LETTERS TO EDITOR

It is extremely important that no one under any circumstances sells any private land to the Park Service. I can’t emphasize this enough—never, never sell land to the govern¬ment. Property rights is all about freedom.

After reading the World Net Daily articles I want you to know that it is nothing new or creative when the Park Service tries to make the Pilgrims look dangerous. Over the years I have had many Congressional inquiries generated on my behalf due to Park Service takings. A couple of times the NPS Regional Director stated that they alerted security when I was in the building. That comment infuriated me since it was likely a lie, at the very least there was no reason for security to be alerted.

I have worked for the NPS before. Honest people don’t last or are in the background where the can cause no harm. NPS employees will do most anything to protect their jobs. If they don’t, there are plenty of individuals to take their position that will do as they are told. They are rarely held accountable. That is the reason they can say & do most anything.

Steve Hicks

White Sulphur Springs, MT

7/13/2003

Dear Rick

Thanks so much for the story on Doug Frederick over in Slana. Our family has been going to their lodge since ‘96. We have often talked with Doug and Judy (Dick and Lucille too) about the NPS and how they were trying to put them out of business. We never took sides because we weren’t from the area and really didn’t understand both sides of the issue, however after our visit there in May of this year we left feeling like the NPS was harassing Doug.

We were planning on going to Copper Lake on an ATV but couldn’t because the NPS hadclosed the trails. In ‘99 we hiked out to Copper Lake spending 14 hours hiking through mud, crossing waist deep ice water, struggling over tundra grass knots, crawling through spruce trees and at one point lost the trail. It was a experience I don’t ever want to repeat. In the summer an ATV is the only way to get there. Copper Lake is not an area to hike into. Needless to say we were extremely disap¬point¬ed the NPS had closed the trails and that we couldn’t enjoy that part of our national park.

The other thing that we thought was strange was that the Jack Lake trail in Doug’s back yard had been closed by the NPS. This trail is in pristine condition. In all the years we have been going there we have never seen it in anything other than great condition, never any big mud holes or earth torn up by ATVs but the NPS closed it and no one at Doug’s lodge could use the trail with an ATV to get to Jack Lake. On the other hand the Big Grayling Lake Trail, up the road a mile or so and has no impact on Doug’s business, remained open. This trail was a mess, it was all torn up by ATVs and yet it’s open and Doug’s pristine Jack Lake Trial is closed. The only three trails that were closed in the park when we were visiting all had a major impact on Doug’s business and took away for our vacation. Looks to me like the NPS is harassing Doug and trying their very best to put this guy right out of business.

My husband and I work hard each year to save money so we can travel from Maine to Alaska. The money we spend in Alaska helps a lot of people stay in business. Airlines, restaurants, gas stations, car rental, grocery stores etc. If the NPS is successful and Doug goes under he won’t be the only one to suffer. All the businesses that bring guests to his lodge will be hurt as well. I hope someone can get the NPS into shape.

Sincerely,

Cheryl and Peter Collin

Dear Rick & Bonnie

It looks like it’s renewal time once again. Please apply the items enclosed to give us two more years of your fine paper coming our way.

Mike being a “Kennecott Kid” (and I one by adoption) want to say Hi to all the “Kids” and we’re in hopes they’ve all wintered well and are feeling fit. We’ve so enjoyed the reunions and getting to meet many of the unique group of wonderful people. You are all dear to our hearts, as is Kennicott. May we all be granted a next time for another reunion. In the meanwhile take care and God Bless.

Evonne Sullivan (for Mike)

1122-B Spencer Rd.

Winlock, WA 98596

Hi Guys!

We would like to subscribe to the WSEN and have enclosed a $10 check for one year. Our friend in Copper Center—Slim Boner—sent us the May/June issue, and we enjoyed it very much, especially reading about the Pilgrim family.

We stayed at Kennecott Lodge a couple of years ago and spent an afternoon wandering around McCarthy, buying lunch and t-shirts and going to the museum. We loved the visit and the flight to and from. We plan to visit again, hopefully in 2004, and are considering driving.

We look forward to reading about the spots that stole our hearts completely and hope you guys keep it as unusual and wonderful as it was.

Emily Clements

Little Mountain, SC

Was reading the current issue of WSEN last night and I find it kind of strange (or maybe humorous) that the NPS is claiming budget cuts as the reason for closing the Visitor Information center. Just recently construction finished on a nice new building here in down town Anchorage. It’s the new home for the NPS, Alaska Regional Offices. It faces 5th Ave. and takes up half a city block. It’s just my guess that the NPS must have done a lot of “budget cuts” to have paid for their new regional office.

Again, great job on a wonderful newsletter. I enjoyed it greatly.

Many Thanks,

Robert

Dear Rick & Bonnie,

You guys are so sweet!!

I just got my newest WSEN issue and was flipping through it and came to page 27. Awesome review! Thank you. I was real happy that you put the book cover with it and the Contact Info is excellent promo.

And, of course, thanks for the kind review. And back at ya you are my favorite newsletter publishers! What you do is so extremely unique. When I sit down and read your newsletter I am transported to another realm—real life in the Bush.

Thanks again, you two, and may you both have a great second half (or final third) of summer.

Sincerely,

Todd Salat