“National Parks are the…

best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst". 

Quote by Wallace Stegner author and historian 

I’m an advocate for America’s National Parks, Monuments,  Recreation Areas and Historical Sites. When people ask me what my retirement goals are, I’ll answer.

“I’m a connoisseur of scenery. I visit beautiful places. I hike in them, take photos and camp in them. This is why I spend so much time on National Park Service properties. They make me happy.”

Through the years this blog has displayed many photos taken from “our best idea.” locations. When I visit other countries, I naturally gravitate towards their National Parks to see foreign scenery and to do some “comparison shopping.” Currently I’m in Costa Rica clicking off National Parks along my travels. To say I’m comparing Double IPAs to Bud Lights would be a gross understatement. There really is no comparison on the products. 

Here’s the whys: 

To get to Tenorio Volcanoe National Park it took me 1.5 hours to cover the 28 mile distance. Yes the roads were that bad! When Google Maps informed me I had arrived, there was little fanfare. A Tico (Costa Rican) frantically waved me into a parking lot. His official uniform was a neon safety vest and yellow flag. I parked as directed. “3000 colones Senior.” Was what he said. When I gave him back a “Que?” (What?). “Six dollars, Senior.” I forked over the cash and was handed a tiny slip of a paper permit to toss on my dashboard. I fussed with my backpack and gear as I glanced around looking for the park.entrance. Admittedly I kept getting distracted by all the T-shirt shops, restaurants and guide services kiosks. Ahh-hah! There it is. A nondescript sign announced “Entrada.” I moseyed over. A guard equipped with a Kevlar vest and a 9mm handgun stopped me. “Ticket?” I pointed to the kiosk behind him, showed him my credit card implying I’d buy one now. “No! Online only!” Well! I wasn’t going to argue with him or his 9mm. 

Now WTF! I looked around and noticed a sign, “WI-FI here! We’ll help you get a ticket!” With hesitant steps I wandered over and was met by a young dude with a more official looking shirt on. “May I help you? Luckily for me, his English was better than my Spanish. 

“Yes! I’d like to buy a ticket.” After that I basically trusted him with my iPhone and hoped that my life savings wouldn’t disappear.

I squashed my paranoia when he handed me back the phone and walked me through the in depth sign up process on the SINAC site. (National System of Conversation Areas). There were heaps of questions. Name, address, (both email and physical), country of origin, ID number (a false CO Driver’s License number worked as well), credit card info and dietary restrictions. OK, that last one wasn’t a question.

After ten minutes, I had a email delivered timed entry ticket to Tenorio NP. Cost $17. Then I asked the helpful official looking dude, “how many kilometers of trails are there?” 

He took a deep breath, drum roll…..”there’s one 6.5 kilometer trail.” (4 miles).

“One way or round trip?

“Round trip! But it goes to a beautiful waterfall. It’s one of the Costa Rican Natural Wonders!”

I went back to the intimidating security guy, who now had to look at the contents in my backpack.  “No sandwiches.” 

“What! I have to eat! There won’t be any crumbs!”

“OK. You can keep your sandwich.”

Then I showed the kiosk attendant my ticket with its 8 digit code. He punched the numbers into his laptop and waved me through. Then he mentioned. “The Park closes at 5 pm.” (Opening time was 8am. Just like factory work hours except with more hiking.)

Finally! My entry ordeal was completo! 

There wasn’t a visitor center. There was no map offered or received. There was no glossy brochure. The Men’s “necessary” room had one toilet with a missing seat. It was a bare boned operation.

I headed up a well worn trail while dodging the groups of guided guests. (I believe half the Costa Rican population are employed as guides.). Yes! The waterfalls were outstanding, so I did two laps on the out and back trail to get my colones worth!

Next day, I headed to Miravalles Volcano National Park utilizing Google Maps to find my way. That bastard led me to a dead end road. No trails, no banos and nobody. I looked at my Gaia app for trail information. It showed a trail off a main road crossing private property before entering the green blob of a Gaia deemed NP. 

I parked in front of a house where I was met by a friendly dog. I loitered around hoping the residents might notice this Jewish Gringo and grant me access. That didn’t happen. I figured explaining to the authorities that the dog seemed cool on the idea of me trespassing wouldn’t fly. 

From there I bolted to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. I arrived just before the park closed the waterfall trail I planned on hiking. A young volunteer walked me through the ticket purchase on his laptop. He averted his eyes while I submitted my credit card info. Entry fee $17 including free parking! 

Well, at least no bad ass Dude hoisting a 9 mm searched my backpack for contraband sandwiches. 

I hiked two waterfall trails there. One was hard, the next days hike even harder. Both routes were in need of some TLC and a few luxurious switchbacks. This was the entire trail network in Rincon. 

BTW. The above is not a put down of SINAC. The Costa Rican National Park system is in its infancy. SINAC was established in 1994. It’s a work in progress. Maybe if funds materialize more infrastructure and trails will be added. As Sid Sambur would say “God willing!” I’m sure our NPS had its share of growing pains too.

Now back to Merica’s best idea (founded in 1916). From Costa Rica I’m feeling both contempt and just plain being pissed off over President Musk’s slash and burn layoffs of NPS staff. For well over half a century, I’ve been in contact with hundreds, maybe thousands of NPS staff. This is what I know. These are selfless individuals. For many it’s a dream job. It’s not about the money. (I know President Musk and VP Trump that’s a difficult concept for you to grasp). It’s a calling. They believe in the idea behind the “433 units covering more than 80 million acres in all 50 states,  the District of Columbia and US Territories.” (Source NPS). 

Here’s a few of my memorable encounters with these noble Americans:

A) About 15 years ago, I scored a permit for two with an unusual itinerary for backpacking in the Grand Canyon. At the last minute, the other hiker bailed on me. I made the drive to the GCNP Backcountry Office with the intent of trading my permit for a more classic and easier route to follow. The bearded Ranger looked at my permit. He then stepped back, looked me up and down, side to side and said. “This is a great itinerary. You look like you’re fit and know what you’re doing. I’ll go over the map with you and mark the “watch outs!” along your way. I think you will love it.” 

I took his advice. He was right. I loved it.

B) I’m a history buff. About a baker’s dozen years ago I stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. I bicycled along the roads adjacent to the battlefield, making observations and reading the informative signage. At the Visitor Center I was fortunate to arrive just as a Ranger was about to give a talk. He was a lanky man with the aww shucks look and manner of Tommy Lee Jones. His description of the famous/infamous “Last Stand” pulled no bayonets. Custer was stuck in an old tried and true strategy unaware or ignoring that Sitting Bull and company had arrived with a new game plan. As the saying goes, the rest is history. This Ranger’s presentation was superior to any history professor I’ve ever listened to. It was so good, I wrote the NPS supervisor and commended him for hiring such quality people.

Other outstanding presentations: A campfire talk at Organ Pipe National Monument on bats. Complete with corny puns and all. “ Do you know how to hold a bat?” The Ranger then took a baseball batting stance as if she was about to swing at an imaginary pitch. 

A Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch presentation on the reintroduction of the California Condors. (Wingspan over 9 feet wide). The Ranger went so far as to imitate a male condor giving a female a come hither look. It was hilarious. 

All unforgettable stories and memories.

C) I secured a permit for entry into the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. I was considering taking my Sanctuary One truck and camper onto this notoriously difficult and  remote 4X4 road. I called the District for advice. The information specialist asked me pointed questions about my Toyota Tundra including the weight of the pop up camper. I answered “with or without beer and water?” It didn’t take her long to answer. “Don’t bring it! You will get stuck! We hauled one out like yours a few weeks ago. The tow wasn’t cheap!”

Sound advice. We ended up bringing buddy Brad’s macho Toyota tricked out Tacoma that can crawl up walls like Spider-Man.

D) Years ago while staying in Snobsdale, AZ I headed off to Tonto National Monument for a day trip. It’s a small monument featuring some of the Ancient One’s building remnants. I signed up for a guided tour . A Ranger led us up a trail stopping along the way to pitch out facts and figures about what we know about the mysterious Ancient Ones. At the site, she pointed out things our untrained eyes wouldn’t have noticed. As the tour was winding down, I approached her and personally thanked her. (I do this often to NPS employees). I gave her my spiel about if I were calling the shots, the NPS would have a much bigger budget (NPS 3.57 billion 2025) than the US Customs and Border Protection (18.26 billion 2025). AND all NPS employees would get hefty pay raises in appreciation to the services they provide for all. (Even for people from other countries!) 

She looked at me and said, “Thank You! It’s not often we hear such positive comments as yours. There’s a saying among NPS employees. “We get paid in sunsets.”

I think they deserve more than a  possible “Green Flash” sunset.

So when I hear about NPS layoffs I’m more than angry. This is the equivalent of sucker punching a 109 year old much admired Federal Agency. Cheap Shot President Musk!

Walk into most NPS Visitor Centers, and more than likely you’ll be conversing with a senior citizen volunteer, or an enthusiastic member of the Student Conservation Association. (A worthy organization to donate to. ( https://thesca.org/about?gad_source=1 ).

It’s quite apparent the NPS is already facing understaffing issues on top of a maintenance backlog of $23.26 billion. The largest deferred maintenance of any other Federal Land Management agency. (2023. Source Congressional Research Service).

This is a clear and present danger to people like me who love our Nation’s Best Idea!

So here’s the deal President Musk. I strongly suggest you lay off all the Federal layoffs. Go back to ingesting your daily dose of a Cybertruck’s worth of Ketamine tablets. (To fight your depression. Boo fucken Hoo.) Leave us Po’ Folks alone so that we may enjoy the beauty and wonders you cannot relate to or see. 

A former President said it so well.

“ Leave it as it is. You cannot improve upon it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it". ( Theodore Roosevelt Grand Canyon in 1903.)

Please write your Representatives in Congress or call them. Wake them up from their stupor!

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Here’s to more sane times. Hopefully sooner than later.

Jeff

Other NPS friendly Non profits for possible donations:

https://www.nationalparks.org/

https://www.npca.org/

For a more in-depth look at what’s happening minus the ketamine jibes. The NY Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/travel/national-park-service-firings.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Lastly a few of my former musings related to our NPS.

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2017/06/in-june-1864-abraham-lincoln-signed-act.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-hike-through-time.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-death-valley-x-files.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2022/02/it-was-love-at-first.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-coldest-campout-in-world.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2020/09/my-great-basin-escape.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2019/12/what-would-john-muir_24.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2019/10/warning-paria-canyon-is-not-for-the.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2019/10/i-thought-it-would-be-bigger.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2018/10/lessons-from-prometheus.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2018/08/how-to-hug-redwood.html

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2018/03/manzanar-revisited.html

As you can see. I do spend a lot of time in on NPS properties.