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Issue Of Climbing Fees At Denali National Park Raises Questions Of Fee Equity

Mar 6th - 21:33pm | Inquiring mind

What exactly is the benefit schedule for Senior Executive Service Employees in NPS, including their retirement benefits? Just wondering about the bigger picture when services and access are being either eliminated or drastically reduced. Seems like an appropriate question.

Mar 6th - 20:21pm | y_p_w

My understanding of SAR in most parts of California is that they're varied in who joins. When I've heard of SAR efforts in California national parks, the personnel have included NPS personnel, local law enforcement, and trained civilians.

Mar 6th - 19:24pm | toothdoctor

To Mr.

Mar 6th - 18:22pm | Chip

Your comparison of SAR to fire and police protection is totally invalid: 1) we DO pay for fire and police through our taxes and 2) that protection and services are there for everyone, not just the 'elite' who think being being rescued is a "right"!

Mar 6th - 17:17pm | Anonymous

Charlie, Very astute points! While I am very much in favor of the cost recovery, some of the points made by DENA officials are not valid. Mount Rainier National Park has between 8,000 and 10,000 climbers a year and a roughly 1.8 million visitors to which comes out to be 1/2 of 1 percent, give or take a few 1/10ths of a percent depending on the year.

Mar 6th - 16:53pm | dennis p lima

I'll just echo what others have written. We've gotten so use to things being "free" or heavily subsidized. Paying what things actually cost is something all of us, including myself, will need to get used to. We can't just keep on letting someone else pay for things.

Mar 6th - 15:57pm | Anonymous

So just curious, but what if I wanted to go climb another mountain in alaska outside of Denali. Would I have to pay the state of alaska any money to climb that mountain?? What does the state provide as far as SAR response for these other peaks??

Mar 6th - 15:11pm | Charlie

I don't think "fee equity" is really the issue here as the article title states. The problem really is increasing costs for visitors to access national parks generally. If the national parks are to remain shared places, where we all can connect with our natural and cultural heritage, they must be free or inexpensive to visit.

Mar 6th - 14:56pm | Marjorie

One of the issues considered by the Park Service, here and in other parks, is this: once climbers/hikers have paid extra for their permit to support rescues, will they then tell themselves, "I paid my $500 and I'm too tired to walk out. So I'll fake an injury and call for help".

Mar 6th - 12:29pm | Chip

I agree with JT about the allocation of costs. The folks who benefit from the program should pay the cost of the program. Why would it be reasonable to charge 99.5% of the visitors an increased fee just to help .5% of the folks?

Mar 6th - 10:00am | Me

Removal of the Kahiltna, Ranger and High basecamps ought to cut the cost's substantially.

Mar 6th - 07:00am | jt

Like everything in this country we, as a society, want to do anything we please and then expect everyone elso to pay the cost. It seems only fair to me that the actual climbers pay the expense of the service and I feel they should also be charged for any additional costs of a rescue they may require. Why should all other visitors be expected to pay for the fun of the few climbers.

Give Us A National Park, But Please, Not Its Regulations

Mar 6th - 15:30pm | Ron Saunders

SS1

Mar 6th - 11:42am | Southern Shores 1

Ryan and y p w excuse me from jumping in on this forum to address both Matt Stubs and Ron comments on ORV controversy here at CHNS.

Mar 4th - 11:28am | Matt Stubbs

I used special interest groups to differ them from the NPS on who makes the rules and when. It helps not having to list all of them each time. All of you cannot wait to jump on someone to input your view on their words just as you accuse others of. Spin as you will.

Mar 4th - 08:08am | OBXer

ORV access at Cape Hatteras was only threatened because for nearly 40 years the NPS had not developed and implemented an ORV management plan as was required by an Executive Order issued by Richard Nixon, if the Seashore, or any NPS area was to allow ORV use. Legally, Executive Orders are law. Basically, without an ORV management plan, ORV use in any NPS area is illegal.

Mar 3rd - 23:43pm | y_p_w

justinh: Are ORV advocates not a special interest? What exactly defines a "special interest" here? I guess the informal definition of "special interest" is "a group that lobbies for something that I don't agree with". A group that does agree with one's views is a "just cause". ;)

Mar 3rd - 21:27pm | Lee Dalton

Thank you, Mark Bohrer (not verified) on March 3, 2011 - 11:37am for an excellent and thoughtful post here.

Mar 3rd - 16:12pm | justinh

Are ORV advocates not a special interest? What exactly defines a "special interest" here?

Mar 3rd - 14:57pm | Matt Stubbs

YPW I am for regulated ORV use in the National Park Systems in fact I supported the Interim plan that was fair and reasonable. That was until the park was sued by special interest groups in an attempt to completely shut down ORV use until a plan that fit the special interest groups agenda was drawn up.

Mar 3rd - 14:05pm | Julie Trevelyan

Fascinating comments here, as usual. :)

Mar 3rd - 13:31pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: There are other instances, but hopefully these will address your question.

Mar 3rd - 12:58pm | Kurt Repanshek

Matt, regarding environmental studies and roads, there have been quite a few over the years. One back in 2006 was done on a road in North Cascades National Park. /2009/10/house-passes-legislation-could-lead-national-park-service-rebuild-road-north-cascades-national-park4826

Mar 3rd - 12:37pm | Mark Bohrer

You’re right, Drakesbad Guest Ranch was a private inholding at Lassen Volcanic National Park. The original owner deeded it to the National Park Service in 1958, and NPS decided to maintain it as a ranch for visitors.

Mar 3rd - 12:29pm | Mark Bohrer

Richard: Canyonlands National Park permits your bicycle on primitive trails to places like the Maze District, which rarely see people compared to the Grand Canyon or the rest of Canyonlands. That's about as close as you can get to riding your bike in wilderness - and it's pretty close Just carry plenty of water.

Mar 3rd - 09:32am | Matt Stubbs

"If a drop of oil leaks out of a gasket or main seal while on the beach - that's going straight into the sand. It frankly is a more direct impact than a drop of oil getting soaked by asphalt. I'm just saying that every activity has impacts."

Mar 3rd - 08:32am | Ryan

y p w, I do believe that wheelchairs capable of going "off road" (e.g. bigger tires) are an exception to the mechanized rule.

Mar 2nd - 18:15pm | y_p_w

Don't legal precedents allow for disabled access in the wilderness as an exception to "mechanical transport"? I've heard that off-road wheelchairs are allowed in Congressionally designated wilderness.

Mar 2nd - 17:32pm | Ryan

if limiting access protects the resource, then so be it. And I have done my research, many, many, times over. As for bikes not being allowed and flyrods being allowed...a flyrod is not a mechanized means of transportation, which is explicitly stated in the legislation as not being allowed in wilderness.

National Park Service Rolling Out 5-Year Plan to Commemorate 150th Anniversary of Civil War

Mar 6th - 03:18am | Leon Brooks

If there is anything that should be hoped for, it is that this celebration, unlike the one in the 60's and before, commemorates the contributions and sacrifice of United States Colored Troops - true freedom fighters.

Mar 4th - 22:59pm | Anonymous

The NPS History e-Library also has electronic editions of Eastern National's 26-volume Civil War Series at: http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/civil_war_series/

Mar 4th - 15:40pm | Laidlaw

Some friends are working on a film to be released at the beginning of this 5-year celebration, check out the trailer for "47 Miles: March to Destiny" at http://mountainhousefilms.com ! --Mark

Mar 4th - 15:15pm | Rick B.

Man, Anonymous, what 150 years difference makes. From 'saving the union and freeing the slaves' to 'lol'. Sheesh. I'm glad to hear that Director Jarvis is pushing this effort. He said that he wants the NPS to be 'relevant', and looking at the lessons of the Civil War leading on up to the present is definitely relevant. We can do a lot more than just preserve battlefields.

Mar 4th - 13:45pm | Anonymous

Lets hope The War of Northern Aggression is portrayed in a fair and balanced way and not only from the viewpoint on the Barbarian Yankees!!!LOL

Mar 4th - 12:33pm | Matt W

The NPS and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands have just released a free course for interpreters titled "Causes of the Civil War". The course is open to the public and can be found here: http://eppley.org/elearning/interpretation-1/civil-war

The National Park to Park Highway

Mar 6th - 00:30am | Roger Williams

Is there a current map of this trip? is it possible to re-drive this tour? i would love to take some time and do it.

Should "Boot Cabin" In Big Bend National Park Be Replaced?

Mar 5th - 18:46pm | Karen Garrison Reyer

That cabin is an historical building and must be intreperted and preserved! Unless it has had major reconstruction since the early 1950's or early 1960's then it is old enough to be presreved. Possibly built by CCC.

Mar 5th - 16:40pm | Ramon Holguin

Being a regular visitor to BIBE and having carried my backpacking gear by there numerous times. It always confounded me as to its presence. The corral i can understand having in the Chisos. But i'm not particularly fond of it being along Boot Trail. Boot Trail seems to be occupied by a growing bear population. I feel the corral would be better served along the Colima trail. As for a cabin?

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Named Acting Intermountain Region Director

Mar 5th - 11:19am | Roger Norberg

I believe Bob Vogel would make a fine superintendent.

Democrats Introduce "Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act" To Help Wildlife Cope With Climate Change

Mar 5th - 03:01am | motion detector...

If a purpose of the Act is to "Help wildlife cope with climate change, then the former longgrass prairiewhich included part of Illinois as well as west of the Mississippi, need to have wildlife linkage.If a purpose of the Act is to "Help wildlife cope with climate change, then the former longgrass prairiewhich included part of Illinois as well as west of the Mississippi, need to have wildlife l

Can We Afford The America's Great Outdoors Initiative?

Mar 4th - 18:29pm | M. D. Vaden

It seems that the best solution is that we put our money and effort into the most important needs of our country, at this particular point in time. Regardless of how many hundreds of good reasons, or problems, people may throw into this arena of discussion about the initiative, all are silenced by the most important needs and priorities..

Friends Of The Smokies Working To Save Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Hemlock Trees

Mar 4th - 11:44am | Holly Scott

Thank you so much for highlighting the successes of the treatment program in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

Mar 4th - 08:36am | justinh

This is great news! It was tough seeing all the sick hemlocks in Cataloochee last spring. Thanks for the update.

Searching for Spring Flowers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mar 4th - 08:13am | Kurt Repanshek

Nice shots, Bill!

Mar 4th - 07:06am | William Britten

Lots of daffodils are in bloom now in the Smoky Mountains, in Cades Cove. http://williambritten.com/wordpress/great-smoky-mountains-national-park/...

National Park Icons: Yellowstone’s Roosevelt Arch

Mar 3rd - 21:29pm | Anonymous

Yellowstone is the prettiest place I've been. I've been to a decent amount of places, Germany, Italy. but Yellowstone still holds in my heart as number one. And I wont forget when we where leaving the park and we where driving to Mount Rushmore. We ended up behind a car from Florida. IT was really cool to see them so happy to see something that wasn't flat.

Half Dome Permits Available For Reservation Beginning March 1

Mar 3rd - 20:50pm | The Hike Guy

I was up at 7am on March 1st to get permits online. After a few refreshes at 6:59am, I got in and acquired two permits for a Sunday in June. Seemed simple enough. However, as a curiosity, I went back online in the afternoon to check on what dates were still available. June was completely booked!

Enter Traveler's "Take Your Family to the National Parks" Essay Contest!

Mar 3rd - 20:47pm | Anonymous

I really hope I win, but I don't think my essay is good enough. I've never been to a national park before.

Cedar Breaks National Monument Officials Will Be Showing Off Their Yurt This Saturday

Mar 3rd - 08:16am | Bruce

VERY glad to read about the availability of "a warm stove." ;-)

Proposal to Reopen Boquillas Border Crossing At Big Bend National Park Open For Consideration

Mar 2nd - 20:29pm | Anonymous

This is a GREAT idea that's long overdue. Closure of this historic crossing post-9/11 did *nothing* to make the area any less attractive to the "bad guys" than it was/is already, since it's many hours from the nearest Mexican paved road. Worse, closure put a *terrible* hardship on the good people of Boquillas del Carmen, who are many hours from the nearest Mexican paved road.

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