A climbing death in Yosemite, a new recreation site at the Delaware Water Gap NRA, and a question on whether to force climbers to wear helmets are among the odds and ends that have recently crossed our computer screens.

Call it a loo, a latrine, an outhouse, vault toilet or privy, but when you're out hiking or paddling a national park's backcountry and you have to answer the call of nature, it's awful nice not to have to squat over a cathole.

Incidents with multiple injuries can present a test for emergency services even in cities, but such situations can be especially challenging in the rural or remote areas found in many parks. Teamwork and advance planning paid off when Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced three mass casualty incidents during a recent span of five days.