| Page 33 | National Parks Traveler

A Johnson - there are a lot of things that can be easily solved but aren't because people don't like the solution or are too lazy to try. Confiscate those cattle as NM laws provides and the trespass will come to a screeching halt. As to the cost of the leases, there have been many of time people have complained here that the lease costs on Federal Lands were well below those on private prope

Oct 21st - 13:38pm | A. Johnson

" leases allow for fences" Not in the typical lease. And the typical NM grazing lease isn't anywhere near "cheap". How do we know this? You don't find NM ranchers falling over each other, clamoring for one of those cheap USFS grazing leases.

Oct 21st - 13:00pm | ecbuck

Chris - leases allow for fences. And Anyman, I take it you are a vegatarian. Or are you on board with the build back inflation better plan?

Oct 21st - 11:53am | Anyman

We should not be putting fences for cattle on public lands for many reasons, not the least of which is the nusance and hazard they represent to other native lifeforms. Cattle are invasive species here and should not be permitted on any public lands.

Oct 21st - 11:21am | chris...

To point out the obvious here- you cant build fences- or anything for that matter on federal land. It does not matter if you have a lease. Its simply a matter of federal land...which is controlled by the feds.

Oct 21st - 11:18am | ecbuck

Declare the area a "herd law district" and New Mexico law would allow for liens, confiscation and sale. As I said, it wouldn't take long for the cattlemen to build their own fences. https://nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/fencelaw/newme...

Oct 21st - 11:04am | John A.

Having worked for the NPS for 38 years and having dealt with numerous livestock trespass issues, I can tell you that in almost every case the trespass is only prevented when the NPS builds and maintains fences to exclude livestock. Right or wong that is the way it is.

Oct 21st - 11:04am | ecbuck

Disagree A. The cattleman already get the leases at very low cost. They want and need that grazing land. There is nothing as cheap available even with the cost of maintaining the fences. As to not being able to sell the cattle, rustlers have been selling cattle for decades. I doubt any processor whould have any qualms in buying them. And it would not take a lot. You could hire a crew for

Oct 21st - 10:23am | A. Johnson

With most Nat'l Forest Service leases, the responsibility to maintain fences lies with the USFS, not the lessee. If the USFS were to shift the responsbility to the lessee, it is very likely that the lessee would either refuse to renew the lease, or demand a lesser rate because of the added expense.

Oct 21st - 10:08am | ecbuck

I visited Valles a little over a month ago and saw neither cattle or signs of cattle damage. Nevertheless, assuming the cattle are an issue, it should be an easy problem to fix. Put the responsibility on those that lease the adjacent lands. Require they (the beneficiaries) put up the fence rather than have it an NPS expense. For enforcement, confiscate tresspassing cattle and sell them at m

National Parks Traveler Checklist: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Oct 25th - 13:45pm | Gary Davis

What lovely informative introduction or update to Lassen. The photos are gorgeous and tell an engaging story on their own. I was a ranger there 1964-67 and can't wait to back for another visit.

Oct 21st - 10:31am | A. Johnson

I was there in 2020, in a tent. This is great report on what to expect at Lassen. Thanks.

Is The Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument Haunted?

Oct 25th - 13:30pm | Cg

Does she have curly hair?

Proposal To "Improve Visitor Experience" Could Open Parks To More Concessions, Higher Costs

Oct 24th - 12:12pm | james robert emmons

Check out Canyon Lake campground in AZ. $60 per nite to pitch a tent in YOUR National Forest.

Fishing Closure Extended On Elwha River And Tributaries In Olympic National Park

Oct 21st - 16:40pm | JAMES LEPTICH

I don't get it. This is at least the third time that you have delayed an opening, and always for close to another year. The dates you throw out there are obviously not based on any data or educated guess. you are just holding carrots out for the general populace.

Trails I've Hiked: Deep Creek/Martins Gap/Indian Creek Loop In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Oct 21st - 13:01pm | Beth J

Thank You for this info very useful before i attempt it. now i can plan accordingly.

Exploring The Parks: Fort Larned National Historic Site

Oct 21st - 00:17am | Dean H Smith

The best frontier cavalry fort in the national park syste.

Reader Participation Day: Are National Parks Accepting Cash?

Oct 20th - 15:27pm | someone

It's hard to adequately staff entrance stations when the NPS undergrades its employees....

Oct 20th - 13:10pm | LJ Riley

I like the convenience of using debit and credit cards for transactions, because it is convenient. But I also carry cash for extras like souvenirs, special treats, etc, at places that don't do plastic. And that includes national parks. For many years before I could qualify for crwdit cards, I had a vacation jar I put my target money in, then would buy travelers checks.

Oct 20th - 09:01am | Enclave

Maybe a better solution is to adequately staff the entrance stations? A dishonest employee could also steal credit card information and misuse it.

Oct 20th - 06:44am | Anonymous

I believe that currency states 'for all debt, public or private'. The National Parks should not be allowed to go cashless.

Oct 19th - 19:07pm | Former Employee

My assumption is that the move to cashless might be to discourage theft and fraud among employees and make them less of a target for robbery while working in those aweful entrance stations. Remember the budget analyst at Sand Dunes in the 1990's who was skimming petty cash? Crime actually did pay in that situation because her fine was far less than the amount she stole.

Oct 19th - 18:27pm | Catherine Kaye

Please continue to accept cash payments. After doing whatever is takes to arrive at a National Park, a visitor should not be greeted by an obstacle such as this.

Oct 19th - 15:17pm | A. Johnson

I was at Olympic NP in mid-July of this year. The Heart of Hills visitors center was staffed with one cashier, who could not take cash, only cards. The card reader was very slow, and so several visitors trying to pay the entrance fee or for momentos were getting nowhere. The ranger facing the entryway was of no help because he was only offering information, and was directing everyone to the

Oct 19th - 15:09pm | Bill Stock

Rocky Mountain National Park went cashless in 2022

Oct 19th - 14:21pm | Jessica

Fundamentally - How is it possible that a federal agency can refuse its own form of currency? This decision is discriminatory and will have long-lasting impacts on our most marginalized populations. This policy move completely undermines any "commitment" to equity, diversity, and inclusion they may tout. Ripe for a lawsuit or act of Congress, IMO

Oct 19th - 09:42am | ecbuck

The whole government is forcing the move to cashless. Much easier to track what you do it that way.

Oct 19th - 09:25am | Chris...

This is so they can remove manned entry kiosks. They will be replaced with automated gates like a parking garage. The war on the poor continues

Oct 19th - 08:34am | Loui

In an era where we are bombarded with "diversity, equity and inclusion" this seems a blantant move to exclude those in our society who can not qualify for credit or otherwise obtain a debit card for the mere convenience of the bureaucracy. It is bad public policy for a US gov't agency not to accept US currency.

Oct 19th - 07:31am | Enclave

Going cashless is an unnecessary burden on the entrance station employees, who receive the brunt of the (even if few) unhappy visitors. Entrance station employees are the lowest graded employees in the park and most ignored by management. The money saved through this efficiency is lost on the grief leveled at employees.

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 192 | The Grand Teton National Park Foundation

Oct 19th - 12:51pm | Bill Baehr

There are not scores of campgrounds in the BTNF around GTNP. The discussion was in regard to GTNP. so relevance of facts matters.

Oct 18th - 16:26pm | A. Johnson

Well, there are scores of campgrounds in the BTNF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/btnf/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=7... Sorry, facts matter.

Oct 18th - 12:01pm | Bill Baehr

Nope, there are not scores of fee campgrounds in BTNF. Try five. A score is a group of twenty.

Oct 18th - 10:27am | A. Johnson

The BTNF has scores of fee campgrounds. Yes, there's plenty of free dispersed camping within the NF, but the type of person or family whose primary goal is to visit GTNP are less likey to boondock without piped water and a toilet.

Oct 17th - 21:56pm | Bill Baehr

Bridger Teton National Forest, BTNF, borders much of Grand Teton National Park, GTNP. The BTNF helps carry much of the GTNP visitor camping load as well as being the home of many of the grizzlies and black bears that also frequent GTNP.

Rush To The Outdoors Has Challenged Recreation.Gov

Oct 18th - 12:55pm | Michelle L

These reservation systems do not benefit campers as much as the corporation who is pocketing all of the extra fees and cancellation charges, namely Booz Allen Hamilton. Besides making it almost impossible for spontaneous visits, we now have to pay an additional $2.00 for a day reservation to many Parks. That money goes straight to BAH, not the Parks.

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