Congress' Neglect: The Abandonment of Stehekin in the North Cascades

Golden West Visitor Center Stehekin~NPS

In the heart of the North Cascades, nestled within the breathtaking beauty of nature, lies Stehekin – a jewel cherished by locals and visitors alike. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over this pristine wilderness, revealing a tale of neglect and disregard that should outrage us all. The National Park Service's decision to pull all rangers from Stehekin due to insufficient funding is not just a blow to one isolated community; it's a symptom of a larger problem – Congress' failure to prioritize and adequately fund our national parks.

The story of Stehekin's abandonment is a stark reminder of the consequences of underfunding. The presence of park rangers protects the safety and preservation of this delicate ecosystem. Visitors seeking guidance and education will be left to wander without direction, potentially harming themselves and the environment. Moreover, withdrawing rangers undermines the sense of stewardship essential for our national parks' long-term sustainability.

Congress' chronic underfunding of the National Park Service is at the heart of this issue. Despite our parks' immense economic, cultural, and environmental benefits, they continue to operate on shoestring budgets, struggling to meet basic operational needs. This neglect is not just shortsighted; it's a betrayal of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve our natural heritage for future generations.

The situation in Stehekin is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a systemic problem. Across the country, national parks are grappling with understaffing, crumbling infrastructure, and dwindling resources. These challenges are exacerbated by the growing threats of climate change, overcrowding, and habitat destruction. Yet, instead of rising to meet these challenges, Congress has chosen to turn a blind eye, leaving our parks and the communities that rely on them to fend for themselves.

It's time for Congress to step up and fulfill its duty to safeguard our national parks. This means increasing funding for the National Park Service and prioritizing resources for places like Stehekin in the North Cascades. These irreplaceable natural treasures deserve better than to be treated as an afterthought in the federal budget.

As citizens and stewards of our public lands, we must demand action from our elected representatives. We cannot afford to stand idly by while our national parks suffer from neglect and underfunding. Contact your representatives, raise community awareness, and demand that Congress adequately fund the National Park Service. The future of places like Stehekin depends on it.

In the words of John Muir, "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity." Let us not allow Congress' neglect to rob us of our connection to the wild places that inspire and rejuvenate us. It's time to act—for Stehekin, the North Cascades, and the future of our national parks.

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Meet Sean Smith, the master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning conservationist and former National Park Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot, soaring through the skies like a bald eagle on a mission.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and at the included QR code. 

Oppose HR 622

Just sent my local Representative the following letter. I encourage you to send a similar message on HR 622 to your elected officials.

Rep. Reichert:

Thank you for your leadership on standing up for national parks, wilderness, public lands, and the environment.  As you know, protection of public lands, providing clean air and water are good for both our environment and the economy. The eighth congressional district is fortunate to have a strong mix of outstanding public lands like Mount Rainier and the Gifford Pinchot national forest.  But it's also home to industry and agriculture found no where else in the planet.

Recently Rep Chaffetz introduce HR 622 which would strip the Forest Service and BLM of law enforcement responsibilities and provide local sheriffs with block grants to enforce environmental laws.  This is a bad idea on many fronts. Not the least of which is local law enforcement is not versed in federal public lands law and regulations. Moreover, local sheriffs are often already stretched thin with regular crime and would likely provide a lower priority to natural resource crimes such as poaching and vandalism.

I encourage you to call upon Rep. Chaffetz to drop his support of HR622. It's not good for public lands, it's not good for the environment, and it's not good for the economy.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Sean Smith
Former Forest Ranger
Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Former Park Ranger
North Cascades National Park

National Parks need you! Time to Take Action!

In the first few weeks of the new Trump
administration, the National Parks have been on the front page more times than one can count.  On the day of the inauguration, the National Park Service (NPS) twitter account was suspend for re-tweeting an image comparing the Obama 2009 inauguration crowd with the 2017 one.  Nearly, the next day the new President personally called the Acting Director of the Park Service to get additional pictures of the swearing in an apparent attempt to disprove the low turnout.

Just as the president was being sworn in, park fans and others noticed mentions of climate change began disappearing from the NPS and other federal websites. It was an apparent attempt to silence the Park Service on the matter.

Later Badlands National Park, despite the President's apparent denial of climate change, tweeted out about the phenomenon, landing the park in hot water. But rather than rolling over Alt national park twitter accounts began to pop up all over the Internet including Alt Acadia, Alt Badlands, Alt NPS and many others. This was an obvious effort by park rangers to spread the truth about our parks and the natural world. In a short period of time, park service rangers, people known for their flats hats and knowledge obscure facts had become leaders of the resistance.

Yet despite this popular groundswell of opposition to the new president's agenda, efforts to undermine our parks and other public lands continue.  In the two weeks since Trump took over the White House, legislation has been introduced to sell off millions of acres of public land, strip land management agencies of their ability to enforce the law, permit oil and gas drilling in our national parks, and freeze the hiring of permanent rangers.

Thanks in large part to a public outcry some of these bad measures have been withdrawn. Yet many more bad bills remain and we can likely expect more.

Some might feel hopeless at this development, but there is much we can and must do. 

We must continue to write and call our elected officials.  Calls to the President and Republican offices are especially important.

However, more emphasis should be placed on contacting Democrats and environmental non-profits. This is where the true line of defense must be drawn. Democratic lawmakers, especially those in the Senate, and environmental organizations like the Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Sierra Club are going to be under extreme pressure to compromise on bills that will undermine our parks. Democratic Senators for example will be tempted with deals such as increased funds for highway maintenance, if they drop their opposition to park bills. Meanwhile, non-profits will be seduced by promises of access to power if they too compromise our parks. Mark my words, these political dealings are and will happen. We the public must not allow our champions' spines to weaken for too much is at stake.

In 2016 Americans and people around the world right celebrated a system that went from a single park in NW Wyoming to more than 400 parks today. It's a system that some have labeled America's best idea.  Twenty Seventeen marks the first year of our National Parks' second century. If that idea is going to see its bicentennial, all park defenders must take action now.

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Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

National Parks Protect More than Natural Wonders

Recently Congress passed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization act. Within this new legislation is language authorizing the National Park Service at Crater Lake to protect the park's natural soundscapes from intrusive tourist helicopter overflights. I'm thankful that I was able to play a role in this bill's passage. This new protection will insure visitors are able to enjoy the park's natural soundscapes and wildlife without constant helicopter buzz.


Over its 100 year history, the National Park Service has come to understand that its mission is to protect more than natural or cultural wonders. It must also protect visitor experiences and more importantly public safety.


National Parks are some of America's most special places. The Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall, and the Washington Monument protect the cradles and symbols of our democracy. Hundreds of millions of people from around the world visit these sites each year, many in a pilgrimage to be part of America's history. Unfortunately, the high profile of these places and their large crowds also attracts the attention of bad guys.


My new novel Unleashing Colter's Hell is about a terrorist attack on Yellowstone National Park. The book's villain chooses the park for its potential to unleash a devastating blow on America, a stab at the country's very soul. Park Ranger Grayson Cole and FBI agent Dianne Harris are all that stand between the world and Armageddon. The book is slated for release this spring. Look for it soon.


What values and resources do you expect the Park Service to protect?

Friends of National Parks Award Announced

Recently, 57 senators and 179 representatives of 111th Congress were honored for their work to protect national parks. Here in the NW more than a half dozen lawmakers received the award. I'm honored to have played a small part in recognizing these leaders.

National Parks such as Yellowstone, Mount Rainier, and the Gettysburg are physical representations of what America holds sacred. Congressional support is key to insuring our national parks are left unimpaired for future generations.

One of the core themes of Unleashing Colter's Hell, is the importance of national parks and the values and natural wonders they protect. It's good to know many in Congress understand their importance as well.