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Colonial America and the Other San Juan Capistrano

Nov 10th - 18:17pm | Rick Smith

It's strange how the Southwest is ignored in high school history courses recounting the settling of what we now call North America. If the Pilgrims had landed at Santa Fe, they could have gone to church. Rick Smith

Nov 10th - 16:42pm | Tom Bremer

The modern history of this urban park and the current church / state relationships, as well as conflicts between local groups who claim the missions on religious, ethnic, and historical grounds, are as interesting as their colonial past.

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

Nov 10th - 17:04pm | Anonymous

Well Roger, with Bush's recent approval ratings at a lowly 28%, the worst in American Presidential history, I guess I must be on something that justifies my discontent with the man. What's your excuse for his foul-up administration? I believe there's plenty of us that feel strongly as I do about the pathetic performance of this and now former President to be.

Nov 10th - 15:24pm | Roger

Anon, You need to see a good psychiatrist to cure your obviously serious case of BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome).

Nov 9th - 23:02pm | Bob M

Kurt, the above comment is not mine. FYI

Nov 9th - 21:12pm | Tim

Geez, Anon, do you have anything to say other than recite talking points? Try researching issues for yourself and come back with an educated opinion.

Nov 9th - 20:27pm | Anonymous

Kurt: God forbid such a terrible misdeed to be enacted upon this scared land that offers so much to the world in natural beauty and recreation. This pathetic insensitivity by the Bush administration is just another example of the callus behavior that reflects more rape, pillage and greed. This is Bush's last stance of in your face politics to scorch earth the environment before leaving office.

Nov 9th - 19:24pm | Anonymous

That's O.K., we'll not need jobs cause Uncle Obama will be spreadin' the wealth!

Nov 9th - 13:27pm | From somewhere ...

I'm not sure what can be done before the new administration takes office. After that time, the DOI can be instructed to attach additional environmental requirements to outstanding leases, and I think that will be the best defense against this assault on some of America's most treasured public lands.

Glory, Shame, and Remembrance at Colorado’s Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Nov 10th - 13:49pm | Bugsyshallfall

I have let it go, I just want to see this piece of history protected.

Nov 9th - 20:38pm | Anonymous

I agree...get over it for crissakes. Everybody is a "victim" these days. And they use that status to feed at the public trough.

Nov 9th - 16:38pm | Anonymous

Let it go! It was 150 years ago!

Nov 9th - 15:59pm | Anonymous

What about the German-American that were internment? Why hasn't my family seen reparations?

Nov 7th - 16:55pm | Bugsyshallfall

No, I wish The best we have is the Boston Harbor Islands where Indians were held after the war in concenstration camps. There are many problems with this, the name of the park and its focus being the biggest. The Taughton River is another place we have and was the main reason why it was called a scenic river because of the battlefields along the river.

Nov 7th - 15:55pm | Bob Janiskee

Perhaps one of our readers can shed light on this interesting topic. I don't know very much myself about the Narragansetts, King Philip's War in 17th century New England, the Great Swamp Massacre (500+ Indian dead?), and the slaying of King Philip (Metacom). Have there been any formal proposals to establish a national park oriented to King Philip's War?

Nov 7th - 15:27pm | Bugsyshallfall

I just wish they would do something with Hope Hill in Rhode Island, where King Phillp was shot down. I think currently it is owned by Brown but closed off, I am not sure

Nov 7th - 11:16am | Anonymous

To be fair, Chivington would have gone to trial, but for the post-Civil War general amnesty. The cost of putting the Civil War in the past, and reunifying north and south, unfortunately included pardoning a few monsters like Chivington.

Zion National Park Officials To Examine Needs of Canyon Shuttle System

Nov 9th - 16:54pm | Dave

I live just an hour away from Zion and visit the Park many times a year. Each year I look forward to the shuttles closing so I can drive anywhere in the park, stop and get out my camera. I can come for a few hours or the whole day. But that works because there are few cars in the park from late October through March.

Nov 9th - 14:05pm | Anonymous

When we visited relatives in Las Vegas about a year ago, we went up to Zion for a day trip. I was somewhat leery of the shuttles, wondering if they would be on time and come by frequently.

Nov 8th - 21:04pm | Marylander

The shuttle system is NOT good if you have a baby, which is really the only downfall of the shuttle system I've found. When my first was as old as 2 and a half, it was ok because a toddler requires a lot less baggage compared to a baby. Well... we have another baby -she is just a month old- and we scratched Zion off of our travel plans for next summer because of the shuttle.

Nov 8th - 19:59pm | Stephen Bucci

I have used the shuttle and found it great. Keep it running. There is no need for cars in the park on a wholesale basis.

Nov 8th - 19:01pm | Anonymous

We visited Zion a year ago and I, too, was distressed to not have my car with me. It is so convenient and it is what we were used to. But, the shuttles were very user friendly and it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. We didn't have to spend time looking for a parking spot. the shuttles run quite frequently and there plenty of stops.

Nov 8th - 14:53pm | Park Fan

Our family of four visited Zion and 4-5 other parks a few summers back. When we found out we would need to take a shuttle bus I thought they were kidding. I love my car. BUT - it worked out just fine - the buses ran just about on time and when they were a little late getting to the stop to pick us up, no problem - you

Nov 8th - 14:37pm | Random Walker

I have found the flexibility of shuttle services at various National Parks to be a great way to explore, much easier than driving my own rig. And the Zion shuttle looks to be about just right!

Nov 8th - 14:02pm | Kurt Repanshek

The only way to get into Zion Canyon proper, unless you're staying at the lodge, is by shuttle. That said, the shuttle is seasonal. It usually operates from mid-to-late March into October.

Nov 8th - 13:30pm | Anonymous

Is the shuttle the only way one can get around now? Have they completely eliminated vehicles? I hope not! I would rather have my own vehicle and the flexibility it offers.

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

Nov 9th - 12:14pm | Phil

Maybe with the new administration Delaware will finally get a unit in the National Park System.

Nov 8th - 23:59pm | G. Pinson

" It is a major understatement to say that I don’t trust Ms. Pelosi, who is a whole hell of a lot further to the left of center than the American public..."

Nov 7th - 22:45pm | Dean

I think that while policies might improve, tight economic times will prevent much investment in parks or wild lands.

Nov 7th - 21:38pm | Zebulon

Net result: wild increase in wilderness designation at the request of the Sierra Club, which will result in banning mountain bikers from hundreds of miles of trails that they currently enjoy. Other than that, any new policy can't be worse than the old one.

Nov 7th - 15:24pm | Bugsyshallfall

I have hope.................................Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not much

Nov 7th - 14:38pm | dtroutma

Iraq, the economy, and the environment(including NPS) ARE connected. It is not so much a "left vs right", but right vs wrong, intellect vs stupidity. For the past eight years(more actually) stupid has ruled.

Nov 7th - 10:43am | Elizabeth

Uh, Beamis...those "million deaths" in the Middle East are Al Qaida...the enemy.

Fort Davis National Historic Site, Home of the Buffalo Soldiers

Nov 8th - 23:20pm | hauntedhiker9

Nice piece Claire, I'm inspired to see the place! The Buffalo Soldiers also played important and almost forgotten role in the histories of Yosemite and Sequoia NPs. Interpreter Shelton Johnson has done some fantastic work researching and telling their story.

Nov 8th - 08:19am | Rick Smith

This is one of the most evocative sites in our National Park System. It should be on everyone's "must see" list. As Bill Roberts correctly points out, the bugle calls almost alone make the visit worthwhile. For those camping, the next-door state park has a great campground. The CCC buildings at the state park are also worth visiting. Rick Smith

Nov 7th - 20:05pm | Bill Roberts

My first visit to Fort Davis wasin 1954 and it was in sadly neglected. Been there twice since and it is inspiring what has been done. Visitors need good walking shoes, but there are only slight inclines for the most part. Be prepared to spend some time and enjoy the bugle calls that are played at the correct time for the correct activity. A real western fort. Not Hollywood.

Lame Duck Bush Administration Hastens to Weaken Environmental Protection Laws

Nov 8th - 23:02pm | G. Pinson

Thanks for the begrudging recognition that Congressman Grijalva (upon whose statements your article was based) misrepresented the Yellowstone bison management issue. Your thesis seems to be that Grijalva made many accusations, so what difference does it make if one is falacious? We have all the others to mindlessly believe!

Bison Might be Allowed to Range Further Beyond Yellowstone National Park Borders

Nov 8th - 10:15am | jsmacdonald

In bison circles, this plan is being met with a "so what" because of what Amy says in the article. If bison are still being pushed back after May 15, de facto this changes almost nothing and creates just a different set of headaches. This remains a bison control plan and not a wildlife management plan.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Officials to Outline Paving Options for Cades Cove

Nov 8th - 09:00am | Richie

Has anyone thought about doing a environmental safe option like using old tires grounded up and laid out in a safe way?

Nov 7th - 11:48am | Craig W.

/2008/10/shuttles-make-visiting-cades-cove-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-bit-easier

Nov 7th - 10:10am | Smoky Mtn Hiker

Kurt - don't know if you receive Smokies Life Magazine (excellent publication from the Great Smoky Mountains Association) or not, but there's an extensive interview with Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson in the current issue. Ditmanson stated that he's looking for ways to solve some of the heavy traffic problems in Cades Cove.

Nov 7th - 09:54am | Kurt Repanshek

Answering my own question. Here's what Bob Miller at Great Smoky tells me:

Nov 7th - 08:47am | Kurt Repanshek

Does anyone know if there are any alternatives that mention mass transit? Perhaps some sort of shuttle system for the masses, with hiking and biking trails on the side?

Nov 7th - 08:13am | Smoky Mtn Hiker

It will be interesting to see if there will be any "outside-the-box" alternatives offered at this meeting for helping to ease the traffic problems that plague the loop.

Upon Further Review - How Wet Is a Rain Forest?

Nov 8th - 08:41am | JimB

Random Walker - thanks for an excellent comment. Tahoma - a good reminder that the Hoh is a rain forest, and that on a lot of days, the lady in this story wouldn't have been "disappointed." Like a lot of things in life, timing plays a big role in how a visit to a park turns out.

Nov 7th - 22:55pm | tahoma

Just don't forget to check the forecast. For any doubters, here's a bit of tonite's NWS Seattle: The flood watch continues for portions of western Washington, including the following counties: Grays Harbor...Clallam...Jefferson...Skagit... Whatcom.....

Nov 7th - 18:39pm | Random Walker

It is when I close the guidebook, abandon the brochures, fold up the map and walk away from my expectations that I experience happiness exploring Our National Parks.

National Park Service Signs Off on Decision Not To Allow Bombing of Avalanche Chutes in Glacier National Park

Nov 7th - 23:40pm | Anonymous

@ Albertson: This is spot on.

Nov 7th - 07:52am | albertson

You wrote: "Business has to adapt to market conditions, the government doesn't need to coddle it all the time. While the market isn't perfect, if you're somewhat against regulation and the needed bureaucracy, i suggest you google "bailout" or "savings and loans" or "sub prime mortgages."

Grand Canyon's Star Party

Nov 7th - 18:12pm | Jim Marshall

I would like to know if there are star parties scheduled for 2009 yet. I enjoyed the article in Astronomy magazine, and would consider attending. Because of driving the Bryce Canyon would be first choice. Jim Marshall

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