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teabagalomaniac t1_j9zkcpd wrote

It's fucking impossible. I'm convinced that the NPS just plain doesn't care if people can enjoy the parks so long as they are preserved.

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Flimsy-Explorer-854 t1_j9zr0xc wrote

Preservation is the main goal of the NPS. They work hard to make them accessible, but no, it’s not perfect.. and they are under funded like many agencies.

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teabagalomaniac t1_j9zsjy9 wrote

I don't buy the funding argument. How much money would it seriously take to build a few more campsites?

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red-mekanik t1_ja0ijkh wrote

I don't think it's about building new sites. If anything, the NPS is closing stuff down because they can't maintain what they have. I know of two car campgrounds in Washington state that are now hike in only because the road washed out, and the NPS decided not to rebuild.

Also, if preservation is the goal, why would they build new stuff? Building a bunch of new roads and sites, toilets, power, etc., that doesn't really preserve the natural environment. This is part of why I like the Olympics and North cascades: there are parts available to those who just want to drive up, but the majority of the park is well preserved and has no road access. But I also accept I'm biased as a hiker

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teabagalomaniac t1_ja0w2uu wrote

I gave up car camping years ago. These days I only backpack. What you said about preservation is exactly right. They are prioritizing preservation over hiker and camper experience. That's my whole gripe with their method of operations. I don't buy the argument that hikers and backpackers are the greatest threat to the wilderness, it's clearly development. I also don't buy the argument that there is a positive correlation between the number of visitors that a trail can handle and the budget for the forest service. I think the forest service spends more on enforcement than they do on managing trails.

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Flimsy-Explorer-854 t1_ja0swsy wrote

To build a few campsites? That isn’t going to change this threads problem. The demand on these lottery and reservation sites is many times the current availability.

Costs of initial construction are low, cost of maintaining logistics in remote areas is high. Ex:Removing human shit from backcountry campgrounds is done by mule train and helicopter. As you add sites, you have to add support staff, hiring people is expensive.

These challenges are complicated further by peoples lack of respect for the lands they are camping and sightseeing on. Pack in pack it out/ LNT, is an honor system. The NPS can’t keep people from falling in boiling water and trying to hug 1000lb wild animals for internet points. Getting these same people to pick up their used toilet paper is a real struggle. And in case you were wondering, yes, your used TP goes in your bear canister with your food trash to protect wildlife (personally I double bay my shit paper, but is not a glamorous part of the wild).

A fed bear is a dead bear.

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