| Page 1052 | National Parks Traveler

To continue with Lee's post just our interest in getting out into the wilds where we CAN'T (or may not) have all the answers to every situation and are challenged to deal with things is surely part of the allure and the rewards. There are places that humble EVERYONE and that in itself is a pretty good payoff, well, if you survive:).

Oct 28th - 12:36pm | Lee Dalton

Someone once asked Daniel Boone if he had ever been lost. Boone is said to have thought for a moment and then replied, "No, but I sure was bewildered a few times."

Oct 28th - 11:03am | Rich S.

People are not perfect. They make mistakes and get into trouble in the backcountry due to a variety of reasons, including inexperience, poor judgement, carelessness, injury, weather, or wild animals. This applies to everyone who goes into the backcountry regardless of the amount of experience they have. Even the most experienced hikers get into trouble.

Oct 28th - 09:51am | Matt M.

I'm glad they were able to pull him out of there, and I'm trying hard not to wish that whoever left the first comment someday makes a mistake and needs someone to help save their lives. I'm not going to do that, because I'm fairly certain they're not worth the effort. As for SAR, the RMNP folks are as good as they get. [The code for Rocky Mountain National Park is ROMO. Ed.]

Oct 27th - 23:00pm | Rick Smith

Park Ranger command-control Divisions emphasize Search & Rescue Operations at taxpayer expense so they, the Law Enforcement Division may dominate all other park budgets thus justifying their existence and demand more an ever-growing budget. Oh, let's not place any responsibility

Oct 27th - 21:23pm | Rick B.

Rough crowd in this hall. [and I agree - kudos to the SAR team for job well done]

Oct 27th - 21:22pm | we need to do b...

This story brought to my attention that there is a lot of snow already in the Colorado Rockies. Did you know that in Oregon it's dry as a bone. And, there are hundreds of jets hired by California, Nevada and Arizona water and power companies flying over OREGON CONSTANTLY. THEY ARE GEOENGINEERING, sending our storms to the Colorado River basin. How do they do this, you ask.

Oct 27th - 21:01pm | HAG

As usual the SAR team responded as they always do, TOP NOTCH. Your the best. I can tell for those whom are worried over tax $ that many of these teams work as volunteers and love every minute of it in hopes that volunteering to help others will encourage others to do the same.

Oct 27th - 17:42pm | Jim Burnett

Given the fact this individual reportedly failed to get a backcountry camping permit, he was very fortunate he was able to make cell phone contact. Lacking that, it's unlikely anyone would have known he was in the area and stranded. If he had just taken the time to request a permit, he could have been advised about the weather forecast.

Oct 27th - 17:37pm | Dottie

My goodness, Anonymous 11:25 and 4:10. I truly hope if my granddaughters are ever stranded, for whatever reason, it won't be up to either of you to save them. They'll die. After all, it might have cost a pittance of your tax contribution.

Oct 27th - 17:10pm | Anonymous

Oct 27th - 16:20pm | Marty Koch

To Anonymous in the first post:

Oct 27th - 15:04pm | HAG

Maybe we should help this young man and encourage him toward prepardness in the future instead of crushing his love of the outdoors. At 22 he has his whole life ahead of him and at his age Im sure hes not made of $ but should be encouraged to work towards helping others as he was rescued.

Oct 27th - 14:50pm | Anonymous

Lets first be thankful this young man is safe and surely he has learned a big lesson as those of us have through our lives. I also hope he continues his love of the outdoors and maybe follow a path of helping others as he recieved. at his age Im sure his pocket book isnt made of $ but if he should be encouraged to work or volonteer to help others in the same area.

Oct 27th - 14:14pm | Dick G

Kind of funny how the anonymous comment at 11:53 sounds like the same anoymous comment at 11:25 ?? LOL

Oct 27th - 14:07pm | Anonymous

Someone mentioned the storm being unexpected. The winter storm warning was released on Monday night/Tuesday morning and they were predicting the storm from at least Sunday, that I remember. Weather does change fast in RMNP, however, it seems this man could have been a little more prepared and checked in with a ranger's station for a weather report before heading out.

Oct 27th - 13:36pm | Jenn Grover

That area is not what I would call "backcountry." It is a well-travelled area and rated as pretty easy in most hiking guides. It sounds like he was caught by surprise. Although he made some mistakes, he hardly warrants the tirade provided in the above comment.

Oct 27th - 13:26pm | Julie R

People make mistakes. It sounds like he was somewhat prepared in case of an emergency. I agree that he should pay some of the cost of the search and rescue, if not all of it. But to say it's wasteful to search for a human who needs help (for whatever the reason may be) is "arrogant and stupid." Lighten up and have a sliver of compassion.

Oct 27th - 12:53pm | Anonymous

I wholeheartedly agree with this well-written comment. It's a shameful waste of human and financial resources to have to attempt to find this man. Fine him and make him a 'poster child' to communicate the inherent risks of hiking to the visiting public.

Oct 27th - 12:51pm | Dick Gutierrez

How do you know he " arrogantly defied every rule of backcountry camping..."? Sounds like the man was just hiking-- had a tarp,whistle and a sleeping bag. From what I read the storm was unexpected. Accidents can happen to anyone--how about a little compassion??

Oct 27th - 12:42pm | Joe L

At least he has a sleeping bag. How about giving the 22 year old a break. I am 75 plus and remember all the stupid things I did at that age. It is a miracle that I survived.

Oct 27th - 12:25pm | Anonymous

So the NPS, and ultimately the taxpayers, have to flip the bill for rescuing this man who was hiking alone and admittedly unprepared for the winter weather conditions. No wonder the NPS has a $4-6 billion maintenance backlog (source: NPCA http://www.npca.org/what_we_do/visitor_experience/backlog/).

Widow of Man Mauled By Grizzly Sues Federal Government For Wrongful Death, Negligence

Oct 28th - 13:07pm | Anonymous

Stupid logic pauletteb. If you don't want to get shot by thugs stay inside your home? Same logic...The bear should have been killed and if the research team violated protocol at the expense of a man's life then they should be held accountable.

Oct 28th - 11:38am | pauletteb

Oh, please! Although I'm sorry for this woman's loss, I think her case is ridiculous! I'm afraid the government will settle, though, which will only encourage more frivolous lawsuits. If you don't want to risk encounters with wild animals, stay out of the woods!

Oct 28th - 09:56am | Matt M.

Tough story. It sounds like the grizz researchers may have been a bit negligent. Was waiting with the bear until it woke up standard procedure that they chose to ignore?

Oct 28th - 09:54am | Dave Smith

The government will settle this out of court because a trail would severely damage the credibility of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen.

2009 in Review: Abolished National Parks Were Highlighted in Park Pruning Series

Oct 28th - 10:26am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, NSL. If you want to read about all of the abolished national parks, click on Traveler's SEARCH button and type in the keyword "pruning". For example, you'll find the Shadow Mountain article at this site

Oct 28th - 09:59am | NSL

Wow! What a treasure trove of information. While I knew about places like Mar-a-Lago, Father Millet Cross and Flaming Gorge, I was surprised to read about the Kennedy Center and virtually every other site listed here. No info on Marble Canyon; I was under the impression it was absorbed into an expanded Grand Canyon National Park back in the seventies...?

Sagamore Hill, Home To Theodore Roosevelt, To Get $6.2 Million Renovation Next Spring

Oct 28th - 09:25am | Kurt Repanshek

Your tax dollars at work, Joe, through the Park Service's budget.

Oct 28th - 09:18am | Joe Pagliaro

It states in this article about the cost of the renovation of the Summer White at Sagamore hill will cost 6.2 million dollars. Where does this money come from? Is it donations from the American people?

Trails I've Hiked: Bechler River Trail In Yellowstone National Park

Oct 28th - 08:52am | Janes

Most interesting, Kurt. Nicely written.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gets Approval For Elk Management Plan

Oct 28th - 06:59am | Danny Bernstein

The reintroduction of elk has been a great boon to the Cataloochee Valley. It has doubled the number of visitors in this hard-to-reach area. After the cows figured out that they had to protect their young from bears, the numbers of elk went up. They are now at Oconaluftee, creating traffic jams there as well. But that's OK. Visitors in a National Park should not be in a hurry.

Reader Participation Day: Is The Current Level Of Visitation To National Parks A Concern?

Oct 28th - 06:56am | Danny Bernstein

I wonder how many people visited Disneyworld and Disneyland this past year. Have their numbers gone down? Somehow I don't think so. And talk about crowding. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Oct 27th - 19:35pm | Lee Dalton

Owen, the key to it all is cooperation between those whose businesses depend on the park and the park. Zion's success came about because the park's management reached out to the community of Springdale and the community reached back. It has been a winner for everyone.

Oct 27th - 18:25pm | Dick G

Owen-- I agree with you-- being in Yosemite valley in the summer during a weekend is a real nightmare with all the cars!!

Oct 27th - 14:50pm | Owen Hoffman

For many of the parks that are "overcrowded", the problem is not the number of people, but the number of private cars. Keep the car out of Cades Cove and Yosemite Valley and just watch what will happen. Yes, park visitation might drop somewhat, due to the perceived inconvenience of parking the car outside of the park and entering the park using a public transportation service, as is now the c

Oct 27th - 13:05pm | Dick G

The one thing we noticed this year in the parks was the low numbers of American tourists-- the vast majority of visitors appeared to be from other countries. What a shame more American's don't visit the parks. I think the bad economy has a lot to do with it.

Oct 27th - 11:09am | Anonymous

I agree with everything you said about Curry Village. It is basically an overpriced slum. I stayed there this summer and when I checked in I was told that the NPS was telling Delaware North that there prices were too high. My refund? A couple of dollars. I'm not kidding.

125th Anniversary Celebration for Statue of Liberty Blends History and High-Tech

Oct 28th - 01:04am | stan chaz

It is a fitting tribute, on Lady Liberty's 125th Anniversary, to have the hardy participants of Occupy Wall Street "standing watch" a few miles north, across the harbor. If Lady Liberty could talk, I'm sure she'd tell them: Thank You..for keeping the torch of liberty burning brightly; Thank you..for helping to renew the freedoms and ideals upon which this great country was founded.

How Many Tourists are Too Many in the Yosemite Valley?

Oct 27th - 21:58pm | Anonymous

How about AMERICAN TAXPAYERS have a priority in visiting the park? Yosemite Valley is full of foreign tourists, who occupy space, while Americans, who supposedly own this NATIONAL park have to enjoy the leftovers. It's time to establish a quota for the number of non-US nationals who can visit--run a lottery for them, or whatever.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Underrated and Understated

Oct 27th - 17:29pm | Anonymous

No, Congaree is amzaing.

Oct 27th - 12:56pm | Clevelander

As a lifelong Clevelander and NP traveler, I have to agree CUVA is no where near NP worthy. It was fine as a National Recreation Area. Clinton made it a National Park on his way out the door. The best things mentioned above (last three) are not even part of the NP. There are better, more beautiful state parks in Ohio than CUVA. Sorry, but it doesn't cut it. If it does qualify, it's the wo

Monocacy National Battlefield Releases iPad App

Oct 27th - 13:02pm | Anonymous

Great app! Very easy to use and visually appealing - I haven't seen very many national parks that have something like this. This looks like a pretty interesting place with a lot more history than just the Civil War part.

Early Snowstorm Gives Rocky Mountain National Park Mid-Winter Look

Oct 27th - 11:22am | Dick Gutierrez

How beautiful-- wish I was there instead of in the Fla. heat!!

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