Alaskans have until the end of October to comment on the Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan. The plan alternatives will affect access to the park for the next 20 years.
After studying this voluminous and dense document, which offers only three alternatives, two of which are nearly identical, it appears the winners will be large cruise ship operators and the losers independent travelers, especially Alaskans.
For almost two decades large tour companies have lobbied for increased ridership and bus access into Denali. When the park studies began three years ago that led to this draft the public was assured that since tourism had declined due to the economic recession a "breathing space" existed to develop a new road plan and do it right. After wading through the draft, it is my opinion that this plan does not do it right. In fact, I believe it poses a real risk to the park experience and wildlife.
The abstract describes two action alternatives as more "flexible," yet the alternatives actually restrict road use by limiting time spent at wildlife stops, in scenic areas and even at rest areas. This is not more "flexible" but rather a clever way to ensure increased access benefiting large tour operators.
I can only support Alternative A (No Action) for the following reasons:
• In order to be implemented, Alternatives B and C (which are largely the same) would establish an all-new layer of monitoring bureaucracy within the park staff. Each alternative would require at least $1 million or more additional funding per year over current park funding levels, with average annual costs for Alternative B running more than $5 million based on a 20-year plan.
• In 1971, prior to the controlled-access shuttle bus system, the National Park Service made a very specific agreement with the public: you give up your private vehicles and we will provide you with free bus access. NPS arbitrarily reneged on this agreement when substantial fees were charged beginning in the 1990s and the "shuttle" system's name was changed to the "Visitor Transporation System (VTS)." In neither Alternative B or C is there any guarantee or commitment to affordability.
• Alternatives B and C give too much power and discretion to future superintendents. One bad superintendent, swayed by commercial interests, could have long-lasting negative impacts. To counter this threat, a specific and finite cap of road traffic must be retained but is missing in Alternatives B and C.
• Tour participants, backpackers and day users would ride the same buses with the current "Green Bus (VTS) system" becoming a cheap tour option. In peak season every bus would be filled to capacity.
• Any plan that would increase the number of buses on the park road should be disallowed as it is within reason to believe that increased bus traffic has negatively impacted wildlife viewing opportunities along the road.
• Alternative B would eventually phase out private vehicle access to Teklanika Campground and "phase in tents-only campground over a 10-year period." Only recently has tent camping been reinstated at Igloo and Teklanika campgrounds after closures due to bear and wolf activity. This action would enable an increase in bus traffic by removing private vehicle access to Teklanika, at the same time discriminating against senior citizens or others unable or unfit to tent camp.
Alternative B may be the worst of the three alternatives. Maximizing the number of visitors and minimizing empty seats on the buses would significantly degrade many visitors' park experience. A full, crowded bus is never a preferred means of travel for anyone anywhere. Combining the economy self-guided tours with the transit function of the bus has several drawbacks, but crowding is the chief negative.
The plan is voluminous and confusing, but interested Alaskans should read Chapter Two, The Alternatives.
Tom Walker is a 45-year resident of Alaska, author and photographer who lives near Denali National Park. The draft plan is available online at atwww.parkplanning.nps.gov/dena. Comments will be accepted through Oct. 31 and can be submitted through the same website, faxed to 907-733-1465 or mailed to Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, Vehicle Management Plan, P.O. Box 588, Talkeetna 99676.
By TOM WALKER