I am beside myself. Henry Coe is my vacation home. I have led children, families and mommies on their own without their families or children (hahaha) on beginning trips. Limekiln is another sweet park on the list off of hwy 1. San Simeon is near Hearst Castle, there are others I don't know intimately, but people I know do. I really hope that some of you are right and this is a scare tactic (to make us embrace new taxes). I can't believe I support that tactic at all...I guess it worked. I also have mixed feelings about increasing fees as often backpacking/ camping can be an affordable vacation, and fees have already been noticeably increased. But I would also do more for the wonderful park rangers in Coe without question and would support higher fees if it really went to those who staffed parks and to maintenance costs.I know that either we raise revenue or slash services. That is the reality of any budget. I am in the same boat as a teacher, director, member of the board looking at another deficit year at our own school (raise tuition or cut hours/programs).

I would seriously hike/backpack illegally if it came down to it!

I wrote my representatives, and feel 22 years old again (political and all). I also wrote Tom Siestra as he is well known in the California outdoors community. I also discovered this group:

http://www.calparks.org/park-advocacy-day-2008.html