Videophilia

[barefoot serpent]

Originally Posted by Pangloss62

I don't know how old you are, but Death Valley "went National" in 1933. I suppose you've noted cultural/behavioral change over time. I would hope the rangers are still nice. Our new Secretery of The Interior is more to our liking than Gale Norton.

Death Valley was originally a National Monument and not a National Park. As a NM it was still open to mining -- both corporate and individual prospecting. And to livestock. As a NP (~1990) it is now offlimits to mining but also offlimits to 'open' camping. I used to go there alot and camp -- zero impact camping (no fires, no offroading) -- off any established road. You can't do that any more. You must camp in established, parkinglot campgrounds (ugh).

But, on the other hand, it is now more protected from the 'maximum' impact offroading types. So, fo me it's a mixed blessing.