| Page 1531 | National Parks Traveler

Yes, I used two hiking poles (that I purchased in Glacier National Park almost ten years ago). Both the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab trails show signs of recent trail mainentance, so they were not as rocky or eroded as I remembered from previous trips. I recall that in 1969 there used to be two parallel ruts and a central ridge in the South Kaibab trail. Those are now gone.

Jan 20th - 14:56pm | Anonymous

Did you use hiking poles? They are motivators on the uphills (plant them alternatively in front of you and walk up to and past them) and knee-savers on the downhills. They also are help on rough, rocky or eroded trails -- like both Bright Angel and South Kaibab, which have such steady mule train traffic.

Jan 19th - 08:05am | pkrnger

One of the really pleasant surprises of this trip was encountering NPS park interpreter Stewart Fritts while he was conducting a guided walk along the rim at the Grand Canyon Village. His walk focused on the historic architectual accomplishments of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. Mr.

Great Basin National Park's Air Could Be Compromised By Proposed Power Plant

Jan 22nd - 06:53am | Electrical Engineer

I see lots of NIMBY here. That stands for "Not In My Back Yard."

Jan 17th - 16:44pm | WOW!

First of all, I want to say this might seem like I am picking on Lone Hiker but this is directed to all people who mix in a lot of emotion with a small amount of facts when they post an article. We all have our own ideas about how things should be and that is right and good but you better know what you are talking about and the finer details involved.

Jan 16th - 07:03am | Lone Hiker

Regulators no longer permit coal plants to be built.

Jan 15th - 12:01pm | Anonymous

You state "I find this to be a little specious...

Jan 14th - 13:28pm | Anonymous

This isn't a park vs. community situation... The technology proposed in this plant is a major problem (not state of the art in 2008--what will it be in 2018?). Also, the energy produced in Ely will be sent to Las Vegas, so the whole issue of conservation becomes even more of an issue.

Jan 14th - 11:24am | Bob Janiskee

Anon has got it mostly right. All of us (yes, even Dick Cheney!) should understand that the cheapest, fastest, safest, and most intelligent energy alternative is to "use less energy and waste less energy."

Jan 14th - 08:35am | Anonymous

While solar is becoming an option, what do you do when the sun doesn't shine? Same for wind, what do you do when the wind isn't blowing? If we want more wind and solar there has to be a better transmission infrastructure to dispatch the load around the country where it is needed.

Jan 13th - 15:25pm | jr_ranger

Senator Reid (D-NV) tried to solve the problem by making the air in the park Class I - the highest level of protection under the Clean Air Act, be he failed. See [url=http://tntrailhead.blogspot.com/2007/12/reid-fails-in-plan-to-increase-a...

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jan 21st - 17:15pm | Yosemite faithful

The argument that people might die on Half Dome so it shouldn't be so accessible is as illogical as saying that people might die in a car crash while driving Tioga Road so it shouldn't be open. Of course someone could die on Half Dome. Or on the highways. Or at Glacier Point. There is reasonable risk for great reward in Yosemite.

Entrance Fee Repeal Legislation Would Have Little Impact on National Parks

Jan 21st - 15:59pm | Suzi Dow

Sounds like the Park Service got another sweet deal on the back of our national forests. According to S-2438, National Parks can charge and everyone else can not.

Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman

Jan 20th - 22:00pm | jsmacdonald

I scan all the news on Yellowstone daily, usually 2-3 times a day, and I haven't seen a bit of news about this since it happened. Almost anything is possible; people really can accidentally plunge to their deaths from that location, one could commit suicide, or one could commit homicide. No matter what, it's certainly tragic, and as far as has been reported, still a mystery.

Jan 20th - 00:07am | Anonymous

How come we can't know the name of the "panic ridden" man who was with her? Who is this person who wrote this last comment. Why does everyone know Charlotte's name but not his? Somebody knows something. How about starting with Van Susteren or pictures of her with friends from myspace.

Association of National Park Rangers Opposes Change in Park Gun Regulations

Jan 20th - 13:53pm | skunklove

i agree,people with the proper permits are a very small amount of the problem, illegal arms are....... this law seems to prevent me from visiting all our national forest and parks, this is another way to chip away at the 2nd amendment, how many shoot outs have you heard of in a national park....... i think the present laws are just fine....

Jan 18th - 10:10am | Anonymous

Schools are not federal property as are national parks. Citizens should be able to carry weapons in national parks, and those who use weapons cavalierly in national parks (for target practice or poaching) should be punished. But the Second Amendment, which seems to protect individual rights to carry arms, should not be ignored.

Jan 18th - 07:49am | Anonymous

Perhaps then, we should allow people to arm themselves in a school building...after all, you can have guns out on the road in front of the school and there have been rapists who turned out to be teachers, and doesn't the 2nd Amendment state that we can carry weapons?

Jan 17th - 17:28pm | vince

I don't see the strength of the argument. It's the same story of banning the law abiding citizens while ignoring the fact that the bad guys (criminals, poachers etc) will be armed with or without the ban. If you have passed all the checks and are deemed to be a responsible adult then it shouldn't make a difference when you walk from state woods onto the NPS woods.

Jan 17th - 17:17pm | Anonymous

that is true, also what do they mean by negligent discharge, any law abiding citizen who has a legal ccw or cancealed carry firearms permit is not going to just be letting off rounds in the park for no reason if any citizen with a legal ccw is discharging there firearm its because of a rabid wild animal or bear or mountin lion which are EVERY where!!

Jan 17th - 12:42pm | Anonymous

It is my beleif that the Second Amendant givies everyone the right to Self defence. It follows that everyone that is every person has the constitutional right to Arm themselves for self defense agaist any enemy, be they human or not. If a person citizen does not have the right to self defense niether does the State or nation or the people emloyed by said nation and or state.

Crater Lake, On Average, Is Deepest Lake in North America

Jan 19th - 07:46am | pkrnger

Just to provide an update about my ongoing research on the deepest lakes of the world: Crater Lake is the deepest, when compared on the basis of average depth among lakes whose basins are entirely above sea level. The average depths of Lakes Baikal and Tanganyika are deeper than Crater Lake; however, both have basins that extend below sea level.

NPCA Asks Secretary Kempthorne Not To Change Gun Regs in National Parks

Jan 18th - 22:20pm | scott white

Mr. Miller, While I actually agree with your criticism of the above statements, I find it strange that you should feel the need to be defended all the time. It seems inconsistent to me that someone who is the risk taking, self sufficient type of personality who would travel in the wilderness would feel so much at jeopardy.

Jan 18th - 15:40pm | Fred Miller

Once again we hear lots of good arguments about preventing poaching. We're missing the point here. How does this discussion keep me safe when I'm hiking in the wilderness? I only want to defend myself from a person who might try to steal my wallet or assault my wife. I'm a "good guy". I obey the laws, including hunting laws.

Park History: Acadia National Park

Jan 18th - 18:38pm | Paul

I have been going to Acadia every June for the past 15 years. Some people think I would grow bored of it, but I enjoy it more and more with each year. I couldn't imagine NOT going.

Do Professional Hockey And Yosemite National Park Belong Together?

Jan 17th - 23:13pm | YoseMom

For those of you who actually care. The kids loved having the team up here to play. These are kids that make the choice of either going to a very small school (30 students Kinder.

Climate Change and the National Parks

Jan 17th - 16:44pm | Kath

I wouldn't worry too much about the giant sequoias. They predate the dinosaurs and have lasted for 70 million years. In fact, more types of sequoias flourished when the world was hotter. As climate changed over the millenia and the earth became cooler and drier, their range became much more limited.

Jan 17th - 07:48am | jr_ranger

Well, if it helps any, Whitnam Mission NHS out in Walla Walla, Washington is doing more than its fair share.

Jan 15th - 13:34pm | alias alibi

what is the affect of camp fires on climate change and could this be banned in the near future ? what impact on camping could such a ban bring to tourisum ? my guess is the same impact as no smoking in public places. signed RV FullTimer...keep the campfires burning...

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Jan 17th - 13:19pm | Joel

Good point Kurt. That is exactly what conservatives (when we actually had 2 parties instead of the hodgepodge we have now) have been saying for years. Leave such laws to the state and not the federal government. This then lends to the point of the proposed law change.

Jan 16th - 18:36pm | repanshek

Actually, how exactly the 2nd Amendment should be interpreted has been questioned for quite some time. Does it mean states can field a militia, or that individuals have a right to bear arms?

Jan 16th - 18:26pm | Anonymous

The current federal law permits people to keep their guns while traveling in national parks, but it denies them the right to bear, or carry, guns on federal land. Wrong. The current law prohibits carrying LOADED firearms in the national parks. You can keep you weaponry cased and in your possession at all times, provided the piece is UNLOADED.

Jan 16th - 15:23pm | Peter

Awesome...It's great to have Lone Hiker to tell us all how stupid we've been. With all the time he spends posting for the anti-gun platform we'll be singing sweet songs to each other in no time. Talk about a last word freak!

Jan 15th - 21:35pm | Lone Hiker

The senators are only trying to keep otherwise law-abiding people from becoming convicted felons, if they should get caught with a handgun in their backpack.[i/] Doesn't make you much of a "law abiding citizen" if you're willfully disregarding the current the law, does it?

Jan 15th - 12:08pm | Jsenk

I have been hiking all over the US and overseas. For the most part I have carried a firearm every time, with the exception of Hawaii, and Europe. I have never needed to use it, but it gave me great comfort knowing it was at my disposal. I find it unthinkable that I could be arrested for carrying a pistol in the dangerous back country.

Jan 14th - 21:13pm | Butch

So all the wilderness and animal lovers actually believe that the concealed permit holders HAVE NOT been camping or hiking along side of them for years. Naive! I can assure you that many more people than you know have carried pistols in their backpacks. Haven't heard of any Dodge City shootouts around the campfires, or piles of dead wolves and grizzlies.

Jan 14th - 10:34am | Linda

This isn't supposed to be about gun people bashing anti-gun people and vice versa. This is about the safety of the parks, the safety of wildlife and the safety of people. I don't oppose owning a concealed permit, but there is a time and a place and the parks are not the place to carry. Follow the law (don't change it) and just enjoy a nice visit to our wonderful parks.

Jan 14th - 10:09am | Anonymous

If you read the Constitution, you'll see that the Second Amendment states "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." There's been some argument over what these phrases mean, but it really seems to be common sense to me.

Jan 13th - 12:01pm | Anonymous

I agree most people with conceal carry permits are less likely to pull or use their weapon, because they know that pulling that weapon can in most cases cause them to wind up with feloney charges. I as a gun carrying American hope and prey I never have to use my gun on another person but with our world today I will not think twice about using it to protect or defend myself or my family.

Jan 13th - 11:36am | Linda

Oh yes, I'd feel safe camped next to a confused gun-loaded holder. NOT! A loaded gun at your side may makes you feel brave in a national park where wildlife has the right-of-way, especially when you stumble into the path of a bear because you're not paying attention - feeling brave. What about poachers; the people that will have "license" to kill whatever they want?

Tar Sands Development Could Impact Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Glen Canyon NRA

Jan 16th - 11:57am | Bob Janiskee

In situ ("in place") processing methods are designed to use steam, solvents, controlled combustion, and related techniques to remove liquid and gaseous fuels, bitumen, wax, and other valuable commodities from tar sands and oil shale deposits while leaving the waste rock and sand right where it sits.

Jan 15th - 22:41pm | Scott White

Hey Bob, how 'bout some more info on this "in situ" process. I'd rather hear it from you before I start hearing the media spin.

National Park Status Proposed for Oregon, West Virginia State Parks

Jan 15th - 12:06pm | Glenn Scofield ...

Hmm, smells of pork...

Jan 14th - 10:46am | Kath

Silver Falls State Park is nice, but it's features aren't unique enough to merit National Park status. Instead, the federal government could takeover the 48 state parks in California that the governor is proposing be closed due to the budget crisis. Those parks include Sutter's Fort and the mission at Lompoc, both historical treasures of national significance.

Jan 14th - 10:19am | Anonymous

Thanks to Oregon Lottery dollars, state park user fees and recreation vehicle license fees, Oregon State Parks are in the black. They are well maintained and staffed. Turning them over to a federal agency that can't afford to maintain its current land holdings would be a mistake and is not in the best interests of Oregonians.

Senators' Letter to Open National Parks to Concealed Weapons

Jan 14th - 18:05pm | Randy

I believe that anyone who has a concealed weapons permit should have the right to legally carry in our national forests. After all, these forests belong to us. Recent events that have occurred in our national forests not only suggest that being armed could have stopped some very hideous crimes, but these crimes demand that since the government can not protect us, we must protect ourselves.

Jan 14th - 14:37pm | Frank Batha

I'm glad to see this issue being discussed, and I believe some modifcations to the current "no firearms in national parks" policy should be made. In my case, I have come across two particular issues. First, as someone who enjoys the backcountry areas of national parks, I would like to be a "legal" carrier of a loaded handgun. My justification being self-defense from dangerous wildlife.

Park Service OKs Monetary Settlement On Great Smoky Mountains National Park's North Shore Road

Jan 14th - 08:43am | Bill Minsh

Thank god this area will be perserved for future generations. This road would have been very foolish.

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