You are here

Home

All Recent Comments

Newspaper Suggests Pennsylvania Take Valley Forge Back

Nov 16th - 14:43pm | I wish I were ...

egads! i`ve seen a number of state parks. some good. many just ok. some terrible. i`d wager that few states have the moolah to maintain their own parks in addition to taking over national parks. the only places where i think this could work is where a national park abuts a state one. like big bend in texas, or redwoods in california.

NPS Managers Directed On How to Evaluate Employees

Nov 16th - 14:33pm | Terri Connell

I still work in the 9-5 world. ;-) I've been at 3 different companies in the last six years. Many of them have moved to a review format like this one. (In fact, my current company uses the exact same 5-point designation.)

A Story Congress Should Be Told

Nov 16th - 14:25pm | boojumsnark

I wonder if at times we aren't fighting losing battles on more than one front. I think we tend to fund accessibility projects to a far greater degree than basic conservation projects. Case in point is the $150 million that's now need to rebuild the Going-to-the-Sun highway. True, we haven't been keeping up with maintenance on that road, so the bill is now due.

Should We Delist Grizzlies in the Yellowstone Ecosystem?

Nov 15th - 09:07am | Clinton

It seems that if the Grizzlies could be removed from the list, it could justify and vouch for the idea of endangered species protections in general... So, is the population strong enough in numbers to survive without protection?

Retired NPS Employee Laments New 'Loyalty Oaths'

Nov 13th - 19:05pm | Ranger Bob

You have to love this one. The Bush folks are getting paranoid I would say. First, remember that all federal civil servants take an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. That has been done, well, for a long time (here is a link addressing that history: (http://www.opm.gov/constitution_initiative/oath.asp.)

Joshua Tree's Landfill: Battle Not Over

Nov 11th - 18:30pm | Chris Clarke

Well, I was going to comment with a rather unconstructive "oh, crap," but your last para - and Howard's elucidation of it - gives me a constructive response to this project that will not die.

Nov 11th - 08:00am | hogro96

Whether or not Kaiser follows through on their promise to appeal, and whether the BLM joins them, will affect the near-term course of events in the fight against the unneeded and ill-conceived Eagle Mountain landfill. Regardless, park supporters should rest assured that all plaintiffs remain committed to fighting this project.

NPCA President Kiernan On Entrance Fee Hikes

Nov 10th - 10:58am | x-ranger

Many people avoid public lands with fees. Furthermore, the higher the fees the fewer the number of low-income visitors will visit the park. While a $5 increase may not seem like much to many Americans, it is for others. Especially those living in rural areas surrounding parks with steep entrance fees. From my experience, many locals avoid parks in their backdoors for this very reason.

Management Policies Primer

Nov 9th - 07:02am | repanshek

Cindy, I do have a call in to the National Park Foundation. However, I'd be surprised to see them comment on what's going on with the Management Policies, as the foundation was created by Congress and isn't likely to bite back.

Nov 8th - 14:14pm | Cindy Barber

Thanks so much for summarizing the current state of play so helpfully for us. I needed to understand where the useful points of influence might be. I wonder if you've had an opportunity to talk to Vin Cipolla and the folks at the National Park Foundation and get their take on these proposed policy changes?

Pombo Measure Just Might Allow Mining in Parks

Nov 8th - 14:32pm | Lisa Brown

Never have I been more ashamed to be from Tracy (the district that Rep. Pombo represents in Congress.) In September, I had written to Resources Chairman Pombo and called his office to express my distinct displeasure at his erstwhile proposal to sell off 15 national parks and naming rights within other parks in order to get Democratic support for drilling in ANWR.

A Conversation With NPCA President Kiernan

Nov 7th - 21:21pm | Elena Incantad...

Gracias por su conversation with Presidente Kiernan. Yo soy del Paso del Norte in Chihuahua (en Mexico), but I now live in El Paso. My favorite park is the massive Big Bend National Park which is about four hours away.

Bangor Daily News Condemns MP Revisions

Nov 7th - 20:00pm | Cindy Barber

Good to hear that those who have a bit of the public's attention are making their opinions known. Even better that they are coming down on the side of clear thinking and sensible policy-making. Would you be so kind as to give us an idea of what kind of timeline the Interior Department is working on to implement the new NPS Management Policies?

When It's Time for Tights

Nov 7th - 06:36am | repanshek

Joan, The base material of the tights blends four-way stretch 80 percent Coolmax and 20 percent Lycra, while the conditioning web itself is two-way stretch 80 percent nylon and 20 percent Lycra.

Nov 5th - 14:15pm | Joan Rowe

I really dislike most synthetics that I have to wear against sweaty skin as it is difficult to keep it free of odor wash after wash. Do you know what material this gear is made of? I checked out the website but it couldn\'t answer my question. Are you going to be testing this gear over the long-term and reporting your results?

Acadia: A Timeless Jewel

Nov 5th - 15:37pm | Dershawn Campbell

I love this park. And your description of what must have been a wonderful day there was just the thing to rekindle memories. Thanks.

Glacier Rolls Out Innovative "eHikes"

Nov 5th - 15:31pm | Mike Trimble

I really liked this. It looks like Glacier is the only park to do this. Am I right? The pictures of the trees, the sounds of the birds, and the talks from the rangers all make it a part of a complete little tour. Only Smell-A-Vision (TM) would make it better.

Nov 5th - 15:26pm | Markus Johannes

Wow! Messrs Hayden, Restivo and Gilk are to be commended for their efforts. What a way for those of us who've enjoyed our visits to Glacier to enjoy them again from the comfort of home.

Nov 3rd - 17:26pm | Clifford J. Ma...

The final solution to the problem of protecting and managing national parks. Create virtual parks where all that is needed is the ability to manipulate computer images. Cynical, perhaps. Possible, very much so.

Blogroll Etiquette

Nov 1st - 22:50pm | Ranger Bob

Just a note to say thank you for the recognition of Neo Commons on your blog. Your coverage of the NPS and the many issues the agency faces today is, at least from my view point, appreciated. I hope that members of the Coalition of NPS Retirees are reading and posting here. If not, I will have to encourage them to do so.

Mesa Verde--Stepping Back into Time

Oct 29th - 14:36pm | eRobin

I have got to get to Colorado. Thanks so much for this post.

Moose Poached Near Grand Teton

Oct 28th - 11:07am | Cowtown Pattie

Is there hunting allowed there, for elk or other fair game? Texas is home to a vast amount of hunters. Now, I know that a part of those hunting licenses' fees go to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission, but it still bothers me. Why would ANYONE want to kill a moose?

What Did the National Park Service Do to the GOP?

Oct 28th - 09:38am | Cowtown Pattie

Amen, MM. I stopped by your place via Chris' blog, Creek Running North. The recent governmental assaults on our public parks are scandalous, if not outright criminal. I'm not a skilled wilderness explorer (although, I would love to have that as a fulltime profession), but it doesn't take an expert to see the road ahead is not good in terms of preservation and conservation.

Oct 26th - 20:11pm | MatherMemory

Good reading. Would be nice if some of the major media outlets would tie it together for the country to see. No offense to bloggers, of course.

Well, At Least DOI Was Pleased

Oct 21st - 08:48am | Steven

Right on, Kurt. Nothing wrong with enjoyment but parks cannot be expected to satisfy every type of use without suffering serious degradation.

NPS Management Policies Revision Toned Down

Oct 18th - 18:30pm | Steve

Kurt,

NPS Organic Act To be Examined

Oct 17th - 13:52pm | climb_ca

And don't forget the latest outrage, Bush Instituting Political Loyalty Tests for National Park Service Employees (http://tinyurl.com/ar9zu) Will it never end?

What Should be Done With Our Parks?

Oct 17th - 09:54am | Alan

From parks to public transit and all points between, each administration inside the beltway tends to neglect the public trust in favor of private friends. This administration, the one led by George W. Bush, has reached historically new lows in its handling of the public's trust.

Pack A Stick

Oct 11th - 12:30pm | Larry Repanshek

Don't know much about hiking sticks but I am wondering how they would help an Incomplete Paraplegic with walking on the sandy beaches of Cape Cod?

Oct 7th - 16:43pm | Claire Walter

My hiking stick epiphany came on a (stick-free) hut-to-hut hike in Switzerland some years back. As I watched Swiss farmers, sticks in hand, tending cattle on steep Alpine slopes, it occurred to me that people all over the world who run up and down mountainsides chasing cows, sheep or whatever all use sticks, not just to shake at their livestock but also for stability on uneven slopes.

Manson: No Need To Tinker With Organic Act

Oct 4th - 09:17am | Rick Smith

Good questions for Manson. Many of his replies are disingenuous. For instance, when he talks about the $4.9 billion invested in wiping out the maintenance backlog, he forgets to mention that almost none of this is "new" money. He is simply adding up what the NPS would have spent on regular maintenance and calling it backlog maintenance money.

Oct 4th - 08:23am | Bill Wade

Great interview with Manson. The title indicating he doesn't think there is a need to tinker with the Organic Act should apply also to the NPS Management Policies.

Pombo Fallout Continues

Sep 27th - 16:15pm | Tony

Macombs Dam and Mullaly Parks across the street from historic Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY may be destroyed until we rise up and voice our concerns. The Yankees want to build a new stadium on top of these parks. If these parks are seized by business, is any park really safe?

How Serious Are Today's Threats to National Parks?

Sep 27th - 16:14pm | Tony

Macombs Dam and Mullaly Parks across the street from historic Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY may be destroyed until we rise up and voice our concerns. The Yankees want to build a new stadium on top of these parks. If these parks are seized by business, is any park really safe?

Mr. Manson Responds

Sep 13th - 10:11am | Rudolph

There's a word that we use here in Virginia when we read a letter like Judge Manson's, and it begins with "chicken". What utter nonsense. Their agenda is clear as Hoffman is being driven by the likes of Bill Horn, lobbyist for the Blue Ribbon Coalition

Sure Is Quiet Back There

Sep 10th - 14:33pm | Alan

I don't think you're imagining when it comes to the word "balance." This has long been a part of the Bush administration's spin vocabulary. "We must have balance in how we trash the land . . . " I came to the same conclusion upon reading Director M's letter to the NYT.

If Hoffman Gets His Way....

Sep 9th - 19:38pm | MatherMemory

Kurt, Impressive that this management policy story keeps getting covered across the country, in news and editorials. Its a demonstration of the profound respect that most regular Americans have for our nation's treasured places.

Cooperative Conservation Update

Sep 3rd - 08:42am | repanshek

Jon, I'm guessing the president made that videotape BEFORE the handiwork of Paul Hoffman at Interior became wideknown.

Sep 2nd - 07:46am | Jon Christensen

Hi, Kurt, In his videotaped address to the conference, President Bush promised to make our "national parks more accessible and inviting." There was some concern among conservationists at the signal he was sending. What do you make of it? Jon

Parks Recovering From Katrina

Sep 2nd - 12:40pm | Steven Bosak

Kurt, Thanks for posting on the impact that Katrina is having on national park units. Here are some links to the NPS website that give more information: The NPS put out additional information today on the damage caused by Katrina. Here are the links: Commitments to Recovery Operations Continue to Grow

Who's Been Coaching Hoffman?

Aug 30th - 18:07pm | Mather Memory

Hoffman's meeting with air tour industry folks isn't surprising. He's the driving force behind the Alternative Dispute Resolution process underway now regarding Grand Canyon airtour regulations.

Hoffman's Tinkering Continues to Draw Heat

Aug 29th - 07:40am | Stephen Mather

Glad you are covering this important issue, Kurt. Rumors about these impending management policy revisions have been buzzing around Washington for a while. Supposedly Paul Hoffman has had help from others in crafting some of his misguided ideas for altering the purpose of parks.

Grand Teton Transportation Plan Spurring Debate

Aug 16th - 10:46am | Mike May

Hi Kurt,

How Much Do Americans Care About Parks?

Aug 16th - 09:36am | Ranger Bob

No, the Bush Administration does not care. That fact has been established long ago. Though we hear about the grand multi-billion dollar program to assist with the many maintenance projects that need attention now, that to is a fallacy. Sure, some money has been spent and a lot of it is through other programs that the NPS has always had access to like federal highway money for road repair.

Sequoia Leads National Parks in Pot Cultivation

Aug 11th - 08:22am | Clinton

Interesting article... The most telling line from that story, perhaps, is: "Oddly enough, public outcry has been remarkably muted."

BLM Backs Off on Leasing Lands Near Canyonlands for Energy Exploration

Aug 9th - 13:32pm | repanshek

You make a good point regarding the Democrats' complicity on the energy bill. However, what can't be ignored or diminished is that both President Bush and Vice President Cheney were oil men before they took office. Also not to be forgotten are the closed-door sessions Cheney held with energy industry chiefs to craft the administration's vision of an energy bill.

Aug 9th - 11:35am | Clinton

Indeed, the Energy Bill falls far short of ensuring a rapid decline in foreign oil consumption. I wish it did more, but it does little good to blame this exclusively on "the administration and most Republicans in Congress." This Energy Bill passed the Senate 85-12, with the support of 35 Democrats, including such avowed environmental advocates as Kerry, Kennedy, Hillary, and Boxer...

Yellowstone Rangers Lead Park System in Threats, Attacks

Aug 9th - 08:57am | charlie lansche

Kurt, Great blog! Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Charlie

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

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.