Recent comments

Sara the fact finder comes through yet again! Thanks.

ec, you don't have to specifically ask for an entitlement. Your very attitude demonstrates that you don't ask. You demand.

If you don't understand my comment, read yours again.

And our current mayor is a Republican who saw the light after his predecessor caved in to the race pushers. (Who may not be much different than other kinds of pushers.)

You say you would be against the race if you saw or heard from anyone who will acknowledge cost to the NPS. Perhaps if you'd open your eyes or ears you'd see and hear what the rest of are witnesssing.

It struck me last night that this entire debate has devolved into an excellent analogy for what's happening in Congress right now. Some people who are trying to find sensible solutions to vexing problems are being outshouted by a few very noisy ones who spend their time obfuscating, delaying, twisting, dodging and trying to prevent anything productive or that might benefit more than a few powerfully wealthy organizations or individuals who insist on gaining short term profit over long term policies that may prevent destruction of good things.

With all due respect, I acknowledge that no matter how wrong you may be, you will never be able to see the light because you will continue -- for whatever reason -- to cover your eyes and ears. All I can do is continue to hope that there will be enough Americans who will recognize the fallacy of that approach and continue to fight against it. They once handed one heck of a surprise to a fella named Mitt because he tried the same thing.

FYI,

The Pro Challenge is a professional race with a limit as to who can enter (professional bicyclists).

The Ride the Rockies Tour is not professional and is not a race and has no limit as to who can enter (entry is by lottery to anyone, not just professional cyclists).

So, you are comparing apples to oranges, here.

Commercialism has nothing to do with the decision to permit one and not the other. The scope of each event is completely different; one is open to the public and for pleasure, the other is closed to the public and for profit.

Since ecbuck has retrieved this story, here's a recent Op-ed from Isle Royale biologists on the issue of wolf re-introduction:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/opinion/save-the-wolves-of-isle-royale-national-park.html

Nicely said, indeed, Scott Merritt.

Thanks, Scott. Nicely said :-)

I hereby give my full support to the organizations who give full support to the redesignation of CNM to CNP with the one caveat that as a part owner of the public land I am granted full veto power over these organizations who would like to be granted full veto power. I also have an additional 350 events per year planned for CNM/P that may or may not make money but are good, honest, wholesome commercial ventures that promote stuff that I like and will only require some part of the M/P to be closed but only on those 350 days and only for limited times. Events for week 1 will get us kicked off with a skateboarding race, a wild west equestrian ride, a soapbox derby, a model train show, a romance novels clubs street crawl, a Baptist scooter slolom, and an all atheist bicycle ride. This will introduce a lot more people to the M/P which necessarily means we will see even more support for the area because mass visits always guarantee awareness and awakening. With any luck they will also put some serious thought into supporting their new found treasure with full veto support so we can keep things in such perfect harmonious balance. See u at the races/demonstrations/exhibitions soon! Bring your support and veto quills!

This is just a guess, could it be more and more parks are turning to "reservation" fees to off-set a lack of federal dollars? After all, it does cost to staff backcountry offices, sort through and approval reservations, and maintain backcountry trails, campsites, and latrines.

As for the $20 vs $4, the $20 fee is for processing your permit application. There is no daily/nightly fee once you're out in Fire Island's backcountry. At the Smokies, there is no general reservation fee per se, and the fees are capped at $20 per person whether you stay out five nights or seven (treks of more than 7 nights would require an additional permit, however).

And I will say again. If the cost to the NPS wasn't covered by the race organizers or sponsors, then I would be against it. I haven't seen anyone involved in the process indicate that is the case. That isn't in the list of reasons given for turning it down.

Oh and BTW, I'm still waiting for you to substantiate your claim that I have asked for entitlements. More empy claims and accusations.

The Tour of Utah (another UCI-sanctioned professional bike race) just announced last week their venue towns for the 2013 edition in August. There will be a stage finishing in Torrey - and it looks like that the stage will take UT12 all the way from the Panguitch area straight through Bryce Canyon NP, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM and up the Boulder plateau to Torrey. Another stage starts at Brian Head resort and I can imagine (and hope for) a side trip to Cedar Breaks NM on the way to Cedar City.

So in Utah this thing is happening already.

Back in the 80's the good ol' Coors Classic featured already Colorado NM's Rim Rock Drive - impressive images.

While I understand the concerns of everyone opposing the passage of the Tour of Colorado through Colorado NM - I'm not so sure for myself - I think that people do highly overestimate the impact of the event. The NM will not be closed for the day. The race will pass through the park in less then an hour. There will be road closures before and after, but not more than half a day. Which gives all other park visitors enough time to explore the park before/after the race. And in the meantime how about getting on your feet and hitting some trails in the NM? Closed road doesn't mean closed trails...