| National Parks Traveler

I have worked in campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Yellowstone. Signs are posted about food storage, the campers are told at check-in about food storage, the campers are given a copy of the rules about food storage. I think that is enough education. When campers leave food items out, the campers should be fined...big time!

Jul 7th - 06:10am | Volpe

The strict adherence to the law seldom works and those who enforce the laws sometimes lose their mental balance, all it takes is that magical ingredient not taught in any university, common sense. That said, I am fanatical about litter and would probably not make a very good ranger.

Jul 7th - 06:07am | Parkhiker

Cite those whose actions endanger others, park resources, or wildlife. That includes people whose actions have the potential to endanger SAR personnel, rangers, or others who would have to rescue them from their own negligence. There needs to be an incentive to stop such actions. Educate those who endanger only themselves. Deciding which to do should be in the discretion of the ranger.

Grizzly Moved Out Of Yellowstone National Park's Norris Campground, Campers Happy

Jul 6th - 22:15pm | Daniel Ewert

I am glad they were able to move it without hurting it. Hopefully folks will eventually figure out not to leave their food out.

Pruning the Parks: Shasta Lake Recreation Area (1945-1948)

Jul 6th - 19:46pm | stormy

Having lived in Redding for quite a few years, we refer to the view in your picture as the 'Three Shastas'. Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & in the upper left of the photo, beautiful Mt Shasta. A great area & worth a visit.

Piping Plover Production Up At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jul 6th - 18:30pm | Anonymous

Maybe the plovers have been so successful breeding this year because the National Park Service has been doing way more than restricting beaches to ORVs and pedestrians. Locals on Hatteras Island have pictures of PARK RANGERS shooting foxes and other wildlife (on a protected national seashore) to ensure the safety of these birds.

National Park Road Trip 2010: Into Idaho on the Oregon Trail

Jul 6th - 17:00pm | Karyn

I am enjoying following your trek on the Oregon Trail. However, I have lived most of my life in Pocatello and I think you missed some history by not going to the Fort Hall Replica. It is right here in town at Upper Ross Park.

Historians Don't Want Casino Next To Gettysburg National Military Park

Jul 6th - 14:44pm | Anonymous

If the casino is allowed to build there, next will be an expansion for a hotel overlooking the area, they will build stores close by and anything else that will "keep" visitors money going to them. The motels and hotels near the Sacred Grounds of the Gettysburg Battlefield will close and so will the Mom and Pop businesses.

Jul 4th - 10:56am | Anonymous

It's the Fourth of July, so let's reflect on history a little. 147 years ago today, Lee and his Confederate army were retreating from Gettysburg back to Virginia. What if the battle had ended differently? If Lee's army emerged from Gettysburg victorious, would the Union have lost the war? How would our country look today?

Jul 4th - 07:03am | Anonymous

A casino is not economic development. Sure, it may provide jobs for a few hundred area folks, but at what cost? Having worked in a casino myself I can tell you it is a sad, depressing place that makes money off of the weak and addicted. It's bad karma for everyone concerned, but the giant flashing green dollar signs are too enticing for most communities to ignore.

Jul 4th - 06:23am | Anonymous

Casinos are NOT economic development. That's the lie used by all of the big gambling companies. Casinos only add the the government coffers in good economic times. What happens when these casinos start failing to bring in the money that the government depends upon? They turn to the taxpayers to make up the shortfall and raise taxes.

Jul 3rd - 06:43am | Anonymous

A casino has been approved for Valley Forge at the Valley Forge Convention Center. It actually shares a boundary with the national park there. The project near Gettysburg is actually farther away and would be added to an existing resort that isn't located on a single inch of the battlefield.

Jul 2nd - 11:53am | Rap

Ah, so if it's 150 years or so in the past, the reverence we hold for such a site should no longer be relevant? I would hope your progeny would not strike you from the family record in so short a time.

Jul 2nd - 06:14am | Reality Check

Actually, support for the Mason-Dixon Resort & Casino seems to be growing. I live in the Gettysburg-Adams County area and while I see a couple of yard signs that oppose the casino, they mostly appear on the lawns of the well-to-do, McMansions. The great majority of yard signs in support of the casino are quite widespread.

Work Continuing On Restoration of Bodie Island Lighthouse At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jul 6th - 14:43pm | Steve Coomer

When the restoration is complete, will visitors be allow to clmb to the top?

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Jul 6th - 12:42pm | y_p_w

Anonymous:

Jul 6th - 11:50am | Anonymous

What is this country comming to, When people are getting arrested for digging a wild plant, This is just nuts as far as I'm concerned, It's a plant not someones life or something like that. This country is so screwed up anymore that I'm ashamed to be part of it.

Lecture Series At Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Touches on Shipwrecks, Sailors, and Ice Conditions

Jul 6th - 10:42am | MikeD

Though it's somewhat doubful that I'll be able to make the 6 hour trip to see talk, the one on ice conditions sounds very interesting.

Two Beach-Riding Scofflaws Apprehended at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jul 5th - 19:34pm | Anonymous

In addition the whatever fines and jail time is imposed on these two, I would argue for a lengthy ban from use of any national park.

Jul 5th - 07:43am | Anonymous

CHAPA Offers $1,000.00 Reward for Information about Sea Turtle Fatality on Ocracoke

Reconstruction of Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains Will Stretch Over 6-7 Years

Jul 5th - 13:58pm | Betty H.

This reconsstruction is a lot more than just resurfacing. It also includes rework of stonework. Not just anyone can do this kind of stonework and we are not talking about small stones that can be moved by hand. Many places where there are guardrails needs work below the guardrails to shore them up. This road, like most of our National Parks, has been neglected far too long.

Jul 4th - 08:23am | B.Grant

I agree the road needs it. It is quite weathered and heavily used. However, why so long? 2 miles of resurfacing per year? This is the 21st century. That seems awfully slow.

Search Being Scaled Back for Missing Climber in Mount Rainier National Park

Jul 5th - 12:26pm | Elisabeth

My prayers are with Eric, and all of Eric's family and friends. I met Eric approximately 17 years ago when I lived in the Seattle area, at a Mountaineer Oriented First Aid (MOFA) course. We spent several months hanging out together, going on some hikes, to a jazz festival at St. Michelle Winery, etc. He was one of the kindest, most down to earth men I have ever met.

Jul 4th - 22:15pm | Anonymous

This is a very dear friend of mine's brother, I just want you to know my prayers are with Eric and his family and friends! May God grant you peace during this difficult time. My prayers are with you Eric!! May you be found safe, as a miricle of God!

Jul 4th - 12:58pm | Don Hurst

I was on Rainier when this happened. Our team had been lower down on the mountain Monday and Tuesday conducting crevasse rescue training. Wednesday morning our team proceeded to Camp Muir and arrived in high winds in the late afternoon. From Wednesday evening until Friday morning the mountain was buffeted by high winds winds, blowing snow and whiteout conditions.

Glacier National Park Visitor Pulls .357 On "Weird" White-Tailed Deer

Jul 5th - 11:23am | ndrfn junkie

This happened on a 60 foot width of cleared open space, 30 feet of which is asphalt (the going to the sun road) why not just walk around. there is PLENTY of room. Give the doe and her fawn some space! I recommend to those who explore "off trail " to make LOUD HUMAN noises to reduce the risk of getting shot by a paranoid fool.

Melting Ice Patch Near Yellowstone National Park Reveals Ancient Hunting Weapon

Jul 5th - 07:05am | MRC

Kurt, can you point me to some information on the planned survey at GLAC? I could not find anything in the usual places. TIA

Would Year-Round Access To Old Faithful Compromise Yellowstone National Park's "Frontier"?

Jul 5th - 03:13am | Yellowstone98

It is not like in summer where you have millions of tourists traipsing all over the back country trails.

Jul 3rd - 15:10pm | Anonymous

The majority of the comments I'm reading about this are from people who don't live anywhere near Yellowstone National Park. The reality is this: Plowing the road from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful is a distance of roughly 30 miles. They are not talking about plowing the entire park!

Accidents Happen at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Usually Because People Break Commonsense Water Safety Rules

Jul 4th - 13:57pm | stan

I had 2 friends that drowned in Lake Meade on May 23 1980. I was only 13 when it happened but to this day I think about them

Reader Participation Day: How Many of the 392 National Park System Units Have You Visited?

Jul 4th - 08:33am | stormy

My total is 76. Thanks for the list! I've printed it & it's going in the RV. We're retiring next year & hitting the road. This list will be great for areas we plan to visit.

Jul 3rd - 11:23am | Jim Burnett

Rick - Very impressive, and if you've yet to visit Alaska, you've saved some of the best for last :-)

Jul 3rd - 11:22am | Rick

326 and counting. On my way to 392. Next up Voyageurs National Park later this month. Been to all Hawaii units, but none in Alaska or the territories yet.

Jul 2nd - 15:00pm | Chief of Interp...

130 so far-that's if you count two units I was at before they became NPS units and if you don't count Ok City-worked in 10-if its west of the Mississippi and not in Alaska odds are I've been there

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area To Look For Drunk Drivers This Weekend

Jul 3rd - 22:09pm | National Park Place

I think this is a good thing and something that should be done everywhere. to many people lose their lives to idiots who decide to drive drunk. Stop, check em, and arrest em if drunk!

Junior Ranger Discovers Important Saber Tooth Fossil at Badlands National Park

Jul 3rd - 22:06pm | Anonymous

Congratulations Kylie....The Jr. Ranger program is great. Proud Granny of 2 Jr. Rangers.

Investigation Launched Into Grizzly Bear Mauling of Botanist Outside Yellowstone National Park

Jul 3rd - 14:10pm | Friend of Bear ...

I have to agree with Trailman. Yellowstone is home to wildlife first, humans second. The decision to kill this bear, one that was collared and easily monitored, was not a wise choice in my opinion.

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

Jul 3rd - 10:13am | Anonymous

huh? The parks fault because this 4 year old child fell over. There are signs posting the danger about falling. One sign clearly states if you fall it would be fatal. I was there in 1997 and there was a couple that went past the railings. One member of my family asked a guide what would happen if you fell. This child said oh you mean that I'd be rescued by helicopter.

Groups Reach Accord With BP, U.S. Coast Guard To Protect Kemp's Ridley Turtles from Oil Fires

Jul 3rd - 07:03am | Barky

Good news, glad there's been a settlement without adding more lawsuits to muddy up this whole effort.

National Park Movies of the 1980s

Jul 2nd - 22:41pm | Bill

The "corkscrew route through the trees" that you mentioned for the speeder bike chase in Return of the Jedi is easy to find. Just go on a short hike through Owen R Cheatham Grove in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park Is Updating Its Approach to Fire Management – Comments are Welcome

Jul 2nd - 14:12pm | Debt Managing

The environmental consequences of each alternative are very similar, given that Alternative 2 is a logical outgrowth of implementing appropriate management response policies over the years. It is not unexpected that the environmental consequences or impacts associated with each proposed alternative would be similar. ................ lucy

Traveler's Checklist: Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Jul 2nd - 12:37pm | Sharlene

We recently took an unplanned trip to Chickisaw NRA and I was pleasantly surprised by its incredible beauty and recreation opportunities. I had no idea such lush forest existed in OK. I would love to head back for a longer visit.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jul 2nd - 12:27pm | Anonymous

Yes, individuals are responsible for their lives.

Yosemite National Park Planning Prescribed Burn This Week

Jul 2nd - 12:26pm | Anonymous

We are constantly bombarded with information regarding a cleaner environment, yet residents near Yosemite are forced to breath polluted, smokey air that burns our eyes and hurts our throats. We wake up in the middle of the night coughing and have to shut our windows during the season we would like to have them open. We live in the mountains where the air is clean until the burns begin.

Yet Another Bear Lost in Yellowstone National Park

Jul 2nd - 10:20am | RangerLady

Will, rangers shoot animals all the time, even with the public nearby. They usually do it if the animal is injured (hit by a car) and they want to end its suffering.

Groups Notify BP, U.S. Coast Guard, They'll Be Sued Over Burning of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles

Jul 2nd - 09:52am | Barky

MRC, I find your attitude naive, irresponsible, and frankly juvenile. You would flail around the harsh rod of justice to the detriment of people who had nothing to do with this tragedy. Time for everyone to start acting and thinking like adults, something that few have done regarding this BP fiasco.

Jul 2nd - 02:43am | MRC

@Barky: That's what liability means. There are consequences. And they go up and down to each and every level.

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