‘Silence at Anza-Borrego’ and Off-Road Vehicles

I now understand why editorial writers insist on remaining anonymous after reading the editorial on Anza-Borrego State Park. I would not want my name on such a flawed article either.

When the state Parks and Recreation Department first banned off-road vehicles at the park, I was very confused. Our family has been going to Anza-Borrego for more than 20 years with three vehicles which I own--two street legal which are not affected by the ban, and one green-stickered which is. My family and I are responsible park visitors no matter which vehicles we use. If the anonymous editorial writer had ever been to Anza-Borrego, he/she would know that a vehicle must be used to experience the vastness and beauty of the park.

Naturalist Mark Jorgensen was less than candid, as politicians say, when he spoke to (Times reporter) Ralph Frammolino. It has been my experience that the campers who manage to get to the areas of the park which I travel in, all have off-road or four-wheeled vehicles parked at their campsites. As a rule, my family and friends pass by only one or two campsites on our six- or eight-hour visits to Anza-Borrego. I would like to know where all the people are that Jorgensen spoke of. They are not camped in Fish Creek, Sandstone Canyon, Goat Trail, Hawk Canyon, the Pumpkin Patch, and many other sites.

I am sorry that the park rangers are so unhappy with the reopening of Anza-Borrego to off-road vehicles and that they will have to do the job they were hired to do, serve the public. I know as with most bureaucrats that is very distasteful.

FRED B. MACK

Costa Mesa