Thanks to Coronavirus, we’re on hold with the VATNPP. In the meantime, we’ll be revisiting some of our best experiences and expanding the detail we have on each trip and park to date. Look for updates on this blog pointing to new material.
Interestingly, the time spent in isolation allows for better, more nuanced reflection on both the trips we have taken as well as the opportunities to come.
The trail warms
As we lazily saunter into July’s dog days, my thoughts turn to the next chapter in the VATNPP program — a multi-park adventure through several Southwestern parks. The exact itinerary is not yet set. In fact, many of our trips’ itineraries have only a hint of order, even as we begin driving.
In general, we like to have at least one night’s worth of lodging secured, so we do make hotel reservations for the first night or two. After that, things can be a little, um, fluid.
Flexibility is helpful because the parks are all different. You might get to a park, thinking it’s small and perhaps you’ll see it all in a day, but it turns out that it’s a hidden gem. Great Basin is one such place — diverse, interesting, less busy and charming in surprising ways.
This trip’s plan is broadly two weeks in the Southwest and a week in Hawaii, to see these places:
Big Bend
Carlsbad Caverns
Guadalupe Mountains
Saguaro
Joshua Tree (a repeat visit, because it’s wonderful)
Hawaii Volcanoes (A repeat for B, a first for J)
Say What?
When B and J first started dating, the subject of "love of the outdoors" came up. They both enjoy the outdoors and despite the constraints of a full time job, B had been working on visiting as many National Parks as she could, taking the opportunities as they came. Her vision had crystallized into an explicitly articulated project after a memorable family visit through Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion.
After that trip, she made a point of visiting National Parks. For example, when visiting Maine, she made a point of going to Acadia. When in Hawaii with friends, she visited Volcanoes.
J had been walking around in places of beauty too, although in a less well-directed way. Parks are parks, after all. He had visited Parks (both national and regional) in South Africa from an early age. Those formative experiences of camping and hiking sparked an enduring love of the outdoors.
It was in this context that J agreed to sign to B’s plan to visit each of the National Parks in the USA. At the time the compact was made, there were fifty-eight National Parks. With President Obama's designation of Pinnacles in 2013, the count rose to fifty-nine. Like many of the National Parks, Pinnacles had been a National Monument before being re-designated as a National Park. Today there are sixty-one.
What is the difference between National Parks and other park-like places?
The difference is chiefly in permitted use. The National Parks Service administers National Monuments, National Historic Monuments, National Seashores and other kinds of protected properties. Full National Park designation is the most restrictive designation in terms of permitted use.
Parks come and go
The business of classifying something as a National Park is dynamic. Some parks are promoted from State Parks, others are demoted back to State Park status as funding and priorities change. The designation process is influenced by the prevailing philosophy of the Parks Service and the funding priorities of Congress at the time. Recent changes include the designation of Gateway Arch (Missouri) in 2018 and Indiana Dunes (Indiana) in 2019.
Last chance to see?
Even non-National Park sites are subject to redesignation and redefinition. Heavily influenced by lobbying from uranium mining companies, Bears' Ears was shrunk dramatically. Grand Staircase Escalante is under threat. It's important to get on the land and see these places. In doing so, you too will understand why we must prevent old, wealthy, white economic opportunists from plundering the legacy of future generations.
In the years since their meeting, B&J have visited several Parks and plan to continue until they have been to all of the sixty-one parks. This is the story of their travels. Follow updates on the RSS feed (link in footer) or at the Parks > Story To Date link.