Pay for what you use

Resslin' Around by Casey Ressler

Last week, a story about Hatcher Pass fee stations appeared in the Outdoors section, and since then, I've received several e-mails from people who are disgruntled about the fact they have to pay $5 to park, when it was free before.

First off, complaining to the author of a story isn't the best way to get things changed. But that's beside the point. I was kind of surprised by the sentiments, however.

The Alaska State Parks system is a jewel to the state, and thousands of people visit sites each year. Hatcher Pass is one of the most beautiful places in the world in my mind, and I personally don't think $5 is too much to ask for a day there. An annual parking pass costs only $40 - that's only eight visits to Hatcher Pass, or eight trips fishing to Willow Creek, or eight trips to Chugach State Park, or eight trips …

Unfortunately, we live in an area where the sentiment seems to be, "I want something for nothing" for a variety of things. Maybe I'd feel different about paying to park at a state park if the fee was like $50 a visit, but at $5 (or $40 for the entire year, which is a real bargain), I'm OK with coughing up the cash.

Yeah, I'd like to see the state fully fund the Alaska State Parks system so we wouldn't have to pay, but that's a pipe dream. Getting funding for schools is a big enough challenge with the current administration, so day-use parking at state parks probably isn't high up on their lists of things to throw money at.

Park rangers and Alaska State Parks staff do a tremendous job in keeping the areas clean, enforcing rules and regulations and providing Alaskans - and visitors - with an extremely positive experience while in state park areas. They can't do it for free, however, nor should they be asked to.

If you enjoy the beauty of Hatcher Pass, the thrill of catching a king salmon at Willow Creek, the trail systems throughout Chugach State Park, chip in and drop a five-spot in the fee booth, or pick up an annual pass from a ranger or an Alaska State Parks office. It isn't too much to ask people to pay for what they use.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor.