So now maintaining trails is political?

The steep trails at the Grand Canyon get a lot of use from hikers and pack animals. And they are also damaged by rock falls, slides and runoff. After yesterday's rain the Bright Angel trail was only wet in spots,

but in 2021 I hiked up this trail during an intense cloudburst. Streams were running across the trail, and ravines like this turned into mud waterfalls.

With so much wear and tear, it's fortunate that the National Park Service (NPS) has been able to get support from AmeriCorps workers. They graded the trail and built this wall,

using tools like these

AmeriCorps has been a win-win. NPS gets dedicated workers at lower cost than direct employees or contractors, and young adults gain job skills while earning a decent salary. But the present administration slashed AmeriCorps funding, and fired thousands of workers. And yes of course the US Supreme Court got involved, allowing many of the job cuts to stand while lower courts determine if they are legal.

It would be nice if we could escape politics by going for a hike, but those days are gone.