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Leadership Summit: Building For the Future

Oct 19th - 09:34am | Lone Hiker

Taking this to my ever ignorant next level, I thought that the protection was accorded to any and all "national" designations, be they park, monument, battlefield, wildlife sanctuary, or whatever. At least in theory, this was the letter of the law (or more properly, the Act) as it was written.

Oct 19th - 09:10am | Anonymous

MS BOMAR! I don't think that ILLINOIS was ever revealed to be home to the Simpson's Springfield. How you could you make such a stunning error? :P

Oct 18th - 21:45pm | Lone Hiker

Please, Ms. Bomar, tell me you're not serious in your assertion that Lincoln's home town was Springfield, IL! He was a lawyer there, and twice elected State Representative, and was finally elected to the office of President while residing in Springfield, but by no means was it his home town.

Oct 18th - 18:07pm | repanshek

National park visitation yo-yos up and down for hard-to-pin-down reasons. Just a year ago there were some in Congress so worried over declining visitation that they held hearings into the trends. Of course, those making the most noise were those who make a buck off the parks -- concessionaires, gateway towns, etc.

Oct 18th - 17:46pm | Rick Smith

I am going to agree with Beamis on one point. It is the Director's main job to defend and protect the parks and programs of the National Park Service. She needs to make sure that parks have sufficient resources to 1. preserve and protect resources; 2. provide high quality visitor services; and 3. maintain productive relationships with park interest groups.

Oct 18th - 17:43pm | Anonymous

Beamis: your quote, "but Iv'e seen plenty of kids enjoying the national parks". What kids!? Privileged rich kids who have access to the parks. Most inner city folks are too busy working two or three jobs to maintain a family, and with less time to shuttle their kids to the National Parks.

Oct 18th - 17:03pm | repanshek

I think you're reading too much into Director Bomar's rhetoric. Remember whom she was addressing. I didn't interpret her as saying the NPS needs to add one more duty to its roster, but rather that we as a society have to recognize a responsibility to, if you will, lead the youth of America into the woods and show them the wonderment that resides there.

Oct 18th - 16:38pm | Anonymous

Damn Kurt, your so right! I see kids in the inner cities just starving for someone to thrown them into the woods. I mean that literally! I advocate more leadership academies for such a purpose. However, in the long run I don't endorse any of Bush's environmental, economic or war policies.

Oct 18th - 16:25pm | repanshek

I think it's wholly appropriate for the director of the National Park Service to be concerned about the youth of America in regard to the national parks. Frankly, I think all of us should be concerned about the younger generations and their tight focus on everything electronic and cartoons of mockery and disrespect.

NPS Director Bomar Not Inclined to Overturn Yellowstone's Snowmobile Backing

Oct 19th - 09:16am | Anonymous

I'm sure the motorized winter recreation industry and its powerful market forces had something to do with this decision rather than science. Nice leadership on this one, NPS.

Oct 17th - 20:41pm | Bart

"...to compromise the scenery and the natural and historic objects and to harrass the wildlife therein and to impede the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them forever impaired solely for the eternal amusement of a handful of knuckleheads in annoying fart machines."

Hikers in Grand Canyon Resort to PLB To Save Themselves

Oct 18th - 17:52pm | WillReadMore

These things will save people - they are a good thing. I agree there will need to be action taken to discourage misuse. I will pay at least $100 if I ever fat finger the alarm on my home - and a police visit is somewhat less risky and costly than a mt. rescue. Are there areas of the Grand Canyon where a gps can not see enough satellites to calculate an accurate location?

Yellowstone Bison Population Healthy; Montana Priming For Hunts

Oct 18th - 11:05am | Lone Hiker

Of all meat sources, buffalo is by far the healthiest. Per gram, or ounce for the metrically challenged, it ranks as lowest in fat, highest in protein and is very tasty. But I'll continue to obtain mine as I have for years, from private buffalo farms well beyond the borders of the park service, thank you very much.

Oct 18th - 09:53am | Anonymous

Gunner Jack: Ever hear of a Polish rifle? The barrel is bent towards the hunter...use it on this hunt. Just joking! Seriously, in all candor, this a issue where the forestry range managers should work in dire effort to expand the rangeland for the buffalo...beautiful animal!

Oct 18th - 01:16am | Gunner Jack

Thanks for the info on what sounds like a great hunting opportunity. Bison meat is good meat, low in fat. Here's my rifle: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/444.aspx What do y'all carry?

Oct 18th - 00:50am | Anonymous

"Flight connection?" Don't jets cause global warming? But I guess you don't fly in your own private jet like Algore. lol....

Oct 17th - 16:57pm | repanshek

Thanks for pointing out the error, Jim. That's what happens when you're trying to get a post up and not miss your flight connection.

Oct 17th - 16:39pm | jsmacdonald

Yellowstone buffalo, like elk, are probably at numbers well beyond their historic numbers within Yellowstone. The problem is that bison have not been allowed to expand their range. I fear for the buffalo this winter caught in the usual pissing match among humans and their proprietary claims.

Federal Real ID May (Not) Be Required For Park Visit

Oct 18th - 10:08am | Sweettuff

I 'googled' this site after a confrontation I had yesterday at a Social Security office in Iowa. Going to the office to report my mother's death I was immediately met in the 10x10 waiting room by an armed SS guard (Dept of Social Security was on his badge). After my wife presented her driver's license I questioned the guard why this was necessary.

What is YOUR Favorite Park Experience?

Oct 18th - 05:39am | Andrea

I agree with Frank--difficult to choose just one. Most recently, I remember that a Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger found me and a friend staring slack-jawed at the base of a cliff, playing an amateur game of guess-the-petroglyph.

Oct 17th - 00:45am | MRC

My very first night in the desert. Jumbo Rocks campground in Joshua Tree NP (then NM) in early May. A perfect day, a perfect evening with the round sand stones glowing deep red in the last light. And me on top of one of them. Then the night, still a bit chilly, with all the stars you can see in the desert but never in the city.

Oct 16th - 20:28pm | T Gibson

July 2007 Our first trip to Yellowstone.

Oct 16th - 16:59pm | Steve Sergeant

July 1968, Isle Royale National Park, Huginnin Cove: My first family backpacking trip.

Oct 16th - 15:37pm | jersu

Frank, I was wondering if you'd remember that! Although, I suppose you had a few more opportunities to experience that bat count than I did. I was always sad that I got only one season at club "beds".

The Consequences of the Legal Bear Hunt in Katmai

Oct 17th - 20:14pm | Anonymous

Is hunting baby deer legal?

Katmai Bear Hunt: Outfitter Says It's No Walk in the Woods

Oct 17th - 17:26pm | Brian Jorgensen

Wow Anonymous---Do you realize Congresspeople do not listen to people named anonymous? Mr. & Mrs. Anonymous do not get to vote and for that reason they are not heard. For your information, I also did not appreciate the hunt that was portrayed in this particular video.

Oct 16th - 08:19am | Anonymous

WOW" BRIAN, WHAT BIG STRONG COURAGEOUS MEN TO BRAVE THESE HARSH AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS!! PLEASE EVERYONE WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN IN PROTEST OF THIS REDICULOUS HUNT ON KATMAI. BE SURE TO MENTION GMU 9C 703 KATMAI NATIONAL PARK

Oct 15th - 20:49pm | Brian Jorgensen

Just a few comments with a little different thought to process. It is unfortunate the park rangers felt they had to take the lives of two bears to protect the camera people that wanted to take pictures the following summer season--the bears may have found an alternative food source that should have been "fair game" for them. The bears could have enjoyed both the fish run and the people run.

Alaska Regional Director Responds To Outrage Over Katmai Preserve Bear Hunt

Oct 17th - 08:11am | Bob Jackson

Living with Bears, there are people writing comments who are native Alaskans and have years of experience living with bears and spending time out on Katmai. I personally get my information from many of these people some of them bear biologists. I have also been coming to Alaska for many years and some years twice.

Oct 17th - 01:00am | Fact

Living with Bears. I do live in Alaska, in Fact I was born here. Where are you from. I have spent over Twenty years in the Katmai Park and Preserve. In all that time have never seen an over population of Brown Bears. Just a declining population, more so since 1999 when the hunting season was moved forward. Katmai Park was set-up in 1918 by President Teddy Rosevelt to protect the Brown Bears.

Oct 16th - 21:30pm | Ralf

Dear "Living with bears", Let's assume for a second that we need to manage the bear population in Katmai National Park. Who should do that? Trained experts or the highest bidder?

Oct 16th - 15:24pm | Living with bears

Thank you Gerald (PhD) and Ms. Blaszak's. Finally a clear educated representation of what everyone refers to as "the hunt" is really about. For comments made that the National Park Service is missing the point, please re-read Ms. Blaszak's statement. If you still don't understand it, please consider that YOU are missing the point.

Oct 16th - 08:01am | Bob Jackson

Great point Ralph. Justanotherhunter" If what you say is correct about the sound track on the video then thanks for pointing that out and I stand corrected on that! even so, that changes absolutely nothing about the bear slaughter happening on Katmai National Preserve GMU 9C 703 Katmai National Park and behavior of the hunting guide outfits.

Oct 15th - 23:39pm | Ralf

Dear justanotherhunter "it ran up the hill and I almost s*** my pants" (cant believe the editors let that one get through)

Oct 15th - 18:58pm | justanotherhunter

Bob Jackson: Your wrong on a couple things.. the hunters didnt say "what a great shot, the bears, they just don't even care. " another hunter says wow' the bear's walking right up to us"

Oct 15th - 08:57am | Bob Jackson

I too would like to thank FACT for providing us that information. Mark, Thank You! finally an intellegent educated hunter Outdoorsman who no doubt hunts with ethically and morally as well as skill.

Oct 14th - 15:54pm | Lone Hiker

Oh, I doubt if you could mount much of a case to support your statement insinuating that I'm ignorant of wildlife issues, and that the almighty Board of Game, NPS, DF&G, or other all-knowing agencies should be held in the highest reverence and left to their own devices in their decision making processes regarding the "resources" contained within our parklands.

Oct 14th - 00:24am | Anonymous

Fact, thanks for divulging more information about this some what clandestine outfit called the Board of Game and the Alaska Outdoor Council. Sounds like a group of good old boys wanting to control the whole atmosphere of hunting in Alaska...lock stock and barrel! These hunting boards are nothing but a scam.

Oct 13th - 17:14pm | Anonymous

"Murdering" bears...you are funni.

Oct 13th - 14:43pm | Ralf

Gerald, what is your Ph.D. in?

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

Oct 16th - 08:01am | Jerry

The national parks with their beauty and one-of-a-kind appeal tend to keep parents and others from considering the potential dangers which may exist as well.

Oct 15th - 13:04pm | Kath

This is a very tragic accident to be sure. But I hope that it does not prompt the NPS to install more fences at the rim. People do take foolish risks at the rim. They stand on crumbling rocks. They get way to close to the edge. They hop from outcropping to outcropping with only 400 feet of air underneath them.

Oct 15th - 07:58am | Anonymous

This accident just happened when my family and I arrived at the Grand Canyon. I was shocked when I heard that a young girl went over the rim and the rescue mission just started upon our arrival. I did not think about it before, but was quite surprised how much of the rim is not secured by a fence.

Oct 13th - 20:35pm | Suzanne

This is such a tragic incident, and while I do think the parents could have been watching her more carefully, accidents do happen, and in most cases they are not as fatal as this. This should remind us how lucky we are to be alive. My heart goes out to the mother and father, and the young girl whose life was tragically cut short.

Is America Failing the World's National Parks Movement?

Oct 16th - 07:54am | Rick Smith

I had the great good fortune to work with Alvaro Ugalde during an extended detail assignment in Costa Rica. He was one of the most inspiring, motivated leaders I have ever met. The sad part about his message that the US is losing its place as a leader in the world conservation movement is that this is the second time he has publicly said this in a US meeting.

Oct 15th - 22:21pm | Anonymous

Kurt, many thanks for bringing this important summit to are attention: the National Park Foundation's Leadership Summit in Austin Texas. The summit definitely touches on some of the most important and critical issues facing are National Parks and country today.

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

Oct 15th - 12:02pm | Lone Hiker

Don't be too hard on yourself Marion. Even the acknowledged best of the best, photogs who employ with and free-lance for National Geographic, Nature, Smithsonian and the like, can't make every shot perfect. For every one the makes publication there are literally DOZENS that end up in the round file.

Parks Philanthropy: It Shouldn't Only Be About Bricks and Mortar

Oct 15th - 09:40am | Anonymous

i'm glad to hear someone from the private sector saying this... in the philanthropic world, in my experience, no one wants to fund staff, they want to fund "tangible, on the ground results." to them (before you all start gang piling on this comment) this means building things, like visitor centers and toilets...

Glacier National Park Is Not As Pristine As It Appears

Oct 14th - 00:32am | Anonymous

What's your problem Gerald!? You seem to despise anyone that offers constructive criticism.

Park Service Now Interested in Adding Christmas Mountains to Big Bend National Park

Oct 13th - 18:53pm | Anonymous

Sell it to the national forest service ------- they are more friendly toward public use than the national park sevice can be.

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