THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AT DONNER SUMMIT?

It's completely understandable to be befuddled, bemused, and bewildered by the contrast between what Royal Gorge's project manager Mike Livak says, what Royal Gorge's "What's New?" page says, and what Royal Gorge actually does. Logic doesn't seem to prevail, so I thought it might be instructive to turn to that master of the improbable, Lewis Carroll, to shed some understanding on the complexities of Royal Gorge's behavior at Donner Summit.  

Mike Livak, project manager, had extensive discussions with the Sierra Lakes County Water District at the October board meeting on the proprieties of submitting Royal Gorge's "Water Supply Alternatives", to Placer County before the water board, under whose auspices many of the consultants' studies were conducted, had had a chance to review it. Mr. Livak agreed to put a disclaimer on the study that it had not been approved by the board, and assured the board that the document would at the same time as it was given to the county also be given to the board, and released to the public. Royal Gorge then proceeded to give it to Placer County, with the agreed upon notations, while instructing the county not to release it to anyone, including the water board. When asked the logic behind this, Mr. Tweedle, er  Livak replied,"Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."  He was also heard to say, "What I tell you three times is true."  Everyone is counting very, very carefully.

Royal Gorge's "What's New?" column, posted right around Thanksgiving, said, "...continues to prepare its development application to Placer County and anticipates a submittal after the first of the year." When asked how that statement squared with the fact they'd already made a submission to Placer County the day before Thanksgiving (a new specific plan for Lake Camp even!), the reply from Humpty, I mean Royal Gorge, "When I use a word," Humpty dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,"it means what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less." "The question is, said Alice, "whether you can make words means so many different things." The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master-that's all." And how did things turn out for Humpty?

For true "Through the Looking Glass" pretty confusions, we need look no further than the proposed Lake Camp, plans for which are safely sequestered at Placer County.  Somehow we are expected to believe that first of all, the plans have some special status wherein they are magically not a public record, despite the fact the county is poring over them in furtherance of processing Royal Gorge's development. Second, we are supposed to believe that Royal Gorge's plans for two artificial lakes, an equestrian facility, and houses, condos, roads and parking lots won't tear out the heart of Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort.  Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen.  "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Lesson of the day from Lewis Carroll (in real life Charles Dodgson).  Wake up and smell the coffee, and start working on believing six impossible things- because if Royal Gorge and employees continue to behave as they have recently, things are going to indeed become "curiouser and curiouser!"