Recent comments

...oh yea, and we, the American public also want more lodging and restaurants...we don't eat gruel or couscous commie-food, we use UTENSILS and we like sleeping in BEDS....

Sounds OUTSTANDING to me...maybe we can get some good corporate sponsorship in our parks...get the maintenance backlog reduced, get more interp and visitor services rangers hired, new vistor centers, better roads...you get the drift. Fact is, these things are what the American public wants...not more shuttles for hippie sh*#theads! It's time we stop catering to the minimalist crowd who don't own anything 'cause they're too dang lazy to work for a living. Granma Sally

I own an SUV and am a member of REI. I'm glad that my interests are being represented at the retreat.

For the record, I wasn't talking about mountain bikes. Current winter use policy in Yellowstone doesn't allow bikes on Yellowstone's roads.

David,

Thanks for the correction on the newsletter details. I've updated the post to include the accurate information.

Jeremy

Kurt, I'm glad you mentioned the option that's missing because I know I've read that suggested as well, and I tend to support no over-the-snow motorized vehicles but for plowing to allow cars because it seems data shows that cars pollute less, it allows people besides the very rich to see Yellowstone in winter, and would still allow bicycles to enter into the park. Data is looking like snowcoaches are extremely toxic and encourages monopolistic and homogenous experiences of the park. Snowmobiles are obviously no better than snowcoaches (even 4-cycle isn't that good). But, if the whole park were shut down to all motorized vehicles at any time of the year, I'd be the last to complain about that per se. What I don't like about any of this is the process. It's the process of decision-making that's rotten, and I think people on all sides would be better served coming together to deal with the policy making process. I think that's something that snowmobile enthusiasts, environmentalists, people in Cody, bikers, and everyone else can agree on. The process is horrible and more than a bit mysterious. But, the process is a catch-22...since the land is held in public trust of all American people, the National Park Service is the representative executive agency of the will of the people through the Congress. It's not clear how they are the ones who could ever fix the process. Not everyone with an interest in what happens has an organized lobby, and so it's not enough to say that all stakeholders should have a decision at the table. It suggests to me that until we think radically about the role of government, parks, democracy, and political power, there will never be a satisfactory resolution to the snowmobile issue or other issues of such complexity. Unfortunately, many have bought into the rhetoric that "snowcoaches" are an acceptable answer both environmentally and socially. I don't think that's proving to be true. There is no acceptable answer, only those that tend toward one. The only one that tends to be most environmentally friendly and most friendly toward democratizing the park is plowing the road (and I don't think studies related to bison using the groomed roads to leave Yellowstone are proving to be in any way conclusive - and that's a whole other can of related worms) for use by cars. But, that's hardly a solution...just a step along the way.

You mean your latest poll among other "we don't believe in motorized sports" people? Would it surprise you if you did the same poll and the answer came up "Mountain bikes are fine" or "Cross country skiing is the only way to go"? Of course your poll says "no motors"... do you think you're being read by a bunch of motorsports enthusiasts? I, for one, think snowmobiles (not the old 2-cycle) should be allowed in the park, and snowcoaches updated to better technology. But, as you can see, I'm not your average reader.

Jeremy,

The Nat'l Parks Newsletter comes every first and third Thursday of the month from April to October.

D

As a fee collector at SHEN, it was very difficult to explain to our visitors why our entrance fees were increasing, but our services were decreasing. (We closed a popular camp ground, and picnic area.) No wonder visitation to National Parks is declining.

The most depressing thing is that I'm wanting to get into all this mess after college. Makes me stop and think - am I setting myself up for failure? Is a career in the NPS really the best way to protect the parks? Talk about making me loose some confidence... Anyone know how to get in tough w/Ms. Elmore?

Wouldn't it be great if the US Government would do something like this Virtual Town Hall Meeting recently on YouTube http://pol.moveon.org/townhall/iraq/report_back.html where ordinary folks can hear different policy proposals, ask questions and post comments. Many of us who are interested in these public land policies are not able to be present at the few comment meetings that are held at scattered locations around the country, but would like to have the opportunity to have our voices heard.

" Floods destroyed bridges in many places -- on roads and trails -- and more damage is expected to be found when the snow melts from the high country. Large landslides block roads and trails, and blown-down trees are scattered across many trails,.." I know this mountain well having grown up in her shadow. The last time I wandered her was the summer of 1983. This summer sounds beautiful, an adventure just waiting to happen. It is time to return home.