Dear HCN,
Your article on federal
recreation fees (HCN, 2/14/00: Land of the fee) touched a nerve
with me, so to speak. While beginning a hike into the Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area near Granby, Colo., last summer, I paused to insert
my fee stub into the collection box at the wilderness boundary. My
groping fingers met with some resistance at the unusually large
opening of the box, then a sharp stab of pain. Exploring the
situation by removing the box lid revealed a furious mother
squirrel and her two half-grown pups who had taken residence
within. The unhappy campers promptly made for the nearest tree,
from whence my friends and I were roundly scolded while
contemplating our next move. As we had failed to capture Momma for
examination, it was decided that I should seek medical attention
while the rest of the party continued the
hike.
At the clinic in Granby, I was informed
that squirrels don’t carry rabies and was given a lollipop and a
$10 insurance co-payment bill, for which I was cheerfully
reimbursed from the coffee fund of the Hot Sulphur Springs Ranger
District across the street. While my friends enjoyed a Rocky
Mountain hailstorm which caused their dog to tear down their tent,
I checked into the Hot Sulphur Springs Lodge to enjoy a soak and
nurse my wounds. The wilderness rangers removed the offending
squirrel condo (a somewhat embellished photo is enclosed) on the
following day, while I, hopelessly separated from my friends,
enjoyed a solo hike into the Never Summer Wilderness, which was
thankfully fee-free!
John
Webb
Golden, Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Fees take a big bite.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
