In a timely reminder that search and rescue activities are rarely routine and often dangerous, a ranger and a climbing guide from Mount Rainier National Park have received a Valor Award and a Citizen’s Award for Bravery from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

President Obama stated his support for the 2nd Amendment during the presidential campaign. But how does he stand on allowing national park visitors to arm themselves? A coalition of groups has asked the president to stop a Senate effort to open national parks to a variety of weapons, from pistols to semi-automatics.

A massive influx of dollars is heading towards the National Park System, part due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, some proposed within the Obama administration's Fiscal 2010 budget proposal. It certainly is a change from the past eight years.