Park Trail Proposal Draws Fire from Environmentalists
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A proposal to repave one of Yosemite National Park´s most popular trails with asphalt has environmentalists up in arms.
Environmentalists had hoped new paths to the base of Yosemite Falls would be built out of materials that blend in with the park´s natural features. They say high-tech surfaces made of resins mixed with crushed rock look more like a real dirt trail and less like a strip of freeway.
But, park officials say new kinds of pavement may not be able to withstand the 1 million visitors who hike up the trail to the falls each year. Plus, the trail must be able to carry snow-removal equipment and meet federal standards for people with disabilities.
