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Marking The Yosemite Grant That Helped Launch The National Parks Movement

While it's long been accepted that Yellowstone National Park is the world's first national park, there's significant weight to the statement that the wondrous Yosemite landscape helped launch the national parks movement with the signing of the Yosemite Grant by President Lincoln on June 30, 1864. That Grant set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for protection, establishing the very idea of today's national parks.

Exploring Mount Rainier National Park's Trails

The three kids—my 12-year-old son, Nate, and 10-year-old daughter, Alex, plus my 15-year-old nephew, Marco—are slightly less than enthusiastic about our plan to hike the Skyline Trail Loop above Paradise, on the south side of Mount Rainier National Park. My 76-year-old mom, Joanne, normally an eager hiker, shuffles along this morning, still recovering from a long, hard hike up Mount St. Helens two days ago.

Waterfalls Of The Blue Ridge

The natural geologic cut of the Appalachian Mountains, and the plentiful moisture and frequency of springs in the region, combine to produce a cascading system of waterworks from Shenandoah National Park down through the Blue Ridge Parkway and into Great Smoky Mountains National Park that provides more than enough incentive to take a hike.

Cost Of Rescue Of Canadian Teen Released By Rocky Mountain National Park

In late May the plight of a Canadian teenager stranded on a mountain ledge at an elevations of 13,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park attracted international media attention. A major and risky rescue effort ensued, resulting in the teen's eventual return to safety. The park has now released additional details, including the cost of the rescue.