<< 1) The ranger's house is his *house* fer crying out loud. If
he doesn't want strangers in his back yard in the middle of the
night, I think folks should respect that. Yes, I know that it's
technically public property, but even park rangers need their
space. Aren't there *any* other places in the park where
you can set up?>>
You're absolutely right, but there has been a precedent set, and that area
behind tha rangers house and below the observatory has been used peacefully
and successfully for decades. It feels like something has been taken away,
especially when we were given assurances with the change of rangers that
things would stay as they were.
<<2) In regards to chopping down trees: I think by nature, park
officials get a little testy when someone comes up to them
and says "we want to chop down some trees because they're
blocking our view". Even if the trees are non-native and
don't really belong there, I think the thought of chopping down
any tree makes a ranger's hair stand on end. Hell, it bothers
me, and I know why they're a nuisance. >>
Again I agree with you very strongly in principle. The trees in question
though were planted by a group of Boy Scouts, I believe within the last 25
years or so. They are the no other trees on that whole hillside so close to
the observing area, and there are only a few trees on that whole hillside.
We're not talking about a forested area here, and they are placed in an
incredibly bad spot. They are not needed to protect soil erosion, and are
not native. Many amateurs have offered to pay the money to plant new trees,
of the correct type, any where else in the park.
Richard
richard