Mountains give way to developers

Dear Emily and Ilsa Beulow: Your wonderful letter (March 8) brought back many memories. The unchangeable fact of these mountains is perpetual change.

The first shocker for me was when the perfect geologically shaped saddle, pummel and all, called Saddle Peak was bulldozed for a Nike Station, leaving a flat level eyesore on the east end of its mountain and a view shed which can be seen for more than 50 miles, as far away as San Pedro and Palos Verdes.

Then came the construction of Malibu Canyon Road, which demolished Crater Camp, the site of our Scout troop's annual summer campsite and took out the small lake created by a seasonal dam, where I learned to swim.

Next, we suddenly found the construction of Mulholland Highway coming across our field. We originally were told that it would go down Stokes Canyon, which needed an access road at that time. However, a developer, R.A. Walton, got it changed to our canyon so that he could better develop his property. It split about five acres off from the rest of our property and took out a giant Toyon tree, known for miles around due to its size. It was my "problem solving tree." As it fed the birds with its berries, it would listen to whatever troubles I had.

Several of our neighbors, who had extensive land holdings homesteaded by their parents and grandparents, due to Mulholland Highway gave up totally, sold to developers and left the mountains. There went the neighborhood.

Mulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, two of the biggest ecological disasters, worse than any fire, have created an eternal avalanche of traffic through the mountains, ruining the environment.

As for your concerns about the property you love, if the owners of the property are being forced to sell due to property taxes, they may have no other choice. Our property taxes annually are three times the original purchase price of our family's home.

My advice is: Study hard, get a good education so that you may keep the benefits that you have, and learn to live with the heartbreaks. Appreciate your mountain experiences today and put them in your memory bank, where you can recall them anytime you wish.

Utilize the nature preserves such as Malibu Creek State Park, Cold Creek Canyon Preserve and the many nature trails in the area. You can rejoice and enjoy the memories of that which you have now and today. Robin G. Mitchell Calabasas