Dear Editor:

On June 12, opportunity rained down on Yellowstone.  

Localized flooding presented park managers with purpose and need to begin limiting public access.  The re-set button had fallen from the sky. 

In recent years through media reports and statements by park officials, we have been subjected to grooming and conditioning of how the park is too crowded and, as a result, folks are just not happy.

The National Park Service conducted surveys reflecting those sentiments through carefully worded leading questions.  A quality visit was a thing of the past, according to some.  Something had to be done.

Per the flooding, a plan was hatched with the help of 1,000 “partners” on the line with Superintendent Cam Sholly.

Entry to the “public pleasuring ground” was allowed based on vehicle license plates — odd/even plate on corresponding odd/even calendar day.  The visitor reduction research project was underway with rigid conformity.  Odd/even mixed cars in family groups? Verboten!   

Visitors were reintroduced to the South Loop on June 22 with only 1% being turned away for license plate violations.  This is too rich.  Park law enforcement officers and guard shack attendants will keep a sharp eye on your license plate to see if you’re in odd/even compliance entering the park.  These are the same people who blatantly ignore federal law requiring them to register their personal vehicles in Wyoming while working and living in the federal jurisdiction of Yellowstone within the state of Wyoming. 

From first-hand experience, I estimate 80% to 90% non-compliance of federal law 36 CFR 4.2(a) and (b) among park resident employees, concession operators, tour guides, contractors, and vendors — all the folks who are exempt from the visitor reduction research project. 

The NPS guesstimates 2.58 people per vehicle. June 22 saw less than 5,000 vehicles enter half the park, thus, less than 12,800 people entered half the park.   On June 13, according to reports, the NPS immediately “rescued” — more correctly, kicked out — 10,000 park visitors from the whole park, wiping the slate clean for the re-set.  The 10,000 visitors were in 3,876 vehicles.   Assuming the NPS statistics I have cited herein are accurate, Cam and his “partner’s” cut-it-in-half-and-double-it plan was nearly perfect.

In a June 13 press conference, Cam was asked if employees would be evacuated. Cam replied: “We need a full contingent of staff in Yellowstone.  That means upwards of 800 to 1,000 NPS employees and volunteers.”  Evidently, Cam does not know how many employees he has under his watch. Amazingly, he did know the exact number of visitors in the park’s backcountry at evacuation time.  They were being monitored.

Tour operators are exempt from the new visitor project, and can enter anytime.  The NPS charges tour operators a concession fee, and their clients also pay the entrance fee.  The NPS realizes a greater profit from individuals in tour groups, hence, they are allowed in while you’re home cooling your heels watching flood videos.  By the way, is there a 50% clearance sale on entrance fees for the use of half the park?

Our Equality State elected representatives who support this visitation plan are not representing all their constituents.  Turning a blind eye and allowing out-of-state, out-of-country visitors who pay more to enter the park is not my idea of equality.

The park was established 150 years ago as a “public pleasuring ground…for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” not a business arrangement among “partners.”  Podner, you’re not welcome to such as we’ve got, is how Cam, Inc. rolls.

Steve Torrey

Cody