[at-l] Crawford "Hotel" --spinoff from Cost to Enter National Parks

[rickboudrie@xxxxxxxxxxx (rick boudrie)]

>Those turnouts were made years before the $20 fee.  It has only been 3
> >years since they started collecting the fees.

Good point, Art.

The more recent construction at the turnout a few miles east of the height
of land on the Kanc might better be called an "extensive renovation and
expansion".  To me it looks like a whole new turnout with its new pavillion
and landscaping. Are you sure its not?  I am foggier on work being done at
the other turnouts along the scenic byway.

And like I said, it may well be the case that the hundreds of thousands of
dollars for that work did not come directly from the parking passes.  Its
just that when we are asked to understand how precarious the NF budget is as
we buy our permits, construction like that stands out.   I'd prefer to see
how that my $20 goes right to maintaining and improving the backcountry
experience.  If, in fact, it does.

Perhaps the Forest Service could do a little cost accounting and publish how
much a hiker "costs" the taxpayer.  And compare this to how much a logger or
paper company "earns" the taxpayer.

Rick B





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