Budget cutbacks affecting backpackers

“In the 2020-2021 years, the amount of whales born in Alaska was huge – because there was almost no boat traffic. The water was quiet. The cruise ships were gone. They didn’t get hit and killed.”

I am not seeing that in the research literature. Do you have a specific paper in mind?

I agree with Sarah and Roger that cruise ships and others are causing a huge disruption to whales and all other marine mammals. This is a large topic that I’m not qualified to condense  here.

I was just suggesting that non hunters walking on trails in the wilderness are not a contributor to species decline. Quite the opposite. Folks who’ve experienced the wild up close and personal tend to be passionate advocates for wildlife and wilderness. Hunters are too!! I support them as well.

In general. Respect for an area seems to have a direct correlation to the effort it takes to get there.

“In the 2020-2021 years, the amount of whales born in Alaska was huge – because there was almost no boat traffic. The water was quiet. The cruise ships were gone. They didn’t get hit and killed.”

I am not seeing that in the research literature. Do you have a specific paper in mind?

Well, I literally was there in person and talked to rangers at….Glacier Bay NP. But I’m sure I don’t know anything. Yeesh.

Sarah, 98% humans hiking around Mt. Rainier occupy a foot and a half wide strip called a trail. Meanwhile, the animal population occupies several thousands of square miles all about. Hikers aren’t hunters. Their mere presence on that narrow strip, and on the small designated campsites around the mountain, does no harm to wildlife.

We sometimes assume that the mere presence of humans in the wilderness is detrimental in and of itself. I wonder. Ever hear a pack of coyote out on a kill at night? They’re not easily intimidated. Quite the contrary.

Yeah…not true. People DO affect the wildlife. Our mere presence does. They choose to go other directions when they hear and smell us. Bears get real issues with humans – because most humans are LAZY. Birds get accustomed to humans, knowing there is a chance for food. But end of the day, humans are loud jerks in general. And animals use the trails, they are not dumb. They also compete with humans for limited water sources.

I have lived with coyotes for many years. They are doing what they do – wether or not they were there naturally. When I was on the island, the coyotes were seen walking onto the island the day the bridge opened in 1935. They are actually more like humans in their behavior than like a wolf is.

AI Overview

+3

Yes, coyotes expanded their range following settlers in North America, and this expansion was linked to several factors. Coyotes, originally inhabiting the Great Plains, benefited from the removal of larger competitors like wolves and mountain lions as settlers moved into those areas, carving out a new niche for them. Additionally, the establishment of roads and the presence of trash left behind by settlers likely contributed to the coyote’s eastward migration.

Have you ever had a crow follow you. They too are after your trash and the rodents it atracks. At a friend’s house one day and noticed a red tail hawk watching me as I was leaving. When I started my car, I scared up a ground squirrel which was quickly scooped up. I thought lucky bird until the next time I visited and saw the same hawk watching me. We do attract certain animals which creates an imbalance. In example,  in the high desert, they are also a threat to the desert tortoise by eating their eggs and hatchlings.

Sea lions will follow divers around at night for the same reason. The lights help them find sleeping fish.

Though we are part of nature, it’s hard to say that we don’t have an overbearing effect. The easier the access, the greater the effect.

https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/mount-rainier-bridge-mowich-closed-permanently-20294571.php

The fault for the Fairfax Bridge lies FULLY on WA DOT – it’s a state highway, Hwy 165. They knew about the issues 20 years ago (and frankly it goes back at least 40 years), Yet acted as if nothing was happening and never planned for when it got so bad it had to be closed. 45 people live behind the bridge, besides the NP and NF lands out there……

Yeah, can’t blame that bridge on Trump’s tariffs. There are disintegrating bridges all over the USA,  in bad need of repair and this situation is long in the making. Lots in Alaska, including a bunch of pedestrian bridges that collapsed this year already. With a weakening economy and supplies unavailable due to tariffs, it will get worse.  Here’s one of our famous recent bridge disasters. When does infrastructure actually become a priority?

My dad used to keep us kids entertained by saying there were trolls under the bridges (any bridges) so we had to hold our breath as we crossed so they wouldn’t hear us breathing and try to eat us. He was probably just shutting us up for a few seconds of peace, but it left lifelong anxiety for me when crossing bridges. Now I have real reason to fear!

I always wonder about backcountry footbridges, or things like fire towers that everyone likes to climb. Are they regularly inspected? I think I know the answer and I’ll keep holding my breath so the troll doesn’t get me.

I don’t blame Trump for the bridge

I’m I’m sure infrastructure week isn’t totally forgotten.😁

I posted the link for context. A bit off subject.  Sarah had mentioned it and I pictured a small bridge, then I ran across the article.

For anyone wondering, the Fairfax Bridge was an old train trestle from back when the land was first logged, into Wilkenson, and then to the Puget Sound and beyond. It is VERY old, and yes, a high bridge. It truly is a beautiful bridge. It’s single lane, and had the knock out areas for when people crossed it when it was a train still.

Replacing it would be finacially crazy. The similar bridge on Hwy 169 a few miles away, that one got “repaired” because 169 is a main hwy, from Renton to Enumclaw, Wa. When I lived near it, one year it shifted in extreme rains. Like it triggerred the alarm on it. On the abundments. It was closed a long time, but they “found” the money to get it repaired. Meanwhile, I can think of multiple 100 year old (or older) bridges within 20 miles that are similar in style, and none of them are getting repaired either.

When I lived on Whidbey Island, the most visited state park in Wa state is Deception Pass and it’s stellar 2 section bridge that connects 3 islands (Whidbey, Pass and Fidalgo). It was built in 1935. It’s part of Hwy 20, a state road – but because a million people visit it yearly (and countless crossings daily of vehicles – and that there is a Navy base near – keeps it fixed quite often. It’s a huge and cool bridge to visit btw.

Once they’re sold, then what?

Selling public lands

Oh, I don’t know. He gets a bit high at times , a bit like Elon.

Cheers

Very busy day on trail. With an expected crowd of 2,000 people yesterday, an estimated 12,000 showed up downtown yesterday to celebrate flag day in very conservative Colorado Springs. A mile long with those celebrating lined up on both sides of the street and both sides of the meridian, four wide on the sidewalks and all four lanes of the road bumper to bumper, I’d say that figure was low. No arguments, no fights, no destruction, no trash on the ground, a chorus singing the national anthem, flags everywhere. Only three sheriffs, two on motorcycles, one on foot, having a very easy day. America at its best.

Wow, nice political left turn there….sigh. You could have just gone hiking. Well, at least you were not sitting in lawn chairs like the one in Shepherdstown, WV – one of the very few in WV. They were all too tired to stand. Lol. I enjoyed seeing instead the 250th anniversary of the Beeline March, outside of Shepherdstown – which was where the marching groups came together to start the march to George Washington – and would become the US Army in time. (At Morgan’s Grove Park) Far better use of the day, learning history and exploring it.

I was there observing living history. People watching. Great diversity. A cross section of america that many fail to see. No play acting. Great flag day celebration . It was very interesting and enjoyable, even with the crowdedness. A very nice day in Colorado to enjoy a day hike. Outside enjoying fresh air. It’s a very nice city.

I was in Olympic National Park.

Trails were maintained good.  Trees across trail cut.  There was a bunch of tread work.  Budget cutbacks didn’t seem to affect anything.  Of course, the national park is always maintained better than other federal lands. because their main focus is recreation.

I will have to join one of those protests.  Thanks for all doing that.