"Orwellian" NPS suspends running and cycling events in Death Valley

Barack Obama's radicalized National Park Service is using a new form of "Barrycade" at one of the people's parks. It is suspending running and bicycling events at Death Valley.

This action is not based on any particular incident.

From the San Bernardino Sun:

The National Park Service here has quietly suspended issuing permits for running and cycling events, including the world famous Badwater Ultramarathon, which may require organizers to find other locations and could cost gateway communities near the park lost revenues.

Park Service officials say they want to review guidelines and are postponing decisions on 2014 events until the review has been completed in March.

Chris Kostman, race director for the Badwater run — which draws runners from all over the world in the summer — called the NPS behavior "Orwellian." No contact was made with his group, he said — only a brief note was added to the "doing business with the parks" portion of the park's website.

It said: "Effective immediately Death Valley National Park will temporarily discontinue issuance of running and bicycling event permits. Future event permits will not be considered until a thorough safety evaluation of this type of activity has been completed. Activities that already have a fully-executed permit will go on as planned. Our website will be updated once we have completed this safety evaluation."

What a bunch of sneaky bastards. Of course no one from Death Valley National Park was available to comment on this self-induced false start.

The Badwater Ultramarathon was featured in a 2005 60 Minutes segment--"The Toughest Race." It's my favorite story from that show. The 135-mile run begins in Death Valley below sea level and ends half-way up Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States.

Yep, it's certainly the toughest race.

Oh, in 2002 and 2003, the overall winner of Badwater was a woman, the legendary Pam Reed.

Deal with it, fellas.

The NPS gets a lump of coal from me for its Christmas stocking. Who else wants to contribute?

Finally, you can sign the White House petition to overturn the suspension of the fitness events. Click here to sign.

Related post:

No Christmas tree at NPS-run Abe Lincoln home

Technorati tags: running marathon run sports athletics national parks travel culture history Christmas