A third of nation's parks may soon jack up fees

Grand Canyon NPS on flickr.com

Cash-strapped, and preparing for its 2016 centennial, the National Park Service is looking for a bit more revenue. And according to an August 14 memorandum from Jon Jarvis, the NPS' chief, the agency isn't expecting the government to cough up the new money – it'll come from increasing fees at about a third of the 400-some properties it manages. How will the increases affect you?

While the greatest number of visitors will be affected by hikes in some park gate fees, for some in the RVing community, this won't amount to a change. Folks holding Golden Age passes, or disabled travelers with Golden Access permits don't pay any fees to enter National Parks. And with gate fees, how much the price increases will amount to depends on the park itself.

Heading into some of the bigger attraction parks, the fee increases look to be on the lower side. For example, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado will see a jump in gate fees from the current $20 to $30. But 300 miles down the road at the lesser-visited Great Sand Dunes National Park, admission fees will multiply two and a half times. But the pain may be less – Grand Sand Dunes currently charges a $3 per head admission rate, the proposed rate of $10 – less than the cost of a matinee – may not seem so bad.

But gate fees aren't the only fees headed for the trampoline. California's Yosemite National Park family campground fees haven't changed since 2006. Those $5 to $20 per night fees will jump from $6 to $24. Assuming the $5 sites become $6, and the $20 jumps to $24, that's still only a 20 percent increase. But camp site fees in other parks would take a much bigger leap: Lake Roosevelt in Washington State will see an 80 percent overnight fee jump, from $10 to $18.

In his memorandum to regional supervisors, Jarvis tried to encourage the troops to drum up support for the fee increase proposals, suggesting that the agency would take flack from some over the increases. In some areas, there seems to be a cautious – but not necessarily negative – reaction on the part of park guests. On a social media network page put up by the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, one commenter said, "Seems reasonable – all other expenses have increased greatly since 1995. Not everyone was supportive. On the same site a writer commented, "Don't limit access with regressive fees. There is plenty of fat to cut in the federal budget. Start by cutting bloated congressional and senate pensions."

Reaction to the fee increase proposals may tend to swing on an understanding of where the collected dollars go. Unlike many government agencies, fees collected by the Park Service are part of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which mandates the fees aren't returned to Washington, but rather are kept at the park itself, to be used for local improvements. With maintenance backlogs in almost all parks, its clear fees won't be contributing to lawmaker pensions – bloated or otherwise.

There is a fly in the ointment: Public comments on the fee increase proposals are being sought. But instead of having a central point for comments to be made on a system-wide basis, they're being handled by each individual park. Tracking down which of the parks is considering a fee hike can be frustrating. If you're concerned your favorite park or parks may be one of them, first, visit the park website. Still not sure? A call to the park's headquarters should give you the information you need.

Are you a hardy RVer? Catch Grand Canyon's North Rim now -- it's spectacular!

National Park Service on flickr.com

We have memories from our first visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon: Outstanding views. Intense quiet. Frozen plumbing. The fact that we landed at the park in October may have added somewhat to all of these features. The North Rim gets far less in the way of visitors than the South Rim at any time, but when the cold starts setting it, well, as RVers, we practically had the place to ourselves.

If you come prepared, right now might just be the ideal time to visit the North Rim. Before the snow falls to the point that Highway 67 leading into the park from Jacob Lake is closed, the park, although on a skeleton-crew basis, is still open for company. As we write this, it's a balmy 68 degrees, and the 10 day forecast shows only two days where the nighttime temps will hit the freeze point – and only that – 32 degrees.

So how can you prepare for your adventure? Bring warm clothes, bring your camera, and make sure your RV furnace is operational. Yes, we love our RV's independent "blue flame heater," but while that keeps the inside of the coach toasty warm, it doesn't do a thing to keep the drain lines and holding tanks from icing up. Many newer model RVs have furnaces that duct a little heat down into the netherworld of pipes and tanks, ensuring your plumbing won't freeze.

Back in 1996, our research RV was an ancient truck camper, and while the furnace did keep the chill off the interior, one half of our research team recalls with fondness gaping at the water in the bottom of the shower stall as it crept up and up – the p-trap below the shower pan simply froze solid. It wasn't until we got to warmer country that showers would be possible for us. We also recall "freeze drying" laundry on a line strung out behind the rig. Getting smacked with a solid t-shirt is a real wake-up call.

But despite the inconveniences we encountered, the park was ours. We could motor from viewpoint to viewpoint and never have any issue of finding a place to park. And it was so quiet! And the lighting – there's much to be said for fall lighting to really enhance your landscape (canyonscape?) photography. Bring a tripod and a pair of gloves, too. If it gets really cold, keep your camera inside your coat and bring it out to shoot – it'll keep the batteries warm.

Don't expect a lot of amenities in the off-season. Already the mule rides, the Lodge, and Visitor Center have shuttered for the winter. On the other hand, come after October 31 and you won't have to pay entrance fees Until the end of October you can still camp in the North Rim Campground, and "walk in reservations" are the rule of the day. Come November 1, the park changes into a "day use" park for RVers. Jacob Lake Campground, 40 miles to the north, is already closed. But if you've got a hankering, you'll find plenty of camping available at the Lee's Ferry Campground, near Marble Canyon. It's a bit of a drive, but a day trip to the North Rim will make for phenomenal memories

National Fossil Day coming soon!

Dig into the world of saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths, and dinosaurs on National Fossil Day on October 15, 2014. The nationwide celebration will feature special events that promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils.

“More than 250 national parks protect a variety of fossils, ranging from a flying reptile known as pterosaurs in Big Bend National Park to a rare sauropod skull from Dinosaur National Monument to primitive algae in Glacier National Park,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These irreplaceable treasures offer clues to the history of life, past climates, and ancient landscapes and provide us with a glimpse into a world we can only imagine.”

Fossils discovered on the nation's public lands preserve ancient life from all major eras of Earth's history and include samples from every major group of animal or plant. Visitors have the opportunity to see these fossilized remains in the same places that those animals and plants lived in millions of years ago.

National Fossil Day was started in 2010 by the National Park Service and the American Geological Institute. This year, more than 300 partners, including museums, federal and state agencies, fossil sites, science and education organizations, avocational groups, and national parks such as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, will sponsor special events.

Paleontologists and geologists from the National Park Service will also be part of a marquee Fossil Day celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Along with colleagues from partners that include the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, American Geosciences Institute, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Science Foundation, and Maryland Dinosaur Park, they will help children explore prehistoric life and dig for fossils.  A team from Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas will have a special exhibit on their world renowned dinosaur tracks.  Children are invited to become “Junior Paleontologists” at 10:00 a.m. on the entrance steps to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

For more information on National Fossil Day, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/.

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Keep stuff in place
with "Earthquake Putty"
Do you have items in your RV you like to keep in place, like on a table, bedstand or counter? This is the stuff you need. Quakehold Museum Putty is designed to keep items secure in earthquakes! Hey, a moving RV is a constant earthquake! To use this, just pull off the amount needed, roll it in your fingers until soft, apply to the base of the object, then lightly press the object to the surface. Later, it comes off clean. It works on most surfaces. RVers love this stuff! And it's cheap! Learn more or order.

Take an amazing aerial tour of Black Canyon National Park

Enjoy a spectacular aerial tour of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located near Montrose, Colo. David Bott, from OutsideOurBubble.com, shot this at a remote area of the park after obtaining permission from the only other guests in the area at the time. According to David’s explanation, it was a difficult location to videotape, so we’re fortunate to be able to view this breathtaking region from the air.

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas

This month's National Park Getaway
Less than an hour drive from Amarillo, Texas

Fritch, Tex. – For more than 13,000 years, people have used colorful flint from a mesa in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Archeological traces of prehistoric Indians' homes, workshops and campsites dot the entire Canadian River region of the Texas Panhandle, but few sites are as dramatic as Alibates Flint Quarries.

This 1,337-acre monument, the only national monument in the state of Texas, protects a mesa top literally covered in a carpet of Alibates flint chips. Collecting is not allowed, but you can pick up and examine the flint, even taste it, as long as you put it back.
The best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons for optimum conditions, including the second week of September through the end of October. If you're in the area on October 4, plan to attend FlintFest, an annual celebration that takes place on the first Saturday in October. This year there will be several highlights including the knap-in, featuring some of the best flintknappers from around the area demonstrating the skill of making stone tools and weapons.

Nearby Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a variety of camping opportunities, including scenic overlooks, shoreline camping, and wooded campgrounds. All campgrounds are FREE. No reservations are needed; sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Trailer/RV hookups and showers are NOT available anywhere at Lake Meredith. There are also several private RV parks in the area.

Alibates Flint Quarries is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed only on New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Read more about Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument here.