Though most visitor amenities in the National Park System have been derailed by the partial government shutdown, the shuttles in Zion National Park are running thanks to funding from the state of Utah.

'Tis the season for winter visits to national parks, when the face of the landscape may have markedly changed, and visitation is lower. In addition to all the neat activities you can do in a national park, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding and ice fishing, photographer Rebecca Latson wants to remind you to add photography to those activities. This month's article provides tips and techniques for capturing awesome images as well as prepping yourself and your camera for the elements.

Hours spent in a line waiting to enter a national park. Crews working to maintain trails that climb through piny forests and are blighted by piles of human waste. Visitors taking out their rage against fellow visitors and park staff when they can't find a parking spot at their favorite trailhead or overlook. These are some of the issues National Park Service staff are trying to solve as they cope with record visitation.