Three skiers who got off-course and spent an unplanned night in the backcountry last weekend prompted the first major search and rescue operation of the year at Grand Teton National Park. The group was successfully rescued despite a significant winter storm and high avalanche danger, and the incident offers some good "lessons learned" for winter recreationists.

My previous column, “How do you get a permanent job with the NPS,” provoked a great deal of reader comment. (Had your humble correspondent mentioned the words “guns” or “mountain biking,” the rate of comment would have been even higher!)

California's 101 Freeway is turning into a killing zone for mountain lions, as three kittens have been killed by traffic on the highway in recent weeks, according to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area officials.

Wednesday is often called "hump day"—the midpoint of the traditional work week—but in Alaska, perhaps February could be considered "hump month" for winter. Life in our northernmost state is a lot more fun if you embrace cold weather activities, and the folks in and around Denali National Park and Preserve will "celebrate Alaska's longest season" with an impressive slate of activities February 21-23 at Denali Winterfest 2014.