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Sequoia, Drugs, and Rangers

Apr 23rd - 10:46am | mountedpatrol

Have you ever seen the lines of vehicles backed up at National Park entrance stations? At my park, these lines extend for over a mile at peak visitation periods. This suggestion of mandatory vehicle searches upon entry to National Parks would be impossible to carry out without waiting in lines smelling exhaust fumes for hours.

How Much Will it Cost to Attend A Campfire Talk?

Apr 23rd - 03:46am | Jim Macdonald

Unfortunately, JLongstreet, we as individuals are local and not national, and so the beginning of any response must be organized locally (even if we acknowledge that it is national - heck, I'd argue it's bigger than that - I don't believe that user fees are really the issue of concern so much as what they themselves represent; to me this is in fact a global issue, a pattern seen in countries all o

Apr 22nd - 20:01pm | retreadranger

Indeed, Gen. Longstreet, I do not doubt that is the case. However, it is common knowledge in my neck of the NPS woods that some parks have jumped on the fee bandwagon with a lot more gusto than others.

Apr 22nd - 19:39pm | JLongstreet

I've written this before but I'll say it again. Good park managers have been caught between a rock (legislation) and a hard place (underfunded park operations) and have been all but forced by Washington to toe the line on entrance fees and to be creative with user fees.

Apr 21st - 18:58pm | matt

Jim, I don't think we are actually that far apart. While I encourage folks to contact their reps (I acknowledge DC gets hosed in that regard) it is equally important to mobilize their family, friends, neighbors, etc. There is definately strength in numbers and I believe you are correct in the overall effort requiring organization.

Apr 21st - 18:24pm | Jim Macdonald

I live in the District of Columbia; we don't have anyone except an elected delegate to the House, who doesn't have a vote. The city has sold out on a Democratic plan to give the district one vote and Utah one more vote, but that's not likely to get anywhere (and isn't even constitutional). It did pass the House, but that's really not the point.

Apr 21st - 16:39pm | matt

I disagree with you on the not calling your congressperson. And I figured we all understood that members of Congress don't answer their own phones, but thanks for reminding me!

Apr 21st - 06:12am | Jim Macdonald

And, calling and complaining to your congressperson won't work, either. You can come to DC, visit your congressperson - more likely the legislative aide (who is the person you should be reaching out to, anyhow - that's how it works), and it won't make a difference. Even if you have a nice big campaign check waiting for them, it still won't work. This is big money.

Apr 20th - 17:11pm | matt

While I ordinarily do not object to reasonable fees for using public lands, some of these fees seem to be getting out of hand. I am also not one to frequently jump to the defense of the NPS but they are not the real problem here. The problem is that NPS (and USFS, BLM, BOR, and FWS) are chronically underfunded.

Apr 20th - 15:20pm | Oz

The proposed fee hikes in your article are disturbing. I have always thought of our national park system as a variation of the local public library: a priceless but often underfunded resource for individuals from all walks of life. Regrettably, it sounds as if the government's proposed fee hikes will keep less fortunate visitors from visiting our nation's treasures.

Apr 20th - 14:02pm | Owen Hoffman

Unabashed fee creep in our national parks and monuments must stop. Parks are public property. Our government should make parks available and welcoming to all citizens and not just the few who are unlikely to react negatively to the economic impact of an assortment of rising entrance fees and special use fees.

Apr 20th - 13:50pm | retreadranger

Unfortunately, this is happening all over. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will begin charging for interpretive programs this summer: sliding fees for individuals or families for short programs, more for "in-depth tours." Parking areas that were previously free will now charge a fee. Ditto docks that once were free. The fee schedule is posted on the park web page; it's pretty amazing.

Apr 20th - 12:52pm | Anuhea

That is so sad! I hope they don't start charging. I remember my father taking me around to National Parks when I was younger and I loved the "summer camp feel" where all (or most)the activities were free.

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Apr 21st - 09:16am | repanshek

Kingsley, I've been up Angel's Landing a couple times, once when my youngest son was about 8 or 9, and each time has been incredible. Yes, you have to be careful and clear-headed, but if you are somewhat comfortable with exposures (personally, I hate heights), the trek is not insurmountable.

Apr 21st - 03:53am | kingsley

reading the posts and having seen pics of the hike- should i be terrified- i have lots of experience ridge scrambling in uk- devils ridge, crib goch, anoch eagach etc- i get married in sept and we set ourselves the challenge of angels landing but now i'm not sure- it looks awesome-maybe too awesome?

Mount St. Helen's National Park?

Apr 20th - 12:35pm | kath

Well, Lassen hasn't erupted since the early 1900's and I don't recall any expensive looking facilities up there. All I'm saying is that while St. Helens is still occassionally belching and the interior of the crater is still rising, it's not the time to be building multi-million dollar state of the art visitor's centers in the blast zone.

Apr 20th - 11:56am | Glenn Scofield...

So is Lassen Peak, Haleakala, Mauna Loa, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake and Mount Baker. But these have visitor centers and other park interpretation.

Apr 20th - 08:46am | kath

The NPS shouldn't spend too much money on visitor's centers at Mt. St. Helens. It's still an active volcano after all.

Apr 17th - 14:04pm | Glenn Scofield...

It would be a great idea for the NPS to take over Mount St. Helens. I know the Service is strapped financially, but if a place deserves NP status, it's certainly Mount St. Helens.

The Essential Acadia

Apr 19th - 08:35am | Andrea

Yes, and don't forget the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse, a year-round favorite of photographers.

Grand Teton Gets Go-Ahead on Transportation Corridors

Apr 19th - 06:33am | Jim Macdonald

You know, I biked all the way through Grand Teton and back last summer as part of my biker/hiker vacation through Grand Teton and Yellowstone. I felt about as safe as one can expect on those roads in Grand Teton and was happy that there was a shoulder at all.

Drought Conditions Putting Squeeze on Everglades

Apr 18th - 16:30pm | Alan Gregory

Right. Shortchange great blue herons. Great egrets. Snowy egrets. Little Blue and Green herons. Reddish egrets. And spoonbills. The hell with all the birds. We've gotta keep "growing!"

Segways To Invade Antietam--Updated

Apr 18th - 06:29am | Alan Gregory

What about motorized scooters? And skateboarders? And what about wagons powered by gray squirrels turning flywheels? But, hey, why not sell the naming rights, too? How about the ABC/Disney Segway Theme Park? And just imagine the millions the good NPS folks at Gettysburg could realize by also selling naming rights.

Apr 17th - 08:15am | kath

There's something about recreational Segway riding in a national battlefield that strikes me as inappropriate and disrespectful to the memory of those who died.

Of Bugs, Buzz Off, And Repellents

Apr 17th - 14:54pm | Insect Repellent

Have you ever tried any natural insect repellent products?

Shepherdstown--The Guest List

Apr 17th - 10:33am | YellowstoneJunkie

One can NEVER have enuf horsepower!!! Yeeeeaaahhhh baaaby!!

Apr 16th - 20:40pm | matt

Wow - that seems like a lot of horsepower for a sled!

Apr 15th - 22:51pm | YellowstoneJunkie

Yeaahh baby, this is what I'll be ridin' in Yellowstone this winter!!: http://www.brp.com/en-US/Products/SkiDoo/Showroom/MachZX.htm

Apr 15th - 22:46pm | Trish

Cabela's CEO is an invite, as well as Polaris and Ski-Do Corp....they were inadvertently left off the list.

Apr 15th - 22:24pm | Jim Macdonald

Alan, They weren't on the list because they've been exposed as pinko commie hippies... Still laughing, Jim

Apr 15th - 18:12pm | Alan Gregory

Wait a sec! I don't the CEOs of Kawasaki, Yamaha, Polaris, Ski-Do, etc. on the guest list. What gives? And how about those guys at Cabela's, the outdoors retailer that can't seem to build a new store these days without first getting a plethora of tax breaks?

Apr 15th - 15:21pm | Trish

Most parks have PLENTY of wilderness...more lodges, restaurants, etc. can and will be built in the frontcountry areas.

Apr 15th - 06:22am | Arthur Allen

Judging from the comments on this article, I wonder just who is reading Traveler's blogs. I thought it would be people who value the parks as important reservoirs of untrammeled, natural and historic resources, but it looks like the people who have commented want more development and commercial operations in the Parks!

Apr 14th - 21:57pm | Trish

I LOVE IT! We are finally getting our parks back from the environuts!!

Apr 14th - 10:29am | keepitreal

My husband and I are in our 60s and hardly hippies, commies or any of those other nice terms. We eat beef, and we have cell phones and iPods. But you won't see those devices when we're up in the Rocky Mountains or in the Grand Canyon. And we don't mind some unpaved trails. You want restaurants and concession stands and tons of paving? Go to Disneyworld or Six Flags or whatever.

Apr 14th - 08:49am | jr_ranger

Oh, and "Grandmother" Sally: I'm not too lazy to work for anything. tntrailhead.blogspot.com didn't appear on its own, you know.

Apr 14th - 08:37am | jr_ranger

I guess Mr. Gore (you know, the guy that used to be the next President of the United States?) is one of us "far-left greenies/envirowhackos" that want to leave a better, cleaner world for our children. The "Challenge" is starting to sound an awful like a fancy way to pander to the developers.

Apr 13th - 22:24pm | Matt

Don't you need utensils to eat gruel or couscous?

Idaho's Bid For A National Park

Apr 15th - 21:50pm | matt

As incredible as SNRA is, it really is incompatible with being a "national park". Its current status seems to work just fine, no need to alter it just to make the NPS feel better.

Apr 15th - 18:08pm | Alan Gregory

Trish, you must be referring to the political hacks that infest the upper runs of the chain of command at the Interior Department these days. Perhaps you're thinking of Julie A. MacDonald. What's that you say? You never heard of Ms. MacDonald?

Apr 15th - 15:15pm | Trish

The NPS can't take care of what it has...why take more land and lock it up for envirowackos & bad-science scientists?????

Apr 14th - 22:12pm | Delawarians fo...

Kurt, before we focus on Idaho, let's try to make the National Park Service truly national and get a beach, river, historical site, something, for Delaware.

Sleeping Bear: Planning for the Future

Apr 15th - 20:03pm | theinnerlight

Too bad the interpretive division at Sleeping Bear Dunes is headed by a hack.

Apr 15th - 11:46am | Alan Gregory

Well of course the focus should be on conservation. That's why the finished product will emphasize recreation.

Mountain Bikers to Seek Access Through Listening Sessions

Apr 15th - 16:49pm | repanshek

Ellis, I guess for me it comes down to the simple aesthetics of national parks, being able to enjoy nature and the natural quiet of the landscape.

Apr 15th - 13:21pm | Ellis G.

I don't agree with lumping off-road cyclists with ATV, dirt bikes, and snowmobilers. These users burn fossil fuels, make a lot of noise, and generally cause heavy damage to trails. Any damage done by cyclists is comparable to that of equestrians and hikers. However, I agree with your point regarding the duty of the NPS to "preserve the landscape".

GM: Co-opting The Parks?

Apr 14th - 14:18pm | kath

"Old Faithful" on an automobile could turn out to be false advertising and not a name designed to appeal to men who don't want to be either old or .... Bad jokes, aside...you forgot to list the Toyota Sequoia, the Buick Rainier, and the Ford Ranger.

Memo to Mary: Call Julie Elmore

Apr 13th - 22:34pm | Darius

How do you know "her little project" is tainted and biased without having read it?

Apr 13th - 21:55pm | Rex

...School of the Environment and Earth Sciences... Uh, seems that her little "project" is somewhat tainted and biased...now I wonder what kind of questions she asked, and how did she ask them? I wonder what an ECONOMICS or BUSINESS major would find with the questions THEY could ask?

Poll: Winter Use in Yellowstone

Apr 13th - 22:16pm | Matt

Yeah, Kurt, this isn't scientific or legitimate. Next time you run a poll, make sure to get OMB approval and then have faculty from Northern Arizona Univ. administer it. I'll take my grain of salt and couscous now...

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