| National Parks Traveler

Sending postcards from national parks is something that I really enjoy doing, and to make sure I don't get forget addresses or get caught short of stamps, I carry an address list and at least ten 28-cent stamps in my wallet when I go on trips. It's sometimes inconvenient to write, but the cards don't take long and there are always quiet moments available.

May 26th - 05:56am | Anonymous

I still send lots of postcards when I'm visting the National Parks. I have lots of friends and family that don't have cell phones or email. This is a way I still can share what wonderful sites I'm seeing. I also have some young relatives and friend's children who love to get something in the mail.

May 26th - 05:50am | Davey J

My wife and I send postcards. We are in a race with my in-laws to see who can get the most NP passport stamps and we started sending them postcards with the park stamps on the backs of postcards.

Updated: Two Ice Climbers Die in Fall Into Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

May 26th - 09:10am | Anonymous

I knew one of these men. I would give my "tax dollars", and what net profit I have willingly, to their recovery or any other doing what they did, than indulging the sense of entitlement, laziness, and selfishness that has taken over the American attitude and behavior.

May 25th - 23:16pm | Anonymous

Weirdo who criticized the ice-climber rescue efforts. Extremely offensive, especially if you were acquainted with these men. How would their families react to that criticism? Yikes! IMO should re-think that out of respect to the fallen. Maybe post a tad later.

May 25th - 23:01pm | Some Dude

I'd bet we spend a whole lot more rescuing dumb lost fat dudes in our national parks then Ice climbers

May 25th - 21:08pm | Anonymous

They lived life and followed their dreams. It is all loss for everyone.

May 25th - 19:52pm | NateH

Great guys! The world is a darker place without them...they will be missed. They were two best friends doing what they loved. RIP

May 25th - 17:25pm | babbchuck

There are objective risks in ice climbing - no doubt. I've been doing it for 28 years now, and know a bit about the topic. I'm also on the Gallatin County SAR technical/heli rescue team. I estimate that for every climber we have to rescue there are at least 50 lost/injured/drowned hunters, horseback riders, 4-wheelers, fishermen or hikers. That's where the bulk of the SAR budget goes.

May 25th - 17:13pm | Anonymous

Yo Rich, why don't you encase yourself in a bubble forever and we won't have to get stuck with the cost of you living life to the fullest.

May 25th - 16:36pm | friend

Good men, they were the kind. My love to their families. We miss you boys.

May 25th - 16:30pm | Rich Deline

Ice climbing is an incredibly high risk sport and the cost to public for either recovering bodies or rescuing stranded climbers should be borne by the sport in some way. The same is true for many other types of climbing. Maybe there should be either a fee/tax added to the equipment or a specialty insurance required for these activities, rather than always trying to ban them.

May 25th - 15:49pm | Bozemanite

They were two wonderful Dudes! so full of life, funny, and great ice climbers... they just recently got back from a trip to AK climbing some gnarly lines.. thoughts and prayers go out to the families.. I will be drinking some beers tonight for my Bros Mark and Mike!!! you will be missed!!!

May 25th - 14:45pm | Kurt Repanshek

Yes on your first question, Mike. Not sure on your second, though the park did note that it was a "late season" climb. Truthfully, I didn't know they allowed ice climbing in the park. Something to follow up on.

May 25th - 14:32pm | MikeD

Kurt - Are these basically frozen waterfalls? Is it typical to climb these cascades in late May?

90 Years On, Dr. Michael Frome Continues To Lament The State of the National Parks

May 26th - 08:57am | Lee Dalton

Thanks, Barky. A very interesting concept. But would something like that be as well prepared to stand up to tremendous political pressures?

May 26th - 01:13am | Ray Bane

"He was the one who made us realize that we owed our allegiance to the parks, not to the Park Service," Rick Smith. Well said.

May 25th - 19:39pm | Barky

Lee, I'm suggesting that a public trust, as in an empowered legal entity entrusted to be caretaker, be established to manage the National Park Service. This would be a non-governmental entity with a board of directors composed of a mix of environmentalists, historians, preservationists, businesspeople, and other interested parties. These folks would set policies regarding the parks.

May 25th - 12:51pm | Paul Pritchard

Thank you Kurt for recognizing the essentialness of Michael Frome. Michael is for the parks THE thinker, writer, preacher, keeper of the sacred documents and Bob Dylan all in one. Yet he is always interested in the people, the rangers, his friends, his family---even the sinners who miss the message of parks.

National Park Mystery Photo 23: Who Slept Here?

May 26th - 08:56am | MSG David R. Ca...

This is where Stonewall Jackson died May 10, 1863.

Did Developers At Harpers Ferry Ignore NEPA?

May 26th - 08:42am | Bishop

The proposed Hill Top Hotel project in Harpers Ferry will basically clear cut and become a ridge top removal of approximately 6 acres,some of it town property if the private investment firm gets approval to re-zone 17-19 residential properties in the middle of the town and the park.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Dispute Places Birds, Turtles, and Humans on Small Strip of Sand

May 25th - 22:42pm | Wheat

Annony-mouse, I'm going to have to call you out on this one....

May 25th - 16:17pm | Ron Saunders

I would sure be interested in that as I'm sure others would too. I have a couple of photos you might find interesting From a few years back. Would like to send them if you could tell me how to do it. Ron

May 25th - 15:53pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ron, I fear the Yellowstone snowmobile issue is going to keep lawyers in business for quite a while. I believe the park is currently working on its fourth full-blown EIS in an effort to come up with an acceptable winter-use plan surrounding snowmobiles. They expect to have a draft in spring of 2011, with a new plan in place for 2011-2012.

May 25th - 15:32pm | Ron Saunders

Hey Kurt, What is going to happen at Yellowstone. Used to do a little skiing out that way and would tie in a trip to the park, a little ice fishing on Lake Hebgen and always finish off with a meal & short one at Enos. Hope you've been there, everyone should experience that place at least once (could tell you some stories).

May 25th - 15:29pm | Anonymous

I’m miffed about where I’m being disingenuous, Dapster admits to purposely framing the picture for best effect and brags about fighting fire with fire while posting an old picture he says is from an environmental group misrepresenting Cape Point (not my pix dude). Don’t see what the big deal is because to me the picture looks exactly like Cape Point on a crowded day.

May 25th - 11:52am | RangerLady

No problem dapster. It is a very confusing little island with 2 different federal agencies and 1 state park. I worked there for awhile so I had it drilled into my head every day

May 25th - 11:47am | dapster

Whoops! Thanks for the correction, Ranger Lady, as I was in error. I still worry that similar measures may one day be enacted in either PINWR of CHNSRA, and the DEIS has clearly shown a tendancy towards putting such measures in place concerning a bird that is not federally listed. Time will tell, I suppose.... **************************************************************

May 25th - 11:10am | Ron Saunders

Kurt, I think it important at this point to reiterate that most of us did not expect you to 'get it 100% right' from the beginning. Heck, Nobody has so far. I think most will agree that you have been fair. I for one have been pleasantly surprised. This has been a terriffic discussion.

May 25th - 10:32am | RangerLady

dapster, Just to correct one thing...the Virginia side of Assateague Island is a National Wildlife Refuge. It is not a National Seashore. The NPS and FWS work together on that portion even though is a Refuge. The Maryland side of the island is the National Seashore

Senators Pushing to Rollback Fees for National Parks and Other Public Lands

May 25th - 19:30pm | Barky

Thanks for the clarification on that, KBenzar. You almost calmed my nerves with your reason, but ... This is a topic that periodically gets my dander up. Normally intelligent people tend to forget all their high-school math lessons when it comes to taxation and government spending. They say such inanities as "it should be free because my taxes pay for it".

May 25th - 15:25pm | KBenzar

"The spending request by (name redacted to avoid offense) for fiscal year 2009, included $515.4 billion for the Department of Defense and $10.6 billion for the Department of the Interior. How much of that DOI money do you think the NPS saw?" Julie you may have meant your question rhetorically, but answers are available.

May 25th - 14:28pm | y_p_w

Volpe: These aren’t amusement parks, keep the amenities, I come to see nature. And if you can't manage your budget don't make me pay for it.

May 25th - 12:50pm | Volpe

These aren’t amusement parks, keep the amenities, I come to see nature. And if you can't manage your budget don't make me pay for it.

May 25th - 12:28pm | Roger

It never takes long to drag President Bush into the mix. Anyway, we need to get beyond the notion that everything public is free. If the government has to pay for something, they must get the money from somewhere. Nothing is free! I'd rather pay a high entrance fee than higher taxes.

Updated: Alaska 'Gunners' Wipe Out Wolf Pack From Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

May 25th - 18:28pm | Joe McCraken

For the record, the pilots and "gunners" were not given that particular pack's frequencies. In addition to that this particular pack had their collars for less than a year and were well outside of the park's boundaries. It was a screw up by a bunch or parties and the NPS and AKFG should hold equal responsibility.

Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park: The Logistics

May 25th - 14:44pm | RangerLady

I was lucky enough to get to Dry Tortugas a couple years ago. I only wish that I had been able to go camping rather than just taking a day trip. The boat ride was fantastic and I saw sea turtles and flying fish (and a raft that the captain said was used by Cubans.) I do have to say that the boat I was on (Sunny Days) was way too small.

Luxury Lodging in Our National Parks

May 25th - 14:23pm | y_p_w

stormy: (not verified) on May 25, 2010 - 8:06am.

Three Florida Panthers Killed In Three Days By Vehicle Collisions, One in Big Cypress National Preserve

May 25th - 13:54pm | RangerLady

When I worked down there I often saw locals purposely running over the animals. I was once trying to get an alligator out of the road and a car went around me to hit it. It infuriates me to see things like this happens. How people can have such a disrespect for any living thing is beyond me. Thank goodness my mother taught me better!

May 25th - 12:53pm | Dorothy Catalano

Slow down drivers now before you waste the beautiful creatures of the southern U.S. Please.

May 25th - 12:09pm | Andrew Block

It's so disheartening to hear about the loss of these three panthers, especially the mother. As a frequent visitor over the years to panther country I've seen the speed signs and in my opinion there is no excuse for people to not see or obey those signs.

Shuttle Buses Ready to Roll in Sequoia National Park

May 25th - 12:04pm | David Frederick

If bus service were provided from Fresno, many people would visit the Park without vehicles. When is that going to happen!?

Before It Was A National Park....

May 25th - 11:42am | RangerLady

Hey I know that place! So sorry I missed your visit. It was my day off and I was somewhere on the Chimney Rock trail!

By the Numbers: The North Cascades National Park Service Complex

May 25th - 11:38am | Random Walker

I would say that ones visit to our North Cascades National Park Service Complex is not complete until the hike from the end of the Cascade River Road up to the pass and onward to the Sahale Glacier has been done. It is simply, awe inspiring..

May 25th - 09:31am | MRC

North Cascades is unique as the National Park is composed of only the higher elevations in the Cascade Mountains. The valleys are designated as National Recreation Areas, because the rivers have been dammed into reservoirs and are used for water sports. So a number of nice day hikes start on trailheads in Ross Lake NRA and only after a few miles of hiking you get into the National Park.

Reader Participation Day: Has Arizona's Approach To Controlling Illegal Immigrants Led You To Cancel a Grand Canyon Trip?

May 25th - 11:03am | Anonymous

I am a Canadian snowbird and have a passport to get into the country. Does this mean I have to carry it with me at all times even when hiking? They don't give out visitor visas at the border and where we stay, we were asked at one of the numerous border checks if we had proof of our citizenship. We usually lock up our passports so they don't get stolen for identity theft reasons.

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