| Page 1547 | National Parks Traveler

I have always wondered why we don't have an option on our federal tax returns to donate $1 of our refund to the National Parks similar to the option to fund the presidential campaigns. I would think most folks would donate and it's a very efficient way to solicit donations to our national treasures. I would be much more inclined to donate to our parks than to more campaign ads on TV.

Oct 3rd - 19:12pm | haunted hiker

There's much to address here, and this is the Haunted Hiker's busiest time of year. But I want to take the time to say a few things. One: Beamis was an brilliant interpreter and dedicated employee. I don't know Frank (at least I don't think I do) but I wish I did. But then I do have a weakness for crushed idealists. Especially the funny ones.

Oct 3rd - 18:19pm | Anonymous

lone hiker- i was the one who posted "misused" and i can tell you, aside from the entity that i run, i see misused and hear about misused funds everywhere. from public radio stations to large corporations, it happens... let's not split semantical hairs here, i meant what i wrote. to deny it is to deny reality.

Oct 3rd - 13:15pm | Lone Hiker

By the way, what's this garbage? misused funds are inevitable, whether an agency or a corporation or a small business. only the nps, successful or not, has the best intentions in managing our parks. Mismanagement is inevitable? Poor accounting practices are inevitable? Lack of accountability in inevitable?

Oct 3rd - 11:32am | Lone Hiker

I'm not into reference checks. I trust your personal references wouldn't say anything to reflect negatively on your esteemed character. And business references generally pass along high marks, especially on someone there's looking to cut bait with, so what good is that?

Oct 3rd - 10:36am | Lone Hiker

Never unwilling to put in my two cents worth, if you're seeking "constructive criticism", new directives, or whatever label appeals to you, I'd like some information. Especially from Frank and Beamis. I could sense by the underlying tone of many of the commentaries that I've read over the months that you both were at one point employed by the NPS in some manner.

Oct 2nd - 22:25pm | Anonymous

Beamis, your comments are well taken, but in truth really quite sad and demoralizing to your younger peers in the NPS. Privatization is NOT the answer to NPS demise, but with stout LEADERSHIP we can overcome this negative flow of internal conflict that rids good people like you.

Oct 2nd - 17:41pm | Anonymous

Beamis, nothing personal but you constantly slay and slam the NPS. However, is there anything good or positive that can be said from your experiences (with NPS) which can or might embolden the NPS, instead of all the negative effects of the department. As I understand from your past blogs, you were once a career officer in the NPS, there must of been some golden moments in your career.

Oct 2nd - 16:50pm | jsmacdonald

Beamis, I hear the same things from friends in government. I have a close friend who hates his job working in one division of government. He's too chicken to quit and has wanted for years to be fired, and so he does almost anything he can to get shown the door. However, no one ever fires him.

Oct 2nd - 14:37pm | Rick Smith

I don't want to get into a long argument about the effectiveness of government bureaus. I will leave that to people like Beamis and Frank whose opinions about the subject are well known to NPT readers.

Oct 2nd - 11:37am | jsmacdonald

Frank, could you explain to me what you mean? The way I'm reading you, you are guilty of the fallacy of denying the antecedent. 1. NPS managers have the best intentions. 2. Political pressures will continue to jeopardize their mission until the parks are depoliticized.

Oct 1st - 21:59pm | Merryland

Here's what I said back on August 5th in the "Setting Precedents in the Parks" thread.

Oct 1st - 19:41pm | Anonymous

lol... if you two market experts (frank, beams) are suggesting that smith's "invisible hand" is going to take better care of the parks than a government agency, i'd ask that you google "market externalities." the nps may not be the best, but they're better than the rest. misused funds are inevitable, whether an agency or a corporation or a small business.

Opposition Mounting to Higher Entrance Fee At Olympic National Park

Oct 4th - 10:09am | au79scorpion

Can't anyone see what will happen here? The fees go up and the government cuts back on the meager funding they dole out to the parks which in my travels, are way under funded just to maintain them! every park employee, ranger or administrator that I had the pleasure to talk to tells me the sad stories of woe, bleak outlook due to the government cutbacks.

Oct 4th - 08:59am | dthom2701

"And yeah, let's stick it to those "Foreigners" How much do you suppose they pay in taxes to support our parks? Beamis, in a previous post on a different topic you asked someone to respond to your arguments without attacking you but it seems that what you like to do best.

Oct 3rd - 16:59pm | Anonymous

Why not raise the fee in all of the National Parks to $50 per car for a weekly pass. People are more than willing to pay $50 to go to Disneyland, Six Flags, etc:. With all of the Foreigners you see in our National Parks, they must have money or they would not have gotten over here to see it. The National Parks are run down and need more money then they are getting from the government.

Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman

Oct 4th - 09:04am | Anonymous

Im not sure this was foul play, because I drove by this accident less than 5 minutes after it happened while another person was on the phone with the national parks. The male compainion was visibly in a panic and very very upset. I have a police scanner and listen to the whole incident both on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Oct 4th - 03:10am | Anonymous

Foul play? In what way? Was something seen or heard unusual? How do you hear something like that?

Oct 3rd - 12:47pm | Anonymous

From what I have heard, this could be foul play.

Oct 2nd - 17:30pm | new orleans

i am so sorry that this has happend again. i really hope this was a accident and not foul play. may both women rest in peace.

World War II Sites in the National Park System

Oct 3rd - 20:00pm | Merryland

There must be a story for many, many parks in the system. Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas) was a seaplane base during the war and they cut down trees in the Everglades to make up for a shortage of wood for houses.

Oct 3rd - 16:54pm | Glenn Scofield ...

And don't forget the Ahwahnee in Yosemite was transformed into a military hospital for recovering vets during much of the war. There are some amazing photos in the Yosemite Research Library of the tents set up on the Ahwahnee lawns.

Oct 3rd - 10:00am | Anonymous

Jeremy, like you I did put in my ten hours watching Ken Burns documentary: THE WAR. Every time that I drive past Manzanar (WW II Japanese Detention Center) which is settled on the east side of the Sierra's, it's hard to imagine the extreme hardship that this nation went though during WW II...and it's Japanese citizens.

And, Speaking of Volcanoes ... Audio Story at Lassen Volcanic

Oct 3rd - 10:40am | Cameron Mason

That is so freakin awesome

Centennial Projects: Mountain Biking in Big Bend National Park

Oct 1st - 13:58pm | Anonymous

A great deal of the surface along the proposed route is simply not a good surface to ride on. It is composed of gravel primarily, mixed with some organic material.

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Oct 1st - 10:40am | Lone Hiker

These situations are never easily dealt with, but the one factor usually associated with them is "hiker error", underestimating the terrain while simultaneoulsy overestimating your ability. What do people want, elevators, escalators, covered walkways, helicopters?

Sep 30th - 21:25pm | lea

I agree with Russ, absolutely! First off, my hub and I, in our late 40's are in good physical shape and had no exertion issues with any of the climbing associated with A.L. or Hidden Canyon, which we had easlily hiked the day before to "warm up" for A.L.

Developing Diversity in the National Parks

Oct 1st - 10:25am | Anonymous

Lone Hiker, your point is well taken and much appreciated. I smell smoke, I guess Rome is starting to burn.

Oct 1st - 10:08am | Lone Hiker

I can't speak for Dylan's viewpoint, but I'd be willing to bet the Maggie's Farm that he's intelligent enough to "see which way the wind blows" and find his own way. Now, having thoroughly exhausted my references to his music, the short answer to your question, in my world, is roughly as follows:

Oct 1st - 08:36am | Anonymous

Lone Hiker, your blog is most articulate! After all that's been said, just one simple question: In your own words, what's "your personal definition" of a right wing individual vs. left wing individual? Why is it so difficult to find a common middle ground in goverment today? Who started this name calling and shellacking of the blue states vs. the red states?

Sep 30th - 22:37pm | Lone Hiker

Jim- After close inspection of your dissertation, I am reminded of a line from a song, as follows: "We always did feel the same we just saw it from a different point of view......Tangled up in Blue" My apology to Bobby Dylan.

Sep 29th - 21:25pm | jsmacdonald

Most of my real job actually is editing; in conversation, we're allowed poetic license to ramble on!

Sep 29th - 19:45pm | jsmacdonald

But I don't understand how we are contributing to the situation by not feeling sorry for, and thereby working to enable, a group or multiple groups of people of WHATEVER background to take part in something that many have no interest in becomming a part of in the first place.

Haleakala National Park Officials Call For Safety Summit For Bicyclists

Oct 1st - 10:08am | Kath

I did this ride down Haleakala over 10 years ago. It was a blast and the highlight of my trip to Maui. As long as the bicycle companies test the brakes of the bikes every day, and as long as the rides know their abilities, there is no reason why the ride should not be safe. The company I took gave a riding 'test' before we left the parking lot.

Sep 30th - 11:04am | Lone Hiker

I thought I was going to be added to the list, the way some cyclists traverse those trails. (My apologies to some of you, but I was quicker than they were. Barely.) And yet I recall a recent article pertaining to expanding mountain-biking in the park system. True, they aren't the same type of biking, exactly. But this trail, at just under 10,000 ft.

Public Lands Day. Wahoo.

Oct 1st - 03:45am | Merryland

I'd like a 1/365th refund on my annual pass, please... ;-)

Sep 29th - 23:56pm | Anonymous

And, really, isn't it a bit ironic that we have to have a "Public Lands Day" to gain free entry onto public lands our tax dollars supposedly support? National Public Lands Day is more of a 'get out the volunteers' type of day. The 'free entry' is a bonus thrown in to encourage folks to come out and support their public lands.

GOP's Fred Thompson Open To Drilling In Parks for Oil

Sep 30th - 21:28pm | Lone Hiker

Just a tad bit more information-----

Sep 29th - 22:01pm | Merryland

I fought my former county of residence for years to create a safe way for the kids in our community to walk ACROSS THE STREET so they wouldn't have to be provided a bus. I am totally serious -- these kids live less than 100 feet from school property and they are given a big yellow diesel monster to help them across the street.

Sep 29th - 13:13pm | Merryland

From 1995 to 2001 I was able to walk to work or work at home, which was nice... and for a year there I didn't even have a car. Since 2001 I've worked a four-day work schedule (10 hours each day) which has cut back my potential commuting by 20%. I also moved 5 miles closer to work two years ago (15 mile commute now 10) so that's another 33%.

Sep 29th - 12:54pm | Lone Hiker

Jim- Nothing personal I assure you. Unfortunately for the locals, the general connotation associated with DC is political, not the tens of thousands of residents who make the area their home. Frank-

Sep 29th - 10:02am | Anonymous

Back in the early 1970's (oil embargo) they had a bumper sticker that read: EAT BEANS AMERICA NEEDS THE GAS! Right now, I think our politicans fart more then most...usually from the mouth...it's called lying with bad breath!

The Park Service's Historic Buildings Can Be Saved Without Resorting to Leases

Sep 30th - 08:09am | Water Witch

Fort Hancock - Does the Law Require Its Preservation? And HOW?

Death Valley Looking to Electronic Rangers to Raise Money, Lure Younger Generations

Sep 29th - 19:35pm | Ranger Joe

When it comes to the National Parks, I believe a strong anti-technology bias is exactly what is called for. The parks are meant to be an escape to nature, not an extension of the rest of our world. Preserve and protect is the mission, not unlimited wireless access and broadband for all.

Congressman Calls for Investigation Into Fort Hancock Deal

Sep 29th - 16:30pm | Water Witch

"Anonymous" states: "is the Gateway NRA actually something that taxpayers in Oregon and North Dakota should be paying their hard earned tax money for?" In the words of the NPCA's 2007 State of the Parks report on the Gateway NRA: "the very name “Gateway” was supposed to inspire its role as a park that was not only the portal to the Big Apple, but also a portal for millions to the National Pa

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