Several points:
1. Has anyone discussed raising hiker fees enough to support more rangers working in the impacted areas? I raised the point in an email to Ed Dunlavey a few days ago, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. Inyo has increased fees (but have not raised them in years) in the WhitneyZone, but unfortunately those seem to mostly support the clerical rangers in the Visitor Center. It is time the hiking community pay its own way. With more rangers out there, the fire rings and other damage, I would hope, could be minimized. I cringe every time I see more limits on numbers, as in the exit quota, while no other solutions are explored.
2. I think Inyo NF may have tried coordinating quotas with surrounding entry trails from outside Inyo, and it is pretty much abandoned. Hikers starting from Toiyabe/Bridgeport will be few, so it seems pointless to try to set a quota or permit system that requires them to carry a special permit, too.
