I sit here in Kalispell Montana at around 9:45 PM Mountain time, and I look out my hotel window and there’s still daylight out there. Yes, it’s the longest day, the summer solstice. I spent most of this sunny and bright day driving, first from Billings to Great Falls (where I did my “collective consciousness” presentation to another group of teammates), then from Great Falls to Kalispell, through the glorious Glacier National Park. I took some photographs – a solitary barn, a waterfall, a couple of mountain goats. It made me think of how great it is that this country has set aside these National Parks for our enjoyment, but it also brought to mind an article I read yesterday in the Billings Gazette about how the parks are “losing ground in maintaining and protecting their current resources while facing increased costs for security, workers, energy and the crush of 270 million annual visitors”. I truly hope that our government will continue to honor the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt, the “Father of Conservation”, by funding the necessary monies to keep our parks in good condition. Ken Olsen, recent president of the Friends of Acadia (one of my favorite parks in Maine) said it best in the Billings article: “Government is the landlord. The landlord is responsible for taking care of it. They are the steward to maintain it for future generations.”
In any event, it was a great way to start the new season, and I look forward to sharing more of my travel experiences with you. Happy summer!
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