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Reader Participation Day: Visit Wyoming's National Parks, or Those in Washington State?

Jul 28th - 13:00pm | Rick B.

We live in Seattle, and the magnificent parks mentioned in Washington State are ones we visit all of the time. All three are weekenders from here, and we're quite proud of them. We've enjoyed Yellowstone more than once, and will return there again.

Jul 28th - 12:45pm | pkrnger

What a choice Kurt has given us! All of the parks mentioned comprise the best of the best the national park system has to offer. The scenery of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone are indeed iconic to all Americans. In the national parks of the State of Washington, you won't encounter moose or Grizz, nor will you encounter geysers and herds of American bison.

Jul 28th - 10:20am | RangerLady

Both! I visited Yellowstone and Tetons when I was 16 (many, many years ago) but it was just a quick drive-thru trip. We did both in 8 hours. It drove me insane that we weren't allowed to get out of the car and hike or look at anything, so since then I've been wanting to go back and actually experience the parks.

Jul 28th - 09:28am | MikeD

I've been to all these parks, though the Washington ones were in May so our experience with Mt. Rainier and NOCA was limited. But that said, I think I'd agree with the comments by V.C. Wald. Speaking of, VP Biden just was at Yellowstone.

Jul 28th - 08:36am | V.C. Wald aka G...

That's really a toughie, since Olympic is one wonderful giant park, North Cascades beckons, though I've not had a chance to explore beyond driving through it, and of course, Rainier is infinitely interesting. BUT, Yellowstone, especially when combined with Grand Teton and the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, is always and forever at the top of my list.

Jul 28th - 08:33am | Brad

Washington. I've been to the Wyoming parks but not to Washington's.

Jul 28th - 08:13am | onebigtree

I live in Wyoming and just came back from Yellowstone. For family vacation next month we are taking in North Cascades (drive through) and Olympic. I'll let you know when I get back :-)

Jul 28th - 07:16am | Jude

Washington state because I really want to see Olympic.

Greening the Parks: A Former Brownfield is Converted to a Lakefront Gem at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Jul 28th - 11:36am | Bill

I have visied the new Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk many times now since I discovered it this spring when I noticed the road side sign directing visiters to the site. On my last vist (during the weekend of the Gary Air Show) I noticed that many people are unfortunately already disrespecting the property in a number of ways.

Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Jul 28th - 10:26am | Diana

this is a great review! Randy's books are the best guides I've found for hiking the BRP trails. He also has one called Best Easy Day Hikes, its great for family hikes. I got my copies at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's online store, part of the proceeds go to support the Parkway!

Bluffs Lodge and the Best Coffee Shop in a National Park

Jul 28th - 09:20am | Wendell Rowell

Sparta is our adopted weekend home. We bought a little place there a couple years back just below the Blue Ridge Parkway. We can sit on our porch and look up at the travelers going by. The Bluffs Lodge Restaurant is our "special treat" place to go.

2008 Visitation to the National Parks Up and Down, But Essentially Flat

Jul 28th - 09:02am | Anonymous

Hobblefoot, information about how the National Park Service collects visitation information is available here: http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/ Click on Cuyahoga Valley from the pull down menu, then select the How we Count report in the Cuyahoga Valley Reports menu.

Three Canyoneers Survive Flash Flood in Zion National Park

Jul 28th - 08:22am | Greg

Joe, I used to climb with Jason in CT... Cathy called me yesterday and left a message but I have not been able to get in touch with Jason yet. If you talk to him, let him know I will get in touch. If anyone could pull off getting through a flash flood like that it would be Jason!

Jul 28th - 06:43am | Anonymous

So glad your husband is doing well. I spoke with the other two and they seem to be recovering and getting it together. I would have been with them if not for a family commitment. It must have been terrifying but at thankfully they all made it through. Please pass onto Joe my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Jul 27th - 22:57pm | Vegas

Thanks for all the positive wishes on this site. I am the wife of one of the men who was in the flood and I must say that the men who helped him out of the canyon very likely saved his life. Two wonderful young who had it together and got him up to higher ground. So far, my hubby who only went over the one waterfall is doing okay and we hope for the best.

Jul 27th - 14:49pm | Mike Painter

Glad everyone got out, and best wishes for speedy recoveries to the injured.

Jul 27th - 14:03pm | Mike H.

I have posted a video here from my helmet cam of when the flood hit. We had just decided to take cover behind a rock before attempting the last rappel over the final cliff. We had absolutely no idea that the flood was coming - didn't hear or see anything until it hit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8gNGfDWfBM

Jul 26th - 21:50pm | Kolby

The comments of this story are more interesting than the story itself! Glad to hear more details from those who were there and thankful that everyone made it out with their lives.

Jul 26th - 20:29pm | Mike H.

I am also from Vegas and was part of the first party that descended Spry canyon on Saturday, probably no more than 30 minutes ahead of the group which sustained the injuries. We were roughly 50 feet from the last tree rappel over the lip in the main watercourse when the flash hit, but were lucky enough to make it behind a large boulder for protection.

Jul 26th - 18:48pm | Devin

I too was in the group of four on Lodge Canyon. Glad to hear that everyone will recover - we were all very worried and notified the rangers that your brother's 's group might be in trouble as soon as we were able to escape our canyon. Sounds like they had already spotted the one person's headlamp though. We figured our two canyons flashed in under four minutes.

Jul 26th - 17:48pm | Joe A F

My bro was one of the three. He's in surgery right now to repair a shattered hip. The doc will put a couple pins in. The doc says he will have full range of motion later. After some intensive rehab, he should make a full recovery. One guy had bruises and contusions.

Jul 26th - 14:01pm | Justin

I was in a group of four that descended Lodge Canyon the same day. The three men from Las Vegas gave us a ride up to the start of our hike, which shares a trailhead with Spry canyon. We were at the last final repel of our canyon when Lodge flashed. I am very happy to hear that they survived and I wish them a speedy recovery.

National Park Mystery Plant 10: Heaven for the Climate, Hell for Society

Jul 28th - 06:31am | Bob Janiskee

You got it, Eric. Good job. It's false hellebore.

Jul 28th - 06:22am | Eric

False Hellebore

Orphan Train Rider Will Share Her Story at Homestead National Monument of America

Jul 28th - 05:21am | Charmaine L

If there's one big issue in Beatrice, Nebraska it's probably the debate over Homestead Act. People have come to Beatrice, Neb., since 1862, when the Homestead Act first parceled out land to pioneer farmers. The U.S. was in a different place at that time, economically.

One Dead, 16 Injured Following Lightning From Thunderstorm in Grand Teton National Park

Jul 27th - 23:06pm | Anonymous

THANK YOU to all the rescuers that saved my cousin's life. It is an absolute miracle that he is alive. The fact that you put your lives at risk to save all of these people is a true blessing. God bless.

National Park Road Trip 2010: Lewis & Clark on the Columbia

Jul 27th - 21:50pm | cicihi

I am happily following your trip and listening to your stories of Lewis & Clark's travels with the Corps of Discovery. A little jealous even! Continue the great story telling of history in this country.

John Wessels Appointed Director of National Park Service's Intermountain Region

Jul 27th - 18:50pm | Anonymous

Kurt - you are right - Mr. Wessels should be given a chance to live up to the comments made in the press release announcing his selection - one does have to wonder if those were actually his words or if they were written for him - but never-the-less he had to have had approval on the content of the press release.

Jul 27th - 10:57am | Benjamin Lord

The National Park Service is a more dynamic animal, and administratively more sophisticated, than any one person. Park superintendents, chief rangers, Denver Service Center, and indeed the public are welcome to participate in National Park management.

Jul 27th - 09:38am | Kurt Repanshek

Anonymous, As I understand it, a three-person search committee handled the interviews/vetting and that this was an an open search throughout NPS. That said, certainly the core ops drama that played out in IMR will focus a keen spotlight on whoever got the job.

Jul 27th - 06:17am | Anonymous

Good observation MRC - and Mr. Wessels was definitely in the thick of things with Core Ops but likely just doing what it took to please the old boss, but it is disconcering to know that the old regime will be alive and well in the Intermountain regional office. John is a yes man - saying whatever needs to be said to please whomever he's saying it to.

Jul 27th - 03:36am | MRC

Isn't he the very person who was responsible for implementing and executing the "core ops" program? The description of his former position sounds like it.

Yosemite National Park Officials Looking For Suggestions on Preserving Badger Pass Ski Lodge

Jul 27th - 13:41pm | fmrlobbyist

I have been to many National Parks and National Rec Areas throughout the US and Canada and in some places it is essential to have these services. Sometimes they are the only ones who are constantly and constistantly responsible to maintian areas and facilties.

Creature Feature: Burmese Pythons Prowl the Everglades, and That’s Not a Good Thing

Jul 27th - 12:47pm | Avatar666

From what I've read on the INET, the python is here to stay. The fact that it is a large constrictor and dangerous in certain situations doesn't lessen the fact we will have to learn to live with it. I suspect our own growth, urban sprawl and habitat destruction will restrict their range much as it has for most of our wild life.

North Dakota is Still on My Bucket List

Jul 27th - 10:27am | Anonymous

Bogater's right, there's plenty to see and do in North Dakota. Some things I would add to the list: Knife River Indian Village, Ft. Mandan and Ft. Union Trading Post, where the parking lot is in Montana and the Post is in North Dakota. Thete's a Lewis and Clark Center near Ft. Union that's supposed to be interesting. It was closed by the time we got there.

Jul 27th - 10:03am | Tom Ibsen

My wife and I just returned from TR NP. The north and south units are both worth your time and offer subtle differences. As we returned from a 7 mile out and back hike in the south unit, we returned to discover that a herd of 150 bison had moved over the trail separating us from our vehicle- only 200 yards away!

Jul 26th - 20:33pm | Barky

Good Lord, man, what a bag of madness!!! I don't have a travel anecdote that even comes CLOSE to that one!! TR NP is my favorite NPS unit, hence a pic I took there is the header of my blog. :-) I loved it because it's off the beaten path, you can truly just "walk out there" and not have to deal with a lot of people. Also, it's really beautiful through-and-through.

Jul 26th - 17:45pm | NorthDakotanbychoice

Well, if you don't want to go to North Dakota, you should definitely stay out. I escaped from California(and every day I thank God!) 11 years ago, and you learn the following about North Dakotans:

Jul 26th - 14:29pm | Smartin

Bob, Thanks for the inspiration of visiting all 50 States. I'm heartened that you're writing it down. I can only hope that some of this is making it into your All 50 Journal too. Stephen Martin All 50 States Journal

Jul 26th - 09:57am | Bogator

Bob, let me encourage you to follow your wishes and get to North Dakota. In 2008, my wife and I traveled westward the entire width of North Dakota on I-94. There were miles & miles of prairie as far as the eye can see. There was the National Buffalo Museum, Frontier Village and beautiful Jamestown College (not to mention the world's largest buffalo) to see.

Jul 26th - 09:35am | jessstryker

Bob,

National Park Service Extends Comment Period on Proposal To Vaccinate Yellowstone Bison

Jul 27th - 07:59am | Betty H

I hope everyone will comment during this extended period. This is a real tragedy for wildlife, a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars and a hell of a thing for a National Park to do instead of protecting their wildlife !!!

Jul 26th - 15:38pm | Bob

Bison and cattle also mix in Jackson Hole along the eastern border of Grand Teton NP. I saw this mixing in June, when there were bison calves in the herd. (That matters, since brucellosis exposure occurs around calving time.)

Boy Scout on Backpacking Trip to Zion National Park Found Dead

Jul 26th - 21:57pm | Kolby

I hope someone can share more information about what happened. It would be beneficial for others who venture into this area of the park.

Bison That Charged Yellowstone National Park Visitors Was Provoked

Jul 26th - 12:28pm | y_p_w

yellowstone fan: They were way too close but that stick or what ever it was came from the animals head either from the ground or the tree he was by. They broke the rules on distance but the stick wasn't "thrown" by anyone but the animal!

Jul 26th - 08:22am | Bob Janiskee

I lived in Germany -- and drove the highways and byways -- for several years in the mid-1960s. Back then, most of the Polizei vehicles were green VWs. I can assure you that the police-grade Tootengefunkenthinge installed in those VWs was not wimpy at all. It was the vehicle itself that was the wimp.

Jul 26th - 08:08am | Toni B

I believe the "absolutely true!" part, but is there really such thing as a tootengefunkenthingen?

Smokey the Bear Campaign Enters the 21st Century!

Jul 26th - 09:57am | tomp

I hate to get back to the content of the article (I'm firmly on the side of "no the"!), but did the numbers of acres burned per year dropping from 22 million in 1944 to 6.5 million strike anyone else? I doubt that Smokey Bear was that effective, and I don't think the big drop was a good thing.

Jul 26th - 08:15am | stormy

OK-this could be the start of a great 'thread'. Here's mine; The La Brea Tar Pits. The literal translation would the 'The the tar tar pits', la brea being Spanish for 'the tar'.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Announces Plan to Use Volunteers to Help Cull Elk Herd

Jul 26th - 07:52am | Bob Janiskee

Dan: You'll find the information you need at this site. Good luck.

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The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.