| National Parks Traveler

Traveler, thank you for this post. As the vast majority of world scientific opinion supports the issues surrounding climate change, and the discussion of same, its appropriate to see our parks having programs such as this. I realize that there maybe many who do not agree, and that is OK, but it is happening for all to see.

Jun 18th - 15:24pm | ecbuck

I am sure that this workshop will explore the varying opinions about climate change. Which is why he already has billed the workshop as a way to demonstrate the impact. Would love to see the syllabus.

Jun 18th - 12:10pm | Rick Smith

ec--I happen to know the Superintendent of Apostle Islands and have respect for his honesty and integrity. I am sure that this workshop will explore the varying opinions about climate change. Rick

Jun 18th - 09:05am | ecbuck

Somehow, I suspect this "workshop" will have only one side of the issue. Got to keep the indoctrination going.

Dining In The Parks: Healthy Parks, Healthy People

Jun 18th - 15:36pm | Sagebrusher

Ah, the old Dudes vs. Sagebrushers debate! I love it! :)

Jun 17th - 20:12pm | Megaera

I bet you won't find that sort of care in the lower-end places to eat in the parks, though. This article assumes a higher standard of living than a lot of us have.

Jun 17th - 11:37am | Rebecca Latson ...

During the last night of my stay in Mesa Verde National Park, I treated myself to dinner in the Metate Room, starting off with a prickly pear margarita. As I perused the menu, I couldn't believe the list of dishes - it certainly wasn't the standard park fare I'd been used to eating over the past years.

Trust For Public Land Buys Land To Protect Access To Zion Narrows Trail At Zion National Park

Jun 18th - 10:38am | David Crowl

Awesome!

Ride Your Bike Through The World's National Parks

Jun 17th - 20:21pm | Zebulon

So many places to ride, so little time.

Let's Be Careful Out In The National Parks This Summer

Jun 17th - 18:13pm | Rick B.

The worst thing to avoid is anything that begins with saying, "Hold my beer and watch this!"

Jun 17th - 16:07pm | Bogator

Kurt, let us not forget the GPS. Make sure that you know where it is sending you. The best type of GPS to use for touring around the US, expecially the west, is one that allows you to plan your route on your conputer and then download it to your GPS.

2012 Offered Mixed Bag For Crime In National Parks

Jun 17th - 07:41am | Lee Dalton

It would be VERY interesting to know where the crimes occur. How many are in urban areas like D.C., Philadelphia or New York as opposed to places like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, or Zion. My bet is that the crime rates in urban areas will eclipse those of rates in other places. Any chance that information can be obtained and shared with us?

Capitol Reef National Park: The Complete Hiking And Touring Guide

Jun 16th - 16:22pm | Quiet please

Yes anyone that passes by Capital Reef is really missing out on a wonderful national park. Less crowed than most parks and reasonable motels near the park are just a few of the perks. One of the finest hikes I ever took was to Hickmans Bridge at day break.

Jun 15th - 18:15pm | Ilex_Opaca

It's cheaper on Amazon, but if you come buy it from Capitol Reef Natural History Association (also from their website), 100% of it goes back to the park. The author receives no profit from the sales.

Investigation: Multiple Errors Contributed To Death Of Mount Rainier National Park Climbing Ranger

Jun 15th - 17:15pm | Traveler Park

Very sad story. Couldn't retrieve his body for 2 weeks. That had to be tough on his family, friends and co-workers. http://www.quotesaboutdeath.org/topics/inspirational-quotes-about-death/

Sequestration Cuts To Reduce Staff, Facilities On The Blue Ridge Parkway

Jun 15th - 11:17am | ecbuck

And are you saying this president is not "performing his daily duties" when he goes abroad? Nope. Although I wish that were the case. My point was that counting the "vacation" days wasn't a valid measure.

Jun 15th - 10:50am | Kurt Repanshek

First, ec, I didn't say it's OK for any president to spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars on vacations. Secondly, the money spent on his travels comes from budgets outside the Park Service or Interior budget. Congress specifically allocates budgets for president travel, security, transportation, etc, etc, etc.

Jun 15th - 10:31am | ecbuck

actually, I believe Congress does that, the president only makes requests. No - Obama was given the opportunity to allocate the sequester cuts. He declined

Jun 15th - 09:10am | Kurt Repanshek

I think these things need to be kept in a little perspective. For starters, yes, any presidential vacation costing $100 million would certainly seem excessive, more so during these times. It seems somewhat odd, however, that the Post gave a range of $60 million to $100 million. Quite a lot of fudge room, no?

Jun 14th - 22:41pm | Quiet please

The entire sequestration issue was to make the american public hurt in all the right places. Have any of you folks ever spent 100,000 million on a vacation.Sadly this President doesn't care one bit about us as fellow humans.One expensive vacation after another. And he is not alone as a government employee at taking us for a free ride at our expense.

Jun 14th - 22:05pm | ecbuck

I am not sure where they got their information Maybe from ABC, or from the Wahsington Post that ABC cites. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=9139297

Jun 14th - 11:39am | rmackie

Checking the "Weekly Standard" I am not sure where they got their information on the Presidents plans to visit Africa, no sources were documented. In any case, we have hashed over the sequestration issue many times, not only its devastating effects on "parks" and other public lands, but programs like "meals on wheels", "headstart", well the list can be extended to every agency in government.

Jun 13th - 18:36pm | ecbuck

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obamas-family-trip-africa-cost-60-10... Priorities.

Saguaro Cacti Tagged By Vandals At Saguaro National Park

Jun 15th - 07:25am | Lee Dalton

From the NPS Digest, Friday June 14

Jun 11th - 11:48am | Moonpie

Anybody else remember a few years back when justice was served on a man in Arizona who was shooting up a saguaro with his shotgun -- and part of it fell off and crushed him? Here's one link: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/saguaro.asp

Jun 10th - 15:34pm | Sagebrusher

Speaking of Dinosaur National Monument(not Park), there was an incident of vandalism in 2000 that actually resulted in conviction and time served! Felicity, you might look into the hand slaps that most vandals receive.

Jun 8th - 08:30am | Lee Dalton

Felicity Barringer's article in the New York times was featured yesterday morning as an item in the NPS daily Digest. Here's a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/us/as-vandals-take-to-national-parks-s...

A View From The Overlook: Long Shot

Jun 14th - 12:11pm | Lee Dalton

Hey, Gutz, thanks for cherry tree -- acorn tree -- whatever comment. That led to some fun with Google. Here's some of what I found quickly: http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?LAL_Archives/Cherry_Tree_Myth.h...

Jun 13th - 21:20pm | Lee Dalton

Gutz, I was spoofing . . . . . but figure it's as good as any other story out there.

Jun 13th - 14:19pm | gutz54

Ha!! Funny how the story changes over the years-- here I thought it was the 4 legged kind of "Bar"-- glad to see it was a bar tender and not one of our furry friends....now we need to check our the story of The father of our country ( I don't man our current POTUS) and those cherry trees-- or maybe it was ACORN?

Jun 12th - 12:10pm | Lee Dalton

Gutz, it was an accident. His father was drinking in the bar when young Danl' spotted a long rifle lying on a table and started playing with it. The bullet just missed the bar tender and shattered an entire jug of good Kentucky mash whiskey. But no one was hurt, other than Danl' when his dad caught up to him.

Jun 12th - 11:56am | gutz54

Could you please also check on the often told story of how Danl' Boone shot a bar at the age of three?? LOL

Jun 12th - 09:34am | Rick B.

Always a fun and informative read.

Yosemite National Park Features New Exhibit On Native American Culture

Jun 13th - 13:13pm | gutz54

The huge basket behind her right shoulder in the first photo is really amazing-- It would be interesting to know the history of it?

Jun 13th - 09:47am | rmackie

Agree Lee, Julia Parker and the entire Parker family is an amazing group, I think there is a grandson who will be asked to try out for the US Olympic Snowboarding Team. In any case many kudo's to all the Parker's and their accomplishments in maintaining the traditional cultural skills of the local native americans. It is truly remarkable.

Jun 13th - 07:35am | Lee Dalton

It was wonderful to jump on to Traveler this morning and discovering that Julia Parker is still going strong. If she has not already been named as an American Historical Treasure, she should be.

Standing Guard Over The Monument

Jun 12th - 13:34pm | Lee Dalton

Wow! That is one FINE photograph!

Updated: Big Meadows Fire Ballooning In Size At Rocky Mountain National Park

Jun 12th - 10:46am | Lee Dalton

Jim and Mike, you're both right. I was not thinking very well this morning.

Jun 12th - 10:27am | Jim Burnett

Lee - You're correct that naturally-caused fires can be a good resource management tool, but I suspect the decision to try to suppress this one is based on several factors.

Jun 12th - 10:18am | MikeG

It's being suppressed regardless of the good it might do because of the fire situation statewide, the committment of resources that will have to be made should it emerge later this summer as a threat and because the political climate will not allow for 'resource management fires' during existing conditions.

Jun 12th - 09:32am | Lee Dalton

Isn't fire a natural enemy of beetles? Is there a reason the fire is being suppressed rather than used as a management tool?

Goats Do Roam The Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Jun 12th - 07:11am | Jim Burnett

Thanks for an interesting story about this project, which sounds like a good potential to keep these areas "bald." I agree this is absolutely spectacular area, especially when things are in bloom in June. It can get pretty busy on weekends in June, so visit on a weekday if possible.

Grant Will Enable Yellowstone Park Foundation To Bring Urban, Rural Youngsters To Yellowstone National Park

Jun 11th - 01:10am | Megaera

Oh, now that's a wonderful idea. Everyone isn't as lucky as I was, spending most of my childhood summers visiting almost every national park west of the Rockies (and a couple east of them).

Replacement Of Historic Chinook Entrance Arch At Mount Rainier National Park Should Make The CCC Proud

Jun 11th - 01:08am | Megaera

I could not place that arch for the life of me, and I've driven to Sunrise umpteen times in the last twenty years -- then it dawned on me that it's the entrance from the east into the northeastern part of the park, coming from Yakima (does V-8 thump). Never mind.

Organizations Want Veto Power Over National Park Service At Colorado National Monument

Jun 10th - 16:04pm | ecbuck

@amarillo 1) Yes, why not? 2) Park administration after allowing for adequate public input 3) Yes 4) No, why should it?

Jun 10th - 15:45pm | Amarillobymorning

While speculating on the impact of a bike race can be interesting, I think this thread has sort of wandered from the bigger questions: 1) Should a national park be the site of special organized events (unrelated to the park's purpose or history) that significantly impact the normal use and enjoyment of the park's regular activities and purposes by the general public?

Politicians Form Executive Committee To Help Them Draft Legislation To Designate Colorado National Monument As A "National Park"

Jun 10th - 12:40pm | rmackie

It appears those selected to be on the executive committee have primarily a background in develepement or related fields. Nothing wrong with that except we are talking about a National Park, there should be more of a balance on this committee (sientific, ecological, etc), in my own view.

Jun 10th - 11:03am | David Crowl

I think the name if it is a National Park should have more to the name, like; Colorado Plateau National Park (or something in place of Plateau that is a discriptive word).

Peaks Of Otter Lodge On Blue Ridge Parkway Set To Open In Mid-July

Jun 10th - 06:42am | Danny Bernstein

Poor Bluff Lodge in Doughton Park also on the Blue Ridge Parkway? It's been closed for three years. Hopefully it will find a concessionaire who thinks it's a worthwhile proposition. Danny

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