Happy Birthday Yosemite
Dale Matson
"The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural
and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the
enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
(Mission Statement of NPS)
In December of 1995, I had planned on skiing out Glacier
Point Road in Yosemite but could not get into the park because of the U.S.
Federal Government shut down. Today is another example of the National Parks
closing because the Federal Government is shut down once again.
The National Parks are the “people’s parks”. They belong to
us and we are being kept out. The parks are over-regulated to begin with. You
need a special pass or entry fee when you enter the parks (If only these gate
fees were used exclusively for the parks). After you are in the park, you will
need to pay an additional fee for a wilderness permit to stay overnight along
the trails. On the Mt. Whitney trail or the Half Dome trail, you are required to reserve and pay for a pass
even if it is only a day hike. This trail permit requirement lends new meaning
to pack it in pack it out.
The following statement is part of the shutdown contingency
plans for the NPS.
“The shutdown process
will take place in two phases. Phase 1 includes all activities to notify the public
of the closure, secure government records and property, and begin winding down operations
to essential activities only. Phase 1 will take place over a day and a half.
Phase 2 will be initiated by the Director and includes the complete shutdown of
all concession facilities and commercial visitor services. Overnight visitors
will be given two days to make alternate arrangements and depart the parks. At
the end of Phase 2 operations are expected to be at the minimum levels defined
below. The entire closure process – both phases – will be completed within four
days.” http://www.doi.gov/shutdown/fy2014/upload/NPS-contingency-plan.pdf
We are impacted in many ways by these decisions. Highway
120, an important trans-sierra road is closed. Those who made plans from around
the world to visit the parks or travel the John Muir Trail will not be allowed
to enter either Yosemite (North) or Sequoia (South) Parks. There is no provision
for those already on the trail who continue to travel. Are they required to
leave the parks also? Are those who work concessions such as the Delaware North
Company folks required to leave the park?
I would be willing to bet that the current emergency
staffing levels are not significantly lower than seasonal low emergency
personnel staffing levels such as winter/spring in Yosemite. Thus, what is the
point of shutting down the parks?
Finally, these parks were set aside “…for the enjoyment,
education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” It is not right that we should be kept out of
our own parks; parks we have paid taxes and permit fees to access. My right of
access is not secondary to those who wish to fly in and out of airports. The
government has seen fit to ensure their rights by keeping on the air traffic
controllers. The current situation does not involve my safety such as when
trails are closed because of landslides or roads are closed for fires like the
Rim fire. This is not an emergency that warrants
a ‘no access’ policy.
Highway 120 has been reopened through Yosemite. There is no stopping permitted and there are no services available.
ReplyDeleteI am 70 years old and have been a student of politics since 1964--I've never seen such diviseness in our government. Shutting down the parks is just so they can make us, just normal folks, feel the pinch.
ReplyDeleteFor info, I am a political independent. I don't think in 'sound bites,' either. Both parties are responsible. I can't stand hearing from knee jerk partisans from either party. Turns my stomach and my intellect. Maybe yours, too?
I suggest a good start: LET'S SHUT DOWN THE CONGRESS--BOTH HOUSES--AND ALL THE SUPPORT PERSONNEL. WHILE WE'RE AT IT, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, TOO. COULD BE DONE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. Let's let them feel the pinch. NO PAY, EITHER.
AND, all Rangers and Parks people that deal DIRECTLY with the public and serve an everyday function should be kept f. The Park service 'Management' should be furloughed same as the folks in DC. If you're not working in a park, it's furlough time. The workers during these furloughs could be granted management authority 'in absentia.'
Here is a great commentary by Mark Steyn
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nationalreview.com/article/361057/park-service-paramilitaries-mark-steyn