A View From The Overlook

A View From The Overlook: Peter And Paul

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!)

Read more about A View From The Overlook: Peter And Paul

By PJ Ryan - February 12th, 2014 2:45am

62 comments

A View From the Overlook: “How Do You Get A Permanent Job With The NPS?”

“How Do You Get A Permanent Job With The NPS?” This is a frequently asked question, Neighbors! No doubt about it, the NPS is a feel-good agency that many people would like to join, and they are not easily dissuaded. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is complicated, ambiguous and fluid.

Read more about A View From the Overlook: “How Do You Get A Permanent Job With The NPS?”

By PJ Ryan - January 29th, 2014 3:00am

107 comments

A View From The Overlook: The First National Park (We Think)

After doing a bit of volunteer time last summer at Yellowstone National Park, I decided to do a column on dear old Yellowstone, established way back in 1872, “The World’s First National Park." Or so I thought.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: The First National Park (We Think)

By PJ Ryan - January 21st, 2014 7:26pm

31 comments

A View From The Overlook: The Advantages Of National Parks

“What good are national parks?” This is a question often raised by the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party when faced by non-utilitarian public land use.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: The Advantages Of National Parks

By PJ Ryan - November 26th, 2013 5:39pm

65 comments

A View From The Overlook: Volunteers In The Parks. Is That Legal?

Recently, the much-esteemed Ranger Ron Mackie, late of Yosemite and the National Park Service, took time off from his new career of fighting forest fires in “retirement” to send me e-mail on the subject of volunteer labor.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: Volunteers In The Parks. Is That Legal?

By PJ Ryan - October 16th, 2013 3:00am

6 comments

A View From The Overlook: A Tale Of Two Rivers, Part I

There is a thread of commonality in the Colorado River as it flows through the Grand Canyon, and the Potomac River as it flows into Washington, D.C. It revolves around preservation.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: A Tale Of Two Rivers, Part I

By PJ Ryan - September 18th, 2013 3:15am

2 comments

A View From The Overlook: The Yellowstone Ranger Museum, Take Two

In the last issue of the View From the Overlook, P.J. Ryan, retired park ranger, described his experiences as a volunteer docent at the Yellowstone Ranger Museum. He continues his observations in this issue of The View

Read more about A View From The Overlook: The Yellowstone Ranger Museum, Take Two

By PJ Ryan - August 21st, 2013 7:50am

3 comments

A View From The Overlook: A Few Days In Yellowstone

You owe it to yourself to spend a few days working with Harry Yount in Yellowstone National Park.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: A Few Days In Yellowstone

By PJ Ryan - August 16th, 2013 11:43am

6 comments

A View From The Overlook: Fossil Butte National Monument

The two-hour drive from Salt Lake City, to Kemmerer, Wyoming, a gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, is educational for European and Eastern U.S. visitors.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: Fossil Butte National Monument

By PJ Ryan - July 30th, 2013 11:34am

4 comments

A View From The Overlook: A Virginia Farmer

My wife suggested that she would like to do something different and interesting on her birthday. Now if I were Bill Gates or that nice Zuckerburg boy that might mean leasing the island of Lanai and inviting friends. Since that is not the case, I suggested a boat trip to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, our first President and Founding Father. It would not only be patriotic but cheap.

Read more about A View From The Overlook: A Virginia Farmer

By PJ Ryan - July 10th, 2013 4:03am

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.