[Dschur]

Hiker banned from Canyon for three years


By CYNDY COLE
Sun Staff Reporter
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A 53-year-old man from Jackson Hole, Wyo., has been banned from the Grand Canyon and all other national parks in the country for three years after being convicted of intimidating and threatening a Park Service employee.

Self-proclaimed "permit outlaw" Gary Clayton Palmer pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and was sentenced to probation and to undergo a psychological evaluation after sending e-mails to a Grand Canyon National Park ranger in January that grew more threatening. U.S. Magistrate Mark Aspey ordered Palmer last week to stay 10 miles from the boundaries of the Grand Canyon and to avoid contacting the employee again, as well.

The ranger cited Palmer, in person, in 2003 for camping in the Grand Canyon without a backcountry permit -- after Palmer had posted that he planned to do so on an online forum -- leading at the time to 3 years of probation.

Permits are required for camping below the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Subsequently, someone with an e-mail account matching Palmer's name e-mailed the park ranger repeatedly, requesting a response.

"Only 7 more days and my 3 years probation will be up from my hiking without a permit ... Be sure to look for me in the canyon this coming year. I still refuse to use a permit to sleep on the ground and carry all my own stuff. But now I will keep one eye over my shoulder as I tramp around 'your' national park ..." someone at an e-mail address listed as Gary Palmer wrote to the ranger in 2005, according to court documents.

This continued, with more description of how he would subvert the rules, starting a National Park Service investigation that eventually led to prosecution by Camille Bibles, assistant U.S. attorney for Arizona.

In January, someone from the same e-mail account wrote a letter to the same ranger stating, in part, "... I am mad, but yes, I dont want to come back because I am afraid I might look you up and do something I might (quite dought it tho) regret later [sic]."

And the writer said he would certainly hike the canyon without permits again.

"I resent the future when good honest citizens of these here lousy united states finally get tired of all the bull government has stuff down our gullets for too many years. If I do come back to the canyon, I will and you can bet on it be hiking in the canyon with out permission from you or your agency ...[sic]"

The ranger involved began carrying his weapon off-duty, which he had not done previously.

Palmer was arrested in March, in Zion National Park, on charges of threatening, intimidating or intentionally interfering with a Grand Canyon ranger.

He has lived and worked near national parks for 30 years and has convictions for indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and camping without a permit.

He was convicted of criminal trespass in Flagstaff in 2003, according to court documents.

In addition to being banned from all national parks and Northern Arizona University for three years, he was held until his sentencing last week and will be fined $10.

[rally_toad]

You'd think it would take less effort to apply and get a permit then to send all those threatening emails.

[jeffmacewen]

What a piece of work that guys is. Anyone who hates America that much should just be deported. Maybe if he spent some time in a real dictatorship or police state his tune would change.

[big_load]

I hope my interpretation that he got another 3-year ban is correct. I also hope that his behavior doesn't escalate into any sort of physical confrontation.

[azpride]

If nothing else, I know I won't be camping there without a permit for fear of getting a $10 fine. That's stiff.

[chumley]

You'd think it would take less effort to apply and get a permit then to send all those threatening emails.

You'd also think it would take less effort to just drive the speed limit, but some people don't like rules so they take a hammer to the radar cameras or kill the innocent photo enforcement officer sitting in a van.

I'd guess the guy is against the principle of the whole permit/fee on public lands thing--which is certainly a valid point worth discussing--but is completely and inexcusably wrong for threatening somebody.

What I don't understand is if the guy isn't going to get a permit anyway, what does banning him accomplish? Isn't he just going to camp there anyway?

[big_load]

What I don't understand is if the guy isn't going to get a permit anyway, what does banning him accomplish? Isn't he just going to camp there anyway?

I infer from the quotes that he had been complying with the ban, so I figure the penalty for violating the ban was something worse than he was willing to risk (maybe jail time).

[jeffmacewen]

If they had not banned him and had caught him in there without a permit again, he would just get another fine. If he was within the threshold for the first violation, I think the second fine is something like $150. If not, he would be paying another ten bucks. With the ban in place they can try to stick him in prison for up to ten years if they catch him in there. What they should do is force him to work public service hours in the park on a trail crew or something.

I won't start a firestorm by discussing the politics surrounding the fees.

[azbackpackr]

Speaking of permits, I hear that guy Maverick, who murdered his wife in cold blood and then committed suicide, was really on the "outs" with the rangers for very often illegally camping in the park. When he called 911, supposedly he was raging and ranting against the park service.

[jeffmacewen]

I spoke with the head LEO Ranger for GC back in early March about him and he did not have anything favorable to say...

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, I shouldn't get started on that guy again. I never did like that SOB, but there was an awful lot of hero worshipping going on whenever his name came up on various hiking websites. And if you said anything the least bit unflattering about him they would jump all over your case. Well, now I am vindicated, but it doesn't really make me happy, because a lovely woman that was so well-loved at the Canyon is now dead.

[jeffmacewen]

Yea, he said they all really loved her. I guess she worked in some ice cream stand forever or something like that and always had a smile for everyone...

[base871]

That guy thats banned from the canyon is on another backpacking forum on here. I think hes lives up in Flag.

[jeffmacewen]

That guy thats banned from the canyon is on another backpacking forum on here. I think hes lives up in Flag.

Is he on SP, by any chance? I've had my suspicions about someone in the Southwest forum over there...