When I first started the Traveler back in '05, I never expected some stories about the National Park System to be so controversial.
Who thought the snowmobile issue in Yellowstone National Park would still be slogging on, a decade and more than $10 million since it first arose back in 2000? And would anyone think that some birds and turtles would be such a hot-button topic at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
There are other examples -- whether to drain Hetch Hetchy at Yosemite National Park, mule rides at Grand Canyon National Park, hunting/culling issues in any number of parks, and even oysters at Point Reyes National Seashore.
No, I figured writing about national parks would be relatively safe, a continuing series of feel-good stories about some of the most gorgeous and interesting (culturally and historically) places in America. After all, units of the National Park System are set aside for the preservation of their resources for today's and tomorrow's generations, and for the public's enjoyment.
But instead it seems there is controversy (not to mention firebrand politics!) lurking in every nook and cranny of the park system. Why do you think that is?
Comments
Anon: I'm not taking a stance here, but it's interesting that your observation is how it ruined "your" experience. National parks are public goods, not private preserves, and do require some compromise on all users.
Anon and Zeb, you are both correct. And therein lies the dilemma.
Unfortunately, "compromise" has become a dirty word lately.
Even when "compromise" isn't a dirty word, it's very often hard to recognize something as a compromise.
I also said that it was likely the motorcyclists were having a fine time with their National Park experience. I suppose if an environmental impact statement said that the noise was bothering the bighorn sheep or the ground squirrels, then something would be done. People who like quiet well....
Couldn't a compromise be motorized vehicles on the paved roads only and then no 'packs' of motorcyclists. The noise gets bad on the Tioga Road in Yosemite also.
And I'm told the motorcycle noise is pretty bad in Yellowstone around the end of July, when bikers are heading to Sturgis and make a pass through the park, or head through the park on their way home from Sturgis.
Anon. Your compromise is no compromise (if I were an offroad motorcyclist) at all. On the other hand, allowing them on say even day only would be a real compromise. They still get to enjoy themselves, and you get peace and quiet half of the time. That's compromise. Kicking them off to the paved road where they would probably be bored to death would completely ruin their experience just to enhance yours: not a compromise. :)
I thought Badlands NP was where they really go through in numbers. The NPS supposedly brings in extra LE rangers that time of year just in case it gets out of hand.
Personally I don't like the noise either. I remember going to Point Reyes for a wildflower walk at Chimney Rock. That was during the whale watching season, and the only way in was via the shuttle from the Patrick Visitor Center. There was a whole group of almost 20 Harley riders going into the parking lot. They weren't really an outlaw group, with most of them seeming like average middle-class folks who were just weekend riders. But the noise those hogs were making pretty much carried for miles. It wasn't the faint whine of a crotch rocket, but a rumble of a Harley with modifications to make it even louder. You can argue about the boat or hikers making noise, but even from a mile away, I doubt there's anything that affects harbor seals more than the rumble of a Harley engine.
Cape Hatteras park, much of that land was "given" to the NPS ... with an agreement signed by the head of the NPS. They have violated that written agreement totally! While protecting the piping plover they activly shoot, trap and poison other animals in the park, yes some of it is on youtube! Everyone here is sick and damn tired of thier crap! The put people on trial for trumped up charges that have been thrown out of Federal Court in Elizabeth City NC. They do that to intimidate people here. We need a govenor in NC ... will fight the Federal Govt, like the Gov of AZ!
This comment was edited to remove gratuitous language. Ed.