National Parks Traveler

In the past few days there have been posts about threats non-native species pose to national parks, about rafting permits for the Grand Canyon, and about the president's proposed parks budget. And yet the post that far and away has gained the most attention explored whether we should allow concealed weapons in the parks.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 5th, 2008 11:03am

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President's 2009 Budget Proposal Lacking for National Parks

President Bush has sent to Congress a proposed 2009 budget for the National Park Service that continues to cannibalize the agency at a time when it can least afford it.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 4th, 2008 6:09pm

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Grand Canyon National Park Opens Lottery for 2009 Non-commercial River Trips

If you've long wanted to run your own trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, now's the time to get your application in. Grand Canyon National Park officials are accepting lottery applications for 2009 non-commercial trips through February 27th.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 4th, 2008 10:31am

National Lakeshores Threatened by Non-native Species

Loons, mergansers, cormorants and other waterfowl are dying by the thousands in the Great Lakes due to an invasion of non-native species that are threatening to turn the lakes' ecosystem upside down. At Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore even piping plovers, a threatened species, are dying.

Cornell Botulism info.pdf

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 2nd, 2008 7:11pm

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U.S. Senator To Make Bid to Allow National Park Visitors to Carry Guns

Why would a doctor be determined to provide more access to guns in the country? U.S. Senator Thomas Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma, will try to do that by introducing an amendment that would bar the Interior secretary from enforcing the current ban on carrying weapons in the parks.

CoburnGunAmendmentCAM08040_xml.pdf

02-01-08+multi-organization+firearms+letter.doc

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 7th, 2008 8:36am

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How Will the President's 2009 Budget Proposal Treat the Park Service?

On Monday the president is scheduled to release his budget proposal for the 2009 fiscal year. What will be interesting to see is whether he continues to show some love for the National Park Service.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 2nd, 2008 5:16pm

Erosion Forces Temporary Closures of Two Trails in Grand Canyon National Park

Erosion crafted the Grand Canyon, and so it's not terribly surprising that erosion has forced park officials to temporarily close or limit travel on two trails until repairs can be made.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 1st, 2008 7:18pm

Master Craftsmen Restoring 18th Century House That Survived the Civil War

Somehow, the eight-room house survived the Civil War battle that swept across the Wilderness battlefield in Virginia. Now, master craftsmen are working to see that it survives the test of time.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 1st, 2008 6:43pm

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Kids Think Highly of Our National Parks

Judging from the winners in the National Park Foundation's 2007 Junior Ranger essay contest, school children across the country think a lot about our national parks.

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By Kurt Repanshek - January 31st, 2008 12:40pm

‘Study Group’ Meets to Determine fate of Yellowstone National Park’s East Entrance

Yellowstone National Park officials met earlier this week with several representatives from Wyoming to discuss the options at their disposal for bombing snow-covered mountain slopes in our nation’s first national park. Why? To keep it clear of avalanche danger for the handful of snowmobiles and snowcoaches that enter the park through Sylvan Pass on the park’s east side each day during the winter season.