[Cuttnhorse]

I would hope you would get a rise out of your comments...if not it would mean you were being ignored.

It's hardly free enterprise, or capitalism at work when land swaps are made in this manner. What happens is the federal authorities begin cutting allotments, dictating unreasonable grazing plans and generally making it tough on ranchers to operate; then one of the so-called land conservation groups steps in and buys the ranch with grazing rights, then turns around and sells it to the feds at a huge profit. This happens all the time. It was a big issue in Idaho's Stanley Basin where conservation groups held title to the land they bought for less than a month before turning the property to the feds. The feds, being you and me.

That may seem like free enterprise at work to you, but it doesn't fit my definition.

Just for my interest, how much do you pay in user fees when you backpack? How much trail improvement are you Required to do to use the land?? How much paperwork, and records are you required to keep before you go hiking?
Why should recreation users get a free ride on public lands...I happen to think recreation users do not pay their fair share.

Oh yes, I did have cow pies in my pasture next to my house...not right in my yard though.

[rustbucket]

I don't think I paid anything for backpacking in Grand Staircase-Escalante. This was 2-3 years ago -- my hikes there this year were all day hikes as I was recovering from some foot surgery and didn't want to carry the weight. I remember paying something like $10 for a backpack overnight in Grand Gulch in SE Utah. Well worth it.

I buy the Golden Eagle national park pass every year for $50 and the equivalent pass for my state's state parks (also $50).

I haven't done any trail maintenance work myself though I've thought of it. I've seen Sierra Clubbers doing trail maintenance (virtually the only thing that rabid group does that I agree with). I checked into it once. They basically pay a substantial fee for the privilege of joining the work effort and put in a week of their own time doing hard labor.

I like to have access to scenic lands. That is why I favor public ownership of them. I bet I wouldn't have access to them if they were in private hands or if I did it would be a Gatlinburg or Las Vegas kind of experience. I remember what a treasure Hilton Head Island in SC was before the developer "improved" it and made access to the beach difficult for those who didn't buy property there.

Grazing cattle on public lands for less than what grazing rights go for on the open market would basically be a subsidy for the ranchers. I respect the ranchers, but they need to compete in this economy like everyone else.