Most national parks are not inherently dangerous, but park visitors can expect to encounter serious hazards to life and limb at various places and times in our National Park System. If you've narrowly escaped from a life threatening situation in a national park, tell us about it. Is there a takeaway lesson?
Reader Participation Day: Have You Had a "Close Call" in a National Park?
Published Date
March 7, 2012
Story Categories:
Support National Parks Traveler
Your support for the National Parks Traveler comes at a time when news organizations are finding it hard, if not impossible, to stay in business. Traveler's work is vital. For nearly two decades we've provided essential coverage of national parks and protected areas. With the Trump administration’s determination to downsize the federal government, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s approach to public lands focused on energy exploration, it’s clear the Traveler will have much to cover in the months and years ahead. We know of no other news organization that provides such broad coverage of national parks and protected areas on a daily basis. Your support is greatly appreciated.
EIN: 26-2378789
Support Essential Coverage of Essential PlacesA copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
National parks and their natural resources belong to you. The National Parks Traveler works to ensure you know how these essential places are being cared for.
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Unsubscribe at any time.
Donate Popup
The National Parks Traveler keeps you informed on how politics impact national parks and protected areas.
Become a sustaining member.
Help support us– the one source for journalism dedicated to our National Parks.
National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
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.
Comments
After reading some of the other stories here, I thought I'd add one. It's not my story, but it's one I've always enjoyed telling.
Back in the stone age, the chief ranger at Yellowstone was named Bob Sellers. Heckuva good guy. He and another ranger came in one day all covered with scratches and it was apparent they had climbed a lodgepole really fast. When we inquired, they explained that they had been fishing along the Yellowstone in Hayden Valley and had gotten so carried away they allowed themselves to drift into some pretty thick willows along the river bank. (Not good.)
Suddenly they heard some loud crashing and smashing rapidly coming at them from upstream. Considering that this was grizzly land, they decided it prudent to climb the only nearby tree. They scrambled up to a decent height and watched while whatever was making all the noise came crashing toward them.
Suddenly a large bull moose came into view and passed rapidly below them. They started to come down the tree when they heard still more crashing coming their way. They retreated up the tree and waited some more. Until a little old lady with a camera shot past in hot pursuit of the moose.
I'm so full of close calls....
I was hiking Angel's Landing in Zion and slipped. Luckily I fell to the left. If I had fallen to the right, I would have gone straight down.
Another day, in Shenandoah, I was unloading groceries from my vehicle when I heard a bear "woofing" at me. I turned and not 10ft away was a momma with 3 cubs. Some visitors were chasing her and I had stepped right into her escape path. I guess I seemed like the easiest one to scare because she rolled her head and started in my direction. Luckily I wasn't too far from my truck so I jumped behind that and she gathered her cubs and continued on her way. Lesson of the day: don't chase the wildlife. You never know when you'll end up chasing them right towards an innocent ranger.
I was hiking around the Bailey tract of the J.W. "Ding" Darling NWR on Sanibel Island, off Florida's southern Gulf Coast. I heard a rustling behind a large bush and as I passed it, saw a smaller gator clamboring up the bank of a nearby canal, less than 10 feet from me. We both froze about the same time. I considered using the 4 or 5 feet of path to skirt around him, but thought better of it, and snapped his photo before turning back and going back in the direction from where I'd come.
I first visited Organ Pipe Cactus during warm weather. A ranger suggested I try a night hike: it would be cooler, and there was more likely to be some animals out. He was right on both counts, as it turned out. After a half hour, the batteries in my one flashlight [dumb!] were dying, so I was hurrying back towards the trailhead. I came within about six inches of stepping on a large rattlesnake coiled up in the middle of the trail. Luckily it didn't strike at my bare lower legs.
I would label this a close call fueled by ignorance. A friend and I were concluding a weeklong visit to the Canadian Rockies. After a few days in Banff National Park we headed to Jasper National Park. We had already seen lots of elk and a coyote, but the whole trip we kept saying how we’d like to see a moose. On our last day in Jasper we were driving by a lake after breakfast when we came across about 10 cars pulled over on the side of the road. Not one moose, but 3, in the lake – a mother, a baby and a bull. Picture here - http://besthikes.com/bhBigPhoto.aspx?pic=~\Images\banf25.jpg
A dirt road circled the lake and so we went down and sat on some boulders near water’s edge, about 10 feet from the water. The 3 moose were probably 150 feet away from shore. The water was about up to their waist. They were moving slowly, dunking their heads in the water for 30 seconds at a time, eating I presume. Wow, what an experience.
Well, they kept moving in our general direction, getting closer and closer. I said to my friend “how close do you think they will get before they turn around?”. Turns out the answer is they’re not turning around. The mother was the first one out. She stopped as she came out of the water and looked at us for a few second, only a few feet away. We sat as still and quietly as possible. She continued, followed by the baby, then the bull. I took a picture of the bull – film camera back then (1995) and the whizzing sound of the zoom lens sounded really loud at that moment. Picture here - http://besthikes.com/bhBigPhoto.aspx?pic=~\Images\jasp01.jpg
They just kept on walking into a patch of tress where they started eating the leaves.
A group of about 20 people followed to watch. A guy came up to us and said you don’t know how lucky you are. In hindsight, really stupid and very lucky. At the time I remember having no fear, feeling no danger, just being amazed by the whole thing. Pretty sure I would not put myself in that position again.
I have a real fear of heights and made the mistake of allowing my four sons to talk me into attempting Angel's landing in Zion. I got to the first 'rest" spot up past Scouts landing( I can't recall the name of it-- that part of my brain refuses to remember). As I was trying to attach myself to the rock a guy came up behind us doing what we now refer to as the "crab- suck". I've never seen a person with such a terrified look on his face.Flat on his belly-- all limbs flat on the ground crawling like a crab. All the while his wife standing over him calling him a whoosie. After seeing that poor soul I just could not will myself on another step and had to adopt the crab-suck myself on the way down. My wife and kids continued to the summit. I had to join the crowd of whoosies back at Scouts rest waiting for their families to come back down .Very humiliating. Worse my sons have me on video tape and love to show it at all our family get togethers. If you are afraid of heights don't even think about Angel's landing.
This is one of the best reader participation forums we've ever had. Talk about sharing! These are great stories! In all truth—a lot more fun than the political fireworks sparked by some stories!
2 years ago a friend and I were at Josephine Lk (Glacier np) taking flower pictures. Made lots of noise and watched carefully, due to the reputation it has for grizzlies. When finished, we rejoiced at not having seen any bears and made it out safely. We headed back to the boat dock, on the way towards Swift Current Lk and the hotel. We headed up the paved path, talking and still noticing flowers, etc, only to glance up and see a large grizzly ambling down the paved path towards us. Grabbing the bear spray, we turned and "slowly" walked non-chalantly back towards the boat dock. Several times I glanced behind, and then updated my friend with "Keep going, he's still coming!". At the boat dock I said "head for the boat". Then thinking, "If we can get on, so can he". Didnt think that was a good thing, so (for whatever reason) I had the spray and my wimpy aluminum hiking pole and went back to the trail. Off on the side, the bear and I met about 7 feet apart: then waving my pole at him, and with finger on the bear spray, I politely asked him to "go that way", on up the trail. After repeating 3-4 times, HE DID!!! :)