Update July 3rd.-- The law does not take effect until February 2010. See column on latest news.
Update.--The amendment attached to the Credit Car bill was passed by both house and signed by the President. So now, it's a really stupid law and a stupid act by the President too. He should have vetoed the bill and asked the amendment be striped. Or else it shows how little he cares about our National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges to make them save for visitors. The need for this amendment has never been proven.
Original Post.-- Congress has proven how stupid a bunch of elected representatives can be by ignoring the popular view, their constituents, and pandering to a minority of extremists who want the right to take a gun anywhere just because they can, and they're backed by one of the most extremist lobby, the NRA. Congress passed an amendment (HR 1684) to the Credit Card bill passed by both houses with a clear veto-proof majority to ensure the amendment becomes law.
There is almost nothing as stupid or necessary and the right to allow people to walk around with concealed loaded firearms in a National Park. This amenedment is opposed by a coalition of all the NP Superintendents, the active and retired NP rangers, and various other groups who would have to live with this law.
And it's the last place we need people with guns. With all the visitors going to NP, including many from foreign countries, do we really want to put everyone at risk because any visitor could have a gun? Do we want to put every background and law enforcement ranger at risk when they do their job? Do we want to put every backcountry hiker at risk? Simply because someone has a gun?
The worst place you want to worry about others is in the backcountry. Allowing gun owners to carry guns in NP is just one step away from them using them in the backcountry for a variety of reasons. Is that what Congress intends, to instill fear in every visitor to a National Park? In every backcountry hiker who may encounter someone using a gun in the backcountry?
This bill is legalized intimidation by gun owners. It's not about the Second Amendment. It's about a group of extremist pushing a political agenda into areas it's unnecessary simply because they want to and can. This isn't the wild west anymore. It's about being smart, civilized and respecting the rights of others to be safe and secure, especially in a place they go to enjoy nature, a National Park.
If this bill becomes laws, I see two things happening. One, it will be challenged in court as the Bush rule was challenged and won. And two, it won't take very long for someone to be arrested for using a gun in a NP or Wildlife Refuge, just because they wanted to target practice, shoot wildlife, or just scare people.
Maybe the NP should put a sign at every entrance now, "A person can carry a concealed loaded weapon in a National Park. Enter at your own risk." Is that the message Congress intended? Or were there minds out to lunch and their wallets getting fat on NRA money? Obviously Congress didn't have American in mind with this bill.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Southwest Area
I've produced version 2.0 of the photo guide for the southwest, Nisqually River entrance, area, with a description and a map guide. It's a more detailed guide of photo opportunities with a map to locate them, which are a composite of other resources to present the most common and best places to photograph Mt. Raiiner NP.
The places fall into four catagories: vista, offering panoramic views from lookouts, peaks, turnouts, scenic stops, etc.; view, offering views of natural environment, such as forests, creeks, lakes, glaciers, etc.; waterfall, offering views of commonly known or easily accessible waterfalls; and open area, offering views of meadows and open alpine or glacier environments. The map provides information to the location, description, access, difficulty and notes.
The places range from the very easy and easily accessible, meaning at a turnoff or rest stop along the highway to the difficult where some hiking experience is really necessary as it's a long day hike for distance and/or elevation gain or overnight stay if you want sunset and sunrise photos. They range in type from views of creeks and forest, to waterfalls and to vista of the area and Mt. Rainier.
As mentioned, it's the first draft as it will be the template for the other five area photo guides. It will undergo a review and updates as I review and improve the information and Web pages. As always, you're welcome to send me you comments, suggestions, questions or problems.
The places fall into four catagories: vista, offering panoramic views from lookouts, peaks, turnouts, scenic stops, etc.; view, offering views of natural environment, such as forests, creeks, lakes, glaciers, etc.; waterfall, offering views of commonly known or easily accessible waterfalls; and open area, offering views of meadows and open alpine or glacier environments. The map provides information to the location, description, access, difficulty and notes.
The places range from the very easy and easily accessible, meaning at a turnoff or rest stop along the highway to the difficult where some hiking experience is really necessary as it's a long day hike for distance and/or elevation gain or overnight stay if you want sunset and sunrise photos. They range in type from views of creeks and forest, to waterfalls and to vista of the area and Mt. Rainier.
As mentioned, it's the first draft as it will be the template for the other five area photo guides. It will undergo a review and updates as I review and improve the information and Web pages. As always, you're welcome to send me you comments, suggestions, questions or problems.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Photo Contest
Aperture Nature Workshops is sponsoring its fourth and final contest with the four winners to photograph in and around Mt. Rainier NP September 9-12, 2009. You can read about the contest and rules at blog annoucing the contest and rules. The window to submit images (one per photographer) is May 14th to July 15th.
While the trip to Mt. Rainier for the winners will be after the wildflower season, it's an excellent time for the far fewer visitors and photographers at the NP, and before the cooler weather starts. It's also when there's still lots of daylight to be out early and later, and still have opportunities during the day in the forested and lowland areas. It affords you a lot of photo opportunities no matter the time or place there.
This contest offers any prospective photographer two things. First, the chance to work with four excellent professional nature photographers. And second, the chance to be in Mt. Rainier NP for 4 days all expenses paid. What more could you ask for in a great photography vacation?
I've meet Scott Bourne over the last decade or so at workshops and personally. He's hiked and photographed in Mt. Rainier NP most of his life. He's only one of a few who have such an extensive experience and work in Mt. Rainier NP. I have no doubt the others are equally experienced in their work.
Anyway, that's the stuff about this contest. I'm curious of the places and experiences of the group (provided I'm not one, yeah right, and there's a Tacoma Narrows Bridge I'm buying too) through the blog.
While the trip to Mt. Rainier for the winners will be after the wildflower season, it's an excellent time for the far fewer visitors and photographers at the NP, and before the cooler weather starts. It's also when there's still lots of daylight to be out early and later, and still have opportunities during the day in the forested and lowland areas. It affords you a lot of photo opportunities no matter the time or place there.
This contest offers any prospective photographer two things. First, the chance to work with four excellent professional nature photographers. And second, the chance to be in Mt. Rainier NP for 4 days all expenses paid. What more could you ask for in a great photography vacation?
I've meet Scott Bourne over the last decade or so at workshops and personally. He's hiked and photographed in Mt. Rainier NP most of his life. He's only one of a few who have such an extensive experience and work in Mt. Rainier NP. I have no doubt the others are equally experienced in their work.
Anyway, that's the stuff about this contest. I'm curious of the places and experiences of the group (provided I'm not one, yeah right, and there's a Tacoma Narrows Bridge I'm buying too) through the blog.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Area photo guides
Folks, due to the length of time it takes to research and compile research material and develop the text anad map Web pages for each area, which will have accompanying maps of photo locations, the Web pages won't be ready when I anticipated. I'm still working on the map page for the southwest, Nisqually entrance, which will be the template for the rest, and reviewing the draft of the text Web page, on-line in draft form.
At this time I don't know when I'll get all five areas, the four quadrants by entrance and the Paradise area, see the overview Web pages, done. The next one will be the Paradise area as it is the first to open for most visitors. After that it will be the northwest, Carbon River and Mowich Lake, area, followed by the northeast, White River entrance, area and the southeast, Ohanopecosh entrance, area.
I suspect it will be into early July before the first version of all of them are done in draft form. I apologize for the delays but this work is part of the longterm development of this into a book of some type, one which has far more extensive than the currently available pamphlets (see resources Web page under "photography").
As always, you're welcome to send me your questions, comments, suggestions and ideas about the photography guide.
At this time I don't know when I'll get all five areas, the four quadrants by entrance and the Paradise area, see the overview Web pages, done. The next one will be the Paradise area as it is the first to open for most visitors. After that it will be the northwest, Carbon River and Mowich Lake, area, followed by the northeast, White River entrance, area and the southeast, Ohanopecosh entrance, area.
I suspect it will be into early July before the first version of all of them are done in draft form. I apologize for the delays but this work is part of the longterm development of this into a book of some type, one which has far more extensive than the currently available pamphlets (see resources Web page under "photography").
As always, you're welcome to send me your questions, comments, suggestions and ideas about the photography guide.
Friday, May 1, 2009
May News and Conditions
I have updated the photo guide news and conditions, and map Web pages along with the May report on the opportunities and prospects. You can view past monthly reports.
The prospects are better in May for photographers as the snowmelt is beginning at all elevation up to treeline. This should clear the late season persistent snow at the lower elevations currently throughout the NP at all elevations. As the snow clears from the lower forests, there will be some excellent opportunities for photographers with plants, creeks, waterfalls, forests, and remanent snow.
The NP is starting their opening schedule in May as the highways are cleared from the entrances over the passes. Some roads, like the Steven Canyon highway will likely be restricted or closed for repairs from avalanches and landslides. You can get the NP opening schedule (PDF), but remember it's dependent on the weather and conditions.
The one advantage to May this year will be the lack of people. With the snow and cooler temperatures, there will likely be fewer people than usual until later in the month for the Memorial Day holiday. You can get in some decent photography without the usual crowds at the normal spots along the highways. This could change as the weekend weather improves and the snow clears from the lower elevations.
Aside from that, good luck and enjoy the NP.
The prospects are better in May for photographers as the snowmelt is beginning at all elevation up to treeline. This should clear the late season persistent snow at the lower elevations currently throughout the NP at all elevations. As the snow clears from the lower forests, there will be some excellent opportunities for photographers with plants, creeks, waterfalls, forests, and remanent snow.
The NP is starting their opening schedule in May as the highways are cleared from the entrances over the passes. Some roads, like the Steven Canyon highway will likely be restricted or closed for repairs from avalanches and landslides. You can get the NP opening schedule (PDF), but remember it's dependent on the weather and conditions.
The one advantage to May this year will be the lack of people. With the snow and cooler temperatures, there will likely be fewer people than usual until later in the month for the Memorial Day holiday. You can get in some decent photography without the usual crowds at the normal spots along the highways. This could change as the weekend weather improves and the snow clears from the lower elevations.
Aside from that, good luck and enjoy the NP.
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