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

Oct 29th - 15:10pm | mitch

What an ingenious thing to do! It looks like we don't need sophisticated techniques to compete with drug dealers, they can be tricked just like little kids. If only this would be true in all cases perhaps my little brother wouldn't be now in a drug treatment center recovering from drug addiction.

Rockefeller Family Turns Over More than 1,100 Acres to Grand Teton National Park

Oct 29th - 14:52pm | jsmacdonald

My reasons for this are discussed at great length elsewhere on this site at /2008/02/park-history-grand-teton-national-park

Oct 29th - 12:36pm | Betty H

Thank you Rockefellers ! Thank you for our Grand Teton NP. I, too hiked the trails and enjoyed the views and wildlife. I also saw "my first" hybrid vehicle reserved parking spaces at the L Rockefeller Preserve. Forward thinking. The Preserve seems to be a safe, quiet place to hike and enjoy. At least this rich family gave something back to all of us.

Oct 28th - 14:42pm | Teton cowgirl

I disagree entirely with Mr. Macdonald and question his sources on the "swindling," - an easy word to throw out, but does he have any hard evidence of illegal practices? Or merely landowners who, in hindsight, wish that they had held onto their land? Nobody forced them to sell - they cashed out. The Rockefellers don't owe you anything, Mr. Macdonald.

Just Another Snake Story

Oct 29th - 10:59am | JimB

I'll yield to your expertise on whether or not these snakes are a major threat to humans. They do have the potential to wreak havoc as an introduced species in this ecosystem. Its unfortunate so many people think they want snakes or other animals as "pets," and then just discard them into the wild when they become too much trouble to keep at home.

Oct 29th - 06:58am | babybaby91

these snakes are'nt that bad. many think that they are agressive (exspecially burmese pythons) but they are actually gentle and are very relunctant to bite a person because they do not see us as a food prey. i own a ball python (i know ur probably saying its small compared to burmese) but burmese pythons (like the one featured in the picture) are actually pretty docile in nature.

Skyline Drive Designated as a National Historic Landmark

Oct 29th - 10:45am | dapster

Frank_C, Thanks for your kind comments! It was a beautiful day and the foliage cooperated, giving us gorgeous views the entire drive. If you're ever in that part of the country, do take the trip. It's an eye-opener for certain.

Oct 28th - 12:03pm | Page_Co

Considering that this is the highest honor that can be granted to a historic site in the United States, I am surprised that the Park did not bother to celebrate---- or AT LEAST acknowledge --- this milestone on their website, or in a press release. Sad really.

Oct 27th - 13:20pm | Jim Linville

Jim Burnett, Thank you very much for the press release. I have printed the release so that as my wife and I travel we can visit some of the new locations that may take a while to find their way into travel guides. Jim

Oct 27th - 11:57am | JimB

Thanks for the comments. Jim - here's a link to the press release from Interior about the recent designation - it gives a short summary for each of the 16 sites. http://www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/101408b.html

Oct 27th - 11:47am | dapster

Great article, Jim! A well deserved honor for a truly wonderful highway. My family and I drove along 40 miles of the parkway on Sunday, 10/26, enjoying both beautiful high-pressure dominated weather and nearly peak fall foliage. (We traveled South from State Rt. 33 to State Rt. 250, or from Harrisonburg to Charlottesville VA.)

Oct 27th - 09:53am | Kathryn

I am thrilled to read this.Skyline Drive was a major part of my childhood.The fall colors and the ride to see them was always a special time for me.When I went home (to Richmond) to visit, I took my husband and children to Skyline Drive.They were as entranced as I have always been and we have wonderful photos of our trip.

Oct 27th - 05:04am | Jim

Will you please provide the names of the other 15 sites and the states that received the National Historic Landmark designation? Perhaps an article that summarizes each one would be helpful. Thank you

National Park Quiz 25: Threatened and Endangered

Oct 28th - 18:24pm | Bob Janiskee

So, Nannette, does hubbie Jim score as well as you do? I'd be interested to know whether there's a wager involved here. :-)

Oct 28th - 09:37am | nanette

Bob, I did pretty darn good on this one! Looking forward to the next quiz.

Oct 26th - 09:59am | Rick Smith

Once a month is perfect with me. I will email you with some suggestions. Rick Smith

Oct 25th - 21:15pm | Grant McCreary

[Ed: Item#4 has been rewritten. Zion is no longer one of the choices.] On question #4, Zion should also be an acceptable answer. Some of the released condors have been sighted in Zion, especially in the Kolob Canyons portion. But, of course, they are much easier to find in the Grand Canyon.

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Oct 28th - 13:45pm | Michelle

I just returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful and breathtaking site. However could not help but notice the dozens of people standing too close to the edge to get that perfect picture or climbing over and beyond the railings. One person climbed all the way to the tip of a rock cliff with a drop of about 300 to 400 ft. while onlookers stood by and watched.

Trails I've Hiked: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Oct 27th - 22:56pm | Arthur E. Hish

Tom,

Oct 27th - 21:56pm | Rick Deutsch

Half Dome has many faces. I really like the Glacier Point view. From Cloud's Rest you look down at the big rock and get a full-on view of the ants going up the cables. I am never disaapointed with the view from the top of Half Dome itself. The valley below, El Capitan, The Ahwahnee, Tenaya Canyon and the distant mountians are a rush.

Oct 27th - 13:40pm | TOM HUXTABLE

Art, Was your Dad called Red? And, retired from the Navy? If so, you recognize my name. Repy and I'll pass on what your sister is up too. Tom Huxtable

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Oct 27th - 18:32pm | Rick Smith

Frnk-- You missed my pointa--"The River Wild" has as little to do with this debate than does "Deliverance". Rick Smith

Oct 27th - 17:08pm | Rick Smith

Nate-- You ever seen "The River Wild"? Rick Smith

Oct 27th - 14:55pm | Nate

have any of you people seen the movie Deliverance? nuff said if you have

Upon Further Review – The Whirlwind Tourist

Oct 27th - 14:32pm | Lone Hiker

They should have just purchased the DVD........oops, sorry, forgot the timeline. They should have just purchased a packet of postcards........they would have "seen it all". What a tremendous waste of time and effort. I feel mostly for the kids. With parents like that, I'll bet their family reunions are held in a fast-food franchise's parking lot.

Oct 24th - 23:50pm | On Da Road

Yes, it's kind of a shame. I had a group in Yellowstone who canceled the rest of there week reservation after two days 'because they had already seen everything'!

Park History: Biscayne National Park

Oct 27th - 14:04pm | Reef2020

Biscayne Bay has snorkeling, but I'm assuming you want to see reefs, and the reefs are not in Biscayne Bay. Perhaps your real question is "Which has better snorkeling, Key Largo or Biscayne National Park?"

How Will the Next Administration Deal With the Environment?

Oct 27th - 09:43am | Lone Hiker

To clarify a few points: 1) do we really want it to be too easy or too fast to change something like a longstanding policy of the US Government? Yes, absolutely. The inference is that a long standing policy of our government equates to it being a good policy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Oct 27th - 05:19am | Anonymous

Why did the SF Chronicle not report on Obama's voting record? Could it be that he doesn't have one? If so, I guess you can only HOPE for the best - like on so many other issues.

Oct 26th - 13:58pm | Anonymous

Anyone who is mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Pombo should scare the bejeebies out of people who have even a cursory interest in the parks.

Oct 26th - 13:46pm | Rick Smith

Getting back to the topic of how the next administration will treat national parks, I suspect that either candidate will do better than the hopeless Bush administration has done. That said, I am more inclined to think that parks would fare better under an Obama admiinistration than one headed by McCain.

Oct 26th - 10:28am | d-2

Dear Frank C:

Oct 26th - 10:03am | Anonymous

Frank C. and Beamis: How can you honestly assess the holistic damage to this country and make prudent rational decisions until you have reach the presidential seat. We have no idea how extensive the damage is until Bush officially leaves office. I do admit we have a barrel of rotting apples running this country and must dump the ugly stench.

Oct 25th - 12:15pm | d-2

You may be right, but on your point that "the rest of the world is finally unwilling to fund its [our] enormous debt," in fact this week the US Treasury has been able to sell all the bonds it has wanted.

Oct 25th - 10:32am | Anonymous

Beamis: I have read many of your blogs that reflects much negativity, dour and gloom. For the next generations sake, how about offering some solutions so that we can move forward instead of regressing into a blog of doom and gloom. You squawk and bitch...so what new paradigm do you advocate?

Oct 24th - 15:41pm | d-2

I believe, and have experienced, making changes happen with Congress and the White House, whatever the party.

Oct 24th - 12:10pm | Bugsyshallfall

Lone Hiker, As one of the main Volunteers at a NPS unit, I know how you feel as sometimes the simplist of things can take FOREVER to do. P.S. If you find someone, I would like some of that stuff too.

Oct 24th - 12:06pm | Bugsyshallfall

There are a lot of "things" that need to happen with the park from the mundane, such as appropriate name changes, to the more serious the $4.5 billion maintance backlog and establishment of new parks. All of these issues are important and need to be addressed sooner rather than later. However, each of the candidates will address these issues differently.

Oct 24th - 12:00pm | Lone Hiker

'Tis the unfortunate truth that the most certain, enduring and accurate legacy of any man is lies not within the context of one's rhetoric, but rather in the footprint one leaves behind. For anyone fool enough to actually be swayed by campaign speeches, you get what you deserve. Talk itself is cheap, but never as worthless as when uttered by someone whose goal is election to public office.

Oct 24th - 09:55am | d-2

McCain has supported parks in Arizona. But he has opposed efforts of individual Members of Congress to add to the national park budgets through "add-ons" of additional funding. I think it is silly for anybody to think Congress should just rubber stamp ANY Administration's budget, whether Republican or Democratic budget.

Oct 24th - 01:54am | Gerald

If anyone thinks that Obama willl be good for our parks...think again. He will see that money goes to those who haven't earned it...tax "rebates" for those who haven't even paid taxes in the first place. Huge amounts of $$ to free health care for everyone...entitlements, entitlements, entitlements!! Obama's park budgets will be much smaller than even W's! Guaranteed!

Shuttles Make Visiting Cades Cove In Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Bit Easier

Oct 26th - 21:11pm | Anonymous

I would hope that there would be sufficient trolleys so as to allow riders to depart, look and catch the next one back.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial - War and Peace and Two Memorable Phrases

Oct 26th - 13:36pm | jsmacdonald

I've been to South Bass Island twice and up the monument once and looked at it across the bay throughout most of the summers of my childhood. A couple years ago, I was on South Bass Island with a different purpose in mind - to visit Gibraltar Island and see Jay Cooke's old stomping grounds (Gibraltar Island is right off of South Bass Island).

Natchez Trace Parkway – Colorful Choice for a Southern Fall Trip

Oct 25th - 18:03pm | Anonymous

From 1994 - 1997 I worked in the Dancy, Kosciusko, and Tupelo Districts as a Wildland FireFighter.

IMBA: Not Every Park Suitable For Mountain Biking, No Interests, Currently, For Trails in Wilderness Areas

Oct 24th - 20:28pm | Zebulon

d-2, all great points, but I just don't see how a leg activates paddles kayak is not mechanized. It has pedals (like a bike) that propels the kayak forward. The whole mechanized argument is a smoke screen. I'd rather see trails opened or close based on sound reasoning. If a trail sees hundreds of hikers each day, then it's probably not the best trails to open to other uses.

Oct 24th - 12:26pm | Bugsyshallfall

Dapster I promised not to digress, yet I feel I must. One last time....

Oct 24th - 09:31am | d-2

Well, Zebulon, national parks are not the only kinds of public lands. There are many different types of lands set aside at the state, local and national level for public enjoyment. All things do not have to be permitted at all of these places just because all are supported by public funds.

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Oct 24th - 12:36pm | Anonymous

where do you find out the current prices of ginseng?

Oct 24th - 12:34pm | east tn sang

How does one tell how "old" a ginseng plant is? Ive been through my woods and found lots of sang, but wouldnt dare dig it. Some are about 2 feet tall and have 4 prongs. One more, how do you approriate dig sang, if you were going to move it closer for protection? comments?

Yosemite Visitor Falls to His Death

Oct 24th - 05:43am | Anonymous

Pat had 4 childern 3,6 ,9 and a newborn and awonderful wife. He will be missed by all. As a friend his death was hard on all.He was a good man and ahard worker. He would have wanted the best for all he left behind.

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