| Page 1455 | National Parks Traveler

Ooohh, I hated that building. Long curving ramps from one floor to the next. No stairs, no elevator, so it was a minor hike just to get to the top. And the panoramic views? Nonsense, there were trees blocking the view of the mountain. Great view of the Tatoosh Range and Nisqually Valley, but that's hardly the point.

Nov 16th - 14:47pm | JimB

I hope the new building won't come with some of the maintenance headaches I understand plagued the "flying saucer," and the new one should certainly be more energy efficient.

Forever on the Mountain

Nov 16th - 23:33pm | Anonymous

I have a particular interest in your review since I am George Hall's daughter - the man who was superintendent in 1967. I remember that time well. Tabor made many significant errors in presenting his story - I have outlined the errors with the back up for each correction and sent it along to the author and his publisher. They sent along a nice thank you letter.

Do You Care About Energy Exploration Near Our National Parks?

Nov 16th - 15:41pm | JimB

To go back to the title of Kurt's story that started this discussion: "Do You Care About Energy Exploration Near Our National Parks?" My answer is "yes," and it sounds like quite a few others share that view.

Nov 16th - 12:16pm | MRC

Raser concentrates on geothermal electricity. There you run into the problem, that the national electricity grid is in an abysmally bad condition and the loss on the long-distance is considerable. High-voltage direct current could reduce the loss, but so far there are only two long distance HVDC lines, one between Quebac and New England and the Intermountain line between Utah and Los Angeles.

Nov 16th - 11:38am | Kurt Repanshek

MRC, I'm not sure your first comment is entirely true. Raser Technologies earlier this month cut the ribbon on a 10 megawatt geothermal plant in Utah. They've already marketed some of the electricity to some California communities.

Nov 16th - 11:08am | MRC

Geothermal energy is almost impossible to store or transport. So Yellowstone is simply too far out-of-the-way to use the geothermal options there effectively. Fortunately it is not necessary to drill the nations first National Park, as geothermal energy can be used at almost every place where there are deep (12.000-20.000 feet) aquifers.

Nov 16th - 10:25am | Bob Janiskee

Lone Hiker, you've been reading the crap I post on Traveler long enough to know that, if you want to kick my ass, you are going to have to pack a lunch, get a good book to read, and go stand at the end of a very long line.

Nov 16th - 10:10am | d-2

Dear Kath: -- On the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it is wrong to think of it as a project to drill in only a tiny area. The fact is that the place they want to drill also happens to be the most sensitive part of the Range, right in the caribou calving ground.

Nov 16th - 10:06am | Lone Hiker

Damn it Bob, you stole my thunder by a matter of seconds. I'll get you for this........

Nov 16th - 10:03am | Lone Hiker

The electric hybrid is a joke, and certainly not the long-term solution to our energy needs. All these vehicles are doing is giving with one hand (slight reduction in petroleum requirements) while increasing environmental concerns over battery recycling / disposal, along with a disproportionate increase in the power required to recharge the cells every day or so.

Nov 16th - 09:45am | Bob Janiskee

Thermo, there's no question that there's a lot of high-quality energy that could be tapped in the Yellowstone caldera, and we might even get the high net useful energy yield you assume. But even if we could agree that it's ethically acceptable to use and abuse one of the greatest natural treasures on the planet this way, we'd still be running two risks of absolutely gargantuan scale.

Nov 16th - 08:43am | Thermodynamics

With all of the near surface thermal energy available, we should tap Yellowstone for massive geothermal energy development. It could power the entire western US and help to greatly reduce our fossil fuel consumption as well as provide additional electrical power generation we'll need for switching over to plug-in electric cars.

That Ringing Heard by Backcountry Visitors in Glacier National Park Wasn't in Their Ears

Nov 16th - 09:41am | JimB

Your question is an excellent one! Whether or not these bells in the backcountry would be considered "appropriate" today is a philosophical question, and involves the same opinions we see voiced on a lot of topics posted on the Traveler.

Nov 15th - 22:44pm | Anonymous

Pardon my ignorance, but why would the ringing of the bell be considered inappropriate?

Nov 15th - 20:36pm | Rick Smith

Bob-- Please do not mention "age". It is a subject I would like to ignore. Rick Smith

Nov 15th - 17:29pm | Bob Janiskee

Your age is showing, Rick. Yosemite's firefall was discontinued in 1968! Thanks for jogging my memory. I've got an article on the firefall in my "Gone But Not Forgotten" queue.

Nov 15th - 17:24pm | Rick Smith

Jim--

Greening the Parks: A Former Brownfield is Converted to a Lakefront Gem at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Nov 16th - 02:37am | Lone Hiker

I'm probably preachin' to the choir here Bob, as you're most likely aware of the fact that throughout much of the 1800's, the burgeoning "village" of Chicago was committing that very environmental holocaust by utilizing the Chicago River as their residential and industrial waste transport system.

Nov 15th - 10:34am | Bob Janiskee

Lone Hiker makes a very good point about water quality issues, which seem intractable. I would only add that Lake Michigan can't be described very well in generalities.

Nov 15th - 09:05am | Lone Hiker

Having been a frequent visitor / explorer of the area (and this site) in years past, the terms "marvelous" and "miracle" are even an understatement of the transformation of this once industrial dump site. The local shoreline is indeed a precious resource with unique, sweeping vistas spanning the greater Chicagoland metroplex to the west and the shores of Michigan to the east.

This Park Wins the "Most Visits by a President" Award

Nov 15th - 19:51pm | marylander

The park was absolutely stunning this year for the fall foliage! We brought our kids and dogs for 3 weekends in a row to enjoy the leaves. The trails are easy enough for hiking strollers, too! Extra bonus

Yellowstone National Park Releases Winter-Use Proposal

Nov 15th - 09:10am | jsmacdonald

Yeah, big mess, and no one is sure how to deal with conflicting judicial rulings or how to interpret Brimmer's ruling. Does it mean that if the 318 rule passes that it overrides the ruling or is it an actual order to go back to 720 and start the process over again?

Nov 14th - 18:22pm | Random Walker

Lets see, Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled the plans to allow 540 snowmobiles a day in Yellowstone was not backed by science. So Our Yellowstone National Park decided to allow 318 snowmobiles each day as a good thing. Now a Judge Clarence Brimmer commands Our Yellowstone National Park to up the limit to 720?!? [size=30]ARRRGH![/size]

Our Only Privately-Owned National Park Celebrates a Birthday and a Vital Conservation Easement

Nov 14th - 16:35pm | Bob Janiskee

Chris, I honestly don't know what ought to be done with Steamtown, or what might have been done to make it viable. I just know that it shouldn't have been made a national park.

Nov 13th - 14:55pm | Bugsyshallfall

I wonder if this or a National Herritage model would have worked better for Steamtown, even though it would have made a great State Park not a National one for which it is unsuited.

You Still Can Visit Herman Melville's New Bedford

Nov 14th - 13:52pm | Omar Quadovich

Great Little Article. Got me reinterested in the book once again. I keyed on your "Traveler tip" and found the downloaded version to be quite expensive. Here in the "Most Historic City in America", Fredericksburg, VA. Our library subscribes to "NetLibrary". For the price of a library card (which is usually $0.00) you can download an unabriged, CD quality recording (21 hrs +) of Moby Dick.

President-Elect Obama's Team Hints At Reversing BLM Leasing Decisions in Utah

Nov 14th - 09:39am | JimB

Lone Hiker - An interesting summary of our relationship with the rest of the world in terms of energy, and our overall "energy policy." I agree with much of what you say.

Nov 14th - 09:17am | Lone Hiker

And finally, to the point made by Mr.

Nov 14th - 01:28am | Cookie

I did not intend to imply I "bemoan" foreign travelers. I am just amazed that there are so many more of them than US travelers. We like to camp in or near the parks and have truly enjoyed sharing them with people from all countries.

Nov 13th - 22:26pm | d-2

I fully agree with the insights of Rick and Lone Hiker, and the full respect to all visitors. There is also a lift you can get from the thrill you can see in foreign travelers; they seem to be energized by a freshness in how American the parks are.

Nov 13th - 22:24pm | Anonymous

Lone Hiker: Good points and I myself enjoy the camaraderie of those hearty foreign visitors. Wow, those Germans and Swiss sure love our mountains and endless miles of hiking trails through our National Parks. I love there energy and robust attitude towards the great outdoors. The more the better attitude!

Nov 13th - 20:43pm | Lone Hiker

In the past I've made mention of my interactions with the various manner of person who choose to "indulge" themselves on the road less traveled, such as those I frequent.

Nov 13th - 11:56am | Rick Smith

Cookie--

Nov 13th - 10:17am | Cookie

This refers to use of BLM land, not National Parks land. In my area (Nevada) BLM land is being taken constantly for housing, retail and manufacturing. Is drilling more obtrusive (noisy, smelly, brightly lit) than that?

Flooding Forces Closure of Mount Rainier National Park

Nov 14th - 01:31am | Justin

You can thank the tree-huggers for the flooding shown in the picture. The park wanted to clear the Kautz Creek channel just upstream from the bridge after the last event to ensure that the river stayed in-channel and protected the infrastructure, but the misguided enviros stopped 'em with all their EIS paperwork. So now, the taxpayer will probably have to pay to fix the road again.

Recalling Yellowstone National Park's Historic 1988 Fire Season

Nov 13th - 23:04pm | Anonymous

im doing a report on the fire of 1988 in Yellowstone and this artical reallys helps.

At Big Thicket National Preserve, a Combative Drug Dealer Changes His Mind When Ranger Stafford Shows Him His Taser

Nov 13th - 21:43pm | JimB

Brandon - Well said!

Nov 13th - 18:30pm | Brandon

I think the main topic of the story has only been briefly touched on. These offenders were on National park service property, property that tax payers pay for in order to hike, canoe and share time at the beach with their family and friends. Law Enforcement rangers make sure that the park remains a place where people want to bring their families.

Fifty Year Ago Today, Warren Harding and His Buddies Conquered “Unclimbable” El Capitan

Nov 13th - 16:10pm | Bob Janiskee

Fascinating stuff, Owen. Thanks for clarification. I've tweaked the title and abstract.

Nov 13th - 15:34pm | pkrnger

Bob, Here is what I was able to find in writing online at http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/features/batso/index6.html "The Life of Warren "Batso" Harding" by Burr Sneider (orignially published in the SF Examiner's Image Magazine, March 9, 1986):

Nov 13th - 14:35pm | Bob Janiskee

I haven't heard that version before. The way I heard it is that Harding got the nickname Batso because he could hang from a rock wall "like a bat." The Dustin Hoffman character in the movie Midnight Cowboy went by the name "Ratso," which is phonetically similar. Can anybody out there clear this one up?

Nov 13th - 12:01pm | pkrnger

One small point, 50 years ago Warren Harding was not known as "Batso". This is a nickname supposedly ascribed to Warren sometime after the film "Midnight Cowboy" was released in 1969. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Nov 13th - 08:57am | Bob Janiskee

Rick, your comments suggest that you don't consider that initial ascent a cut and dried example of unethical climbing. If that's your opinion, I agree with you.

Zion National Park Planning To "Rehabilitate" Mount Carmel Highway

Nov 13th - 13:58pm | JimB

Here's a short excerpt about the project, which I find encouraging: Pavement rehabilitation would likely involve in-place recycling of the existing deteriorated pavement, followed by an overlay of new asphalt paving. The new pavement would later be covered with a red cinder chip-seal.

Nov 13th - 11:56am | Lone Hiker

While this section pavement is truly a Road to Nowhere, as the "development" east of the tunnel along Hwy. 9 will verify, I'm as guilty as anybody of utilizing it as a pass-through to Bryce.

Nov 13th - 11:12am | Kurt Repanshek

True indeed, the railroads exerted enormous pressure in the formative years of the National Park System to see that roads linked railheads to parks, that lodges be built so those passengers would have somewhere to sleep and eat once they reached the parks.

Nov 12th - 22:59pm | JimB

Frank – Although I certainly respect the high regard you hold for areas such as parks, Vince has a good grasp of the political realities involved in setting those areas aside in the first place – along with the even more pressing realities confronting those areas today. A broad constituency will become more critical than ever if our parks are to survive.

Election 2008: Fearless Forecasts, Foregone Conclusions, and Prescient Prognostications

Nov 13th - 06:14am | Sabattis

When it comes to Steamtown, I'd endorse another left-leaning policy.... "Mend It, Don't End It..."

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