardestination for private pack stock parties. Photographby Michael J. Neuman. RANGELANDS11(1), February1989 5

Fig. 3. A typicalpack stock train crossing BlackRock Passin Sequoiaand Kings CanyonNational Parks. Thisphotograph entitled "High Sierra Pass"was taken byAnsel Adams In 1934. Mr. Adamswas a frequentmember of early Sierra Club High Trips. 1942-45),efforts were madeto minimizethe impacts of 1954, and only 10trips were offered in the Sierra Nev- the High Trip by limitingthe trip to 125 peopleand 30lb ada in 1967. By 1981, 20 trips were sponsored, and the of personal dunnage in 1947. Pack animal impact to name was changed to Backpack trips. Thirty-eight the meadowswas alsoreduced by pushing stock into backpack trips were offered in the Sierra Nevada in seldom used areas duringlayovers and using wrangler 1988. horsesto gather the animals when needed. In addition, Currently, over 670 miles of maintained trails pro- a relay system of portage was employed; only neces- vide both the backpacker and pack stock user with sary commissary and personal supplies were trans- excellent opportunities to explore the Sequoia and ported on moving days, and the rest was brought later. Kings Canyon backcountry. Most backcountry travel Groupsize was reduced to 100 in 1967,50 in 1969, and occurs between spring snowmelt and early winter 25 in 1973 beforethe High Tripwas abandonedin 1974. snowfalls.Backpackers greatly outnumberstock users, In 1958, the Sierra Club began offering High Light but this is a recent phenomenon (Fig. 4). Over 10,000 trips that were limited to 15-25 people and 20 lb of recreational pack stocknights per year were recorded dunnage per person. Also, hiking trips with a maxi- in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park since 1977 mum of 20 burros per party were started in 1938. These (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 1986). types of outingsare still sponsored by the Sierra Club. Forty-three percent of these were from 17 commercial In addition, from 1939—1 983, a total of sixteen 2-week pack stations servicing ridingand spot trips (dropping Saddle Trips wereoffered for a maximum of 25 riding supplies to base camps), 28% were private groups enthusiasts per trip. using their own animals, and National Park Service As pack stock trips were being reduced, knapsack trail crews and backcountry rangersaccounted forthe and later backpacking trips without pack stock in- remainder. Currently, less than 5% of all backcountry creased in popularity. Knapsacktrips were initiated in 6 RANGELANDS11(1), February1989 visitors use recreational stock in the parks. facilitate better animal distribution and compliance Freeze-dried food, plastic gear, goose down sleep- with regulations. These improvements included drift ing bags, vibram sole boots, and the aluminum pack fences with trail bars and new trails, signs, maps, and frame enabled backcountry visitors to shun the once guides to lesser known meadows.He also suggested necessarypack animal. However,stock use remainsas closure of some representative meadowsto evaluate a regular backcountry travel method despite the popu- the effects of grazing on meadowvegetation. Unfortu- larity of backpacking (Fig. 4). nately, the Park Service took no actions on Sumner's recommendations. The Park Service did begin active managementof pack stocksoon aftertheir funding of asurvey of back- NIGHTS country meadow conditions by Carl Sharsmith, a pro- fessor of at (1000,) botany San Jose State College in 1958. He recommendedthe closure of 6 meadowsbased on his opinion that excessiverecreational pack stockuse was causing accelerated encroachment of lodgepole pine, willow, and falsehellebore (Veratrum californicum), and stream incision problems (Sharsmith 1959). Be- tween 1959-1961, pack stock use in 17 backcountry meadows was regulated: 8 meadows were closed to stock use, 6 had a of limits 24—48 6 1940 0900 0910 length stay of hr, had opening dates, and 3 had party size limits ranging from 12-20 animals (Thedeet al. 1961). Maximum 4. Estimated use in and pack FIg. backcountry Sequoia Kings Canyon stock size was limited animals 1966. National Perks 1930-1987. The dotted linerepresents pack stock party to 20 by nights, andthe solid line representshuman nights. Peter Bennett, a student of Sharsmith's, measured conditionand trend in 10 backcountry meadowsand History of Management suggested that the pack stock regulations were lead- to of most meadows. He recom- Rangemanagers combine the of resourcepro- ing improvement goals mended that remain in for tectionand herbivore production by the prin- existing regulations place applying most while some closed meadows be ciples of proper herbivore fre- areas, should intensity (numbers), available for stock use in the near future quency (interval), and season of use to remain within (Bennett After a reconnaissance in the carrying capacity of the basic natural resources. 1965). quick by helicopter 1968, Sumner found that most of the Recreation managers apply these same principles to (1968) heavily contain human use within a recreational used meadows had improved due to the enactment of carrying in the 1960's. capacity(Heady and Vaux 1969, Shelby and Heberlein regulations early The Park Service continued its reactive to 1986). The concept of recreational carrying capacity approach grew out of an herbivore recreational pack stock management in the early carrying capacity problem. 1970's. Some meadows were E.L. Sumner (1942), a Park Service first reopened and closed; biologist, and dates and of limits defined recreational carrying capacitywhen he pres- opening length stay appeared A of the times was the in cribed remedies to curtail excessivepack stock graz- sporadically. sign proposal in the meadowsof and the 1971 Master Plan to eliminate stock use in the ing backcountry Sequoia Kings and Canyon National Parks, California. backcountry (Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks this Overuse of strategic meadowsby recreational pack 1971). During period growing backpacker stock was officially the National numbers were exceeding the recreational carrying acknowledged by and the institutional to Park Service in 1936when Sumner (1936) on capacity capacity administer reported them attention was directed his reconnaissanceof Yosemite and Sequoia National (Fig. 4). Consequently, from stock and focused Parks, and the proposed Kings Canyon National Park. away pack management, Park Service actions to abate these were insteadon elimination or significant reduction of stock problems use. slow to surface and unevenly applied in spite of a series of recommendations Sumner to A more proactive approach to pack stock manage- by apply range ment was in the 1976 Natural management principles (Sumner 1941, Sumner and proposed Resources Plan and National Parks Leonard 1947). After several backcountry visits be- (Sequoia Kings Canyon 1976), where for most meadowswas tween 1940—47, he suggested that the carrying capac- carrying capacity to be the level of stockuse and ity for all heavily used meadowsbe determined before determined, recorded, use termination when use a establishing party size, length of stay, and current-year exceeded opening meadow's These sound date regulations. To achieve these he carrying capacity. objectives objectives sug- were not realized before the next round of recrea- gested structural and educational improvements to fully RANGELANDS11(1), February1989 7 tional stock use management planning in the early they apply for required backcountry use permits. 1980's. Users are askedto record when, where, and how many stockgrazed in backcountry meadows;and return the ComprehensivePack Stock Management cards to Rangers or via post. A list of party size, open- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parksbegan to ing date, and length of stayregulations isalso provided developa morecomprehensive recreational pack stock with the use permit. To facilitatebetter animal distribu- managementplan in 1981, and completed thateffort in tion and compliance with regulations, regular drift 1986 (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks fencemaintenance is planned. 1986). The Plan's thrust was very similar to Sumner's To monitorpack stock induced changes in species proposals in the late 1940's. In keeping with the multi- composition and soil disturbance above background ple purposesof the National Park Service,the goal was levels,comparable grazed and ungrazed meadowswill "to allow recreational use of saddle and pack stock be sampled at 3-yr intervals. Species frequency, per- with guidelines that will protect the Park's natural centage bareground, and hoofprint depth will be resources and values, the processesthat shape them, recorded in nested-quadrats and compared between and the quality of experiences distinctive to them". comparable meadows. The meadowsclosed to graz- There were 5 plan objectives relevantto the principles ing makethese comparisonspossible. Where ungrazed of range management. comparisons are not available, photographic record- 1. Continue current use levels and patterns when ing of meadow conditions will be undertaken. The possible. selection of photograph scenes will be guided by the 2. Establish regulations and facilities to protect availability of previous photographs taken as earlyas meadowareas fromchanges in species composi- 1909, presence of erosion problems, and plant com- tion and soil erosion from stockuse, and to allow munity ecotones. improvement of meadow resources. Acceptable levelsof pack stockuse, changesin species and soil disturbance will be based 3. Establish a series of ungrazed meadowsto serve composition, on and as undisturbed examples for scenic enjoyment, grazed ungrazed comparisons, photographic scientific inquiry, and benchmarks to measure records, and stock use reportcards. Changes in pack stock will be initiated when of the impacts of pack stock in grazed meadows. regulations (a) similarity species compositionin comparable grazed and ungrazed 4. Establish levelsof acceptablechanges in species meadows changes more than 15% between sample composition and soil disturbance. dates, (b) similarity of bareground or hoofprint fre- 5. Establish a to when monitoring system signal quency in comparable meadows changes more than levelsof stock in unacceptable use, changes spe- 15% between sample dates, (c) when photographic cies and soil disturbance occur. composition, records show an encroachment of willow or lodgepole 6. Establish an educational program to minimize pine into 15%of the meadowsince the initiationof the impacts of backcountry use, and cultivate partic- plan, or (d) when stockuse exceeds one acre perAUM ipation from both stock user and backpacking for a given meadow. visitors. Educationalefforts are emphasizingminimum impact Tomeet these objectives park managersset carrying techniques of backcountry horsemanship. Park staff capacity, party size and opening date regulations for are helping the Backcountry Horse Users of America all backcountry areas. Carrying capacity was set at develop a user guidebook. Staff have alsofrequented one acre of meadow per animal unit month (AUM). wilderness user conferences with informational dis- One AUM was set at 30 days of horse or mule use. plays on proper backcountry pack stock practices. Burros were counted as 0.5 horse equivalents, and Copies of past stockuse studies, and matched photo- llamas as 0.33 horse equivalents to calculate total use. graphs will be kept at backcountry ranger stations to Party size was limited to 20 animals; however, fewer enrich the visitor's and ranger's interpretation of the animals were permitted in 8 popular areas. Opening backcountry natural and cultural resource. dates were based on when sod was dry enough to withstand hoof impact, and the ability to limit animal Perspective and Outlook access. In most cases the opening date was set for an Pack stock management in Sequoia and Kings entiredrainage to facilitateimplementation. Once an Canyon National Parks was slowto emerge, and frag- average opening date was established, variation in mented in its original form with respect to early com- snowpack moisture levels on May 1 could hasten or prehensive management proposals. When a compre- delay the opening by 2—3weeks. Length of staylimits hensive management program was initiated in the were established for 13 heavily used areas. 1980's, stock use was one-thirdto one-half that pres- To implement these regulations self-reporting stock ent in the 1930's and 1950's. Is this an example of "path use cards are issued to all pack stock users when ofleast resistance" management, or wasthere an increase 8 RANGELANOS 11(1), February 1989

in awarenessof stockuse impacts and proactive man- Literature Cited agement attitudes by the Park Service? Evidencefor a Bennett, P.S 1965. An investigationof the impact of grazing on 10 proactive managementinterpretation isthe reversalof meadows in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. MS. the 1971 decision to eliminate pack stock use. Thesis, San Jose State College,San Jose, Calif. Full implementation and improvementof the current Brower,D.R. 1948. Are mules necessary? SierraClub Bull. 33(3):19-30. Heady, H.F., and H.J. Vaux. 1969. Must history repeat. J. Range stockuse managementplan will require more realistic Manage. 22:209-210. estimatesof carrying capacity, utilization, and return L.opold, A.S. 1921. The wilderness and its place in recreational rates of self-reporting stockuse cards. A carry- policy. J. For. 19:718-721. single N.B. Sierra and wilderness of 1 acre AUM does not reflect the Livermore, 1947. packing policy. Sierra ing capacity per Club Bull. 32(5):96-98. range of meadow productivityfrom low elevation wet National Park ServIce. 1988. Management Policies: Draft. USD1 meadows to high elevation dry meadows. Utilization National Park Service,Washington, D.C. levels in each meadow are determined in the National Park Service.1910. Reportof the Acting Superintendentof currently Sequoia and General Grant National Parks. Sequoia and Kings winter following use by tabulating the self-reporting Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, Calif. stock use cards. In addition, these cards are used to Ratllff, RD. 1985. Meadowsin the Sierra Nevada of California: state efforts and future use limitations. of knowledge.USDA Forest ServiceGen. Tech. Report PSW-84. trigger monitoring RatilU, R.D., M.R. George, and N.K. McDougald. 1987. Managing However, the return rate on these cards is not known. livestock grazing on meadows ofCalifornia's Sierra Nevada. Uni- More accurate carrying capacity estimates and field versity of California, CooperativeExtension Leaflet21421. measurements utilization those Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 1986. Stock Use and of current similar to MeadowManagement Plan. Sequoiaand Kings Canyon National proposed by Ratliff et al. (1987) will promote realistic Parks, Three Rivers, Calif. levels of acceptable stock use and a more timely Sequoiaand Kings Canyon NationalParks. 1976. Natural Resource use restrictions when ManagementPlan and EnvironmentalAssessment. Sequoia and engagementof carrying capaci- Kings Canyon NationalParks, Three Rivers, Calif. ties are exceeded. Determination of self-reporting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 1971. Master Plan. stockuse cardsreturn rates should use methodsdeve- Sequoiaand Kings Canyon NationalParks, Three Rivers, Calif. A on the evaluate wilder- Sharsmith,C.W. 1959. report status, changesand ecology loped to backpacker compliance with of backcountry meadowsin Sequoiaand Kings Canyon National ness permit regulations (van Wagtendonk and Bene- Parks. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, dict 1980). Calif. involvement in the last of the Stock Use Shelby,B., and TA. Heberleln.1986. Carrying Capacity in Recrea- My stages tion Systems.Oregon State University Press, Corvalis. and Meadow Management Plan, and my efforts to Sumner,E.L. 1968.A backcountry meadow management evaluation. assist in the development of a system to monitor stock Sequoiaand Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, Calif. use is one of the for Sumner, E.L. 1942. The biology ofwilderness protection. Sierra Club impact example opportunities Bull. 27(4):14-22. rangemanagers in non-traditional settings.Our school- Sumner,E.L. 1941. Specialreport onrange management and wildlife ing inthe principles of range managementprepares us protection in Kings Canyon National Park. Sequoia and Kings to and solutions to a CanyonNational Parks,Three Rivers, Calif. comprehend problems develop Sumner, E.L. 1936. Special report on a wildlife study of the high variety of natural resource problems. In 1980, there Sierrain Sequoiaand Yosemite National Parksand adjacent terri- were over 180 wilderness areas in the United States tory. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, Calif. that had use. 9% significantpack stock However,only Sumner, E.L., and RN. Leonard. 1947. Protecting mountain mea- had season of use restrictions, 40% had party size dows. Sierra Club Bull. 32(5):53-62. restrictions, and 30% had no use restrictions at all Thede, N.E.,E.L. Sumner,and W.J. Brlggle. 1961. A backcountry for and National Parks. and Cole The absence restric- managementplan Sequoia Kings Canyon (Washburn 1983). of Sequoiaand Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, Calif. tions in many of these areas may be entirely justified, United States Congreu.1916. National Park ServiceAct. 39 Stat. but those areas experiencing resource degradation 535. are candidates establishment van Wagtendonk,J.W., andJ.M. Benedict. 1980. Wildernesspermit for of properintensities, complianceand validity. J. For. 78:399-401. frequencies, and seasons of use. I am convinced that Washburne,R.F., and D.N. Cole. 1983. Problemsand practices in range managersare well equipped to assistwith these wildernessmanagement: a survey of managers. USDAForest Ser- vice Research INT-304. backcountry pack stockuse managementchallenges. Paper

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