| Page 1557 | National Parks Traveler

I'm not sure, if the Presidio of San Francisco should be a unit of the NPS, but the way they manage it, seems very well done. It was an US-Army base (1848-1994), and before one of the Spanish (1776-1822) and Mexican Army (1822-1848). Thousands of people lived there and worked there for several centuries.

Aug 10th - 11:26am | Merryland

To avoid the precedent issue,, they just need a new unit designation so such activities would be restricted to those particular types. Let's see... National Hysterical Park and Playground? -- Jon Merryman

Aug 10th - 10:48am | Mookie

And, just like the booze party at the Charlestown Navy Yard, it creates a PRECEDENT, which would make any future handover of parks to private developers much easier to slide through.

Vice President Cheney To Dedicate Grand Teton Visitor Center

Aug 10th - 09:27am | jsmacdonald

To update you, anti-war protesters plan on being at the Visitor's Center ceremony in Grand Teton to protest Cheney and the war. They have some art to display but promise that it's not phallic, as had apparently been rumored.

Aug 10th - 08:32am | Dennis Patrick

Glen, You're not really suggesting what I think you're suggesting with this comment about the Vice President, are you? "In fact, impeachment isn't enough for a man who has committed treason during war time. There was a time when that called for more dire punishment." And you're insinuating my post was "vitriolic"? That's rich. Dennis Patrick

Aug 9th - 14:10pm | Glenn Scofield ...

Yes, Frank, it does. When speaking to a public servant who no longer serves the public and is acting vampiric the best language to use is vampire-speak. I would never use that language with you or other commentators. In this case the issue IS the VP and his immoral, illegal actions and I am attacking the issue here... not you or any other commentator.

Aug 9th - 11:55am | Glenn Scofield ...

You misunderstand my past post, Dennis. I'm referring to attacking the personalities of the debaters. For instance, your saying that I disgust you. I disagree with your stance on Dick Cheney, but you don't disgust me. I think you're wrong about what I'm saying, but I'm not attacking you directly. I'm simply disagreeing with you.

Aug 9th - 11:46am | lennea

Snowbird06 Very well put Glenn, very well put...you couldn't of express it better!

Aug 9th - 10:51am | lennea

Snowbird06 Dennis, in all due respect, why should we respect Mr. Cheney and his administration when they make back room deals with the oil, gas and utility companies without public oversight.

Aug 9th - 01:25am | Dennis Patrick

I'd like to quote you from a previous post, Glenn...."There's certainly nothing wrong with passion (see my original post). But when passion and outspokenness becomes personal, it can change the debate from something constructive and problem-solving to something merely mean." I looked really hard at this post, and couldn't find the constructive part, or the problem-solving part.

Aug 8th - 18:58pm | Glenn Scofield ...

The irony of Tricky Dick Cheney, lackey to any business interest who can even slightly smell cash in the air, taking a photo op at the Grand Tetons - as if he gives a moose's butt about land if you can't drill, mine or blast a road through it... well, the bitter irony is not lost on most of us.

What's Your Vision for the Centennial Initiative?

Aug 10th - 09:20am | jsmacdonald

Beamis, here is the difference. No other species but humans classifies humans as humans, other animals as other animals, and sets up a value system based on those differences. They simply act; some act in the best interest of their species, some in the best interest of themselves, some to the detriment of themselves.

Aug 10th - 09:04am | lennea

Snowbird06 Beamis, thanks for your reply...let me ponder over this a bit. But, doesn't Zen Buddhist equate all life equal with humans? I don't think they consider themselves as despoilers of God's creation on earth.

Aug 9th - 23:00pm | Merryland

Wow, all that philosophy is making my head hurt. I just love the National Parks. Can't wait to dress up like a colonial bumpkin and visit some historical parks during the Centennial celebration. Maybe even step on a few colonial cockroaches too. -- Jon Merryman

Aug 9th - 22:38pm | jsmacdonald

Yes, but that's not the same as value neutral or postmodern or relativistic. Yes, I don't believe there is any case for speciesism at all. Yet, from the particular case that I don't think that there is a reason to value one species over another (though certainly, as a living and breathing person, I do assert myself) does not entail that one is value neutral on all questions.

Aug 9th - 22:17pm | lennea

Snowbird06 Beamis, you stated in response to Jim's blog: "Again, the sad part is that many others feel that way as well", in what way or ways are you referring too. I trying to read between the lines on this one, can you please be more specific. It's interesting what's being said here between both parties.

Aug 9th - 21:20pm | jsmacdonald

But, I'm not a postmodernist or value neutral. That's the fallacious jump you make about my views; I would argue to the contrary that totalitarian dictators throughout history have expressed a value not different than the one that sets one being without reason over another; they just happen to draw the line irrationally at a different place.

Aug 9th - 08:27am | jsmacdonald

Certainly, the tension between humans, between humans and non-humans, and the value judgments and rationalizations we make about all of those things will matter a great deal on our world view and our sense of parks management.

Aug 8th - 22:08pm | lennea

Snowbird06 I don't understand why all the sudden "swift boating" of the NPS. As they would say in the corporate world...they were just disgruntled employee's!

Aug 8th - 14:21pm | Openspaces4me

I don't know what national park site the two former employees who posted earlier worked for, but as a former employee of 7 different sites, I must say that I am shocked at the level in which you criticized management of the NPS. I'm sure that there are individuals, and even entire units, that are mismanaged, but to say that the NPS in general is the biggest threat to park lands is incredible.

Aug 8th - 00:57am | Merryland

OK, so back to the Centennial Initiative... :-) I hope C&O Canal gets all the money they want and then some. I own property adjacent to the canal so that'd be a great windfall for my property values. -- Greedy Bastard

Aug 7th - 23:40pm | Merryland

Jim, thanks... Guilty as charged. I really think all the sniping that goes on between people in a forum such as this happens because people aren't required to be fully accountable for their statements, and the presence of anonymity brings out plenty of inappropriate behaviours as well (primarily from but also toward anons).

Aug 7th - 22:19pm | jsmacdonald

I find the logic splicing and pigeonholing fascinating and fun, but can I say something tangentially on anonymity? I think that it absolutely must be protected on a Web site, especially for those who may be disgruntled ex-employees. They most of all have something to fear from exposing themselves. There are a million reasons why people can't be as out-in-the-open as some of us.

Aug 7th - 22:06pm | Merryland

Please show me where I stated that Gubmint "no longer mismanages national parks." Conservative leaning? Ha! That's a good one. Let's follow what you learned in Philo001:

Aug 7th - 17:27pm | Merryland

Hmmm, critiquing my critique -- an appallingly low blow to divert attention away from your argument's weakness... I'm shocked! :-) "Modern standard English practice" can be used to explain away just about any misuse of the English language. Gnome sane? Ah, but I digress. I just thought it was funny, that's all.

Aug 7th - 15:08pm | PT

Beamis, yes, 15 years in the NE area as a maint. mech. then a supervisor, 8 in the Air Force, 4 as a civilian in DOD. The fraud, waste and abuse I have seen in DOI far exceeds any thing I saw in DOD, and that's saying something. If you have something precious, the last entity on earth you should entrust it to is the federal govt.

Aug 7th - 13:37pm | PT

After 15 years in the NPS I have come to the conclusion that the NPS in it's entirety should be abolished and all sites, monuments, ect, returned to state control. We are a wasteful fraud. WE are the biggest threat to most of these national treasures.

Aug 6th - 21:05pm | Merryland

Again, selective numbers to bolster your argument. I didn't visit EUON last year or the year before. I still find it worthwhile. If I remember correctly, they had recent (meaning the past ten years) earthquake damage to repair yet didn't receive a budget increase to specifically deal with that issue.

Candlelight Vigil Planned for Harpers Ferry

Aug 10th - 09:07am | Anonymous

Bush and his administration will never allow the vandals of public land to be prosecuted.

Your National Parks Pass Doesn't Always Cover Your Entrance Fee

Aug 10th - 00:29am | wtfmate

Ok, heres why your pass doesnt cover the 8 dollar fee. When attendance to Mount Rushmore started to become more than the tiny lot could handle, obviously, something had to be done. A 17 million dollar parking structure was proposed, but federal funding wasnt approved for it. Instead congress granted a loan for it. Yes, loans have to be paid off. Hence, the 8 dollar fee.

Are Yellowstone's Geysers At Risk From BLM's Leasing Proposals?

Aug 9th - 11:24am | Glenn Scofield ...

The email address Amy gives above is specifically for feedback on this issue: [email protected] This is the best place to address this (otherwise it winds up lost in the shuffle). There is actual accountability on a feedback to an EIS, so send in your comments! Thanks, George! I hope all of us go on this!

Aug 9th - 01:40am | George Siewerd

Hey Glenn If you can get me a legitimate e-mail address for the BLM & the forest service I'll start a writing campaign and also get as many friends involved as I can. Thanks

Aug 8th - 18:47pm | Glenn Scofield ...

This is what I'm talking about! This is why I love this site! This is the kind of information we can DO something about! All those who want to groan and moan about the state of the parks, here's something you can actually DO about it.

Aug 8th - 15:41pm | Anonymous

Here we go again, big-oil subsidiaries making another unwanted and unjust impact on "public" lands. Public lands, that's a joke in itself. Regardless, as long as energy companies continue to fund political agenda at the uppermost levels of government, we can expect to feel the environmental decline of this once proud, natural resource rich country.

Aug 8th - 11:13am | Eric Storms

If the BLM thinks it is wise to even attempt to disrupt the plumbing of Yellowstone National Park, then the people in charge of BLM should be REPLACED IMMEDIATELY.

Aug 8th - 07:47am | Mookie

BLM "protective"? Are you nuts? This is the same agency, under direct orders from the Bush Administration, that has essentially turned the entire western landscape into one big drilling operation.

Aug 8th - 02:13am | George Siewerd

I'm a little confused with this article. I thought the BLM was a protective type of agency.( obviously I was wrong ) Aren't there several other means of obtaining energy besides banging on the earth ?? Wind , Solar, & Water power come to mind and seem to be alot safer way of going about it. Haven't they screwed with the earth long enough !!

How Much is that Campsite--Update

Aug 8th - 15:30pm | Anonymous

How hard would it be for an NPS staff member (reservations agent, security, etc.) to monitor e-bay, obtain the winning bid, and set up a "sting" operation on the seller? How about a nice big check imprinted with "YOU'RE BUSTED!" in the memo section.

Aug 8th - 02:39am | George Siewerd

Enforcement would be the key issue. If they could check I.Ds half as well as they check my sneakers at the airport there shouldn't be a problem. I just hope it wouldn't interfere with the purchase of either a campsite or any type of back country permit as a gift to someone that you know would cherish it.

Aug 7th - 20:40pm | lennea

Snowbird06 Kudo's to Sequoia National Park! Top on the list as my favorite park to visit. Great great staff and excellent interpretive center.

Search For Missing 80-year-old Yosemite Hiker Unfruitfull

Aug 8th - 10:50am | Anonymous

She was an experienced hiker, biker and had more energy than a 30 year old.

Aug 7th - 10:01am | Anonymous

Just FYI, she is an experienced hiker and in great shape.

Aug 6th - 21:25pm | Merryland

Maybe she just wanted to be alone and doesn't want to be "found"... Kinda interesting -- her name translates to "Prosperous, good attempt" -- Jon

Aug 6th - 19:49pm | Anonymous

Last summer when I was up in Tuolumne, I heard hikers tell about an 85 year old woman doing the High Sierra Camp loop by herself. It's not your age, it's your condition. Some 25 year olds aren't in good enough shape to be at that altitude doing that kind of exertion.

Russian Provides Perspective at Minuteman Missile Park

Aug 7th - 16:54pm | Merryland

I hope he'll still be there when my son and I visit at the end of the month. Would be a great learning opportunity for my son to meet someone from the other side of a "war" and hear his perspectives. Thanks for the story. -- Jon

S&R Blotter

Aug 6th - 22:42pm | lennea

Jon, your really on a roll tonight. Keep florishing!

Aug 6th - 21:35pm | Merryland

Note to rescue rangers Aidan Assist, Rocky Rappel, and Reese Essitate: If I ever fall off the edge of something and die, please just leave me there. The vultures and condors need to eat too. -- Jon

RS2477 And the National Parks

Aug 6th - 21:07pm | Mookie

I just got back from backpacking the Under the Rim Trail at Bryce. In two days I saw only 2 other people. Several times my wife and I would just stand still and do nothing but listen to the silence...something that is impossible in our everyday lives. Unfortunately that solitude was broken a couple of times by a low flying helicopter doing tours of Bryce Canyon.

Must We Clearly Set Out "Principles of Parks"?

Aug 6th - 20:50pm | lennea

I'm really surprised that there hasn't been more comments on Kurt's article here. It such a critical issue that needs to be address now. If the general public doesn't give a living damn about the future management policies of the National Parks...so goes the parks. Interesting in put Frank!

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