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| Messages 1 - 34 of total 34 in this topic |
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 09:13am PT
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I imagine they're banking on the Park Service figuring it would be more of a hassle to sh!t can
them. Hopefully someone in Congress will hold the Park Service's feet to the fire on this. But
probably not.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Dec 24, 2014 - 09:27am PT
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Isn't that called...... "Extortion"? I wonder how Vinnie feels about competition??
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c wilmot
climber
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Dec 24, 2014 - 09:48am PT
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The Ahwahnee Hotel is a national historic landmark- how do you trademark that?
Oh- and anyone in need of a caffeine fix in the valley needs only to head to the Ahwahnee 2nd floor to fill up for free till noon.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:04am PT
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This is unbelievable! What a cash grab! That has already been paid for! The park service should ride DNC out on a rail.
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John M
climber
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:11am PT
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Is there a large corporation that could handle park concessions that one would want?
Is there a park with a decent concessionaire?
Just my curiosity. I have only worked in Yosemite.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:21am PT
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BRING BACK MCA,!!! WE WANT THE HALF DOME TELEPHERIQUE!!!!!*
* I've HAD IT with that walk down in the dark!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:36am PT
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In advance of a pay-to-play Congress, do not count on DNC losing their contract.
Rather, look for a larger deal. This is the opening salvo.
If you're a GOP congressperson, why wouldn't you sell out your nation's legacy for a few scheckles?
DMT, you're theory is correct, but you're aiming at the wrong target. DNC got in because of its connections to the Clinton Administration, not to Congress. DNC has been the worst Yosemite concessionaire of my lifetime. It makes me long for the days of the YP&CC or even MCA. I hope that anyone sued by DNC for alleged trademark infringement counterclaims for conversion of public property and worse.
A pox in DNC!
John
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Byran
climber
San Jose, CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:54am PT
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Not sure but it looks like the Ahwahnee was originally trademarked by the Curry Co, then taken over by DNC in 1989 (which is strange because they didn't start operating in Yosemite until '92, and i also don't understand why the trademark is categorized under "computer and scientific", but maybe someone here can make sense of this)
http://trademarks.justia.com/737/39/the-ahwahnee-73739312.html
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 10:56am PT
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DMT, my point wasn't the political party, it was the branch of government. The Yosemite concessionaire contract is in the hands of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, which is an agency of the Executive Branch.
While Republicans generally believe in more privatization than Democrats, privatization isn't the issue here. DNC has been greedy, incompetent (the worst hamburger I ever had anywhere was at the Village Grill), and had outsized influence on the NPS (witness the original Yosemite Valley Plan, that reduced everything but the DNC footprint).
This isn't an issue of political parties; it's an issue of undue political influence.
John
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10b4me
climber
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Dec 24, 2014 - 11:05am PT
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The company sent the letters as the park service is soliciting bids for a new concessionaire's agreement at Yosemite National Park.
seems like they are using it as a bargaining chip.
But it appears as though there is a chance they could operate under a completely different name.
great, Ahwahnee Six. We'll leave the light on for you.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Dec 24, 2014 - 11:16am PT
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It is my understanding that NPS is trying to leverage more money out of the cash cows, like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon. Xanterra (fka Fred Harvey), the concessionaire at GCNP is suing over a contract that was awarded to Delaware North. Park service bumped the concession fee from 3.8% of gross to 14% of gross.
NPS needs to generate A LOT OF MONEY at the GCNP to buy out Xanterra's capital improvements, something like 200 million dollars according to Xanterra. In addition the trans-canyon pipeline needs to be replaced at a cost of 100 million dollars. This pipeline is for the benefit of both Grand Canyon Village and the 4.5 million vistors, and the town of Tusayn. Money Money Money
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Dec 24, 2014 - 11:46am PT
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I remember them as bad, Timid Top Rope, but not that bad. And the Mountain Room Broiler seemed far better under MCA, but I didn't have a particularly large sample size.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and happy new year, too.
John
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 25, 2014 - 01:40pm PT
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Disgusting as DN's business practice seem, it may be just business as usual these days.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Dec 25, 2014 - 01:53pm PT
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How the f*#k can they own names that existed long before they got there?
Boot those f*#ks out. New blood, or at least the threat of new blood seems like it would have to help occasionally.
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Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
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Dec 25, 2014 - 03:38pm PT
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i also don't understand why the trademark is categorized under "computer and scientific",
Haha.
If it is,
They are about to get their asses kicked by the richest corporation on the planet, Apple computer, who has Yosemite trademarked for its latest operating system
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Dec 25, 2014 - 05:15pm PT
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Bring back the Four Seasons!
DNC has a sweetheart deal, the NPS should get a bigger cut...
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 27, 2014 - 01:10pm PT
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Maybe Chouinard could sue Chile and Argentina for using the word Payagonia.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Dec 27, 2014 - 01:39pm PT
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Maybe Chouinard could sue Chile and Argentina for using the word Payagonia.
Maybe Chile and Argentina should sue Chouinard!
;)
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Dec 27, 2014 - 03:05pm PT
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Maybe Taco Bell ought to sue Supertopo for appropriating Supertaco.
It's a ding-dong dingusting state of economic opportunity for some rich bastions.
TimidToprope, how awful!
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 27, 2014 - 05:33pm PT
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Wow! Interesting typo. I didn't even notice it until big Mike quoted it, Payagonia.
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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Dec 31, 2014 - 01:27pm PT
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or Payagoonia
or Payagainya
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Dec 31, 2014 - 03:15pm PT
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Maybe Halliburton will bid on the contract.
With so many important things to be done and with so many people looking for a viable life, wouldn't it make sense to do the work ourselves. The government needs to aggressively get the people back in the game and start competing instead of selling us down the river for a dirty buck. Then again I'm a progressive socialist and therefore doomed to watch the greedy, and corrupt ruin us all.
The beer is good and the tourists don't finish their pizza. What was I saying? I remember. It's our house, who are these as#@&%es?
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WBraun
climber
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Dec 31, 2014 - 05:19pm PT
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Yosemite should become the Iron El Cap military base.
Halliburton will be the contractor to build the up coming fortified impenetrable nuclear US command center and missile launch site.
Yosemite will become the ultimate bunker for the up coming apocalypses.
McDonald's and Pizza Hut will be contracted to provide nourishing well balance healthy meals.
Starbucks will provide the coffee to keep everyone awake 24/7
No one will survive except us in Yosemite.
You rock climbers will be hosed and have no say.
Anyone caught climbing will be shot on sight under the draconian National Security laws.
USA uber alles ......
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Dec 31, 2014 - 05:43pm PT
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3 years ago I was coming down the Mist Trail toward Happy Isle and came upon two guys dressed in business casual, one carrying a laptop and they were standing looking out toward the area left of Glacier Point. As I past one of them pointed out to some area that they both seemed to understand and one said to the other, "this area will go for about $37,000,000".
It seemed an odd statement, but then again they both looked odd and out of place.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Dec 31, 2014 - 05:56pm PT
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It's pathetic what this country has come too. Anything for sale at any price regardless of the consequences to the public at large that pay for it.
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coolrockclimberguy69
climber
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Dec 31, 2014 - 05:58pm PT
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Anyone caught climbing will be shot on sight under the draconian National Security laws.
Call me an apologist, but this sounds like it could be some type 2 fun.
Think about climbing The Nose in perfect October weather without a single other climbing party on it. No one on El Cap at all. You're blasting up the Stovelegs at a good clip hoping that Ranger Rick (subcontracted by NSA) doesn't thump a .30 cal round into your ass. Puts a whole new spin on "push climbing", don't you think? Adventure climbing on the Nose restored!
Glass is half full right? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Dec 31, 2014 - 06:06pm PT
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Werner is suggesting roofing over The Valley and then battle-hardening it as well, Pilgrims. This represents a new level of derision for him. Will he suggest too that through-bolting and securing for all time Boot Flake to the south wall of Hetch Hetchy be another requisite?
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coolrockclimberguy69
climber
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Dec 31, 2014 - 06:11pm PT
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Look ppl, all I'm sayin is that Park Service should really consider using a small caliber, low velocity cartridge to plink off all the filthy, America-hating climbers so as not to damage the rock too severely. This might take some extra training but I think in the long run it would cause the least amount of damage to the stone while still being effective in removing climbers from our sacred natural landmarks.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Dec 31, 2014 - 10:29pm PT
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F that...use rubber bullets.
Missle site at Crane Flat lookout and clear-cut the park boundary while ur at it.
Present Werner as The Grand Duck to visiting heads of state.
Sell the concession to N. Korea to convert it into a US Territory, yielding Delaware North Korea.
I been watchin' too many movies.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Yosemite has been ruined by rampant commercialism and tourism...Time to let Haliburton build their Fema campgrounds and let Braun duck hunt with his boyfriend Cheney...
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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As menitioned I think DNC is doing better than MCA.
This trademark thing is just a strategic move by lawyers to point up the investments that DNC has made in the area. Lawyers do things because they can, not because it's right.
I know a fair bit about trademarks (from the marketing side) and I don't see that they have a chance.
If anything the Government should wake up and trademark all those names on behalf of you and I and use that as revenue source to help fund the parks. Not just Yosemite but all the others as well. But government workers don't think that way.
It's a good thing to review the consessionaire contracts every decade or so and keep a sharp eye on them in between.
A switch from DNC to another could be scary.
All the workers and locals stay the same but with new management.
Would the goverment powers choose a company with a lower bid? Then would they new consessionaire cut corners to keep the cost down?
Or what if Disney won the bid? New paint on everything. Super nice staff. A great time for everyone guaranteed.
I could be wrong but I see the power is with the board at Yosemite Conservancy. And some damn fine improvements have been going on too.
The Valley is cleaner, more natural and better organized than ever. There are some good people doing some good things.
I think it could and will get even better.
Being the consessionaire is a damn tough job. Park service people telling you what you can and can't do. Heavy restrictions. Complaining customers. Messy guests. Expensive logistics. Union organizers. Government shutdowns. Haunta virus outbreaks. Floods. Ice storms. Rock falls. Shoplifters.
What kind of people put up with that crap to bring us service in such a beautiful place where we all want to go?
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10b4me
climber
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Or what if Disney won the bid? New paint on everything. Super nice staff. A great time for everyone guaranteed.
Don't need another theme park.
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son of stan
Boulder climber
San Jose CA
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Why hasn't anyone proposed to solve all the Yos problems by
bringing in the TSA and their rules
and kick Delaware North AND the Park Service out.
Entrance stations will xray and crotch grope everyone.
No products get past bigger than one 3.4oz (100ml)
bottle or snack per person.
General hunger and starvation will drive most visitors back out
within hours of entering. Employees will not be needed so every
structure except restrooms can be removed.
If there is not a Yosemite Interpretive App that visitors can
query on their smart phones there should be. Wifi the Valley
and eliminate the need to find a ranger to ask a question.
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items
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| Messages 1 - 34 of total 34 in this topic |
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