[pct-l] Castle Crags State Park To Close

[gwschenk at socal.rr.com]

AsABat makes some good points. When Reagan started the privatizing of the National Forest campgrounds, the prices skyrocketed. Along with that you got the campground "hosts", most of whom are nice people, but a few are campground Nazis.

Tortoise is also correct about the purpose of the parks, but making a profit for a commercial enterprise should not be one of them.

Sorry for the rant.

Gary

---- Tortoise <Tortoise73 at charter.net> wrote: 
> Generally speaking, the primary purpose of California and National parks is 
> to preserve and make available to the public natural and/or historic 
> resources. Camping may be part of the resource made available. But low-cost 
> camping, over night stays, or competing with private campgrounds is not the 
> purpose of camping in the parks. If one wants cheap camping, one needs to 
> camp elsewhere. Likewise for just an over night stay.
> 
> I have had enjoyable over nights in Calif state park campgrounds with 
> various levels and quality of facilities. I have also camped over night in 
> city parks and commercial campgrounds when necessary. The one amenity I 
> occasionally need is electricity  to recharge my laptop.
> 
> 
> Tortoise
> 
> <>  Because truth matters.<>
> 
> 
> On 2011.05.16 08:55, AsABat wrote:
> > Camping in state parks is already overpriced in many areas. Fees equal or exceed those of private campgrounds with more facilities, including hookups, showers, pools, etc. Not that I enjoy the crowds in these camps, but it can be as crowded in state camps. I usually prefer boondocking/stealth camping, but I've chosen cheaper commercial camps over state camps when all I need is a quick stop over.
> >
> > The concessions that run some of our park and forest camps are nuts. They have junk all over their host site but drive around in noisy carts our dirt bikes making sure we don't do anything. For this we pay and pay.
> >
> > I understand it costs money to operate a campground, but when I use nothing but a pit toilet and a flat spot to sleep I wonder just how that costs $25 or more a day.
> >
> >
> > AsABat
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