Do national parks need more wifi & cell connectivity? Really? :-(

[geminibear]

Some national parks could see more connectivity with WiFi and cell phones

 

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/some-national-parks-could-see-more-connectivity-with-wifi-and-cell-phones

 

I don't go to national parks to update the Facebook, Tweet, Snapchat, Instagram or whatever else those things mean or do. I go to national parks to get away from those things and usually the people that are using those things. I go to relax and enjoy nature and everything she has to offer.

 

95% of Rocky Mountain National Park is protected wilderness so thankfully no new cell towers!!!

 

http://elteonline.hu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/brown-bear-cub-waving-Kevin-Dietrich-570x375.jpg http://science-all.com/images/bears/bears-02.jpg http://d2gafrqace0qik.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/rocky-mountain-park-moose.jpg http://previews.123rf.com/images/trackerlee/trackerlee0701/trackerlee070100012/736974-Moose-cow-and-calf-at-Timber-Creek-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Colorado-Stock-Photo.jpg http://rockymountainnationalpark.com/sites/default/files/page_pics/moose_in_kawuneechee_valley.jpg http://mustseeplaces.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/bull-elk-in-tall-grass.jpg http://www.rmnp.com/Animals/RMNP-Elk3Males@ForestCanyon001.JPG

[seaboy4hire]

YES! Everything you just said Mr. Bear! During the spring and summer months I often times miss the times of my youth out camping at my grandparents property in Washington state.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[+ friendofsheila]

I recall a story, heard on the radio, probably. A bunch of men were on a remote river, together for a package tour of fishing in the wilderness. One man had a satellite phone, and was using it way too often.

 

One of the men eventually got fed up, snatched the phone away and tossed it in the river.

[marylander1940]

Millennials, please put the phone down...

[geminibear]

I recall a story, heard on the radio, probably. A bunch of men were on a remote river, together for a package tour of fishing in the wilderness. One man had a satellite phone, and was using it way too often.

 

One of the men eventually got fed up, snatched the phone away and tossed it in the river.

I would have kept the phone and thrown the man in the river. Might need the phone in an emergency. On the other hand I wouldn't be paying anyone to take me fishing in the wilderness. But I'm a little rugged and an Eagle Scout.

[geminibear]

Millennials, please put the phone down...

The guy in the interview that thought it was a good idea was like 40. WFT?!

[marylander1940]

The guy in the interview that thought it was a good idea was like 40. WFT?!

 

40 is the new 30...

[Mikegaite]

@geminibear, forget Twitter and Instagram. Next time we hit up Yellowstone, you should post pictures of all those hot bears on MyFace.

[rvwnsd]

I recall a story, heard on the radio, probably. A bunch of men were on a remote river, together for a package tour of fishing in the wilderness. One man had a satellite phone, and was using it way too often.

 

One of the men eventually got fed up, snatched the phone away and tossed it in the river.

Back in 2001 I worked for a healthcare technology company. The guy in the next cubicle had AT&T as his provider, complete with their then-signature ringtone that was as annoying as all get out. Especially when said co-worker would leave his cell phone on his desk, ringer turned up, and walk away for an hour or two while the cell phone went off every ten minutes. He was warned several times and told to turn the ringer off. One day, the thing went off seven or eight times within an hour and our director grabbed it, tossed it in the toilet, fished it out, dried it off, and put it back on his desk.

 

He silenced the ringer on the replacement.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I work for a large environmental NGO and fortunately going out "into the field" as we call it is a major part of my job. It makes sense for the NPS to improve connectivity in the visitors centers and administrative offices. But certainly not in the remote areas. No amount of camouflage is going to hide a cellphone tower. Just getting the equipment and construction will do major damage to pristine areas. Habits for burrowing species and birds in flight will be harmed for sure. The last thing we need is for bald eagles to get zapped by cell tower microwave radiation.

 

The sole purpose of visiting a National Park is to experience nature and get way from modern stress and conveniences. Nothing is so important that it has to be posted on Instagram seconds after taking a picture. We have become so connected to the Internet we can barely escape its pervasive intrusion in our everyday lives. Let's leave the National Parks free from this nuisance.

 

On another note, I recently attended a gala here in DC hosted by the Destination Marketing Association honoring the National Park Service on its 100th anniversary. The emphasis of the event was to recognize the NPS and its impact on travel and tourism. I haven't enjoyed attending one of these events in a long time. In part because I have to plan these kinds of things in my job. But the NPS event was different. Several parks were highlighted including Everglades, Monterey Bay Marine park, and the Atchafalaya National Forest to name a few.

 

It was great to see the NPS recognized for its economic impact and hard work. I must say in my dealings with NPS personnel visiting parks and setting up major events that they are a truly dedicated and passionate group of people. They do this work for low pay, with limited resources, and have to deal with a public that can be overwhelmingly demanding at times. They are truly under appreciated. The next time you visit a National Park, hug a park ranger and thank them.

[bigvalboy]

Well I disagree...peoples lives are complicated, and there are far more serious reasons to stay connected to the world than to post pics on Instagram or to update Facebook. I think that it is unrealistic to assume that everyone can just completely disconnect from the world for days at a time.

[+ WilliamM]

It was great to see the NPS recognized for its economic impact and hard work. I must say in my dealings with NPS personnel visiting parks and setting up major events that they are a truly dedicated and passionate group of people. They do this work for low pay, with limited resources, and have to deal with a public that can be overwhelmingly demanding at times. They are truly under appreciated. The next time you visit a National Park, hug a park ranger and thank them.

 

My brother, Rick , has been a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park, since the wolves were returned to the park (and therefore Montana and Wyoming) from Canada.

 

Since the Bill Clinton Administration he has been the lead ranger in tracking the wolf packs and each individual wolf through radio transmission. He also spends every days talking with people who visit the park partly to see and hear about the wolves. He has never mentioned cell phones as a distraction.

 

He would agree with @bigvalboy that phones are an absolute necessity for some people who visit Yellowstone..

[bigvalboy]

My brother, Rick , has been a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park, since the wolves were returned to the park (and therefore Montana and Wyoming) from Canada.

 

Since the Bill Clinton Administration he has been the lead ranger in tracking the wolf packs and each individual wolf through radio transmission. He also spends every days talking with people who visit the park partly to see and hear about the wolves. He has never mentioned cell phones as a distraction.

 

He would agree with @bigvalboy that phones are an absolute necessity for some people who visit Yellowstone..

 

Kudos to your brother Rick. Absolutely amazing work that he is doing. As a species we fuck up a lot of things, but every now and again, we seem to get it right. Thanks WilliamM...this was a nice way to start my day.

[+ WilliamM]

Kudos to your brother Rick. Absolutely amazing work that he is doing. As a species we fuck up a lot of things, but every now and again, we seem to get it right. Thanks WilliamM...this was a nice way to start my day.

 

Rick also worked in Denali National Park in Alaska and his books still sell fairly well. He wrote his last book in 1993, but has a huge collection of daily notes since then that he plans to use for three books on the wolves of Yellowstone. Rick lives in a log cabin in Silver Gate, Montana, a town with only a gas station, a bar and a jail.

 

Thanks, BVB.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Well I disagree...peoples lives are complicated, and there are far more serious reasons to stay connected to the world than to post pics on Instagram or to update Facebook. I think that it is unrealistic to assume that everyone can just completely disconnect from the world for days at a time.

 

Well I respectfully disagree with you regarding this issue. Peoples lives are complicated these days because they choose to make them complicated in part due to an over reliance on technology. It's possible to disconnect, be prepared for "serious" circumstances in the wild, and leave the damn cellphone turned off.

 

I know more than a handful of extremely busy individuals, boldfaced names, who can disconnect to remote areas of the world and relish the tranquility of not being able to connect. There are remote places where not only is cellphone coverage impossible but even satellite phones have limited capabilities.

 

My own experience has taught me that very few things are as much of a necessity as we make them appear to ourselves. Email will be there when you get back. Instagram and Facebook aren't going to disappear (unfortunately). If being connected is that important then stay in the goddamn cities and leave Nature to the rest of us.

[cany10011]

National parks are wonderful way to escape and take in the beauty however I think Wi-Fi should be available for those emergencies when people need them. I think America has a wonderful national park system I've been trying to go to at least one every year surprisingly most of the people I meet at these national parks are Europeans and Asians very few Americans

[geminibear]

Well I disagree...peoples lives are complicated, and there are far more serious reasons to stay connected to the world than to post pics on Instagram or to update Facebook. I think that it is unrealistic to assume that everyone can just completely disconnect from the world for days at a time.

To my recollection BVB I don't think I have ever disagreed with you in the forum, but on this issue I do disagree. If a person's life is so complicated that they can't disconnect from technology for a few hours or for a couple of days then a trip to the more rugged and wild national parks is probably bad planning. There are plenty of national parks which are located near urban centers which a person can stay connected. They should go to those locations.

[bigvalboy]

To my recollection BVB I don't think I have ever disagreed with you in the forum, but on this issue I do disagree. If a person's life is so complicated that they can't disconnect from technology for a few hours or for a couple of days then a trip to the more rugged and wild national parks is probably bad planning. There are plenty of national parks which are located near urban centers which a person can stay connected. They should go to those locations.

 

I think many here are missing my point. I don't totally disagree with you, especially when it's just a matter of someone wanting to stay connected, purely for the sake of needing that connection with the world. To post pictures, to update Facebook or Instagram, or just to connect to social media, on that we agree. My business partner was like that, and I never understood it. But when I say complicated, complications are often not of our own doing. I think it is unrealistic to assume that everyone can completely disconnect from the world, even for a few days. It is often not feasible. I can think of dozens of situations whereby someone might need to remain connected to business, family, friends, loved ones. I just think we are painting too broad a brush here. I don't believe it is all or nothing, so perhaps we do disagree, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. National parks belong to everyone, and increasing coverage in rugged areas of our national parks comes with many sacrifices and complications, and it is a discussion that we should have.

[+ WilliamM]

I just think we are painting too broad a brush here. I don't believe it is all or nothing, so perhaps we do disagree, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. National parks belong to everyone, and increasing coverage in rugged areas of our national parks comes with many sacrifices and complications, and it is a discussion that we should have

 

I mentioned my brother, Rick, up thread. He is a park ranger at Yellowstone. He has a cellphone with him at all times, not just to talk to co-workers in the park but also for family emergencies. Rick was briefly on Facebook, but was surprised that a student who heard one of his talk in the park. registered in Facebook under his name. It was not terrible, just annoying. The student would post an imaged schedule for Rick, as follows: 6:00 AM - Time to have breakfast and see the wolves before they wake up My comment: the wolves are already awake searching for prey.

Edited February 28, 2016 by WilliamM

[+ deej]

I think it is unrealistic to assume that everyone can completely disconnect from the world, even for a few days. It is often not feasible.

 

Nobody is saying that everyone must completely disconnect at will.

 

What everyone is saying is that if you are SO DAMN IMPORTANT that you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DISCONNECT then it's incumbent on you to stay in areas where you can connect. That is completely do-able without doing damage to national treasures.

 

I frequently go off-grid, but there are times when it would be ill-advised so I avoid those times. Why shouldn't everyone take that level of personal responsibility?

[bigvalboy]

I know several people who cannot be disconnected from the world, for a variety of reasons, and not one of them think of themselves as "So damn important"..I would argue that they have just as much a right to enjoy a national park as anyone.

 

Many opinions and thoughts on the matter. It will be a spirited discussion...

Edited February 28, 2016 by bigvalboy

[+ WilliamM]

I frequently go off-grid, but there are times when it would be ill-advised so I avoid those times. Why shouldn't everyone take that level of personal responsibil

 

deej, not everyone is able to go off-grid as easily as you.

[+ Gar1eth]

@geminibear, forget Twitter and Instagram. Next time we hit up Yellowstone, you should post pictures of all those hot bears on MyFace.

 

You have pictures of Smokey The Bear and you? Did you and @geminibear have a Bearfest in the wilderness?

 

http://img.izismile.com/img/img3/20101028/video/11_bears.jpg

 

Gman

[+ deej]

deej, not everyone is able to go off-grid as easily as you.

 

I did not say it was easy. It isn't. I make the choice to do so.

 

There are millions of places on earth to remain connected and few where people can get away from it. If you want to stay connected, there are places to do it without defiling national treasures.

[+ WilliamM]

I did not say it was easy. It isn't. I make the choice to do so.

 

I completely agree, but I was not writing just about myself.

 

Since my brother is a park ranger at Yellowstone, I was giving his viewpoint. He has never complained about cellphone use while he is talking to a large group about wolves.