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Bat at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tests Positive for White Nose Syndrome Fungus

Apr 20th - 14:49pm | Will

To clarify for anonymous #1, any crime committed in a National Park is punishable by fines OF UP TO six months in jail or $5,000. I think thats reasonable and completely agree with anonymous #2. And to confirm that the violator doesn't always get the maximum fine just look at the guy who shot and killed an elk in the Smokies, he will probably only receive a $500 fine. Is that just?

Apr 20th - 13:31pm | Anonymous

I am disappointed in the first comment. The 'violation' is to try and go the caves while they are CLOSED! Seemed pretty simple explanation to me. But, then even on this website, we still have to put with anti-government comments that in this case, have no business here. This is a very bad situation and we need to take it seriously.

Apr 20th - 08:44am | Anonymous

"Stiver emphasized that the Park’s caves would remain closed and Rangers would increase their enforcement to reduce the likelihood that visitors might transport the WNS pathogen to uninfected colonies either in the Park or elsewhere. Violators face fines of up to six months in jail or $5,000." Exactly what violation are we talking about???

National Park Service Renews Partnership With Mountain Bike Community

Apr 20th - 14:17pm | Zebulon

Toothdoctor, I also get tired of people bringing the same irrational argument to ban bicycles from trails. Cuts both ways. :) You're bringing the same old argument: "you're free to go in the park, you just can't bring your bike". So what if the NPS changed the access rule so that you could not hike, but could only mountain bike in the park? How would you like it?

Reader Participation Day Bonus: How Many National Park-Designated Units of the National Park System Have You Visited?

Apr 20th - 12:17pm | MRC

A lively thread without ORVs and beach access? Sounds great. My number is not that impressive: 19 plus the Ventura Visitor Center of Channel Islands - haven't made it to the islands yet but to the VC on the mainland.

Apr 20th - 10:21am | Anonymous

28 counting those with my parents, those with my kids and the rest as a senior. Next month it's time to finally go to the Channel Islands.

Apr 20th - 09:32am | dennis g.

17 and still counting.

Apr 20th - 09:29am | griz

I've been to 24 so far. My first National Park was Shenandoah. Three good friends and I went on our first real road trip after our high school graduation in 1994. My most recent National Park visit was at Voyageurs National Park. My wife and I visited in January to do some skiing and snowshoeing.

Apr 20th - 09:16am | Anonymous

14 and counting

Apr 20th - 07:13am | Valerie

29 great places on our list

Apr 20th - 07:07am | Connie Hopkins

17 so far! Planning to add a LOT more once we retire!!

Apr 20th - 00:10am | Rick B.

A dozen or so and many more of the larger NPS family. Happily stamping away on my NPS Passport.

Apr 20th - 00:10am | Rick B.

A dozen or so and many more of the larger NPS family. Happily stamping away on my NPS Passport.

Apr 19th - 19:53pm | Barky

18, but I am closing in on 200 of the 390 or so total NPS units :-)

Apr 19th - 18:32pm | Earl

Thanks,It really started back when I retired at 55 and we were at Great Smoky Mountains Natl Park and my wife bought me this big Natl Park Book listing the 58 parks and a page for each one.I said to her that day before I die we are going to get a park stamp from everyone of these parks.What an adventure it was.Had not made the Hawaii ones but when I got cancer we said lets get our butts in gea

Apr 19th - 18:25pm | tomp

only 30. But, I'm angling for Channel Islands this October, I hope to get to Capitol Reef (and Grand Staircase Escalante) this fall, and North Cascades & Mount Rainier & Olympic owe me a trip perhaps next summer.

Apr 19th - 17:46pm | Jason

25 for me and my wife. Like others it's our goal to visit them all. The birth of our first child last year has slowed our travels temporarily but we can't wait to share our passion with her.

Apr 19th - 17:05pm | Anonymous

30 for me. I need to get to Florida, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest!

Apr 19th - 16:51pm | Sharlene

12 but I plan on seeing at least four more this year.

Apr 19th - 16:38pm | Danny

28 and counting. Most of the 28 more than one time.

Apr 19th - 15:30pm | Anonymous

25 and adding 5 more this summer!

Apr 19th - 15:02pm | Brad

14 so far and hopefully one more this year.

Apr 19th - 14:58pm | Jim

34, not bad when you consider I live in the UK. Efficient use of vacation time is the answer.

Apr 19th - 14:53pm | lelandg

16 and will get in Olympic and Mt Rainier this fall. Kings Canyon and Sequoia next year and maybe Death Valley.

Apr 19th - 14:49pm | Aron

Only 30 National Parks for me, but I've been to 177 NPS units!

Apr 19th - 14:37pm | Anonymous

Earl - How wonderful that you have been to all 58 National Parks!! That's amazing! Thank you for the encouragement with this post. My dream the day our daughters were born was to have my family visit all the National Park sites. We've been to 155 and so we are a long way from [visiting all 392]. But your post is an encouragement!

Apr 19th - 14:12pm | Anonymous

Only 6, but we've been to them multiple times.

Apr 19th - 14:04pm | DJJeffrey100

We've visited 21.

Apr 19th - 13:13pm | Anonymous

12 for me. Hitting the Great Smoky Mountains this year. Still have lots to see in this great country.

Apr 19th - 12:25pm | Teachergal

13 - will hopefully be 15 after my trip to Washington State this summer!

Apr 19th - 12:01pm | J C

Eighteen if you count those I went to as a child, many years ago. Only 10 if you count only those I've been to as an adult. I hope to visit several more this summer.

Apr 19th - 11:58am | earl

Kurt,I have had the great opportunity to visit all of them.It was on my bucket list.I thank God everyday for that.

Apr 19th - 11:34am | deanhicks

We have been to 22, BUT have not been to Congaree, which is only about 55 miles from our home.

Apr 19th - 11:32am | JanetinKy

27 -- check with me in a couple of weeks and it will go up to 29

Apr 19th - 11:18am | Jim

15 of 58 in US but visited some of Canada's as well. Working on my short list of all 58 but have not retired yet. Each and everyone is a treasure.

Important Advisory to Dog Owners Issued by Padre Island National Seashore

Apr 20th - 10:31am | Anonymous

It's probably due to a HAB outbreak & the dogs eating the dead fish. But seriously, who wants to take their family to vacation and wade through another person's dog droppings anyway? That's why we pick States that have designated dog beaches. It's past time for Texas to work on that, don't ya think?

Ranger Confidential, Living, Working, and Dying In the National Parks

Apr 20th - 09:33am | Chief Ranger

Great review! Cale Shaffer was an excellent ranger who's life was cut short. We continue to place our employees in risky situations needlessly all for the sake of the mission. For those of you working for the NPS who have not heard about Operational Leadership (also known as Crew Resource Training, Human Factors: Threat and Error Management) get to know it.

Loss of the Historic Baker-Robinson Whale Oil Refinery Rankles Officials at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Apr 20th - 06:48am | Peggi Medeiris

On March 7, 2010 the Standard-Times described the last minute efforts to document the Baker Robinson Whale Oil factory. What needs to make absolutely clear is that the 1838 candle house was gutted LAST week to make a June deadline.

Apr 20th - 06:45am | Bob Janiskee

Thank you for the additional information, Peggi. I certainly didn't mean to imply that I support the decision to sacrifice Baker-Robinson.

Apr 20th - 06:25am | Peggi Medeiris

Sorry this doesn't fly at all and the blog doesn't reflect the truth of what happened. Baker Robinson had been placed in 2005 on the Preservation MA Most Endangered Properties list. It was included in the Park's Management Plan and legislaton was pending to extend the boundaries of the Park to include it. The developer originally claimed it would be restored.

Next Time You're In Washington, Stop By the Old Stone House

Apr 20th - 05:31am | Raoul Pop

Thanks Rebecca!

Traveler’s Checklist: Congaree National Park

Apr 19th - 20:41pm | Bob Janiskee

Downed trees and other obstacles don't close the canoe trail, Barky, they just make for frequent portages/hauls and more work (meaning less fun). What can make the canoe trail nearly impassible is low water following prolonged periods with little or no rain. That's the crux of it. Maintenance crews can clear out debris from time to time, but they can't make rain.

Apr 19th - 19:56pm | Barky

Just visited there on a swing through the Carolinas, did some hiking on two different days. Probably a bit early, but it was nice weather and no bugs. Charlie Daniels' "Wooly Swamp" kept going through my head :wink: But here's a question: is the paddle 'trail' really open? It looks like there's a lot of trees down across the creek ...

Apr 19th - 18:40pm | Danny Bernstein

I brought a Carolina Mountain Club group to Congaree this past weekend. We were very lucky to have Bob come and speak to the group on the history of the park. Thank you, Bob A great park and very different from the Southern Appalachian mountains. Danny

Apr 19th - 12:04pm | Bob Janiskee

Provisions for pet access apparently played no role in the establishment of Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976 or its redesignation as Congaree National Park in 2003. It's important to note that pets are not allowed on the boardwalks, except to access the first set of stairs leading to dirt trails.

Apr 19th - 11:46am | tahoma

I was surprised to read dogs "are allowed on all of the park’s trails...", since this activity is forbidden in most NPS units. Was this a compromise to get this park established?

Apr 19th - 11:31am | jessstryker

The 2.5 mile boardwalk is a great hike, but be warned there are no bathrooms on it and you can't just "duck off into the woods". If you're reading through the excellent nature guide pamphlet, stopping to take pictures, and watching the wildlife it can easily take 2 hours or more.

House Republicans Say Interior Secretary's Proposed Snake Ban Bad for Business

Apr 19th - 15:47pm | sschind

"I hope this bill passes and is the start of a full ban of exotic imports and captive breeding ... " So you support a ban of breeding cats and dogs then? What about horses and sheep? Hamsters and guinea pigs are a no no as well I suppose. Oh that's right, humane societies and rescues are not over run with dogs, just reptiles. Feral cats are not a problem, just large snakes.

Blind Hiker Trevor Thomas Tackles Pacific Crest Trail One Step At A Time

Apr 19th - 15:26pm | Lee Dalton

Sheeeesh! And I grumble about becoming old, a bit overweight, and having a slightly gimpy knee. I'm ashamed of myself -- again. My hat is certainly off to people like Mr. Thomas and Sandy, who posted just before me.

Jane Goodall, Tom Mangelsen Choose Hope Over Spite

Apr 19th - 11:12am | Emily Loose

Thanks for this great post and info on the Black-footed ferrets! If you'd like to see more info on the World Wilderness Congress, please see this page: http://www.wild.org/main/world-wilderness-congress/wild9/. We have many videos from the plenary sessions posted, include Dr.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

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So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.