A massive avalanche, one not seen in Glacier National Park in decades, roared down the "Garden Wall" in January and took out nearly 550 feet of stone retaining wall along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The bodies of two young men who disappeared after jumping into the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch in the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park have been recovered.

For many going to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is a town they pass en route to the park. Others spot the Pigeon River, or even spend a day rafting it during their stay. The pigeon that influenced these place names no longer darts through the skies nor perches in the forests. It's extinct.

Another summer is almost here, and with it, the opportunity for those who work in parks to field some excellent questions from visitors. Along the way, those rangers and volunteers will also undoubtedly encounter a few new candidates for the wacky question of the week.