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Grand Teton Bears, Update

May 13th - 08:17am | Anonymous

Bears ROCK!!!!!!!

National Park Search and Rescue: Should the Rescued Help Pay the Bills?

May 13th - 07:31am | Stephen L Martin

Some sort of insurance program would seem to alleviate the concerns for all involved. It seems like an easy and all encompasing solution to the problems. What am I missing here?

May 13th - 07:04am | Mike

I would suspect that somewhere between not charging at all, and charging everyone the full cost for SAR, is a viable solution. Anyone who thinks either extreme is the only answer is a fool. Some states have imposed an additional fee on recreational lisences and are also selling hiker certificates to help offset the cost.

May 13th - 06:18am | Marylander

The problem lies when an idiot Father (Or I guess a Mother could do it too) takes his kids out to the wilderness, totally unprepared, and gets horribly lost. If he KNOWS that he is going to have to blow his childrens college fund on a rescue, he may try to find his way out on his own and thus kill his entire family.

May 13th - 01:33am | SAR volunteer

Rescues should not come with a price. If they do, and people are aware of this; they will often try to rescue themselves and end up making the situation far, far worse (by getting more lost or injured) than it would have been. I'm not making this up, this has happened before.

May 13th - 00:37am | Anonymous

There are documented cases of persons delaying the call for help because they feared being charged for the cost of the rescue mission. The value of a human life far outweighs the monetary cost of the rescue, and the rescuers put their lives at risk with full knowledge of the potential consequences.

May 13th - 00:06am | The Adventurist

I actually cover some of these big adventure "high risk" expeditions on my blog. I have also covered quite a few SAR events as well. I understand the need for SAR, I also understand that there will be those less experienced attempting to do what they never should.

May 12th - 22:09pm | Peter Dunn

It is great to see people want to explore and if they get into trouble then maybe there should be a fee, but then why should we pay for someone who smokes that gets cancer or some overweight person who has heart trouble etc. Get the drift.

May 12th - 18:14pm | Random Walker

No. What a great way to use my taxes, military etc. I deeply thank all the SAR volunteers and urge all to donate their time and or money in support for their selfless service. Americans have become so fixated on the $ it makes me hurl.

May 12th - 16:50pm | Scott White

I agree with Montana Jim. 5$ or whatever seems reasonable per entrance fee. Although in the case of foolishness or negligence, The park should definitely go after the beneficiaries of any S&R's to recoup the costs.

May 12th - 16:35pm | VaHiker1

Why not require insurance? When I was in Colorado, the local rescue squad in Pagosa Springs sold hiking insurance recognized state wide for $5 for two years. It covered the costs of all ground based SAR and the first $3000 of a helicopter extraction. I gladly paid the fee (heck, I would have thrown $5 in the pot as a donation), thankfully never needed the policy and went home.

May 12th - 16:00pm | Montana_Jim

I think that there should be a $5 fee charged to all users or carload to cover search rescues. Any money left over would go towards next's years budget for the park.

May 12th - 15:37pm | Anonymous

Why shouldn't each participant who uses a rescue service pay? Why should taxpayers around the country pay for someone else's self-inflicted recreational problems?

May 12th - 15:33pm | anon

The answer to this question is obvious. If I get injured or sick in my home, is the ambulance ride to the hospital free?

May 12th - 14:05pm | Anonymous

It depends on the circumstance, but there are irresponsible people who will do stupid things because they know that someone will rescue them. Those people should pay.

May 12th - 12:48pm | steve

Yes, the idiots that climb mountains and go wilderness trail walking unprepared for emergencies should have to pay for S&R!! The year I climbed Mt.s St. Helens, I had to apply for a permit. Log in when I started the climb and log out when I returned (i believe they also wanted some contact information also). I thing that was good requirements.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Spawns Vandalism

May 12th - 13:59pm | Anonymous

Vandalism is the dumbest way to make your point - no matter if you're an ultra-liberal environmentalist blowing up logging camps and living in trees in Berkley, or someone who just wants to fish. There are better ways of doing things and I hope NPS nabs the perps and puts them in jail.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

May 12th - 13:25pm | ErikF

I would rather need a gun in a park, than have to need a crime scene investigator. So for prevention of murder, yes guns are needed in parks.

May 12th - 13:21pm | ErikF

I support the right to carry a firearm. Criminals have guns wether legal or not. If there was to be an assault on me, I would want the best tool available to protect my life. Wether the assailant has a gun, knife or just a big club, if my life is in danger, I have the right to keep and bear a firearm as granted by the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution, if my life is in danger.

Creature Feature: The Red-Throated Loon

May 12th - 11:47am | Linda Cronin

Chance - thank you for sharing this information on the Red Throated Loon. Approximately 20 years ago - can't quite remember anymore I found a dead water bird on our farm after a severe storm. I searched my guidebooks trying to identify the bird, settled on a Red-necked Phalarope , but never felt confident in the accuracy of my choice.

Bigger Boat Tours Coming to Voyageurs National Park

May 12th - 07:40am | Stephen L Martin

This all reminds me of one of the basic, paradoxical, axioms of economics, i.e. the world is full of limited resources.

May 12th - 07:10am | Sabattis

The difference between funding campground and boat ramps vs. paleontological positions is that the former are capital expenses and the latter are operating expenses. I would expect that funding for capital and operating comes out of two different pots of money for the Park Service, and so aren't really in competition with each other.

May 10th - 16:42pm | ironranger

Kurt and Kelly have great points and information, it helps fill in some of the gaps in the story. I said "detest" in an earlier post about the local attitude towards Voyageurs. The reason being that VNP is still a rather new park, and locals have a very long memory. Many people in this neck of the woods are skeptical of the government in general, and the Feds especially.

May 10th - 09:38am | Kelly at VNPA

Voyageurs National Park is a beautiful, wild park where you can travel the historic water trails used by Native Americans and fur trappers. It’s also a place where you can hear wolves howl, see bald eagles soar, and catch walleye with your kids.

May 9th - 19:24pm | FrankC

The tour boat will be designed with the latest “green” technology, according to Rep. Oberstar, who says it will be "equipped with highly efficient engines that operate on bio-diesel fuel."

May 9th - 09:58am | Kurt Repanshek

Sabattis, Better interpretation is definitely a plus. My concern is that the system for funding the parks is out of whack. Too often it comes down to whose congressperson is more adept at earmarking legislation or calling in favors for support.

May 9th - 07:16am | Anonymous

Argh! Can someone tell me why ironranger said that "the locals detest Voyagers"??

May 8th - 21:00pm | Sabattis

Allow me to play Devil's Advocate for a moment. The NPT has long argued for increased funding for interpretation services for the Parks. Well, most of Voyageurs National Park is covered in water - what kind of interpretation can really occur there without a boat? Thus, I'm surprised that this development is treated with such skepticism.

May 8th - 12:00pm | Stephen L Martin

I could see why private tour boats would do well in some areas, such as Fort William Henry on Lake George, NY, and not in others such as Voyageurs. Lake George is associated more directly with American History and is easily accessible for all demographics. I've never been to Voyageurs but it seems more of a remote location, and lacks the easily distinguished tie-in to the historical?

May 8th - 11:55am | Anonymous

I'm guessing, then that no one knows why locals 'detest' the park, as ironranger said earlier....

May 8th - 10:03am | ironranger

Here in Minnesota, we will bring our own boats whether there was a tour boat or no. Boating is a very significant cultural activity, and many Minnesotans own boats or have access to one through family or friends. However, those visiting the park from outside the local area often rent boats and hire guides to get to the best fishing, or the best scenery.

May 8th - 09:10am | Kurt Repanshek

Perhaps this case points to a larger question across the National Park System: Just what does the National Park Service owe communities surrounding parks, and what do those communities owe those parks?

May 8th - 07:31am | Anonymous

Why do most locals detest Voyagers?

Ken Burns' National Parks Documentary: Where Does it Stand?

May 10th - 21:16pm | Barky

Sounds great! ===================================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

May 10th - 10:35am | Anonymous

Ken Burns is amazing!!

National Park Quiz 1: Are You Centered?

May 10th - 16:52pm | ironranger

Sabattis, I got stuck on the exact same question. A lousy 9 for 10.

May 8th - 20:53pm | Sabattis

Got 9 out of 10 myself... I had to flip a coin between Glacier and Yellowstone, since I've never been to Wallace, ID and figured that since Yellowstone National Park is actually *in* Idaho, that was the better bet...

May 8th - 17:51pm | Bob Janiskee

Nice job, Barky; I'm impressed. Maybe you should be writing these quizzes instead of me? The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (not River; I've corrected the typo) was one of the original eight Wild and Scenic Rivers. The lower part of the park/riverway, the St. Croix River, forms the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

May 8th - 17:26pm | Barky

9 out of 10. :-) Never heard of St. Croix National River. :-P ================================================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park

May 10th - 07:16am | Dorothy

This shot took me right back to our Glacier trip three years ago. I will never forget its beautiful sites, especially the hike to Grinnell Glacier. After seeing this, I spent the morning looking at the pictures we had taken when there. Beautiful shot! Thank you for sharing!

Groups Sue Park Service Over ORV Use in Big Cypress National Preserve

May 10th - 00:04am | erik

I have a few things to say one is that i know many OVRer and 98% of them care more about a trail then most vistor because that is there backyard i have seen it from south florida to the northwest. I have lived all over the US and they are in every state and are great people and most adhear to the treadlightly plan.

Vet Removes Snare From Neck of Wolf in Denali National Park and Preserve

May 9th - 09:59am | Lone Hiker

Neil-

May 9th - 09:13am | Kurt Repanshek

Neil, What we aim to bar are comments that take direct personal attacks on others. We prefer to see comments rise above that level. Do we always succeed? Perhaps not as best we can. But some comments are so blatant in their personal attacks that the decision not to let them go through is easy.

May 8th - 22:12pm | Neil

Lets see...so you can bar the comments of the people who disagree that wolves lives are more valuable than ANY humans...even the trappers. But gleefully post the comments by the wackos who think a person should be killed because a wolf got caught in this trap. Yep, I certainly see how you welcome different viewpoints!!

May 8th - 15:55pm | Anonymous

This article made me so very sad, even with the GREAT news that one of the two wolves was able to be cared for.

Protest Against American Revolution Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park Planned for May 15

May 9th - 09:39am | Ryan Balas

God. Another protest to protect our esteemed blah blah blah blah. I am an evironmentalist. I walk to shop, donate to causes, pick up litter in the parks, etc. But, I don't see anything wrong with building something to enhance the visitors experience and bring in a little money to help support the area those people are screaming and protesting about keeping the same.

Traveler’s Delightful Dozen: Windshield Touring Trips in the National Park System

May 8th - 16:46pm | Anonymous

Edward abbey is rolling in his grave over this post...

Where Are the Best Sunrises in the National Park System?

May 8th - 10:13am | pkrnger

I would vote for sunrise (and pre-sunrise) at Canyon Overlook above the Great Arch of Zion in Zion National Park, looking west at Bridge Mountain and across Zion Canyon into Oak Creek Canyon. There is a dramatic change of color on the Great West Temple, the Temples of the Virgin and Alter of Sacrafice before the sun rises in the east.

May 8th - 08:39am | Anonymous

Best Sunrise: from the top of Mt. Dana, Yosemite National Park overlooking Mono Lake. Most glorious in color among the mountain dew.

May 8th - 07:16am | Mike W.

I've seen spectacular sunrises at all the parks I've visited, but will agree that probably the best were at (and in!) the Grand Canyon. We did a rafting trip in May '03 from Lee's Ferry to Phantom Ranch, and hiked out. The hike started before sunrise at 5:30am, and it was amazing watching the sun come up and illuminate the canyon.

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