Comment from Linda DeFoliart
Linda DeFoliartOpposeIndividual
Summary: Linda DeFoliart, a local resident and frequent visitor, opposes increasing vehicle access to Denali National Park. She argues that more buses will negatively impact wildlife habitats and diminish the experience for campers and cyclists, and she suggests capping the number of buses allowed.
I live in Fairbanks and visit Denali Park fairly often. I was down there May 18-20 this year. It was already very crowded with tourists taking bus trips. The park buses weren't running a full schedule yet so this was mostly cruise line buses. I feel that by making the experience more available (to mostly wealth people that can afford cruises) you take away from the experience of those who come to camp and take a park bus in. And the human experience is far less consequential to me than the wildlife who live there. They need a break. I wonder if they will start withdrawing from the road corridor as traffic increases, again lessening the experience for everyone.
Also, as a pretty much annual bike rider in the park, I shudder to think about more buses on the park road. Though I usually go before and after the season peak in terms of visitor numbers.
I am glad that access to the park is restricted to buses, but I feel it's time to cap the number of buses as well. Thank you for considering my comments.
Linda DeFoliart
1743 Coyote Tr
Fairbanks, AK 99709