For the first time in 163 years, the general public is being allowed to tour the South Vancouver Barracks at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington state.

While Mount Rainier National Park officials initially had held some hope Wednesday that improving weather conditions would allow for the recovery of the body of a climbing ranger who died while assisting with a rescue, conditions again forced rangers from to put off an attempt.

The foremost mission of the National Park Service is to preserve the units of the park system, but providing for public enjoyment and education through interpretation is never overlooked. Helping drive both those missions at Big Bend is Friends of Big Bend National Park, a group that one day could be sponsoring a road or trail run and the next day spending the proceeds from that race on maintaining trails in the park.

Come November, we get to choose the next president of the United States. President Obama might get a second term, or Mitt Romney might get his first. Whoever wins, how best do you think the next president of these United States can best help the National Park System?