| Page 1468 | National Parks Traveler

"There is created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the charge of a director. The Secretary of the Interior shall appoint the director, and there shall also be in said service such subordinate officers, clerks, and employees as may be appropriated for by Congress.

Sep 17th - 15:12pm | Rick Smith

I would be very hesitant to open the Organic Act to anendment There would be no end to the silliness that would ensue. Rick Smith

Sep 17th - 13:33pm | jsmacdonald

I understand that you can only go through Yellowstone with a licensed guide. The snowmobile industry doesn't like it, but they have taken it rather than lose all snowmobiles. My point was economic; there are more guide industries, more ways to obtain snowmobiles, borrow snowmobiles, etc., and more varieties of guides. Still, it's not equitable access for those able to be there.

Sep 17th - 12:55pm | Ted Clayton

Frank C., I did indeed misread the author-name, and attacked you for someone else's statements. I'm sorry. Frank C, a related issue/question I have been mulling and do not know how to approach, is the relationship between the Wilderness Act, and the Organic Act. Since some "wilderness" are lands covered by the Organic Act, how is the conflict between them resolved?

Sep 17th - 12:37pm | Kurt Repanshek

Frank raises an intriguing prospect, that of revising/updating the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916.

Sep 17th - 11:43am | Ted Clayton

Frank C., Road building? Who's talking about road building? Well ... you, mainly. Snowmobiles don't need roads, remember? You consistently caricaturize "access" in ways that are not real, not happening, and not a threat.

Sep 17th - 11:08am | MRC

@dapster: Both snow mobiles and snow coaches are only allowed in Yellowstone NP on roads - or to be precise where roads are under the snow. And coaches have much less impact per passenger.

Sep 17th - 10:25am | Frank N

"I have both a two year old son and a 73-year old father. I simply cannot ask them to make the same treks that I am capable of. Does that mean that they should be excluded from viewing our national treasures simply because of the limitations placed upon them due to their age? I think not."

Sep 17th - 09:42am | jsmacdonald

One big problem I have with snow coaches (and I'm no fan of snowmobiles) is access. Both modes of transportation are expensive and shut out a great many people. The biggest advantage of snowmobiles over snow coaches - as far as I can see - is that the snow coach choice in the park is monopolized, perpetuating the age old government / corporate rule over the park.

Sep 17th - 08:23am | dapster

This thread is getting really good. Many points to ponder written here. Terrorism, attached to any cause, is never the answer. It will only breed hatred for the cause and the people associated with it. It is also immoral, as well as illegal. Reprisals from the opposition will surely ensue if this is allowed to escalate.

Sep 16th - 21:36pm | Rick Smith

Good evening--

Sep 16th - 18:43pm | Ted Clayton

Frank C. summed up his edict ...

Sep 16th - 16:31pm | Kirby Adams

Life sucks and is unfair. Get over it. Well, Frank, I guess that's kinda, sorta what I was saying too. :-) But, expressing it like that usually doesn't endear one to your opinion. Quite the opposite, actually. Like I was saying, we all play different parts in these discussions. -Kirby.....Lansing, MI

Sep 16th - 16:21pm | Kirby Adams

I have both a two year old son and a 73-year old father. I simply cannot ask them to make the same treks that I am capable of. Does that mean that they should be excluded from viewing our national treasures simply because of the limitations placed upon them due to their age? I think not.

Sep 16th - 15:12pm | Random Walker

And when I am old I shall take to the over abundance of roads and nature trails that Our National Parks provide me, all the while holding to heart Our National Parks doctrine of Protection and Preservation for Our Future Generations.

How Did The National Park Service Err So Badly On the Yellowstone Winter-Use Plan?

Sep 18th - 12:02pm | Ted Clayton

Anonymous, I will certainly grant you, that corporations & industries spare no effort or expense to drum-up & excite consumer interest in their wares, and that often enough this situation does seem to fly in the face of our better interests.

Sep 18th - 11:04am | Anonymous

Ted (and others),

Sep 17th - 17:01pm | jsmacdonald

Ted, I agree with much of what you say here, though West Yellowstone is growing more and more culturally complicated, which adds to the angst that many of the old timers feel. Cody is still a bastion for the sort of person you are talking about; West Yellowstone is larger and more diverse.

Sep 17th - 15:11pm | Ted Clayton

Jim, I did make a couple over-night/weekend visits to West Yellowstone from my military station at Idaho Falls, 1972-3. Seemed like a regular little backwater (or as we fondly say, 'dirt-bag') town. Snowmachines were still very early then ... but your description of the culture jibes with what my expectations would be, even from that far back.

Sep 17th - 14:07pm | jsmacdonald

Ted,

Sep 17th - 13:35pm | Ted Clayton

Anonymous, and Kurt; Ok, since my characterization of the 'mentality' or 'correct-thinking' issue embedded in main environmentalism themes is distracting from the actual discussion-points, I will set aside that 'device', and work to frame a more-palatable way of illustrating the point I'm making.

Sep 17th - 13:04pm | dapster

MRC, Your point is well taken.

Sep 17th - 12:54pm | Anonymous

Ted,

Sep 17th - 12:50pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ted, I would disagree that the groups you cite walk strictly in lockstep. While they are all in the same "lane," some certainly are more strident than the others when it comes to appropriate degrees of environmentalism in general and what's appropriate on public lands.

Sep 17th - 12:30pm | Ted Clayton

Kurt,

Sep 17th - 11:35am | Kurt Repanshek

Ted says: People 'of a certain perspective' - environmentalism - have deluded themselves that only one special mental posture is 'right' for those entering the National Parks, and that all other are offenders.

Sep 17th - 11:13am | MRC

@dapster: sorry, but that is nonsense. To succeed in court, the other side must have violated the law. If you use a lawsuit just as a weapon, you need very deep pockets, because if your claim is unfounded, you will lose the lawsuit and lots of money. Environmental organizations are not known for suing lightly.

Sep 17th - 10:24am | Ted Clayton

Jim Macdonald says:

Sep 17th - 08:42am | dapster

We have to understand that use of the courts should be merely seen as a tactic not a strategy in the overall fight and understand that there is something disingenuous about using the law as a means of protecting places that have no reason to be chained by any national or state law.

Sep 17th - 00:14am | jsmacdonald

Yes, it is dangerous to quote the law. What drives people nuts with snowmobiles is not the law but the incoherence of the policy and the process that brings it about. That leads groups to pursue various strategies to deal with the incoherence. One common strategy is to use the courts, and courts presumably base their decisions in law.

Sep 16th - 21:33pm | Ted Clayton

The most commonly-cited clause from the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 is:

Pruning the Parks: Shoshone Cavern National Monument (1909-1954) Would Have Cost Too Much to Develop

Sep 18th - 11:43am | Bob Janiskee

Some existing national parks probably should be delisted. I'll be writing more about this later.

Sep 18th - 11:20am | Kelly

Imagine all the "minor" national parks waiting to be decommissioned if the Nixon administration had gone through with its idea of creating a new national park for each of the 50 states during the Bicentennial. Some folks in South Dakota were recently reminiscining online about it: http://tinyurl.com/52enjz.

Sep 18th - 09:25am | jsmacdonald

Wyoming in particular has as part of the deal (see http://www.nps.gov/history/history/hisnps/npshistory/monuments.htm ) that added Jackson Hole to Grand Teton NP a rule that stops presidents from creating monuments in Wyoming without the consent of Congress (i.e., in essence, without making them national parks).

Blue Ridge Parkway Revising General Management Plan, Might Close Campground

Sep 18th - 10:53am | Steve Johnson

I believe the National Park Service and Roanoke need to think big regarding the Roanoke Mountain Campground. As they say, accentuate the positive. This campground is surrounded by miles of very nice trails. Open the Chestnut Ridge Loop to mountain bikers (yep, I’m one) and install showers.

Federal Government to Back Off on Wolf Delisting In Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Sep 17th - 19:43pm | jsmacdonald

This is pretty big news. And, until Wyoming ever gets its act together, things won't change. Wyoming, through its draconian wolf management, has become the best friend of the wolf by keeping them under federal control, even though the population is very strong.

Mount Rainier National Park Proposing to Reroute Section of Wonderland Trail

Sep 17th - 19:14pm | Marylander

I will be very interested in what they decide to do. I am most interested in what those who hike that trail would want done out of all of the options. I've never had the chance to hike it, and although it is on my 'must do' list, whatever option they decide will be long in place before I get out that way again.

Greening the National Parks: Environmental Achievement Awards Highlight Sustainable Design, Energy-Efficiency, and Recycling

Sep 17th - 18:46pm | Betty H

Ted, Xanterra has the in-park concessions in several national parks. I have stayed in their Old Faithful SnowLodge and Mammoth cabins in Yellowstone and eaten at several of their restaurants & snack shops in that park. They do an exceptional job on recycling and low-energy use. They not only practice what they preach but also do educational work in the process.

Is Climate Change Driving A New Forest Regimen in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem?

Sep 17th - 16:01pm | Kurt Repanshek

Kelly, Thanks for your kind words. I am indeed planning more climate change pieces. I've several work-related projects tied to climate change, and you'll see the results on the Traveler at the appropriate time.

Mountain Pine Beetles Chewing into Grand Teton National Park Forests

Sep 17th - 15:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

Anon,

Attendance Shortfalls at Steamtown National Historic Site Prompt Calls for Privatization

Sep 17th - 15:52pm | Bugsyshallfall

Anonymous,

Sep 17th - 13:03pm | Anonymous

Dear RoadRanger

Sep 16th - 22:27pm | RoadRanger

A “thank you” to Anonymous for providing us with some real meat in the clarifying memo, and reinforcing how critical it is to follow the money if you want the real answers. Re the Baltimore collection, my point was not to study the origins, but to examine the evolution of the sites over the past 25 years.

House Subcommittee Considers Bill to Relax ORV Rules for Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Sep 17th - 12:54pm | Lepanto

Dapster, sorry got behind and missed your question on species held up to ridicule. Cannot be a surprise to anyone. Several examples, such as Snail Darter, liverwort, etc.

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Sep 17th - 11:48am | Anonymous

As usual, who's the bigger fool? You or the ones your calling "Fool's".

Sep 17th - 08:24am | JB

Just a couple of questions for you Anti-Gun, Anti-Loaded Gun Types. 1) What does a criminal look like? 2) What does a rapist look like? 3) What does a child molestor look like? 4) What does a murderer look like?

Sierra Club Caught Standing Atop Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park

Sep 17th - 06:37am | gary

why?? Humans have been out of the natural selection loop for quite a while now...lol

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