| Page 14 | National Parks Traveler

I have been involved with helping try to save the Sea Turtle Science & Recovery (STSR) program at Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) for the last three-plus years. I must say how appalled, disgusted, and ashamed I am to have volunteered for the NPS for years. The NPS's total lack of transparency and honesty is everything the Arrow stands for now.

Oct 30th - 10:29am | Maureen Hurlow

The grass roots persons involved in trying to Save the Sea Turtle Program at Padre Island National Park have met with the same resistance to information. Questions that are asked are seldom answered. Any anwer given is vague and repeats a 'company line'. My opinion of the National Park Sytem has been destroyed. When I worked as a BioTech, I was proud to wear the uniform with the arrowhead.

Oct 29th - 20:10pm | Marilyn Litt

Just look at what is happening to the endangered sea turtle program at Padre Island National Seashore. The Superintendent, who has a history of interfering with engaged species program, is on a vendetts to defund the sea turtle program and bully the chief scientist into retiring. She is under a gag order and cannot speak about her life's work, the Kemp ridley sea turtle.

Oct 29th - 19:10pm | ecbuck

Which is why we need you beyond Dec 31!

National Parks Traveler's Lights Going Out

Oct 30th - 09:45am | David Barna

So very very sorry to hear this Kurt. Best of luck to you in the future! Thank you for all you've done for the National Parks!

Oct 28th - 22:52pm | Glad2bretired

Thanks for taking on such a frustrating endeavor.

Oct 26th - 07:17am | Steve Black

As a soon to be retired NPS employee, I can tell you Kurt I have very much enjoyed this site over the years. There has been breaking news here that was not coming through other channels and some lively discussions. I wish you well.

Oct 23rd - 12:50pm | David Crowl

Kurt, I will miss the whole pkg. of Traveler. I would wish for someone or Journalist Org. to take it on, but either way...Thank you for the Park's News over the years, You will be missed by myself and all the people that read your articles.

Oct 23rd - 10:28am | Ryan H

As a recent new donor to this site, I am gutted to hear this news. NPT has been a staple of my morning news readings for a couple of years now, and I hate to see it go.

Oct 22nd - 09:13am | krissy

is there anything we can do to help? I love everything about the Traveler, it's so important. if this is the end, thank you so much for everything <3

Oct 21st - 16:01pm | Clinton A

Thanks for the Herculean effort over the past two decades!

Oct 19th - 14:16pm | swc

I would rather see pop up ads then lose you

Oct 19th - 13:20pm | ecbuck

Very sorry to hear this Kurt. You provided a very valuable service to the community. Didn't always agree with your point of view but always felt you addressed the subjects and our disagreements fairly. Best of luck in your future endeavors. I am sure there is a place that can benefit from your talents.

Oct 19th - 12:54pm | Steven Mullen

It's not the same at all, but I highly recommend the Dear Bob and Sue podcast. It's a married couple talking about visiting the national parks.

Oct 19th - 12:50pm | john928gt

"However, if another organization would like to take this on, we would be glad to talk to them." Well lets hope someone fills the gap. Recommend any other independent National Park coverage site or pod cast?

Oct 19th - 10:10am | Bill Chapman

To Kurt and the entire staff, many thanks for your valuable coverage! Everyone's hard work is greatly appreciated and will be missed.

Oct 19th - 09:15am | Lee Dalton

Terrible news. But not surprised. Too many people expect a free ride and then everyone has to pay for thier stinginess. You've done an amazing job. Not many people would have the courage and tenacity to tackle a job like this. I hope you will be able to enjoy a long and well deserved retirement. Gonna go visit some parks??

Oct 18th - 19:51pm | Rick B.

Very sad. I'm a longtime supporter but unable to financially bear a load. I'll have to live with that, in the dark.

Oct 18th - 18:27pm | Steven Mullen

I've been doing my part - you are one of the few organizations that I donate to. I'm sad to see you go, and we will all be worse off for it.

Caneel Bay Resort In Limbo At Virgin Islands National Park

Oct 29th - 16:19pm | Rick Amme

Please please please do not open Caneel Bay beaches to public use. I know this sounds selfish and that locals (whom I adore) resent it, but you would be gutting the charm of staying anywhere along the namesake bay of the resort. Honeymoon has been open for decades. Fine. But not Caneel, please. My late wife would thank you.

The National Parks' Lodging Problem

Oct 29th - 14:55pm | justanothertake...

I don't know where you got your information, but having worked in one of these parks for many years, I can assure you that 16.20 per day did not include meals that were anywhere in the ballpark of great cuisine.

Oct 20th - 18:38pm | Sally G

My first trip to Many Glacier Hotel was in 1979. Since then I've been back to Glacier NP many times. This year I decided to revisit Many Glacier on my trip. Well...when did they take that beautiful historic railroad hotel and try to make it look like a Swiss hotel? Awful, awful! I thought it looked great as it was with the "old time" construction and welcoming atmosphere.

Oct 19th - 21:08pm | S G

Well Said! Sums it up nicely! I for one could never afford those prices. Just one more thing that does NOT affect those with money!

A Chunk Of Grand Teton National Park Could Go Up For Auction. Price Tag: $62M

Oct 29th - 12:18pm | Cary Carlson

So sad and short sighted. Would not be selling to Biden Administration...but to all the people of the world, especially All Americans.

New Superintendent of Appalachian Trail Has Record Of Fiscal Misconduct

Oct 28th - 22:48pm | Glad2bretired

It never ends. No wonder the NPS has rock bottom morale, among the lowest in the Federal Government.

Oct 21st - 13:58pm | Pissed!

He started mainstreaming back into routine NPS management operations when he served a Acting Deputy Superintendent detail at Mojave National Preserve earlier this year. That's when I knew that clueless upper management failed to do adequate background checks as well as giving the impression that they don't care about his previous misdeeds.

Oct 20th - 07:05am | JustDoinMyBest

I feel for field level positions that are doing their best within their system run by people that are power hungry. The agency said there are not enough women in leadership. So instead of hiring someone that's got a lot of experience that is well respected and easily meets the qualifications for a positio, the agency is obsessed with DEI. They refuse to let these happen naturally.

Oct 19th - 20:10pm | Enclave

The only chane in the good old boys club is now women are included. A major Infusion of outside talent is needed in upper management.

Oct 19th - 17:13pm | Jerryc123

And, we're supposed to be surprised? Upper level bureaucratic CMA/CYA at its best. I agree with earlier post about donations. Where do they really go?z6j4b

Oct 19th - 16:48pm | A. Johnson

Amen, sadly amen.

Oct 19th - 13:40pm | john928gt

And this is the type of information I'll never see in the future once the Traveler goes lights out.

Oct 19th - 09:03am | The welder

I was found guilty of some similar at a non government job. What I did was wrong and betrayed the trust of so many. I lost my job, served time in jail, and paid restitution. This is the punishment I got and deserved to get. It's been 10 years since this happened.

Oct 18th - 22:54pm | Troy

Sadely this is not the only case of a cover-up. I've know other Superintendents that have done improper things and routinely get away with it. The "Good 'ol boy" club is alive an well in the NPS.

Oct 18th - 17:21pm | Sallie W-B

How unfortunate, The AT community - tramily - seems to be a well seasoned group that is there for All Hikers whether Thur Hikers or Day Hikers, like me, it would be ashame to see this dismantled by a bad apple.

Humpback Whale "Hog-Tied" By Fishing Gear Freed Near Glacier Bay National Park

Oct 28th - 15:12pm | A. Johnson

Wow. Just wow.

Senators: Why Is A Private Company Managing Recreation.Gov?

Oct 27th - 05:01am | Sandy Bielenberg

Rather than paying the cancellation fee, many people just forfeit their reservation, leaving the campsite empty. Because it's reserved, it can't be occupied.

What Did You Think Of Your Experience At Arches National Park?

Oct 25th - 10:49am | Larry

I liked the timed entry. It did help us reduce our time in line. I think there should be a "fast pass" lane for people with park passes and the timed entry pass so those of us who have paid already to get in or have an annual or senior pass can bypass those who have to stop and pay. Actually this should apply to every National Park.

PEER: Why Is National Park Service Dragging Its Feet On Plastics?

Oct 25th - 10:25am | ecbuck

Why? Because the cost and inconvenience far outweigh any benefits.

Court Battle Being Waged Over Cumberland Island National Seashore's Horses

Oct 24th - 18:48pm | Charlotte Jones

These horses are starving!! Many of them are beyond thin. They are not safe drinking salt or brackish water so many of them are in kidney failure. They could easily provide both control to redthe population but refuse to do it. Shame on the Park Service for condoning the treatment of these horses.

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark: A Toxic Site

Oct 24th - 06:14am | Scott Richardson

"four-wheel-drive McCarthy Road" isn't quite correct. It's easily driven in almost any vehicle these days.

Oct 23rd - 22:19pm | Paul Hanis

The plan you link to shows that there is an *assessment* taking place to determine whether or not the site is in fact qualifying of CERCLA cleanup funds. In the meantime NPS is authorized to mitigate acute hazards should they be discovered. This is MUCH different than Kennecott being a "toxic superfund site," which again, it is NOT.

Oct 23rd - 14:42pm | Bo Jensen

Kennecott Mines and Mill Town Site has a full CERCLA cleanup plan: (https://www.nps.gov/wrst/learn/management/kennecott-mines-and-mill-town-...) The CERCLA hotlink on that page can give you some more background on CERCLA/Superfund.

Oct 23rd - 13:40pm | Paul Hanis

Just so you know, you received VERY incorrect information on your tour. Kennecott is NOT a designated superfind site. The entire premise of this article is wrong. I have lived and worked in this area for over 20 years. A very quick search on this official EPA site confirms that there is no superfund site in the Wrangell-St. Elias region.

Oct 22nd - 11:01am | A. Johnson

Nice story.

Traveler's View | Musings About the Parks, Fall 2023

Oct 22nd - 11:15am | A. Johnson

* Can anyone say how many national park lodging rooms are blocked out for tour operators? Tour operators use park lodging? I was not aware of that. Thanks, KR

Oct 21st - 10:58am | Grand Staircas...

Well, with respect to what lawyers have earned fighting over GSENM, the answer would be very little, unless you count the salaries paid to federal and state government lawyers assigned to work on the various cases. On the conservation side of the argument, all the attorneys work for non-profits who rely on grants and donations to cover salaries.

Oct 21st - 10:16am | Jim Gramann

Great questions! I will point out that, since ecological services such as carbon sequestration and pollination are not traded in the marketplace, they're harder to quantify than retail sales to park visitors. Putting a dollar value on these can be done indirectly, but the logic is often complex and subject to multiple interpretations.

New Lodge, Renovated Visitor Center To Open At Everglades National Park

Oct 20th - 16:42pm | Lillie

How can I make resrevations for the hotel?

National Park Service Buys Houses In Danger Of Collapsing At Cape Hatteras

Oct 19th - 12:31pm | Darrin

And so it starts, using taxpayer money to bail out the wealthy. Socializing their losses while letting millions of ordinary Americans lose everything under the crushing debt of healthcare bills, refusing to offer healthcare for all because that would be socialism benefiting all.

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