I spoke with Dwight Dixon, the ranger from the C&O canal who wrote
the letter, today. Real nice and understanding dude.
Yes! I did it the old fashion way, I called the gentleman up on the
telephone.
He stated that he recently learned about letterboxing, and that he
thinks that it is a very interesting sport and can understand the
interest and fun in the sport. He did state that he is familiar with
geocaching and that he has removed numerous boxes from that sport.
He stated at present time it is not illegal to hide boxes in the NP.
BUT in the future it may. At present the NPS is looking into revising
their CFR 36 report, so that geocaching and letterboxing will be
illegal. And mostly do to the fact that geocaching has been the
greatest problem for the park service.
He did comment that at present it is up to the park superintendent of
a region to decide which park may have harsher public use limitations
than other parks.
AND this all has to do with:
1. Enviromental issues
For example protecting rare plants. You may plant a box at a time
that the plant is hidden under the ground and later when it is above
ground, someone else who is so excited about finding a box tramples
and kills the plant.
2.Preserving historical sites.
For example, gate locks, hidden indian burial sites, hidden civil
war campsites. He stated that the NPS does not let the public know
the location of these sites in fear of vandals. And that they would
not like them to be damaged because of people looking in that area
for a box.
3.The welfare of the hiker/letterboxer/geocacher.
He stated that this year there had been three people who had been
bitten by snakes in the park.
Last year a geocacher while reaching into a hole was bitten by a bat.
ANd then there have been boxes hidden up high on cliffs.
We then dicussed his comment about boxes being perceived as bombs. He
stated that each week someone calls the office informing the rangers
of a suspicious looking box. And that they must go out, do their job
and remove the box.
He did state that if any letterboxer wishes to hide a box that you
CAN, but you must FIRST ask permission, get a permit and be shown
where it would be o.k. to plant the box.
This all sound fair to me. I think the man is just doing his job. And
the park service is trying to protect the park so that everyone can
enjoy.
As someone pointed out the other day there are other places to plant
boxes.
Monica(the hiker)
The NPS Letter
3 messages in this thread |
Started on 2002-09-27
The NPS Letter
From: lizardbuttsfamily (mmebt@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2002-09-27 19:40:04 UTC
Re: The NPS Letter
From: haalck (haalck@snet.net) |
Date: 2002-09-28 20:46:15 UTC
Great job Monica,
I live in CT with no NP's and was wondering who I could talk to in
the Park service. This issue has gotten a bit blown out of proportion
as I've only seen one park region that actually has a problem with
letterboxing. My guess is most have never even heard about it. I
believe if you talk to the Park rangers, they will most likly let you
plant a box, with their having site approval. I do believe a letter
writting campaign to the district ranger in the DC area would help
show just how many people value this hobby and how it brings more
people to OUR National Parks. Maybe we could convince Mr Dixon to
give us a way to contact him or a staff member about planting some
boxes with their help and posting the clues at the Visitor Center,
like I've seen at some State Parks. Maybe even a gathering at a Park,
with a combination litter gathering day? I envy you people down in
the DC area with all your NP's. Do you think you could obtain an
address for us to write (nice) letters to Mr. Dixon or another
official. Thanks for your initiative.
Bill & Craig
--- In letterbox-usa@y..., "lizardbuttsfamily" wrote:
> I spoke with Dwight Dixon, the ranger from the C&O canal who wrote
> the letter, today. Real nice and understanding dude.
> Yes! I did it the old fashion way, I called the gentleman up on the
> telephone.
>
> He stated that he recently learned about letterboxing, and that he
> thinks that it is a very interesting sport and can understand the
> interest and fun in the sport. He did state that he is familiar
with
> geocaching and that he has removed numerous boxes from that sport.
>
> He stated at present time it is not illegal to hide boxes in the
NP.
> BUT in the future it may. At present the NPS is looking into
revising
> their CFR 36 report, so that geocaching and letterboxing will be
> illegal. And mostly do to the fact that geocaching has been the
> greatest problem for the park service.
>
> He did comment that at present it is up to the park superintendent
of
> a region to decide which park may have harsher public use
limitations
> than other parks.
>
> AND this all has to do with:
> 1. Enviromental issues
> For example protecting rare plants. You may plant a box at a time
> that the plant is hidden under the ground and later when it is
above
> ground, someone else who is so excited about finding a box tramples
> and kills the plant.
>
> 2.Preserving historical sites.
> For example, gate locks, hidden indian burial sites, hidden civil
> war campsites. He stated that the NPS does not let the public know
> the location of these sites in fear of vandals. And that they would
> not like them to be damaged because of people looking in that area
> for a box.
>
> 3.The welfare of the hiker/letterboxer/geocacher.
> He stated that this year there had been three people who had been
> bitten by snakes in the park.
> Last year a geocacher while reaching into a hole was bitten by a
bat.
> ANd then there have been boxes hidden up high on cliffs.
>
>
> We then dicussed his comment about boxes being perceived as bombs.
He
> stated that each week someone calls the office informing the
rangers
> of a suspicious looking box. And that they must go out, do their
job
> and remove the box.
>
> He did state that if any letterboxer wishes to hide a box that you
> CAN, but you must FIRST ask permission, get a permit and be shown
> where it would be o.k. to plant the box.
>
>
> This all sound fair to me. I think the man is just doing his job.
And
> the park service is trying to protect the park so that everyone can
> enjoy.
>
> As someone pointed out the other day there are other places to
plant
> boxes.
>
> Monica(the hiker)
I live in CT with no NP's and was wondering who I could talk to in
the Park service. This issue has gotten a bit blown out of proportion
as I've only seen one park region that actually has a problem with
letterboxing. My guess is most have never even heard about it. I
believe if you talk to the Park rangers, they will most likly let you
plant a box, with their having site approval. I do believe a letter
writting campaign to the district ranger in the DC area would help
show just how many people value this hobby and how it brings more
people to OUR National Parks. Maybe we could convince Mr Dixon to
give us a way to contact him or a staff member about planting some
boxes with their help and posting the clues at the Visitor Center,
like I've seen at some State Parks. Maybe even a gathering at a Park,
with a combination litter gathering day? I envy you people down in
the DC area with all your NP's. Do you think you could obtain an
address for us to write (nice) letters to Mr. Dixon or another
official. Thanks for your initiative.
Bill & Craig
--- In letterbox-usa@y..., "lizardbuttsfamily"
> I spoke with Dwight Dixon, the ranger from the C&O canal who wrote
> the letter, today. Real nice and understanding dude.
> Yes! I did it the old fashion way, I called the gentleman up on the
> telephone.
>
> He stated that he recently learned about letterboxing, and that he
> thinks that it is a very interesting sport and can understand the
> interest and fun in the sport. He did state that he is familiar
with
> geocaching and that he has removed numerous boxes from that sport.
>
> He stated at present time it is not illegal to hide boxes in the
NP.
> BUT in the future it may. At present the NPS is looking into
revising
> their CFR 36 report, so that geocaching and letterboxing will be
> illegal. And mostly do to the fact that geocaching has been the
> greatest problem for the park service.
>
> He did comment that at present it is up to the park superintendent
of
> a region to decide which park may have harsher public use
limitations
> than other parks.
>
> AND this all has to do with:
> 1. Enviromental issues
> For example protecting rare plants. You may plant a box at a time
> that the plant is hidden under the ground and later when it is
above
> ground, someone else who is so excited about finding a box tramples
> and kills the plant.
>
> 2.Preserving historical sites.
> For example, gate locks, hidden indian burial sites, hidden civil
> war campsites. He stated that the NPS does not let the public know
> the location of these sites in fear of vandals. And that they would
> not like them to be damaged because of people looking in that area
> for a box.
>
> 3.The welfare of the hiker/letterboxer/geocacher.
> He stated that this year there had been three people who had been
> bitten by snakes in the park.
> Last year a geocacher while reaching into a hole was bitten by a
bat.
> ANd then there have been boxes hidden up high on cliffs.
>
>
> We then dicussed his comment about boxes being perceived as bombs.
He
> stated that each week someone calls the office informing the
rangers
> of a suspicious looking box. And that they must go out, do their
job
> and remove the box.
>
> He did state that if any letterboxer wishes to hide a box that you
> CAN, but you must FIRST ask permission, get a permit and be shown
> where it would be o.k. to plant the box.
>
>
> This all sound fair to me. I think the man is just doing his job.
And
> the park service is trying to protect the park so that everyone can
> enjoy.
>
> As someone pointed out the other day there are other places to
plant
> boxes.
>
> Monica(the hiker)
Re: The NPS Letter
From: lizardbuttsfamily (mmebt@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2002-09-29 00:01:49 UTC
The wonderful world of the internet can provide you with almost
anything you wish. At least it worked for me the other day. Still
waiting for the million dollars that keeps flashing at me.
For information on the C&O canal NPS go to www.cando.org,then click
contact info on left side of page. This will bring you to
www.candocanal.org/board.html. Scroll down to Directory for C&O canal
NPS , which lists personnel and phone#s. If anyone is interested in
Mr. Dixon he can be found under Western Md district.
As to other regions in the US, well you will just have to let your
fingers do the walking thru the internet.
Monica(the hiker)
"haalck" wrote:
> Great job Monica,
> I live in CT with no NP's and was wondering who I could talk to in
> the Park service. This issue has gotten a bit blown out of
proportion
> as I've only seen one park region that actually has a problem with
> letterboxing. My guess is most have never even heard about it. I
> believe if you talk to the Park rangers, they will most likly let
you
> plant a box, with their having site approval. I do believe a letter
> writting campaign to the district ranger in the DC area would help
> show just how many people value this hobby and how it brings more
> people to OUR National Parks. Maybe we could convince Mr Dixon to
> give us a way to contact him or a staff member about planting some
> boxes with their help and posting the clues at the Visitor Center,
> like I've seen at some State Parks. Maybe even a gathering at a
Park,
> with a combination litter gathering day? I envy you people down in
> the DC area with all your NP's. Do you think you could obtain an
> address for us to write (nice) letters to Mr. Dixon or another
> official. Thanks for your initiative.
> Bill & Craig
>
>
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@y..., "lizardbuttsfamily" wrote:
> > I spoke with Dwight Dixon, the ranger from the C&O canal who
wrote
> > the letter, today. Real nice and understanding dude.
> > Yes! I did it the old fashion way, I called the gentleman up on
the
> > telephone.
> >
> > He stated that he recently learned about letterboxing, and that
he
> > thinks that it is a very interesting sport and can understand the
> > interest and fun in the sport. He did state that he is familiar
> with
> > geocaching and that he has removed numerous boxes from that sport.
> >
> > He stated at present time it is not illegal to hide boxes in the
> NP.
> > BUT in the future it may. At present the NPS is looking into
> revising
> > their CFR 36 report, so that geocaching and letterboxing will be
> > illegal. And mostly do to the fact that geocaching has been the
> > greatest problem for the park service.
> >
> > He did comment that at present it is up to the park
superintendent
> of
> > a region to decide which park may have harsher public use
> limitations
> > than other parks.
> >
> > AND this all has to do with:
> > 1. Enviromental issues
> > For example protecting rare plants. You may plant a box at a time
> > that the plant is hidden under the ground and later when it is
> above
> > ground, someone else who is so excited about finding a box
tramples
> > and kills the plant.
> >
> > 2.Preserving historical sites.
> > For example, gate locks, hidden indian burial sites, hidden
civil
> > war campsites. He stated that the NPS does not let the public
know
> > the location of these sites in fear of vandals. And that they
would
> > not like them to be damaged because of people looking in that
area
> > for a box.
> >
> > 3.The welfare of the hiker/letterboxer/geocacher.
> > He stated that this year there had been three people who had been
> > bitten by snakes in the park.
> > Last year a geocacher while reaching into a hole was bitten by a
> bat.
> > ANd then there have been boxes hidden up high on cliffs.
> >
> >
> > We then dicussed his comment about boxes being perceived as
bombs.
> He
> > stated that each week someone calls the office informing the
> rangers
> > of a suspicious looking box. And that they must go out, do their
> job
> > and remove the box.
> >
> > He did state that if any letterboxer wishes to hide a box that
you
> > CAN, but you must FIRST ask permission, get a permit and be shown
> > where it would be o.k. to plant the box.
> >
> >
> > This all sound fair to me. I think the man is just doing his job.
> And
> > the park service is trying to protect the park so that everyone
can
> > enjoy.
> >
> > As someone pointed out the other day there are other places to
> plant
> > boxes.
> >
> > Monica(the hiker)
anything you wish. At least it worked for me the other day. Still
waiting for the million dollars that keeps flashing at me.
For information on the C&O canal NPS go to www.cando.org,then click
contact info on left side of page. This will bring you to
www.candocanal.org/board.html. Scroll down to Directory for C&O canal
NPS , which lists personnel and phone#s. If anyone is interested in
Mr. Dixon he can be found under Western Md district.
As to other regions in the US, well you will just have to let your
fingers do the walking thru the internet.
Monica(the hiker)
"haalck"
> Great job Monica,
> I live in CT with no NP's and was wondering who I could talk to in
> the Park service. This issue has gotten a bit blown out of
proportion
> as I've only seen one park region that actually has a problem with
> letterboxing. My guess is most have never even heard about it. I
> believe if you talk to the Park rangers, they will most likly let
you
> plant a box, with their having site approval. I do believe a letter
> writting campaign to the district ranger in the DC area would help
> show just how many people value this hobby and how it brings more
> people to OUR National Parks. Maybe we could convince Mr Dixon to
> give us a way to contact him or a staff member about planting some
> boxes with their help and posting the clues at the Visitor Center,
> like I've seen at some State Parks. Maybe even a gathering at a
Park,
> with a combination litter gathering day? I envy you people down in
> the DC area with all your NP's. Do you think you could obtain an
> address for us to write (nice) letters to Mr. Dixon or another
> official. Thanks for your initiative.
> Bill & Craig
>
>
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@y..., "lizardbuttsfamily"
> > I spoke with Dwight Dixon, the ranger from the C&O canal who
wrote
> > the letter, today. Real nice and understanding dude.
> > Yes! I did it the old fashion way, I called the gentleman up on
the
> > telephone.
> >
> > He stated that he recently learned about letterboxing, and that
he
> > thinks that it is a very interesting sport and can understand the
> > interest and fun in the sport. He did state that he is familiar
> with
> > geocaching and that he has removed numerous boxes from that sport.
> >
> > He stated at present time it is not illegal to hide boxes in the
> NP.
> > BUT in the future it may. At present the NPS is looking into
> revising
> > their CFR 36 report, so that geocaching and letterboxing will be
> > illegal. And mostly do to the fact that geocaching has been the
> > greatest problem for the park service.
> >
> > He did comment that at present it is up to the park
superintendent
> of
> > a region to decide which park may have harsher public use
> limitations
> > than other parks.
> >
> > AND this all has to do with:
> > 1. Enviromental issues
> > For example protecting rare plants. You may plant a box at a time
> > that the plant is hidden under the ground and later when it is
> above
> > ground, someone else who is so excited about finding a box
tramples
> > and kills the plant.
> >
> > 2.Preserving historical sites.
> > For example, gate locks, hidden indian burial sites, hidden
civil
> > war campsites. He stated that the NPS does not let the public
know
> > the location of these sites in fear of vandals. And that they
would
> > not like them to be damaged because of people looking in that
area
> > for a box.
> >
> > 3.The welfare of the hiker/letterboxer/geocacher.
> > He stated that this year there had been three people who had been
> > bitten by snakes in the park.
> > Last year a geocacher while reaching into a hole was bitten by a
> bat.
> > ANd then there have been boxes hidden up high on cliffs.
> >
> >
> > We then dicussed his comment about boxes being perceived as
bombs.
> He
> > stated that each week someone calls the office informing the
> rangers
> > of a suspicious looking box. And that they must go out, do their
> job
> > and remove the box.
> >
> > He did state that if any letterboxer wishes to hide a box that
you
> > CAN, but you must FIRST ask permission, get a permit and be shown
> > where it would be o.k. to plant the box.
> >
> >
> > This all sound fair to me. I think the man is just doing his job.
> And
> > the park service is trying to protect the park so that everyone
can
> > enjoy.
> >
> > As someone pointed out the other day there are other places to
> plant
> > boxes.
> >
> > Monica(the hiker)