[pct-l] America the Beatiful

[Jim and/or Ginny Owen]

Where we live you don't have to pay to use the forests, however I think that 
in California and perhaps Oregon and Washington there is an annual permit 
required to park at national forest trailheads.  Perhaps New Hampshire as 
well?  I think I remember that the passes were only good for certain 
forests, and that if you traveled to another part of the state or to a 
different state you had to buy another permit.  Is that right?

If so, this permit could save you money and would simplify the process a lot 
since one permit would work for all areas. It would especially be handy for 
people traveling who may not know that they need a special permit to hike.

For those of us who live in areas that don't charge for parking (yet) - it 
is an added cost.  But we can choose whether or not to use the National 
Parks or to hike elsewhere.

I do agree that our taxes are supposed to pay for upkeep of the national 
lands - but they don't and haven't for a lot of years.  "Temporary" funding 
programs have become permanent, but it still doesn't begin to cover the 
costs.  As the federal land base has expanded, the money to maintain the 
lands has decreased.  Every time there is a new monument, wilderness area or 
park, the money comes out of some other park's budget. That budget isn't 
growing and isn't likely to under the new Congress. The number of people 
using the public lands is not growing and there are too many other 
priorities that will garner more votes.  People who don't use the public 
lands are quite happy to see those who do pay for the use of them.  Like it 
or not, it's likely to stay that way.

Ginny




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