SchmidtTravels

So, many parks aren't closed and visitors aren't turned away. A park employee handed me a brochure at the Yellowstone entrance a few weeks ago; but, she wasn't allowed to take my money. Rangers that could protect visitors and the Park were fired for lack of $. How does that make any sense? 🤷‍♂️

Put some guardrails on the capitalist, individualist economic system. Individuals should benefit from their efforts/ideas. I'd argue that there truly is a maximum amount of resources that an individual needs for good life; use the excess resources to equalize the opportunities and benefits for all.

Now, if you want to argue the theory of socialism against the results of actual mostly unfettered, unregulated capitalism, the theory will win out.

But, the argument needs to be actual vs. actual and recognize that human-nature for most individuals leads to acquiring more resources to meet needs >

Historical reality shows that altruism is not universal and actual socialism has never benefited most citizens in practice over the long-term.

Consider a school group project and whether all team members put in the same effort. Directed by an instructor on the task, graded equally on the result. >>

Well, socialism means that the "state" or "community" owns all means of production. You wouldn't own your own business or benefit from any above-average skills. The theory assumes that workers altruistically contribute the maximum that they are able and consume only what they truly need. >>

Will there be rangers posted at Phantom Ranch during the shutdown? If not (and with no drinking water at Bright Angel Campground), this seems like a recipe for disaster for inexperienced backcountry hikers. (there is water at Phantom Ranch, so some mitigation there).

It is a short book... #ParkChat

A2. Little Yosemite Valley backcountry dispersed site, I unzipped tent to peek out. Nothing. Rolled back the fly (mesh tent top) and could just sit up if the creature returned. 10-15 minutes later, Mule Deer happily grazing a few feet from the tent. #ParkChat

A little short of two full days from Seattle > Chicago or vice versa...

St Paul, MN to East Glacier is about 22 hours.

Yes, and you can take that train all the way to Chicago from Seattle! I have friends who frequently take the train from Minneapolis/St Paul to East Glacier.

The Senate Appropriations committee passed Dept of Interior proposal with a 26-2 bipartisan vote. I wrote to my Senators and asked them to vote for it with no amendments, please do the same. Not perfect, but much much better than the House proposal.
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

‘They’re bleeding the parks dry.’ Many national parks are open during the shutdown, but entrance fee booths are closed. - The Boston Globe At least $1 million in fee revenue is being lost every day, according to an outside estimate, starving parks of money needed for staff and projects.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/24/n...

It seems logical that if you'd continue to collect fees, there would be more $$$ available and more NPS employees could be retained, thus actually better protecting the Parks?

Conclusion: The GOP leadership WANTS Parks to be overrun with visitors who cause damage as a political point.

When I entered Yellowstone through the North entrance a few weeks ago, there was a Park Service employee at the entrance only to hand out maps & brochures, not allowed to collect the usual fee.
The DOI and NPS leadership kept the Park open; but, failed to collect the fee? Unhelpful and wasteful.

36) Confluence: Navigating the Personal & Political on Rivers of the New West by Zak Podmore. A powerful memoir that emotionally captures a lifelong deep relationship with western rivers; and, an articulate advocacy for environmental activism to protect or restore these sacred places. 5⭐️

He literally lives in a National Park site and destroyed part of it without proper approval.

A9. I've never thought about whether I have a favorite sleepy animal. 🤷‍♂️ But, here's a barred owl in mid-morning from my home office window. He looks a little sleepy...
#ParkChat

A8. We found these unique gems in a place called Eden Valley County Refuge near Maquoketa, Iowa. Google Lens thinks they are Common Stinkhorns.
#ParkChat

Fall leaves on the trail at Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin.

A7. The earthy smell of leaves on the fall hiking trail, made more intense from hiking over them. We have a few candles around; but, are not aficionados of the essential oils.
#ParkChat

A6. Well, I'm not sure what these are; but, we spotted them along the coast on Camano Island a few weeks ago. I'm not sure I know enough to have a favorite. #ParkChat

Here's another from Mines of Spain... #ParkChat

A5. I clearly didn't look ahead at the questions!!
#ParkChat

bsky.app/profile/schm...

Round Top Lake, near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

A4. We did the fall break trips with the kids, then stayed closer to home as they got older; but, last fall, we ventured to the Lake Tahoe area for some hiking and were happy with the start of fall colors! #ParkChat

May I submit a recent photo from along the North Fork Shoshone River between Yellowstone NP and Cody?

#ParkChat

A3. Our front yard tree turns orange and red. I'm reminded every year of the neighborhood kids jumping into the leaf pile!

#ParkChat

Mines of Spain Recreation Area, Dubuque, Iowa. October 2020

Old Cabin among fall colors, Mines of Spain Recreation Area, Dubuque, Iowa, October 2020.

A2. Summer in Iowa is HOT and HUMID (look up "corn sweat", it's a thing), the fall temps are a relief. After the kids' outgrew the fall break schedule, we switched to visiting local parks for the colors.

Down side is it means winter is coming soon and I am not a fan of the cold & snow.
#ParkChat

A1. We love the shoulder season! Our kids had a school calendar that included a week-long fall break. A perfect time to visit popular kids' destinations and Parks without the crowds (Mammoth Cave, New River Gorge...and, yes, Disney!) #ParkChat

#meme #publiclands #fdt #ProtectPublicLands #nature #nationalparks

Third Winchester Battlefield Park — Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Third Winchester Battlefield Park is comprised of more than 600 acres of preserved land from the Third Battle of Winchester. Fought on September 19, 1964, it was the largest and costliest battle ever ...

We stayed in Winchester the day before driving Skyline Drive. There is a very nice pedestrian area in the Old Town district. We did a morning run/walk at the Third Winchester Battlefield Park - part of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields NHD. #ParkChat
www.shenandoahatwar.org/third-winche...

The book cover, with a yellow letter "J" from the title "James" stretching from the middle of the all-black cover to the top edge. The main character is shown in a bubble created in the lower loop of the "J". The author's name is presented in white below the yellow title.

35) James by Percival Everett. A new perspective off the downriver journey of Huck Finn and Jim, from the enslaved Jim's perspective. This new angle provides a more in-depth character development of Jim and social commentary than Mark Twain presented at the time of his writing. 5⭐