As we continued our journey around what was the shady side of Mirror Lake, we started encountering more people headed towards us. The obvious presence of horses was becoming more and more annoying, to the point that we actually considered going back the way we came. Because people were headed toward us, we assumed it would get better. It did not. I am still uncertain which was worse: The plethora of novice riders that followed in a line through our path, or the droppings that we encountered before and after we had to stop to let them pass.
When we finally reached the end of the horse trail, to say we were relieved would be an understatement. The air was fresh again. We were free from the stench! The pavement became a welcome space where we no longer had to focus on our foot placement. Ironically, we noticed an older Golden Retriever eliminate near the side of the road, where thankfully, the owner was picking up after the animal. Why anyone would have been coming toward us on that particular trail still puzzles me, and I continue to question - How can there be no environmental impact from these trail rides?
I can understand how the National Park system would want to provide experiences for folks to enjoy when visiting, however, it is my view that this practice of taking tourists out on horseback is a little like when people were allowed to feed the bears. These types of excursions, ones that involve human acts that work against nature, are a mistake. At Yosemite, there is a careful balance between what will be allowed so that humans may enjoy the park, and what will be prohibited, both to keep humans safe, and to conserve the natural habitat of the wildlife there. I believe allowing the horseback/mule rides would be better considered as one of the activities that hinder their goal of conservancy, and I hope someday the non-profit that makes these sorts of decisions comes to the exact same conclusion.
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