The solution used by Mackinac Island a State Park in Northern Michigan
is to have only bikes and horses on the island (rescue vehicles
excepted). It makes for an interesting visit, but it is only about 3
miles in circumference. Not practical for NPs.
Gregg
Chris Barker wrote:
>
> George
>
>
> But, how else do you change from what is clearly an unsatisfactory situation?
> Should it be backpackers only? Better still, *ban backpackers* and re-instil
> the idea of adventure by having to break the law to enter the beautiful
> Yosemite
> (I'm only half-joking BTW ;-)). I don't know the answer. You should see
> Rothenberg in Germany (on the Romantische Strasse), a beautiful small walled
> town in Bavaria which allows no cars (good), but allows all the huge buses
> with
> tourists to disgorge their passengers to their hotels with their engines
> running
> (100%) in the centre of the town. The streets are tiny...
>
> We have only visited a few NPs in the West (saw Yellowstone in May 1990, still
> black in places), but one of our dreams is to save up for a holiday visiting
> the
> NPs that we missed first time round. Can anyone assure me that that will be
> possible in 3-5 years' time? Is the North-West (Washington) any easier?
>
> Sadly
>
> Chris
>
> > Yeah, it can be. I'm sure it'll be much better, though, after the "Grand
> > Plan" goes into effect.
> >
> > Let's see, get rid of the cars, bring in the buses. The smelly, noisy,
> > stinking, polluting, diesel-exhaust spewing buses. Yeah, that's the ticket.
> > And we'll need lots of em, we're replacing a lot of cars.
> >
> > And we'll need staging areas - need lots of room for those buses. In fact,
> > one is already planned to be built in El Capitan meadow. What's that, use
> > existing parking lots? No, we're gonna let those go back to nature. But El
> > Capitan Meadow is already natural. Well it's a good location. And we'll
> > require that only 1/2 of the buses there at any one time have their engines
> > idling. Gotta be able to see the climbers thru the haze, eh?
> >
> > Next question? Bus breakdowns? Maybe we'll need a maintenance garage here
> > in the valley. No? We'll just tow em back to Mariposa? Yeah, right, in the
> > winter? Well, we'll just have to restrict visitation in the winter. We're
> > gonna pull out the inexpensive, rustic tent cabins anyway. The ice rink
> > too. Why would people want to ice skate in Yosemite with a view of Half Dome
> > anyway? That's for the bourgoise. We've already decided that 3 of the
> > flood-damaged campgrounds will never be reopened. Well, that leaves
> > Yosemite Lodge and The Ahwanee for winter visitors. Can you say BIG
> > $$$$$$$$$$?
> >
> > Gee, I wonder how your average Ahwanee guest will enjoy transferring to a
> > bus 30 to 60 miles from Yosemite? Not having a car available to them while
> > they're in this majestic place? Hey, what are we gonna do with all those
> > cars the visitors are forced to leave behind, anyway? Well, we'll just have
> > to build huge parking garages at some staging areas on the three routes into
> > Yosemite. Yeah, big garages, that's it. Nice and neat. $20 a day or so per
> > car oughta do it. And orderly, too. When a bus that carries 30 people shows
> > up, there'll never be 100 or more waiting, will there?
> >
> > No, we'll use a reservation system. Maybe BASS or Ticketron. They'll only
> > charge a $20 or so surcharge on every bus ticket. Good for the economy, you
> > know.
> >
> > Wait! You! Where do you think you're going with that photo backpack? You've
> > already got a suitcase. You can't bring that too! These buses have a
> > limited capacity. And it's gonna get worse when we switchover to the
> > electric ones. It'll take 2 1/2 hours to go the 30 miles to the park. And
> > you'll only bring one carry-on.
> >
> > Besides, have you got a photography permit from Mr Ranger, sir? You know
> > you can't use anything but a point'nshoot in Yosemite without a permit.
> > $1600 the permits cost, I believe. Just fill out these forms and mail em
> > in.
> >
> > For this visit, just leave your camera gear here. The motel handyman, Mr
> > Staynor, will take good care of it. Yeah, the guy who was by the pool
> > talking to your wife this morning. Where is my wife anyway, she oughtta be
> > ready by now. Honey! Where are you anyway? Still in the pool?....
> >
> > George, who doesnt think its a good idea.
> >
> >
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> >
> >
>
> ~~ ><>
> Chris Barker
> Mailto: cmib@xxxxxxxxxxx or mailto: cmib@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
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