>=====I'm green with envy <g>. I once considered taking a job in Salt Lake
>so
>I could get to Zion more often. Was it crowded like I've heard it now
>is?
>
>Gregg======
>
>It wasn't last weekend. I heard from a regular visitor that they
>were going to ban cars and get everyone in on buses.
>I don't like that personally but for everyone else it is a good idea :-)
Not *everyone* does. In fact, probably few people do.
>There is talk that the other parks like Yosemite are going to ban cars
also.
>That is supposed to be a real mess in the summer.
Yeah, it can be. I'm sure it'll be much better, though, after the "Grand
Plan" goes into effect.
Let's see, get rid of the cars, bring in the buses. The smelly, noisy,
stinking, polluting, diesel-exhaust spewing buses. Yeah, that's the ticket.
And we'll need lots of em, we're replacing a lot of cars.
And we'll need staging areas - need lots of room for those buses. In fact,
one is already planned to be built in El Capitan meadow. What's that, use
existing parking lots? No, we're gonna let those go back to nature. But El
Capitan Meadow is already natural. Well it's a good location. And we'll
require that only 1/2 of the buses there at any one time have their engines
idling. Gotta be able to see the climbers thru the haze, eh?
Next question? Bus breakdowns? Maybe we'll need a maintenance garage here
in the valley. No? We'll just tow em back to Mariposa? Yeah, right, in the
winter? Well, we'll just have to restrict visitation in the winter. We're
gonna pull out the inexpensive, rustic tent cabins anyway. The ice rink
too. Why would people want to ice skate in Yosemite with a view of Half Dome
anyway? That's for the bourgoise. We've already decided that 3 of the
flood-damaged campgrounds will never be reopened. Well, that leaves
Yosemite Lodge and The Ahwanee for winter visitors. Can you say BIG
$$$$$$$$$$?
Gee, I wonder how your average Ahwanee guest will enjoy transferring to a
bus 30 to 60 miles from Yosemite? Not having a car available to them while
they're in this majestic place? Hey, what are we gonna do with all those
cars the visitors are forced to leave behind, anyway? Well, we'll just have
to build huge parking garages at some staging areas on the three routes into
Yosemite. Yeah, big garages, that's it. Nice and neat. $20 a day or so per
car oughta do it. And orderly, too. When a bus that carries 30 people shows
up, there'll never be 100 or more waiting, will there?
No, we'll use a reservation system. Maybe BASS or Ticketron. They'll only
charge a $20 or so surcharge on every bus ticket. Good for the economy, you
know.
Wait! You! Where do you think you're going with that photo backpack? You've
already got a suitcase. You can't bring that too! These buses have a
limited capacity. And it's gonna get worse when we switchover to the
electric ones. It'll take 2 1/2 hours to go the 30 miles to the park. And
you'll only bring one carry-on.
Besides, have you got a photography permit from Mr Ranger, sir? You know
you can't use anything but a point'nshoot in Yosemite without a permit.
$1600 the permits cost, I believe. Just fill out these forms and mail em
in.
For this visit, just leave your camera gear here. The motel handyman, Mr
Staynor, will take good care of it. Yeah, the guy who was by the pool
talking to your wife this morning. Where is my wife anyway, she oughtta be
ready by now. Honey! Where are you anyway? Still in the pool?....
George, who doesnt think its a good idea.
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