Expansion of North Cascades National Park

Here is the NPS act/mission statement mattfirth.

"...to promote and regulate the use of the...national parks...which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

As you can see it is a carefully worded document.
It makes it clear that their primary purpose is to conserve and to only allow enjoyment that will not denude from the primary goal of leaving it unimpaired for the future.
It allows them to regulate to achieve that goal.

Seems pretty clear to me and in line with some of the fears I have as a result. Namely that current activities in the Highway 20 study area could be, and in my opinion WILL be curtailed if it becomes a park and I don't trust one single word of JRD's comment about mountain biking still being allowed and maybe dogs being allowed on certain trails. I foresee problems for ski tourers similar to those that were used at the Crystal/MRNP boundary. Namely, areas defined by the park as pristine wilderness are defined by some many people seeing so many people in a certain time frame ( I can't remember the actual figures). If that is exceeded, like at Rainy Pass and WA pass in the first month after the road opens I can see where you will have to report to the Newhaven Ranger station( or Mazama) to pick up your permit. Now they won't open until 8:00 am so early starts are going to be a thing of the past.

Heli-skiing will be no longer allowed
Mountian Biking will be no longer allowed
Dogs will not be allowed.

There will be huge paved lots at Rainy Pass and WA pass with paved paths leading to overlooks with pseudo-friendly rangers dressed in their quasi military uniforms hovering around to keep the crowds in check and internally bemoaning that they cant be out with the field biologists in the real wilderness and having to deal with this rabble.

There will be mini-visitor centers operated by concessionaires paying minimum wages to disgruntled employees forcing a smile as they sell you the tshirt with Liberty Bell emblazoned on the front. The " Our Alps are bigger than your French Alps" bumper stickers will be the largest seller with the RV crowd.

They will promote their" evening stroll with a ranger" and the exciting history of the park he will tell you as you sit on the faux stone meeting circle.

Meanwhile, climbers wanting to repeat the Thin Red Line on Liberty Bell will be faced with a fixed anchor ban. Ski tourers wanting to do the Birthday tour will be faced with a two day trip to get the permit first and find that the permit is only valid for 6 groups per day and you are number 8 .... sorry.

The NPs will continue their studies and find that an endangered species breed in the avalanche cones deposited at the hairpin. The endangered species act will be invoked that demand the snow has to melt naturally and the road doesn't open until July each year..... like Sunrise.

Meanwhile over at Cascade Pass, the road has fallen into disrepair ( Like West side Road)which suits the hard liner clique within the organisation just fine. Few see the splendors of Johanesberg mountain in the early spring now as access is so difficult... but it is preserved... a museum, untrammeled now but for a few elite athletes who can make the long trek to see her in her winter mantle. Public outcry by the few that know how marvelous it once was are greeted by the constant refrain.... our budgets been cut... we have such high benefits to pay... give us more money and maybe we can repair the road....maybe..anyway we need more funds... we're victims you know. It's congresses fault.  We have to pay for the Rangers to count the skiers on the Birthday tour because we think there are too many of them.

Meanwhile ,on a glacier near Black Peak, a solo skier has just been turned back by a ranger after being told that solo travel on a glacier is not allowed under Park rules. But I've toured here for years....... no matter those are the rules and I can arrest you,  he is told.

Meanwhile at the Rainy Pass Ranger station a skier has been given a $75 dollar ticket because he didn't sign in at the trail head as is required.

I stand with my grandson, Lowell Marcus Willis at WA Pass. I tell him" I used to ski up there son" as we stand in the parking lot." Wow, you got lucky grandpa , how'd you get a permit, there's a 6 year waiting list for the birthday tour in May." I shake my head, tears welling in my eyes. Lowell, I say... that was the Golden Age!

A bit of a reach I admit but you get my point.

A bit of a reach I admit but you get my point.

It's nice to see that you can dish out propaganda as well as you can complain about it.

....their propaganda is scare mongering and full of hyperbole at it's best.

A scenario just as realistic as what Scotsman describes (perhaps more) is that the disputed area remains under Forest Service control and the agency decides that due to increased user impact it is necessary to manage it like the Enchantment Lakes. Backcountry permits are required months ahead of time, a situation that I've never seen in any national park in Washington. We can fantasize all sorts of nightmare scenarios. Let's try to predict realistic ones.

A scenario just as realistic as what Scotsman describes (perhaps more) is that the disputed area remains under Forest Service control and the agency decides that due to increased user impact it is necessary to manage it like the Enchantment Lakes. Backcountry permits are required months ahead of time, a situation that I've never seen in any national park in Washington. We can fantasize all sorts of nightmare scenarios. Let's try to predict realistic ones.

Sounds like it may not be as much propaganda as you suggest......

Nice creativity Scotsman...I could see the sunday night movie with the panoramic shot fading out....

It's more important than ever to question any restrictions being impossed on the public. If we don't, then it will all be shut down and eventually rented out to the clients that pay and have the connections with those in charge....maybe it's just my mistrust of gov't in general, but I don't think I can wait around until I'm the endangered species and start getting some consideration on open space use...in PUBLIC land.

I'm going to bring this up again, and hopefully someone in the N3C / AAA / etc crowd can answer -

What is the problem with converting the proposed area to a National Recreation Area?

Similar restrictions on extractive development as a national park, but no new bans on mountain biking, heli-skiing, hunting, snowmobiling, or motorized vehicles.

If people just want protection from further development, this would seem to accomplish that while not affecting the existing uses of the area - assuming that is the actual goal behind the conservation efforts, and not just a new restriction/exclusion of existing users.

It's nice to see that you can dish out propaganda as well as you can complain about it.

Mmmh a lot of the scenarios I have presented in my" nightmare" already exist in other areas or have been experienced by current users of the park.
I have been threatened at ONP with a $75 fine for not signing the out/in book at the visitor center.
Solo travel on Glaciers is not allowed on MRNP without their permission.
The West Side Road is closed.
They are paying for Ranger to count skiers at the Crystal/MRNP boundary.
Have you had a burger at the new Visitor center at MRNP--- I think those employees may be disgruntled.
We have seen the disnification and parking areas and concession areas developed at other Parks.
Sunrise road is purposely opened late to prevent skiers for accessing that area when there is snow.
and so on.