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09/06/2008 - 5:44amYellowstone National Park Reporting Bullish VisitationI think we need to remember that while gas prices here are high, they're at least half of what the Europeans pay at home, so that alone is quite a savings for them. That, plus the weak dollar, has made American vacations -- and SUVs -- very affordable for them ...
09/06/2008 - 5:40amHanna Forcing Evacuations, Closures at Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout National SeashoresThanks for sharing the pictures, Dap. Helps put things in context.
09/05/2008 - 4:07pmBig Bend National Park: Is It Ready For A Mountain Bike Trail?Barky, Too big of a leap? See Yellowstone and snowmobiles, Pictured Rocks and Cape Lookout and PWCs, Big Cypress and off-road vehicles. I'm sure there are other examples, but that's a pretty good start.
09/04/2008 - 10:09amBrucellosis Solution: Kill All Elk and Bison in Yellowstone National ParkLone Hiker, if you're proposing a bison and elk roast, just name the date and location!
09/04/2008 - 6:16amBig Bend National Park: Is It Ready For A Mountain Bike Trail?Mark raises an intriguing question (although it's one that's been touched on previously). It revolves around his statement that adding mountain biking trails "holds the promise of bringing many new NPS supporters into the fold." Are we to assume that mountain bikers could care less about national parks unless they ...
09/03/2008 - 12:11pmBrucellosis Solution: Kill All Elk and Bison in Yellowstone National ParkMRC, Yes, I'm well aware of the Yosemite Valley infrastructure and Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. However, the European models I refer to operate on a much, much larger scale. For instance, in [url=http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/understanding/facts_and_figures.htm]Lake District National Park[/url] there are more than 42,000 year-round residents and nearly 23,000 "dwellings". Kinda makes ...
09/03/2008 - 11:22amBrucellosis Solution: Kill All Elk and Bison in Yellowstone National ParkTed, you raise an interesting prospect, that of borrowing the European model of mixed-use national parks. I've in the past been somewhat befuddled by that model in say, England's Lake District. How could you have villages within a national park's boundaries? But in these times, perhaps that model, with a ...
09/03/2008 - 10:12amBrucellosis Solution: Kill All Elk and Bison in Yellowstone National ParkTed, It's been a while since I really delved deep into the brucellosis issue, but as I recall it's pretty hard for humans to contract the disease -- which is called "Bangs Disease" in humans. If memory serves me right, they'd have to be exposed to the blood of an ...
09/03/2008 - 9:21amNational Park System Quiz 18: A Potpourri of National Park TriviaI think you've got me on that one, Eric. If I were the professor, I'd use weasel-speak and say decommissioned units don't count;-) Good catch.
09/02/2008 - 12:21pmCreature Feature: The American MartenNice shots, Lindsay. The only time I saw a marten was during a Shoshone trip as well. Must be a popular place for them. Unlike me, at least you were quick enough with your camera to land proof.
09/01/2008 - 5:58pmPaying To Understand U.S. History in the National Park SystemSounds good Frank....until you work the economies of scale, no? You're not talking about one or two locations, a city zoo here, or an art museum there. At last count there were 391 units of the park system (and countless more in the incubation chamber we call Congress). The Park ...
08/30/2008 - 3:25pmPaying To Understand U.S. History in the National Park SystemPoint made, Barky. But don't you run the risk of alienating more potential park advocates by constantly raising the fees to this truly American attraction? The parks I don't think should be equated with a commercial business (and that's what seems to be happening at Gettysburg and elsewhere in the ...
08/28/2008 - 3:49pm**** Viewing National Parks Traveler on Firefox 3.0****Yeah, but that module usually only contains the five most recent posts. On good days there might be five or six kicked out, and if you rise too late or miss a day, well, you'll miss the juice;-) And don't forget the featured post.
08/28/2008 - 3:00pm**** Viewing National Parks Traveler on Firefox 3.0****Kirby, you don't go to the front page?!?$#?!!! That's where all the juice is! Ted, Bill's paying me to thwart FF. Anon, yeah, we saw the problem with Safari, too. Not sure what became of that. Beamis, flattery will get you nowhere. But remember the sentiment once we get the ...
08/27/2008 - 11:19amPresidential Politics and the National ParksAhh, Ted, you dare to embark on the debate over the meaning of "conserve" v. "preserve." When placed in the context of the national parks, as I'm sure you're well aware, that's a minefield. Perhaps more so when you look at the Organic Act and its reference to "conserve the ...
08/27/2008 - 4:22amGrammar Vigilantes Busted in Grand Canyon National Park, Barred from Park SystemTed, All that remains of Jeff Deck's website can be found [url=http://www.jeffdeck.com/teal/]here.[/url] However, if you read the attachment I provided, it contains some screen shots of the site as well as verbiage from it. Thanks for your thoughts on this, Doug.
08/20/2008 - 9:08amBlack Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkTed et al, Park rangers initially estimated the bear weighed 55 pounds. It later came in at 86 pounds, still probably too small to take on an adult.
08/20/2008 - 6:40amBlack Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkTrish, I'm not sure we can rush to judgment on what the parents did or didn't do. Obviously, they were close enough nearby that the father could rush to his son's rescue. Too, rangers who responded noted that the bear charged them, as well, so merely standing and watching from ...
08/19/2008 - 5:20amWhat's the Solution For Cape Hatteras National Seashore?Kingfisher, your point is well taken, but in all fairness it can be ascribed to folks on both side of this issue.
08/18/2008 - 6:21pmWhat's the Solution For Cape Hatteras National Seashore?Eric, Sorry for your disappointment. Frankly, I'm not directing the thread, the community is. I don't feel it's my role to say one side is right or the other wrong, and I think I've made that pretty evident in my comments. That said, I've been visiting national parks, including national ...
08/18/2008 - 5:24pmGrand Canyon National Park "Short Haul" OperationsGail and others, I'm afraid the Park Service considers the names of those involved privileged information and will not release them without a Freedom of Information Act request.
08/18/2008 - 5:23pmWhat's the Solution For Cape Hatteras National Seashore?Longcaster, The citation is much appreciated. That said, to the best of my knowledge the "RA" suffix really doesn't set Cape Hatteras aside to be managed with recreation foremost in mind. In theory, all 391 units of the National Park System are to be managed the same, regardless of whether ...
08/18/2008 - 2:34pmWhat's the Solution For Cape Hatteras National Seashore?Andrew, You and others refer to Cape Hatteras as a "National Recreation Area." If you could point to where that is specified I'd appreciate it, as I've been unable to find it. Not that I'm doubting you, it'd just be good to have that reference. As for the founding legislation, ...
08/18/2008 - 8:48amGrand Canyon National Park Rangers Working to Rescue Stranded Colorado River RaftersI've got a request in for a list of the 16 stranded rafters, but haven't heard back yet. Not sure if a larger list of all those on the river will be available, but I'll inquire.
08/17/2008 - 2:51pmWill Second Century Commission Succeed With Its National Parks Assessment and Recommendations?I saw the article. And I think it's a valid concern, under the "keep quiet if you want to continue your upward movement in the NPS" genre. But I also believe rangers -- and perhaps you know having been one -- are told early on that it's against agency policy ...
08/17/2008 - 2:39pmWill Second Century Commission Succeed With Its National Parks Assessment and Recommendations?Beamis, I think you don't hear active NPS rangers raising their voices not because they're frightened but rather because 1)They'd prefer to keep their jobs and any chance of upward movement and 2) I believe it's actually against the regs to do so. That said, it would be nice if ...
08/17/2008 - 2:37pmIs It Time to Overhaul the National Park Service and the National Park System?Frank, One comment re the Oregon state park system, which you know way better than me. I had one encounter with Oregon's state parks oh, about six or seven years ago, long enough that I don't remember which one though I think it was inland of Sixes. I was astounded ...
08/15/2008 - 7:47amMSNBC’s Top 10 National Park Lodges List Draws Curmudgeonly, but Gentle CriticismAbout a year ago I looked into the issue of lodging (and even dining) rates in the national parks, as some certainly are eye-catching (and wallet-draining). There seem to be at least two factors that seem to be immutable: 1. NPS compares/matches lodging rates to rates outside the parks. So ...
08/14/2008 - 7:31amMSNBC’s Top 10 National Park Lodges List Draws Curmudgeonly, but Gentle CriticismI almost mentioned TML, Kath;-) Of course, not all tent cabin accommodations were created equal. While Curry Village utilizes the same tent cabins as those at TML, I'd never put Curry Village on a "best lodging" list.
08/14/2008 - 6:13amMSNBC’s Top 10 National Park Lodges List Draws Curmudgeonly, but Gentle CriticismSuch lists, of course, are entirely subjective. That said, there are some glaring omissions, such as Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, if you like rustic atmosphere, or Lake Hotel, if you prefer elegance. Either, in my book, surpass Many Glacier, which, though in a spectacular setting, needs some serious restoration work ...
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