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Park History: Grand Teton National Park

Jun 19th - 22:09pm | Brenda Byles

Jim, After reading your comment, I did a little research on Rockefeller and was quite surprised to find out he was a moral man, a devout Christian. He never smoked or drank and was very adamant about tithing his 10%.to the church.

Jun 18th - 09:05am | jsmacdonald

Brenda,

Jun 17th - 22:39pm | Brenda Byles

Mr. Macdonald: After reading your article about the Grand Tetons, I find you incorrigible and boorish. I wouldn't take my hat off for you, but Rockefeller, gets kudos. You sound jeolous and petty . The magnificance of the Grand Tetons could only be created by the man I call God. Whether Rockefeller wanted it as a park or not.

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Jun 19th - 22:06pm | Sabattis

The Naitonal Park Service frequently does "visual inspections" for certain Ranger programs. So it can be done.

Jun 19th - 08:19am | susie

My husband and son are in Zion NP as I write this post. Yesterday the group of boy scouts ranging from 13-17 yrs old hiked Angels Landing. I was terrified all day knowing that they would be ascending upon this hike.

Lost Backpackers Reunited with Families at Denali National Park

Jun 19th - 21:55pm | Sabattis

Previous reports have indicated that Ms. Flantz and Ms. Nelson were both experienced backpackers, and were working as concessionaires in Denali. It seems unlikely that they ever planned on using a cell phone as a safety net. Indeed, it took them many days to establish a signal.

Jun 19th - 12:22pm | Kath

This does make for a compelling example of how better cell phone coverage in the national parks can save lives.

Park History: Director Hartzog and the Automobile

Jun 19th - 21:52pm | Sabattis

Well its a little overblown to say that "the automobile as a recreational experience is obsolete." The Blue Ridge Parkways is one of two National Parks devoted to the automobile as a recreational experience, and remains one of the most-visited Units in the National Park System.

Jun 19th - 08:21am | Rangertoo

Don't forget, Stephen Mather was a mjor advocate for roads in parks and saw roads as a key to getting visitors to parks and increasing the public support for the National Park idea. Both the Sierra Club and AAA, as well as numerous regional and local governments, supported road construction such as the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier.

National Park Quiz 7: Islands

Jun 19th - 21:48pm | Sabattis

9 out of 11! I had initially put down Apostle Islands - but then changed my answer! Darn!

Traveler's View: Concealed Weapons Have No Place In Our National Park System

Jun 19th - 20:01pm | Ranger James

No worries...we WILL soon be allowed to carry LEGALLY in our national parks. As it should have always been anyway for LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. Sheesh....

Jun 19th - 16:35pm | Larry

Wow: Maybe it's time for the people in the park to read the Constitution again. Next I won't be able to say wow, that's pretty. I wouldn't want to influence the guy next to me by using my rights to speach. One of my least fun places is watching a person smoking a joint during the fire season. Does that cause more damage than a gun? Yes, in California it does.

Jun 18th - 21:49pm | Lone Hiker

Yes indeed, if I were a criminal, I'd have absolutely no qualms "doing my thing", as I'd be quite certain that whether you're armed or not, since I'd have the element of surprise over you, and be brandishing my artillery first, your weapon becomes inconsequential.

Jun 18th - 00:20am | S.I.R.

First of all, I think the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees need to stay retired. They and so many other people blow this whole thing out of porportion. Its not so you can shoot a bear if you or he crosses paths. Its not so troublesome people can tote a gun. It is not so idiots can target practice in the parks.

Bodies of Three Mexican Nationals Found in Big Bend National Park

Jun 19th - 19:51pm | Anonymous

No sympathy here, they were breaking the law. Darwin candidates.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel

Jun 19th - 12:20pm | Rangertoo

Please contact your local Congressional delegation and urge them in the strongest possible terms NOT to co-sponsor and support Bills H.R. 6233 and S. 3113. Park beaches are not for cars. Yeesh. Must every square inch of the earth be accessible to motor vehicles?

Jun 19th - 09:28am | Anonymous

Please contact your local Congressional delegation and urge them in the strongest possible terms to co-sponsor and support Bills H.R. 6233 and S. 3113 Dole, Burr and Jones Introduce Legislation to Allow Off-road Vehicle use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Proposed Settlement Filed in Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV Case

Jun 19th - 09:32am | Scott

Please contact your local Congressional delegation and urge them in the strongest possible terms to co-sponsor and support Bills H.R 6233 and S. 3113 Dole, Burr and Jones Introduce Legislation to Allow Off-road Vehicle use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore June 11, 2008

National Park Service Issues Beach Access Report for Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV Users

Jun 18th - 21:55pm | Cape Hatteras

Sad to hear that our great national treasures are slowly being cordoned off from American travelers. Thanks for blogging.

National Park History: Big Bend National Park

Jun 18th - 19:27pm | Leslye

Here's the skinny on javelinas from Wikipedia: (And as a year-round resident of Terlingua and BBNP area, i have to go with the "hell on earth" statement...it's obviously not the best place to spend summer!)

Jun 16th - 23:28pm | Sabattis

You're awful generous to Big Bend in the summer time. I once met a Park Ranger who worked here previously, and he described Big Bend in the summertime to me as simply "hell on earth." I haven't tested that statement - but I believe him!

Lost Backpackers Are Reported Alive and Well at Denali National Park

Jun 18th - 14:21pm | Fred Miller

Thank God !!

Air and Ground Search Under Way for Missing Backpackers in Denali National Park and Preserve

Jun 18th - 13:54pm | Anonymous

The 2 girls have been found and are OK. They got lost but they survived!

Commentary: Who Runs the National Park System?

Jun 17th - 17:48pm | Kurt Repanshek

Sabattis, You're right that almost any recreational use "for enjoyment of the people" will have some impact. I don't think anyone questions that. So the goal should be to aim for the least impacting activity, no?

Jun 17th - 11:34am | Sabattis

I think there is a difference between a report that indicates that snowmobiles would have more impact on the environment and snow coaches and concluding that science dictates that there must be no snowmobiles in the Park. After all, an EIS on the Grand Circle Road would surely show increased air pollution, noise pollution, and stress on animals as well.

Jun 17th - 06:36am | Kurt Repanshek

Sabattis, Over the nearly three years that I've been following the Yellowstone snowmobile saga on the Traveler I've cited and pointed to many reports that have addressed the pollution load of snowmobiles via snowcoaches and which have said the best way to reduce impacts to the park would be to phase out snowmobiles.

Jun 16th - 23:35pm | Sabattis

In terms of the broader proposal, I think that it would be best to avoid the "or" in your opening question. National Parks need to be run in some form of partnership with the gateway communities.

Jun 16th - 23:27pm | Sabattis

In several posts, you've implied that "science" has argued in favor of phasing out all recreational snowmobile use in the Park. However, the post you link to identifies the "preferred alternative" as being 540 snowmobiles a day - which doesn't seem like a phaseout to me....

Jun 15th - 20:46pm | James M. Ridenour

As a former Director of the National Park Service I can tell you that this ruckous over Sylvan Pass is not unusual. Usually, if you trace an issue like this back to it's source, you find a few. srtrident local people who stand to make money based on the decision.

Jun 15th - 14:55pm | Betty Howell

The number of snowmobilers who want to enter Yellowstone thru Cody is and has always been small compared to the other entrances. YNP is not the only place where these few can ride during the winter. In my opinion, a huge expense and risk for just a few.

Development of Valley Forge National Historical Park Inholding Gets Green Light from Planners

Jun 17th - 13:12pm | Sabattis

As a brief note on the above, the quotation comes from the Report Language that accompanied the establishment of Valley Forge NHP. As such, it does not have the force law - which is a shame, as otherwise it could potentially make a strong case for a legal injunction against this development.

Jun 17th - 12:47pm | More on Valley ...

1. It is interesting what you find when you look at park planning documents, or the language Congress uses when directing the National Park Service. This is some language I found in for Valley Forge:

National Park Service Open to Cutting Single-Track Bike Trails in the Parks

Jun 17th - 13:09pm | Sabattis

I think it is quite the hyperbole to imply that mountain-biking paths will turn the National Parks into "becoming simply another public multiple-use landscape." The "multiple uses" of Forest Service and BLM lands as the Forest Service and BLM would describe them typically begin with agriculture and extractive industries.

Jun 17th - 07:07am | Marylander

Segways are a BAD idea. Horrible idea! Come to visit the National Mall in Washington D.C. for even part of a day and you will clearly see why. Mountain bikers, if they run smack into you, will also fall down and get hurt which is probably why they take care to NOT run into you. Segways, on the other hand, can plow right into you without even slowing down and no consequence to them!

What's In Your National Park Reading Room?

Jun 17th - 07:28am | Stephen L Martin

This is great stuff, guys. Thanks so much for sharing. If I may, I'd like to recommend the Yellowstone Association website as a way to obtain these books and more, while also supporting our national treasures at the same time. The recent story concerning the financial plight of the Twain and Wharton homes should encourage us to do more, if possible.

Jun 16th - 23:06pm | Scott White

What? Where's Muir? How about "My first summer in the Sierra", or my favorite " Travels in Alaska". If Muir is a little dry for you, try "The Wild Muir". Released by The Yosemite Association, these are short stories about John Muir as others experienced him.

Jun 16th - 11:23am | rscottjones

A good list. I'd add a few others as well. John Wesley Powell's The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons for a unique perspective on the Grand Canyon and tribs. Searching for Yellowstone by Paul Schullery looks at Yellowstone's resources and the outside forces that affect management.

Jun 16th - 09:13am | Anonymous

Kurt, nice selection of books for summertime reading. You might consider the: Challenge of the Big Trees by Lary M. Dilsaver & William C. Tweed. A synopsis of the resource history of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Excellent reading for conservation and resource majors and for all National Park buffs.

Jun 16th - 08:01am | Kris

I'd add "Into the Wild" by John Krakauer. Alaska and esp. Denali NP are portrayed as both life-changing inspiration, raw, rugged beauty and immense danger to the unprepared. Fascinating insight into the mind of someone who places himself at the mercy of the Alaska wilderness.

National Park Quiz 6: Watchable Wildlife

Jun 17th - 07:26am | Sabattis

Wow - I had a perfect score of 12 out of 12 this week - a first for me... I loved question #6, BTW - very clever. One side note on question #9 - there are actually at least three free-roaming bison herds in the National Park System, at Yellowstone, Wind Cave, and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks (both the North and South Units.)

Forever on the Mountain

Jun 17th - 07:20am | Stephen Martin

I'm not so much worried about myself, but I am about the younger generations, even my own kids. I suppose the generations before me worried about the same things but I just can't imagine it getting any better.

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Jun 16th - 23:53pm | Anonymous

I can tell [that this woman] only hikes in small parks in CA only. What an idiot! You only have 6 seconds..ok..so can you get that damn clip off your "PEPPER ME FOR TASTE" can before the bear gets to you in 6 seconds. The shot of a bullet has always scared off every animal i have ever encountered.

Yellowstone's Latest Snowmobile Decision for Cody: Politically Motivated or Simply Neighborly?

Jun 16th - 23:19pm | Sabattis

In two separate posts now you've implied that Vice President Dick Cheney may have been involved in this decision - albeit without any solid reporting to back it up. It seems to me, though, that this Sylvan Pass decision seems bad enough on its own, without having to resort to innuendo on this issue.....

Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

Jun 16th - 22:43pm | Mark

It's a motorized vehicle. NO. How is this different that a motorized scooter or bike? There's a reason bike paths don't allow motorized vehicles. It's to keep the speed down to make it safe for others. If you're handicapped, maybe, like in the case of a motorized wheelchair. Otherwise, get off your ass and walk or peddle. This is nuts.

Ribbon-Cutting Planned for $70,000 "Bio Toilet" at Mount Rainier National Park

Jun 16th - 16:54pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I am so excited by this potty! When you think of the amount of ground that is disturbed by plumbing systems in the parks, especially in campgrounds, by the amount of water used and the impact all this makes, one has to applaud this kind of smart solution to the waste issue.

Jun 16th - 14:33pm | Kevin Bacher

This is the first biotoilet installed in the United States, so it will be a good test case to see if the system works as well in our climate and environment as it does in Japan. If it performs as expected, it is likely that this model or something similar would be strongly considered for other locations where a light presence on the land is desired.

Congressman Accuses Sec. Kempthorne of Pandering to NRA on Gun Issue

Jun 16th - 15:38pm | Anonymous

Rick,

Violent Deaths in the National Parks

Jun 16th - 11:49am | Roy

A lot of the posters on this subject are members of the "Flat Earth Society" when it comes to guns. You don't have to wonder what will happen if civilians are allowed to carry guns in national parks. There is literally about 20 years of data in every part of the country to show what happens when civilians are allowed to carry guns in public.

Bird Nests and Closures Spurring Civil Disobedience at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jun 16th - 09:33am | Anonymous

You need to get a life,the birds have survived with the way things have been for years.Think how the local economy is affected by such a change.If the bird was really such a endanger species,all beaches in the United States would be closed.

Exploring the "Other Half" of Our National Parks: Stargazing Under Protected Dark Skies

Jun 16th - 03:33am | Forrest Erickson

Great article Mr. Hoffman. Another resource for beginners are the monthly star charts at: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/st6starfinder/st6starfinder.shtml

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