A smug, biting, and sarcastic roster of Republicans bashed National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis during a hearing Wednesday into how the Park Service handled the closure of the park system in the wake of the federal government's partial shutdown.
Many feel the national parks are being used by both parties as "political pawns" during the government shutdown. If that's the case, is the temporary reopening of several major parks likely to shorten or lengthen the shutdown?
Recently, the much-esteemed Ranger Ron Mackie, late of Yosemite and the National Park Service, took time off from his new career of fighting forest fires in “retirement” to send me e-mail on the subject of volunteer labor.
Though there's a pile of books on the edge of my desk waiting to be reviewed, Mike O'Connor's book jumped to the top of the heap when it arrived at my door. Outwardly, My Do Bluebirds Hate Me? is not a book about national parks, but the wisdom the author offers can be carried into the parks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park to open Wednesday, citations issued at Olympic National Park, and a call for states to share in national park management are among the issues floating around the National Park System during the ongoing government shutdown.
Most people explore Acadia National Park by foot, pedal, or paddle. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson is not like most people. She toured the park from the air...in a biplane!
A little Trail Magic will be flowing, quite literally, Friday as the Nantahala Brewing Co. celebrates the season, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Sooner or later we'll once again be able to enjoy visits to parks around the country, and while we're waiting, we can start to compile a list of potential activities in NPS areas. If you'd enjoy a challenging, ranger-guided trip into a section of "wild" cave, the Spider Cave Tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park may be just what you've been looking for.