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November 17, 2010
"Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park and Preserve"
by Tom
Betts
Tom Betts is currently the Chief
Ranger at Bandelier National Monument and has spent 28 years in the
National Park Service, having worked in a number of western parks
including parks in Alaska and Hawaii. The last park that Tom worked
in prior to coming to Bandelier National Monument was Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park and Preserve where he spent 13 years as the
Chitina District Ranger/Pilot; with almost 5 years as the Chitina
District Ranger/Chief Pilot and
the last 8 months as the Acting Chief
Ranger/Chief Pilot.
Southwest Ridge of
12,000 foot Mt. Drum.
Tom's presentation will begin with a
brief introduction of his history with the National Park Service
(NPS). He will then will discuss a few of the issues that he
dealt with during his 13 years at Wrangell-St. Elias, told through
photographs taken while engaged in his daily duties.
If you like
mountains, glaciers, and airplanes, then we know you will enjoy this
presentation about one of the most unique National Parks in the
world, as seen through the eyes of a professional National Park Ranger with a
lifetime of experiences under his belt.
Tom with Husky on
Floats at Boomerang Lake.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve is one of the Alaska monuments set aside by Carter in 1978
as part of 80 million acres of land authorized to be claimed under
the Alaska National Interest Lands Claim Act (ANILCA). In 1980,
Congress acted to recognize the monuments as National Parks and
Preserves. Much controversy ensued from residents of the 49th state
about the "taking" of lands by the U.S. Government. Hard feelings
exist today and are experienced by NPS staff in many of the ANILCA
parks. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve was set aside
as 13.2 million acres. The large size was to encompass entire
ecosystems of wetlands, rivers, mountains, and glaciers, and
includes many communities within it's boundaries.
Husky at Green
Hills Strip on the Nabesna Glacier.
More Bio
Information: Tom and his wife Beth are both second
generation park rangers, having grown up together in Grand Canyon
National Park in the late 60's. Beth worked seasonally in a
number of western parks before becoming permanent. She has
worked as an Interpretive Ranger, a Resource Manager, as well as in
law enforcement. Tom and Beth reacquainted back at Grand Canyon
where they were married in 1987. They now have two children ages 19
and 17, and Beth is currently the Human Resources officer at
Bandelier.
Beth's father retired after a 30 year career, the
last 10 as the Unit Manager at Scotty's Castle in Death Valley
National Monument. Tom's father retired after a 30 year career as
the last "flying" Superintendent of Mt. McKinley National Park, now
known as Denali National Park and Preserve.
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