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Re: [pct-l] backcountry fees

Does that mean my car registration should be free? Hell, maybe Uncle Sam
can buy everyone with a smaller than average house a bigger one in the name
of "equality".

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net

----------
> From: Back Packer <bpacker@psnw.com>
> To: pct-l@saffron.hack.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] backcountry fees
> Date: Thursday, March 20, 1997 2:29 PM
> 
> >Back Packer writes:
> > > >Form: Memo
> > > >Text: (15 lines follow)
> > > >Alan was discussing his costs for hiking in the Grand Canyon. Man,
this is
> > >
> > >
> > > Well said.  These fee mania must cease.
> > >
> >
> >I don't agree.  I have a $300 tent, $200 sleeping bag, $200 pack, $50
> >stove, $100 boots, $200 rain gear, $200 camera, $100 odds and ends,
> >cost me $30 in gas and $40 in food for a backpacking trip.  I'm sure
> >other people have similar costs.  If I can afford all that, I
> >can afford an entrance fee.
> 
> Everyone is entitled to an opinion.  And yes since you can afford those
> type of prices on equipment you can afford an added fee.  But there are
> MANY MANY people who do not spend those types of sums on equipment and
CAN
> NOT afford the increasing fees.
> 
> Our country was founded on equal rights for all, not just those who can
> afford them.
> 
> >
> >Sure, there are some people who didn't spend as much.  Maybe their
> >equipment is second hand or something like that, but it does cost
> >money to blast the switchbacks out of rock, build the bridges across
> >the rivers and run the wilderness permit system.  Maybe your fees
> >don't go directly to the parks or wilderness maintainence, but it does
> >go to the big pot of money where "everything" is paid for.
> 
> And I for one don't have a problem with making sure enough of the
existing
> dollars collected from the taxes I pay are allocated to provide these
> services.
> 
> If we extend the logic of fees further then I think parents of each child
> should pay a fee of about $5,000 per year.  Now before you misunderstand
> I'm not advocating this position, but it logical from the arguments used
> for fees on all types of "governmental" services.
> 
> >Ever hike a trail in very early spring with all the trees down across
> >the trail and sections washed out?  Go back in the middle of summer
> >and those trees have been cleared and the trail repaired.  Do you
> >think the beavers and bears did it?  No, it costs money. I'm sure it
> >costs more money then they collect in fees.
> 
> Sure have.  I ran into that in various areas along both the PCT and CDT. 
I
> think it is part of hiking in the back country.  It is nice to have clear
> trails, but I still hike throught the down fall.
> 
> I know someone has to do basic trail work.  I don't dispute that.  What I
> do dispute is the move to use fee for service for most governmental
> programs.  I would suggest rather that since we are losing the war
against
> drugs that we could divert say $100,000,000 from that $18 billion fund
and
> utilize that for back country maintenance across the country.
> 
> >
> >I've been telling the rangers a Yosemite for years that they should
> >raise the entrance fees.  It looks like this year they may do it.  The
> >entrance fee for Yosemite in 1960 was $5.  Today it's still $5.  It
> >should be more that $20 to keep up with inflation.
> 
> Oops.  I was just in Yosemite on Saturday and the fee I would have had to
> pay if I didn't have a golden eagle pass would have been $20.  or $10 if
I
> had ridden my bike into the park.
> 
> Personally I would like to see no fees.  Growing up the only vacation my
> family could afford was going to Kings Canyon, paying a $2 entrance fee,
> camping was free then.  We brought all of our food with us and didn't
spend
> money on items while in the park.  Without such an opportunity I would
> probably not have been afforded the opportunity to enjoy OUR National
> Wonders.
> 
> While I am financially in a position where I can personally afford to pay
> an increased fee, there are millions of people in the country who can not
> afford these types of fees.  They are being unfairly excluded from
enjoying
> the wonders which are our national treasures.
> 
> We need to start thinking of all people not just those of us who can
afford it.
> 
> 
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