Less is more
I don’t know how much the public knows about the new 150 seat restaurant that is going to be built in the Chisos Basin to replace the “beyond repair” building that is currently there.
I spoke with Bob Krumenaker, the last National Park superintendent, before he left and under whose watch this started, asking questions and making suggestions.
If we could think out of the box and get out of the mindset that bigger and more is better, it could possibly open a new door.
I welcome your knowledge, facts and enlightenment. If you know something I do not and can help me understand, I would appreciate it.
And of course my ideas and thoughts are just that. I don’t have to repeat what my mama told me about opinions, do I?
I am sure there are architects and designers and planners that could figure out a more ecological and less impactful solution.
The restaurant and hotel rooms are run by Aramark Corporation. They pay a percentage of their profits to the park. Our government, me and you, the taxpayers, are essentially building Aramark an originally proposed $22 million, 150-seat restaurant. Another estimate was $45 million that was to include updating infrastructure and the water system.
My experience living in Marathon is construction rarely comes in at or under budget.
It is my understanding that because they are building in the same footprint of the original building they circumvent having to have an environmental impact statement.
But don’t you think we should have at least one?
I believe the Chisos Basin is the most environmentally sensitive part of the park. Construction will take months, if not years. Peregrine falcons, migrating birds, bears, mountain lions all reside in this sky island ecosystem. Shouldn’t we be building elsewhere? Right now the basin is so busy, cars have to wait to replace one leaving. Should we encourage more cars to come for a bigger restaurant?
Why not build outside of the basin or level the restaurant and put food trucks in its place, giving other small businesses a chance.
Keep the basin as wild as possible. By providing more and more amenities you are making it easy and comfortable. Big Bend National Park is wild and it should not be for everybody.
If you are unhealthy, not able to hike a few miles, you do not belong here.
Big Bend ranks #3 for deaths in National Parks. People die here every year. Even healthy people. That should not be taken lightly. You can bleed out or die waiting for medical attention.
Big Bend is not for, and should never be for, the Disney World crowd.
I fell in love with Big Bend in 1986. In 1988 I moved here and have spent the last 35 years hiking and photographing the landscape, the people, the critters, and whatever found its way in front of my lens. Camping, being by yourself, being quiet. You learn the kind of person you are or want to become. Being outside, in nature, learning about animals and plants. It’s priceless.
Seeing land undisturbed by human touch. This is what we should protect.
I have been all alone in the park for more than a week, never seeing another human being. It changes you profoundly. You feel like you are living on a planet. You are one with nature.
You are Adam.
You are Eve.
James H. Evans
Marathon
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Comparing irresponsible neighbors to turds.
Just as a turd is an unpleasant byproduct of life, the irresponsible actions of a neighbor recently resulted in my hobby/business being destroyed with the loss of 30 chickens and several others injured. Four years of experimentation, grow outs and associated costs gone in about an hour. Three free-running dogs had a grand time with my birds and coop enclosures. One had my dog at a back entrance to our home, and when I opened the door to let her in, this animal pushed in as well. I managed to trap this dog’s head between the door and the frame. A second pull resulted in the dog exiting, but I managed to slam the door on my thumb. I gathered my pepper spray and rifle. Two animals were sprayed. Being a loving pet owner myself, I could not allow myself to put these animals down. For sure they were in the crosshairs.
It was the second time these animals have been here. The owner had collected them from our property just days earlier. The white dogs from the Warbonnet area are often at the coops as well. I have cameras and pictures that confirm this. They are likely to be killed by traffic crossing the highway on 166, so that problem will be resolved. That’s a responsible owner.
A turd once deposited leaves a mess that others must deal with. I agreed to meet with the owner a couple of days later. It’s a good thing I had time to settle down. It would have been ugly. The expected greetings and apologies were exchanged. I asked that no animals be removed, but I was informed one had already been put down. A satisfactory reimbursement was not likely not going to happen from the excuses I heard, so I simply asked that the halyard on my flagpole be replaced. It was a very easy out. I was told no less than three times this would be done within a week. I’m still waiting. I also joked for removal of a brush pile and the use of a tack welder to repair a coop door and metal on a coop that was damaged.
I guess I will just sit back and allow future incursions to occur and owners neglect their responsibilities and verbal commitments.
I’m sure these folks are passing these values on to your children in school since I believe they are employed as educators locally.
Just as a turd can linger and create an unpleasant odor, irresponsible actions by others in this area have led to damaged relationships and an environment where negativity thrives.
Let me tell you about the neighborhood self-proclaimed hydraulic engineer who uses a back hoe in front of others’ properties as a materials source for his driveway. I’m told this was done by a “professional operator” to prevent flooding. That has never happened, but now it does, and the fence I put up will be lost at some point. My wife and myself are no longer able to walk from our property to the road. The erosion is too severe, deep and not safe. I’m then shamed by trying to repair the mess left behind with a casual note left in my mailbox with no postage. The road hazards and property damage created as a result are significant. I helped a lady whose car drove off into the ditch that had to be towed out. A rancher dropped a trailer wheel into the chasm and got stuck. Let’s hope it gets icy this winter and someone else falls in.
There’s my turd. Bring it.
Steven Hamilton
Fort Davis