Expansion of North Cascades National Park

I don't know enough to comment at this point.

mmmh. Care to point us to another member of your N3C group who can explain what these bad trends you refer to are or any studies etc. You are a member so presumably you know where we can access this data or is it secret?

It's an issue I care deeply about as I too, like you think the current balance is just right.

I like lots of legal wilderness, lots of national park but I also like having some world class heli-skiing on my doorstep in an albeit relatively small area compared to the rest of the land available for the park.

Like you, I can't afford it often and have to save up for it but it's marvelous and I hope we can protect it from the NPS and your group.

I don't know enough to comment at this point.

This is the internet, make something up. :

We have a serious problem in the USA with various interest groups in conflict, agencies with markedly different philosophies, sometimes in conflict with their organic legislation, and overlapping and contradictory legislation and regulations.  Just look at the Feds: National Parks, National Monuments (part of NPS), Forest Service, BLM, Military (yes some good environments and rec opportunities), National Wildlife Refuges (some on DoD) land, designated wilderness (in National Parks, National Forests, and BLM lands), designated roadless areas, and National Recreation Areas.  Many of us pursue muscle-powered recreation and would like to maintain or increase access for that. There are those who would keep people out of nature (quite different from the Bob Marshals and Aldo Leopolds who created the idea of wilderness); they push for larger and larger wilderness areas, even in National Parks, where development is limited by other laws and regs.  There are those who would like to make public lands into an ORV terrain park, they push for privatization, special designation, and work hard to curry favor with agencies (ORV = "high quality" recreation on the Gifford Pinchot, inclu. Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams vicinity).  There are those who simply wish to extract all the resources they can for private profit (timber, mining, grazing, oil, gas).  There are the commercial recreation corporations who want control of public lands (ski areas, climbing concessionaires, campground concessionaires, hunting and fishing outfitters, heli ski operators, etc.).  National Parks have redefined their mission to protect biodiversity first and provide for public enjoyment second.  Forest Service (mandated for multiple use)  bent to political pressure to log at maximum speed over and over creating mistrust with the public.  But since the demise of big timber it seems funding for all federal land management has declined and the majority of spending is done on planning and environmental impact statements.  Even building or relocating hiking trails in National Forests can be hotly contested; just a few objectors bring big costs.

So what? you ask.  Well if something is working don't "fix" it, because that fix may become a Pandora's box.  I enjoy the rec opportunities around Mazama, Silver Star, Cutthroat Pass, etc. etc.  I don't know what would happen if the areas become NP.

It is too bad the National Recreation Area concept was never fully developed; it includes a wide range of management techniques. For example, Mt. Rainier, Tatoosh Wilderness, Glacier Wilderness, and the adjacent National Forest, including Skate Creek (FS Rd 52) and Cooper Creek Rd (FS 59) and their tributaries could be managed to provide much much better access for muscle powered access (and even non-conflicting motorized access). But that costs money and no one seems interested.

Hmm - thanks for the heads up on this, Scotsman. I agree with you that the concerns expressed on the American Alps site (at least that I've found in a few clicks there) are vague at best, appearing to support the charge of fearmongering.

And per acarey's spot-on response, I've not yet seen clear evidence of "what's broken" that needs fixing.

As for the cleanliness of the Puget Sound, I thought it was under MUCH higher threat from uncontrolled storm drain runoff during rain events right here in Pugetopolis. IIRC, we have about as much oil washed into the sound each year (off the pavement we all use daily) as the Exxon Valdez spilled into Prince William Sound. There are many other nasty things being washed in from around the region. It's hard for me to believe that the American Alps proposal would make more than a teeny incremental dent for the Sound, if that. In other words, this is not passing the sniff test for me yet...

As for the cleanliness of the Puget Sound, I thought it was under MUCH higher threat from uncontrolled storm drain runoff during rain events right here in Pugetopolis. IIRC, we have about as much oil washed into the sound each year (off the pavement we all use daily) as the Exxon Valdez spilled into Prince William Sound. There are many other nasty things being washed in from around the region.

Also keep in mind the combined sewer/drainage system  in the older parts of Seattle that, after a major storm, kicks into overflow and discharges raw sewage into local water bodies. 

Who wants to go for a swim???

Hmm - thanks for the heads up on this, Scotsman. I agree with you that the concerns expressed on the American Alps site (at least that I've found in a few clicks there) are vague at best, appearing to support the charge of fearmongering.

And per acarey's spot-on response, I've not yet seen clear evidence of "what's broken" that needs fixing.

As for the cleanliness of the Puget Sound, I thought it was under MUCH higher threat from uncontrolled storm drain runoff during rain events right here in Pugetopolis. IIRC, we have about as much oil washed into the sound each year (off the pavement we all use daily) as the Exxon Valdez spilled into Prince William Sound. There are many other nasty things being washed in from around the region. It's hard for me to believe that the American Alps proposal would make more than a teeny incremental dent for the Sound, if that. In other words, this is not passing the sniff test for me yet...

Well thank you Jim. I'm sincerley very touched by your fairness and comments.