Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Grand Canyon News
Here's a good one... seems the private permit system was circumvented by a clever boater who used ficticious names and deceased people to apply for Colorado River permits through the Grand Canyon. These permits are like gold... rare that ANYONE can obtain a permit without waiting around 10 to 15 years for their application! I've waited sooooo long that I probably will never get back there on my own permit... I'll have to wait until I'm invited on someone else's trip or pay a commercial outfitter to take me down that river.
Many years ago, when I first started boating and rafting, my group of friends applied for a Grand Canyon trip and Middle Fork Salmon trip. Amazingly, the river gods smiled down on us and granted both permits in one year! Incredible. That year was spent being a total rafting bum and I never really appreciated how lucky I was to have obtained those permits... and every year since, I have applied along with several other friends. NO LUCK... still waiting.
This character, Stephen E. Savage received a 30-day jail sentence, five years probation and a $15,000 fine for his fraudulent activity. The rest of us who have been following the rules and waiting forever can at least be satisfied that the NPS may implement procedures that will prevent this type of fraud from happening again.
National Park Service Superintendent, Joseph Alston says, "We are pleased with the outcome of this case and feel it reflects the serious nature of the offense commited. In this case, Savage put his personal interest in front of thousands of others who have waited years for the opportunity of a river trip. We hope this sentence serves as a deterent for others that have tried to abuse the system."
Mr. Savage was also banned from all National Parks while on probation. (Should have been forever!)
Many years ago, when I first started boating and rafting, my group of friends applied for a Grand Canyon trip and Middle Fork Salmon trip. Amazingly, the river gods smiled down on us and granted both permits in one year! Incredible. That year was spent being a total rafting bum and I never really appreciated how lucky I was to have obtained those permits... and every year since, I have applied along with several other friends. NO LUCK... still waiting.
This character, Stephen E. Savage received a 30-day jail sentence, five years probation and a $15,000 fine for his fraudulent activity. The rest of us who have been following the rules and waiting forever can at least be satisfied that the NPS may implement procedures that will prevent this type of fraud from happening again.
National Park Service Superintendent, Joseph Alston says, "We are pleased with the outcome of this case and feel it reflects the serious nature of the offense commited. In this case, Savage put his personal interest in front of thousands of others who have waited years for the opportunity of a river trip. We hope this sentence serves as a deterent for others that have tried to abuse the system."
Mr. Savage was also banned from all National Parks while on probation. (Should have been forever!)
# posted by W.E.T. River Trips - raftWET.com @ 2:00 PM 
