Comments on: LETTER: Glacier Tent Campers Drowned Out by RVs
By nam vet on 08-22-10
right on!!
By Firebeam on 08-22-10
Susie: Your letter is equally as annoying as the generator. In your own letter you point out that “Since our parks belong to everyone, and all have a right to enjoy them”, and that includes people who don’t understand that a generator is disrespectful of other campers. It also includes those who choose to watch their TV when in the presence of perhaps the most grand natural view in the nation. “Camping” is a personal experience, with as many definitions as there are people pursuing that activity. Myself, I’m too old and sore to enjoy a tent floor for sleeping anymore. I carry a generator in my trailer , mostly for emergencies, and in 12+ years of camping I’ve never fired it up in a campground and choose not to out of respect for my neighbors in a shared campground. While I agree that Campgrounds were created to provide a quiet, restful, restorative experience, an opportunity to enjoy nature and wildlife. This is not our present-day camping experience in Glacier; I find your position that those who don’t share your definintion of camping are “making a mockery” offensive. Because you didn’t enjoy your visit doesn’t mean Glacier is less enjoyable. I’m certain many of the campers that were in the campground the same night(s) you were, went home with pleasant memories and talk of the great time they had in spite of a little generator noise. Glacier is not as ruined as your letter would lead us to believe; however, I do have a new opinon of YOU.
Glacier takes an onslaught of family campers for a very short duration in the summer. Most are families with kids who would possibly DIE if they didn’t have power for their numerous electronic leashes and instant gratification pacifiers. I know this and therefore choose to camp outside of those intensely crowded and popular times.
I guess my point is that with a little planning and forethought, you too could enjoy your visit without as much strife.
You do make a good reccomendation that generator users could be segregated, or better yet, since the generators are horribly polluting, GNP should install power for some units and then forbid genereator use. Since that is unlikely, you’d better make plans to endure others with whom you must share the campground. Or escape with either timing or locating other accomodations. This letter nor you stomping your feet is likely to change anything.
As for blocking views…well, you just sound P.O.d that you didn’t get a prime site… no one entered the campground saying to themselves “Let’s find a site where we can mess with Susie’s view.
By Firebeam on 08-22-10
Dear Superintendent Cartwright (c/o Glacier National Park),
Susie Waldron sounds like the south end of a northbound mule. You do an outstanding job of dealing with the depth, variety, and sheer quantity of human infestation during the peak season. It must be most taxing enduring letters from spoiled, discontented visitors with unrealistic expectation of their neighboring campers and the nightly site they occupy.
Keep up the great work in the face of a changing, and challenging visitor landscape.
By Fair Row on 08-23-10
Susie: In spite of Firebeam’s sarcasm your point is well made. But don’t look for GNP or the NPS to make any changes. They are too busy catering to the bus-owning crowd whom they can control. That way there are less despoiling the back country and other private areas reserved for researchers and park personnel.
By KMMT on 08-25-10
I used to be really mad about this too – all the generators, screaming kids, cars with loud mufflers, rude tourists, traffic jams, etc.. But a friend in the park service reminded me that National Parks are for everyone’s use – that’s what they were created for – even if the people are rude or noisy or not respecting the grandeur and quiet and those that are too busy with all their toys to really see the beauty. The “Wilderness” is the place where nothing can be changed (or spoiled) but National Parks were created for everyone to come in and experience. So when I get mad about all those people in “my” Glacier Park, I just head further into the woods – either in the Park or into the wilderness – the further, the quieter. And remember that all those people in the campground are at least trying to have an outdoor experience – even if they are misguided. Let ‘em stay in the campground (those big old motorhomes can’t go in the really good places anyway) – I’ll just head into the backcountry.
By MiloJR on 08-26-10
If you don’t like people and noise, why would you go to the campgrounds? There is so much backcountry here where you can enjoy endless peace and quiet. BTW, we recently camped in Yosemite - generators are allowed there at any time during daylight hours. Be glad it’s only 6 hours in Glacier!
By tj on 08-26-10
Ban all generators in National Forests, Parks and wilderness. A noise ordinance. Its always some lazy city doofus that has no consideration for others when camping. If I was playing my boombox or stereo as loud as a generator is, I would get a visit from the camp host or ranger. Why are generators any different ?
Its not camping if your doing it in an apartment on wheels.
By Fair Row on 08-26-10
Good comment KMMT. The problem is as we get older the less able some of us are to get further into “the back country”. So here we are, appreciative of grandeur, peace and quiet, yet unable to enjoy it because of mostly wealthy and rude urban hillbillies despoiling that which they can’t appreciate. I don’t think it is unreasonable for the NPS to consider non-motorized campgrounds, two-axle auto/truck campgrounds, and then a parking place a la Wal-Mart lot for the monster wagons.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.