Posted by Erik Lundh on September 25, 2006 at 6:15 PM
My forest pass expires at the end of this month. I better hurry up and get another one before the prices go up.
Posted by Rick Lamb on September 25, 2006 at 6:39 PM
Well at face value I fully agree that the public should not have to pay to use public land. But as someone who uses public land I also understand that it takes CASH to provide access. I've never growled too loudly about having to pay for a Forest Pass as long as the services I assume it helps pay for are there.
Posted by Curtis Knight on September 25, 2006 at 7:00 PM
*rant*
The problem as I see it with campgrounds is that they have developed too many of them too much. I remember when 90% of the campgrounds in GPNF had fire pits and outhouses. Now the majority of the campgrounds have runing water, concrete crappers, and if there's a lake, it's got a concrete boat ramp. Maintenance would cost less if everything wasn't made to be as comfortable as camping in your back yard! A few campgrounds like this is fine, but they have gone way overboard and now they can't afford to maintain them, so what happens? They close them!
When I was a teenager, we were barely able to make it into Goose Lake CG with a 2WD, and at that it had to be at least a 1/2ton pickup; a passenger car would never have made it. Now it's got a fully maintained road, is vendor-operated, and so crowded, it's not even a pleasent place to go any more.
*end rant*
just MHO.
Posted by Philip Kuglin on September 25, 2006 at 7:40 PM
My problem is we as a country are pay $$$$$$ for overseas military actions driving the national debt higher and higher while we reduce the local budgets for our own public land.
I really wonder if we have our priorities straight.
Posted by Mark Hudon on September 25, 2006 at 8:05 PM
My problem is we as a country are pay $$$$$$ for overseas military actions driving the national debt higher and higher while we reduce the local budgets for our own public land.
Now there's something we agree on, Phil.
Posted by Rick Lamb on September 25, 2006 at 8:12 PM
I too agree with Phil and actually held back my tongue so to speak cuz clearly I can rant on this issue well past the cows coming home...
Posted by Philip Kuglin on September 25, 2006 at 8:21 PM
Sorry to make it political - not completely a photography thing, but when it affects our access to nature... Just hate to see our kids/grandkids future mortgaged to to the max.
Rick - understood. The rant would provide nothing either.
Mark - I am sure there is at least one more thing we agree on
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on September 26, 2006 at 1:09 AM
It really p*sses me off what this administration has done to our country. From letting companies into reserved Alaskan lands to cutting the costs to forest services while spending a billion dollars a week for a war that now is being said to have ultimately made us more vunerable to terrorist attacks. From surplus reserves to a debt that my 6 year old will be paying for after I'm long gone.
It isn't right and I'll say so with my votes in November.
Posted by Rick Lamb on September 26, 2006 at 1:16 AM
On all counts I agree with all of you including that this might be a subject best dropped for all of us. Better to stay focused on the real subject at hand here for the forum - photography. We live in desperate times that's for sure.....sigh.
Discussion
9 repliesIt will be interesting to see what they close and really, where this goes.
The problem as I see it with campgrounds is that they have developed too many of them too much. I remember when 90% of the campgrounds in GPNF had fire pits and outhouses. Now the majority of the campgrounds have runing water, concrete crappers, and if there's a lake, it's got a concrete boat ramp. Maintenance would cost less if everything wasn't made to be as comfortable as camping in your back yard! A few campgrounds like this is fine, but they have gone way overboard and now they can't afford to maintain them, so what happens? They close them!
When I was a teenager, we were barely able to make it into Goose Lake CG with a 2WD, and at that it had to be at least a 1/2ton pickup; a passenger car would never have made it. Now it's got a fully maintained road, is vendor-operated, and so crowded, it's not even a pleasent place to go any more.
*end rant*
just MHO.
I really wonder if we have our priorities straight.
Now there's something we agree on, Phil.
Rick - understood. The rant would provide nothing either.
Mark - I am sure there is at least one more thing we agree on
It isn't right and I'll say so with my votes in November.