RE: Stuck with Rude Neighbors Argh...
If they have a leaky smelly stinky slinky, that camp mgmt. cannot resolve, call the state health department, or even the county Sheriff.
discharge of any wastewater on the surface is a valid complaint.
A gas proof seal on waste hose connection is mandatory in all states.
Get even through legal education to that inconsiderate neighbor.
RE: NPS Sequestration. A reversal!
Superintendant Davila responded to me today that loop c will be closed, ranger led evening interpretive programs discontinued, maintenance crews will work 5 days a week instead of 7 this year.
Full return to service is planned for 2014 if a requested rate increase to $18 is approved
RE: NPS Sequestration. A reversal!
Something doesn't seem to come together here. A "Sdakotacampowner" glad to see a government run CG open when he is private. They usually have a hard time co-existing.
We do not see the public camps in our area as competitors. Our federal and State parks are among the finest in the nation, but limit services to the basic necessity as it should be.
We private operators serve visitors who wish for the other end of the spectrum.
With the exception of Wind Caves camp the public camps here are revenue neutral for their agency, not a burden to taxpayers.
This was the argument I pressed when I met with Mr. Davila and his staff in early April. In this instance closure of Elk Mountain Camp would be an overall revenue loss for Wind Caves profit income( tours) as those tour visitors may not make the time to drive back to tour the cave from some other camp. That could result in an overall reduction in visitors to all types of tourism, therefore a potential loss, not a gain to private camps.
Max
NPS Sequestration. A reversal!
Wind Cave NP announced reversal of decision to close the Elk Mountain Camp. It will open 5/24 at the same rate, with a bit of reduced service.
I congratulate the Superintendent, Mr. Davila, and his staff for breaking with budget restrictions and reallocating funds to best serve the park and its visitors.
RE: What effect is Sequestration having on the parks?
Breaking News reported in the Rapid City Journal 5/18
Elk Mountain Camp at Wind Cave NP will open 5/24 , closure of it has been reevaluated by the staff there. A planned upgrade for back up generators for the visitor center has been delayed to fund the camp income deficit. Some reduction of service is still planned for the camp, as yet unannounced.
Rate structure is the same this year, is proposed to increase to reflect inflation and costs of operation next year.
I congratulate the Superintendant, Vidal Davila, and his staff for recognizing the experience the camp gives to Park visitors, breaking with budget dogma in making a decision based on visitor and business principle, rather than a beaurocratic one.
These are the kind of people we need managing our property!
RE: WY to SD on route 16
No tunnels, US 16 is good 2 lane Moorcroft Wy, to Hill City &Rapid city SD.There is a 2 mile section of 16 through the fed. prop. at Jewel Cave N M that is a twisty narrow section. It is not a problem, just slow down, & enjoy the scenery.
RE: Good place to Fuel in/around Rapid City SD
Big D station on the corner of St Patrick & Cambell is easy and always 20 cents cheaper than at the interstate. Best fuel price in Rapid.
From westbound I -90 @ exit 61, turn left on Elk Valley Rd. ( 16 bypass) to St. Pat, then west to Cambell. Then south on Cambell back to the 16 bypass. Won't take you out of your way but a minute.
RE: Golf cart fell off the ramps while loading
SD State Parks are on the virge of allowing golf car use. When used as transportation, by responsible people, and not as a joy ride in any park I think it is a good idea.
Load & unload is more of a danger to you than to other campers.
Please respect that a golf car is a vehicle, as such limit it to road & trail use. Keep it off the grass!
RE: *** Laughlin NV.*****
You could go across the river from Avi to Moon River RV on Boundary Cone Road, 1/4 mi. west of az. 95. Only 3.5 mi. to Avi on the river road. All gravel with eucalyptus trees.
RE: What effect is Sequestration having on the parks?
To my knowledge, NPS campground fees are not being used to support any other activity or mandate the parks are charged with, quite the contrary was evident in the Wind Cave case.
Wind Caves P&L statement was very specific on costs directly associated with operation of the camp; in no way were the operations of the park subsidized by camp fees. Quite the opposite, the camp was subsidised by non users.
I do not feel it would be correct to copy the p&l statement Wind Caves Super. gave me here, as it was a private communication.
The financial statements of all our Fed. parks are available to anyone with a little search.
I believe NFS, COE & NPS Campgrounds should be a neutral, user pay feature, as they are an extension outside the mandate of the land management requirement they recieve public funds for.
As citizens, if you have concerns with the management of your Lands, request to meet with the principals, ask for qualification, as I have.
RE: What effect is Sequestration having on the parks?
Elk Mountain Campground at Wind Cave NP will be closed this year. When I met with the Super., Mr. Davila, and his staff for discovery, they presented financials that the camp operated at 65% of income to cost.
As the campground is not an essential part of ,or of necessity to the Park, closure was their only option within the fiscal rules.
Their rate policy did not match expenses for this camp.
Below cost usage fees to operate the camp is the reason for the closure there.
If it was a cost neutral feature, it would be open.
Why don't they raise the camping fee then?
In their financial structure, adjusting rates or reallocating funds requires application to NPS Headquarters. An 18 mo. process. Unless------ Can't go there without violating forum rules on political comment.-----
2012 rate for this no hook up camp with flush toilets, central water fill and dump station , daily interpretive programs and firewood on honor ( often abused) was $12/ night, when flush washrooms were open , for $6/ night only the pit toilets are available.
Pass holders always camp for 1/2 price, regardless of date.
The staff at Wind Cave stated 6652 people used the camp in 2012 for a gross income of $26,000 vs expense of $46,000 to operate.
My reason for visiting with the staff there was to educate them on the impact the word 'closure' may have, how it could affect visitation to the cave, whether a system is in place to refer due to the closure to other camps, USFS, State parks or private. No. they do not.
RE: What effect is Sequestration having on the parks?
Elk Mountain Campground at Wind Cave NP will be closed this year. When I met with the Super., Mr. Davila, and his staff for discovery, they presented financials that the camp operated at 65% of income to cost.
As the campground is not an essential part of ,or of necessity to the Park, closure was their only option within the fiscal rules.
Their rate policy did not match expenses for this camp.
Below cost usage fees to operate the camp is the reason for the closure there.
If it was a cost neutral feature, it would be open.
RE: What effect is Sequestration having on the parks?
One of my favorite NP CGs is closed. It's only 25 miles from home, and with my senior pass it cost me $8 a day to camp there. But not this summer.
And there you have it. $8 does not cover the cost
RE: camp ground ratings
Bandaid,
The conspiracy theory that GS ratings can be bought has been debunked many times.
Will you describe what did not live up to your expectation in those 2 parks?
First, look closely at the RATING score pages GS account representatives use, that Wes Robinson provided the link to. Apply that 3 page objective score sheet to the camps you believe were not rated correctly.
If you follow the criteria, your score will be very similar. Remember to check your opinions at the gate, save them for your subjective review on a site appropriate for them.
RE: Why do I not have power?
It has a built in converter, a device that converts 120v ac to 12v dc. . An inverter inverts dc to ac. Your plug in appliances and A/C are 120v ac.
RE: RV Park Website lies rant
And where do the campgrounds get those photos they use on their websites? Maybe from long ago or photoshopped!!!
Campsite Photos.com photographer/ bloggist Greg is now working his way through Nebraska to Minnesota then So. Dakota, back to Ca.
Join me in supporting their effort to expand a third party pictoral review of camps.
Greg is an expert photographer with an eye and to show the experience in a given camp. contact
eric@cmjmedia.com
Max
RE: dry camping
Your battery will charge through the converter. Not inverter. Know the difference. Adding your stand alone charger will speed things up, but be watchful not to recharge at too high an amp feed. If your converter is ,say a 55amp, you should not also use the charger at a high setting. Better to run the genny a little longer than to overheat your battery with a too fast a recharge.
RE: A problem I never knew existed.
My favorite is about a fellow who for the past 17 years attended a special event, always staying in the same camp. His rating of a c- was because another arrived next to him at 12:30 am and made noise. Sturgis? It is a 24 hr. PARTY!
I have often heard of posters slamming their favorite camp so that it would not be busy when they want to go.
Its in www.guestrated.com, Lazy J RV park
This is supposed to be a quality, no anonymous review site. Is anything worth believing?
RE: RV Parks and Large Dogs
We have 2 dogs, 1 small (6 Lbs) and 1 large (140 Lbs). I am planning to purchase a class A motorhome and live in an RV park. One of the RV parks in my area requires dogs to be under 20 Lbs. The large dog is very tame, quiet and old. Why are limits placed on sizes of dogs? Some smaller dogs are more noisy and more energetic than the larger, older ones.
Since a couple of years ago when activists got the ball rolling on banning specific breeds. And the insurance companies all jumped on board and basically now many CG's are being held hostage by their insurance policies regarding pets.:(
Setting a limit on weight is an easy way of illuminating the dogs on the banned breed list without having to list all the breeds and furthermore irritating/offending campers with large breed pets.
Great answer.
Great Danes, Pyranees ,St. Bernards and many other large breeds are known to be well tempered, but is such a large pet appropriate in camp where it is necessary to walk it in a new environment among unknown children and smaller aggressive dogs?
Camps have to make the rule for liability and to suit clientele. A pet of breed or large enough to cause concern to our other guests is one to restrict.
Its not how you know your pet so much as it is how the others view it.
