At issue is whether Inyo County, California, should be allowed to bulldoze roads in a portion of Death Valley that is designated wilderness. In agreeing to let the conservation groups intervene in the matter on behalf of the National Park Service, Judge Anthony Ishii wrote that the groups have a "significant protectable interest" in how the legal battle plays out.

It's been a rough few days in the national parks. A three-day search in Mount Rainier has led to the discovery of the body of a missing hiker, while in Yosemite another hiker has died while trying to negotiate Half Dome.

A recent entry on the WildeBeat about the natural soundscapes present within our parks, has me inspired to share my experience and equipment list used to capture an 'audio snapshot' of my own visits.

Still wondering where to head for your summer vacation? Well, if you live in or anywhere near the Midwest, there's a gorgeous national lakeshore with a nice chain of islands to explore, called the Apostle Islands.