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Letter — Compromise with climbers possible

Tribune

The letter writer is mistaken when he says that the spirituality of Cave Rock, whether to the Washoe or climbers, is not the issue. This is precisely the issue as this is the main component in how Cave Rock was named to the list of National Register of Historic Places.

His argument is that climbers have damaged Cave Rock, forgetting for the moment about the damage the highway tunnels and boat launch (and perhaps even the private homes in the area) have done. These are also on the sacred Washoe lands. Yet, it is climbers that clean up Cave Rock numerous times of broken glass and other garbage left there by others. The Washoe’s uncompromising stance is that NO non-Washoe be allowed to step foot at Cave Rock. Should the forest supervisor “enforce the rules” be singling out climbers to be banned from enjoying Cave Rock, she would be grossly wrong in her actions, for they would be discriminatory and unconstitutional by putting one groups religious beliefs over another’s. In a country of tolerance, there is room for compromise.

Compromise has been worked out in other sensitive areas of our country and it can happen here as well.



Mike Ierien

South Lake Tahoe


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