Forest Friends

Re: “Unhappy Trails” (Letters, Nov. 17): Trails in our National Forests are indeed in poor shape, but it would be unfair to blame the Forest Service for this problem. The problem is that downsizing has reduced its budget by 40% to 50% over the past few years. There is virtually no money left to maintain or patrol trails.

I am organizing volunteers to help maintain some of the trails in the Sespe Wilderness, 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Anyone who is interested should call the Ojai Ranger Station ([805] 646-4348) or the Mt. Pinos Ranger District ([805] 245-3731).

Volunteers alone cannot maintain all trails. Write your congressional representative and ask for more trail funding.

ALAN COLES

Long Beach