“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.

“You can fool some people…

sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

The above quote is often attributed to “Honest” Abe Lincoln although there’s  no conclusive historical proof of this. What we do know is on November 5th, 2024, 77,303,568 Americans (source CNN) were fooled into voting for “Dishonest Don.” Thereby forcing me to once again to unleash my political poison pen with musings and predictions of the upcoming four years of making “Project 2025”  a reality. (Read: a Rightwinger’s wet dream). 

But first a bit of background on whom I describe as the vilest human on the planet.

Trump’s descent onto the national scene was fabricated on the myth of President’s Obama’s birthplace. Our Nation’s nut jobs (Trump being numero uno nut job) believe any woman impregnated by a black man instinctively gravitate to their continent of origin to give birth. In this case Africa and specifically Kenya. Much like salmon returning to the waterway in which they were spawned. Like so many of Trump’s tirades there was never any evidence presented. No matter, since we live in the age where bullshit supplants the truth. Yes facts can really screw up an ear-catching evil yarn. BTW. I’m still waiting for Mexico to pay for the Great Wall of Racism. 

Here’s my take on the proliferation of utter nonsense. But before I begin my rant let me say this. At this point, I’ve given up on being concerned about stepping on Trumper’s toes. As their T-shirts once proclaimed, “F—k your feelings.” 

Musing # 1)

Too many Americans are incurious and gullible. This is nothing to be proud of. 

We are a nation which boasts the largest library in the world.  (Library of Congress). Yet we aren’t a Nation of readers. In 2023, 54% of Americans read just one book. Which unfortunately means 46% never read any books. (Source: YouGov.com). I find this distressing. If people can’t take the time to open a book, I doubt if they will take a moment to Fact Check. Truthful information can be  found on Google. (Just pay attention to the source and cross check.) BUT NOOOOO! It’s so easy to hand over your gray matter to a serial shyster like Trump, than to engage in a moment of mental exercise.

To sum it up. Sorry not sorry Trumpers, that’s just plain stupid! When it comes to forming opinions, think for yourself. As Sid Sambur once told me, “Jeffy! Don’t be a follower. The crowd  might be wrong!”

Musing # 2)

There’s a lot of genuine hypo-Christians in our country. I’m not a Christian nor do I play one on Facebook, but what I do know is this. Jesus was a prophet of peace. He displayed empathy to the underprivileged. He was a welcome wagon to strangers. He didn’t discriminate. He called out the greedy and the gluttonous. He was totally “anti-schnorrer” (Yiddish for a taker). In other words Jesus was a Mensch. 

A major portion of Trump’s support comes from the so-called evangelical  Christians scattered across the US. In my opinion there’s nothing Christian about Trump or his White Christian Nationalist agenda. A screw the poor, the underprivileged, the LGBTQ community, and the undocumented workers who pay taxes and are functional members of society. It’s all scapegoating so Trumpers won’t dwell upon what really matters. Affordable housing, a better healthcare system, a livable wage, improving public education and forward thinking to reduce (not ignore) the effects of climate change. 

For the above reasons, each day I send out thoughts and prayers for a hypo-Christian Rapture. To one day wake up and find all those poseurs are gone. I don’t care which direction they rapture off to.

Let Jesus sort it out.

For a more eloquent take on this. I recommend “The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory” by Tim Alberta.

I’m with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. She called it the way she saw it. A true Christian and Mensch-ette.

Musing #3)

77,303,568 Americans have an all too short attention span coupled with a severe case of historical amnesia. 

On January 6th, 2021 Trump instigated an attempted violent overthrow of our government. On that infamous day  G.I Joe/Jane wannabes and US Capitol Police suffered injuries. One follower of the phony prophet made the ultimate sacrifice and ended up dead as a result of severe lead poisoning. She was shot point blank by a Defender of our Constitution.

I refrained from sending condolence cards to her family. 

Eventually the Capitol  was breached by losers, suckers and thugs. Murder and mayhem was on their agenda as they rampaged through the former Temple of peaceful transitions of presidential power. 

Apparently all of the above information was forgiven and forgotten by way too many Mericans. (especially in the swing states.) 

Then again the price of eggs under Biden was so high.

From January 20th, 2021 onward Justice was served as over 1500 miscreants and screwballs were charged with various Federal offenses including sedition. On January 20th, 2025 a twice impeached p—-y grabbing felon pardoned pretty much all of them. Thereby unleashing a red tide of angry, unremoseful gun-toting felons on the civilian population. 

Remember when the GOP stood for “Law and Order.” Ahh those were the days. 

All I can say is shame on all of you who voted for the vilest human on our planet.🌏 

Personally I believe the morality of many Americans is at the Mariana Trench level. That’s 6.8 miles below sea level. There’s no going lower.

Here’s my predictions on WTF’s ahead.

A) This will be the most corrupt, grift taking and sleazy Administration in our Nation’s history. Trump and his slimy cohorts will outdo Grant’s Credit Mobilier Scandal, Harding’s Tea Pot Dome scandal, Nixon s Watergate scandal, Reagan’s Iran-Contra scandal and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal COMBINED! 

Now here’s the really crappy part of this scenario. This will be done in broad daylight with absolutely no attempt at subterfuge. Trump is that assured of his political mandate and Americans apathetic nature.

B) Tech Twerps will impact the next four years. Musk proved how easily Trump can be bought. All it takes is $250 million to buy yourself a quasi-cabinet post. Plus! A swell seat at the table next to former presidents. Yet none of Trump’s po’ supporters blinked. Many came to DC to stand out in the cold (literally) to wistfully catch a glimpse of their anointed Messiah. 

Meanwhile Zuckerberg and Bezos wait in the wings (with wallets opened) to pounce when the Musk/Trump bromance ends. Boo f—ken Hoo.

C) Trump will eviscerate and defund Government agencies. He has already placed a slew of nincompoops/schlimazels at the head of many agencies.Thereby assuring their impotence for getting anything done. Project 2025 folks who score Cabinet positions are jumping for joy! They will get their wish! Small incompetent Gobment! As the world turns hotter and more polluted while those greedy rich bastards (with tax cuts) become wealthier. 

Ain’t America Great?

D) Trump will continually test the limits of his powers. The Constitution and Rule of Law be damned! There will be no compromising. Trump’s way or the Highway. 

So folks, we will all reap what 77,303,568 Americans have sown. Chaos, corruption and  incompetence in this upcoming four years of the US of Banana Republic. 

BTW. The price of eggs will probably stay high for a while.

Cheers to better times eventually and hopefully. 

Jeff

Dispatches from a medical piece . ..

of kosher meat. Part II.

The Saga continues. 

You may recall my previous medical sing the Yiddish Blues rant. It’s the one where our hero (that’s me) was lying supine on an operating table while a “invasive radiologist” injected minuscule metal beads into my prostate arteries. The brainchild behind this sci-fi procedure was to partially occlude the blood supply to my supposedly enlarged prostate, thereby shrinking the organ.

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2024/04/dispatches-from-medical-piece.html

The final result was yes, my prostate shrunk but there was no relief for the multiple midnight and beyond potty breaks. Sort of along the lines, the surgery worked but the patient still died. For  three months leading up to seeing the prostate doc, I spoke often to an array of nurses at the clinic. I told them of my stranger than strange side effects. They brushed it off as if saying, that’s normal. Well it wasn’t. 

That Doc wrote a final assessment of my situation. There were a lot of “hypothetically this should alleviate itself” followed by more “hypothetically’s.” I’m not a Doctor nor do I play one on Facebook (as some people I know do. Yes! I’m talking about you JJ!) but I know medical hooey when I read it. 

That Doc referred me to a Durango urologist. I scored an appointment three months later after discovering the secret phone number to actually speak to an appointment scheduler. That date was one day short of me turning 70 years old. Do I know how to party or what! When I arrived a nurse took a sonogram of my lower belly before handing me the obligatory cup for a urine sample.

A little later on, the Doc appeared in the exam room. After a very brief introduction, he quickly got to the point. “What are you here for?” This took me by surprise, “didn’t you look at my referral or previous medical history?” 

“No!” Was all he said.

Doctor # 14 (the number of physicians I’ve seen in 1.5 years) lost instant style points with me. 

Foreseeing this moment, I fortunately copied the prostate doc’s final report on my iPad. Doc 14 read it while vigorously shaking his head. He then looked up and said, “I disagree with everything written in this report.” I chimed in, “that makes two of us.” 

He went on to state, “Jeff, your prostate wasn’t that big to begin with. You weren’t a candidate for that procedure.” He then glanced over at the photo from my sonogram. “Jeff? Do you need to go to the bathroom?” 

“No” was all I said. 

“This sonogram indicates you are retaining about 600 cc of fluid in your bladder. You never had benign prostate hyperplasia. You have a bladder problem.” 

He went on to explain he needed a closer look into my bladder. An invasive exam I compare to the torture regimes handed out at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 

I asked a reasonable question, “what are some of the possible problems you’ll be looking for?”

“I won’t know until I do the exam. But what I do know is worst case scenario this could lead to renal failure.”

I wasn’t mentally prepared for a Fox Fear Network medical possibility. In his report the urologist summed up my reaction this way. “Patient seemed distraught.”

Duh…

Two days later, I received an email notification from the urologist. After going through several security checks (I believe the nuclear launch codes are less secure), I opened the message. “Urine sample ABNORMAL.” It turned out that prostate doc not only introduced metal beads in me but a nasty E Coli germ too.  For six months, I’ve been feeling off. Apparently all those UTI signs and symptoms I spoke about fell on deaf medically trained ears. 

I was then placed on an amoxicillin regime for ten days. Those germs snickered at this lame attempt to murder them. Next I was on a mightier antibiotic which could cause “spontaneous ruptures of the Achilles or calf tendon.” Of course, I presented with this side effect, without the full on tendon tears fortunately. 

The follow up urine samples came back “mixed flora” which sounds to me like a bouquet of bacteria. The staff at the urologist assured me I had no infection, just ignore the new report. Easy for them to say. 

Now I understand it when folks say “our health care system is broken.” For the vast majority of my life I’ve been pretty much A-OK. Most of my past health issues have been orthopedic in nature. Now my insides have gone awry and all I score are confusing answers to my questions. Doctors and nurses don’t seem to have the time to pay attention when a patient is handing them a litany of medical signs and symptoms. I’m not sure where their mindset is, but with me it wasn’t in the present. If you are detecting frustration on my part, you are correct. 

In a few months, I’ll nervously allow myself to lie still while I’m being medically violated. The Durango urologist has one chance at this. It’s not a test I wish to repeat. Obviously I’m hoping to limp out with a prescription for a miracle medicine. If not I’ll find another urologist who will grant me a true questions and answers period.

I’m old enough to remember a time when doctors still made house calls. American healthcare has come a long impersonal way since then. From my point of view this isn’t a good thing either.

 My advice. STAY HEALTHY!

It’s always something…

Jeff