Dear Mr. Moss,
I am a current student at Berea College studying adventure tourism in the Appalachian region. Recently I had a phenomenal experience in Knott County I'd like to share with you. The class has covered several topics- one of which is the controversy surrounding mountain top removal and reclamation.
Exploring the issue, we visited a mountain top removal site that has been reclaimed and reused to promote adventure tourism. This site in Knott County hosts activities such as trail rides, by horseback and wagon, and ATV rides. The particular event we visited was a saddle club trail ride. As we drove there, I had no idea of what to expect, but I didn't think it would be as surprising as what I witnessed. Rounding the corner to view the trail ride site, my fellow students and I took a collective gasp as we saw the hundreds and hundreds of people camping out with horses, trailers, and campers. It truly was a sea of people- and stretched from one end of the horizon to the other.
Twenty years ago, 600 acres of land were strip mined to bare, dry land. Today, that same land is the site of a flurry of life. According to one visitor, "It's the best thing that's happened to this area."
During our visit, we got a firsthand experience of the benefits of mountain top removal. Riding a wagon down one of the trails, it was amazing how natural everything looked. It was almost like someone had transported a chunk of prairie into the middle of the mountains. Being from Washington State, I had never heard of mountain top removal before coming to Kentucky in August. Since my arrival, almost all I have heard are the negative effects. Before seeing the site, I had assumed the land would be scarred and ugly. However, in Knott CounM I was pleasantly surprised to find the beauty of the area and to see the usefulness of the land. One of the Kentuckians in my group was likewise surprised. In her family, mountain top removal is only looked at as a bad thing. "I was skeptical at first," she said, but after seeing the area and experiencing the unique opportunities presented, she concluded that, "it was amazing."
Talking to the people at the event, it seems that all of them agreed with our group's consensus. My group interviewed participants at the event, surveying their likes and dislikes, and also provided an estimate of the amount of money visitors planned on spending in the area. Everyone I talked with voiced a desire to come back next year- they were all impressed with the quality of the area's trails. One visitor from the country of Romania exclaimed, "I never thought Iwould come to America and see something like this!" From an economic side, our surveys showed the event to be a huge monetary success as well; there were approximately 3,000 people at the event, and each of them spent an average of $325 dollars over the course of their time there. This means that around $975,000 dollars were brought into the area during this one event. Not only does this site add to Knott County's natural finery, but it also greatly benefits the area's economic situation.
After hearing so much negativity towards mountain top removal, my visit to Knott County truly opened my eyes to some of the benefits. Not only can it provide a source of income for the area, but the scars of mining can be successfully transformed into beauty. Back on my college campus, I am determined for both sides of the issue to be voiced. Thank you for being a part of that voice.
Sincerely,
LeAnna Kaiser
Berea College Freshman from Centralia, WA
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