| Page 138 | National Parks Traveler

I think everyone is sorry when someone is hurt, lost, or dies in our national parks. The parks are there to enjoy and get away from our usual lives. They can't speak for themselves and that is sad. They'd probably ask us to be nice and respect the land and the animals innthe oark. BUT so many current visitors feel they can fo anything they feel like doing.

Oct 23rd - 11:58am | Sonia Ottusch

The NPS does have accountability in place. Zion National Park requires a wilderness permit to hike the Narrows starting from the top to the bottom of the Virgin River within Zion NP. Did the "found" hiker have a permit to hike the Virgin River?

Oct 23rd - 01:00am | Youanidiot

Where is all the money? I'd like to see the amount of money coming into the parks and an itemized list of purchases

Oct 23rd - 00:55am | Youanidiot

Lots of people don't have insurance

Oct 22nd - 17:29pm | Lorraine Brown

This woman had no marks of an injury. The woman and her daughter went to this same park 2 weeks prior.. Its obvious they went to scope things out to see where she would camp and hide while she was hiding from her searchers. Oh.how.surprised a.go find me.page was set.up for.injuries before she was even found...so the already.knew she would be alive lol

Oct 22nd - 01:05am | John

She had a head injury so severe she was unable to walk. She didn't eat for 12 days. She was so dehydrated she was unable to open her mouth. If the nighttime temperatures were in the 40s, she should have been suffering from hypothermia too. But she was able to walk out without much assistance. It's a miracle.

Oct 21st - 18:33pm | Mamo

She went home and did not accept medical assistance. What type of treatment would she need? I have read other articles about this story as well, and those stated she seemed fine at time of her rescue. This story seems off. Either incorrect info is being written about this or something seems weird. So in closing 15,.000 dollars for what exactly?

Oct 21st - 17:22pm | Rosalie Wagner

I totally totally agree with your comment. If they go out hiking and something like this happens, that's what they deserve. They waste the rescue crew's time and money. Stay home stupid people. Pay for your own medical expenses. Don't be lame and expect someone else pay for your stupidness. '

Oct 21st - 13:56pm | Humphrey Plough...

Again, this lady has my sincere sympathies for whatever trouble she was having either in the park or in her life. I recognize that these are dark times that the republicans have brought us over the past twenty years since that fraudulent election in Florida.

Oct 21st - 11:24am | Loui

If she had hit her head and had been injured the NPS would have said so, as they usually do. Maybe she didn't take a cell phone b/c she didn't want to be found. Maybe her phone had been taken from her by another actor and investigators don't want to day more at this time. More to come for sure....

Oct 21st - 08:26am | Utah Hiker Chick

https://www.abc4.com/news/southern-utah/sheriffs-sgt-raises-questions-in...

Oct 20th - 19:47pm | Karma

A GoFundMe account are you joking? This is one crazy story hopefully the Washington county investigator will pursue the investigation and I would say either refund the money to the donors or give it all to the Washington county search and rescue I don't know what this family's thinking

Oct 20th - 18:56pm | SW Trails

lt is very strange not to take your cell phone on a road trip far from your home but I can see not taking a cell phone on a hike in Zion, especially in the canyon and especially if you don't typically take photos with it. My experience on three trips to Zion is that I lose coverage almost as soon as the shuttle leaves the visitor center and starts down the main road into the canyon.

Oct 20th - 15:27pm | Growe

It's fishy. The trail she was dropped off on has hundreds of hikers all day long. The river she was found near has a toxi algae. She likely would be very sick, if that was her only source of water for two weeks. Also, starting a go fund me account before she was found is odd. Would love to get more details.

Oct 19th - 22:51pm | Dale

I think she had a water filter, any hiker worth anything always has at least a life straw..She was carrying a hammock,extra clothes etc.For a 4 hour hike..Her facts should be made public because public funds were spend on her..And her daughter saying her was in such bad shape,but just drives off with no medical attention.BS

Oct 19th - 20:02pm | ms helms3020

some great comments above. Most notable..the experience hiker aspect. No cell! What happened to signing in and leaving a plan. Whether it was real and on the level or just the lack of common sense we won't know unless the authorities at large share info. It sounds like she didn't want to be found or just really bad luck and possible concussion.

Oct 19th - 19:49pm | ms helms3020

well said. I didnt know she had supplies. It sounds like she was indeed bugging out and tonality scrutiny 1 day later the hit her head story is in national headlines. Maybe to try and avoid some level of prosecution? Wait till she gets billed for services rendered!

Oct 19th - 19:44pm | ms helms3020

I completely agree but today the story was updated in national news that apparently she hit her head and had a concussion. Its one of those plausible explanations that leaves out the dramatic plot device we all might he looking for here...what really irks my brain is why with all her experience did she not tell someone where she was headed and what time she would be back.

Oct 19th - 19:16pm | Anonymous

Definitely fishy!!!!

Oct 19th - 17:58pm | Sick of these idiots

This woman is an IDIOT!! Who goes out on a hike without a cell phone? Especially an "experienced" hiker as they keep referring to her on the news. I am so sick of these hikers and other thrill seekers who decide to go out into the wilderness or climb a mountain, etc all alone and then expect our Emergency workers to save them because they are ill prepared.

Oct 19th - 15:44pm | Humphrey Plough...

Yes, this is a miraculous story. Zion doesn't contain all that many sources of water, especially during the drought that has been plaguing the region this year.

Oct 19th - 14:37pm | Lindi

I agree it sounds fishy. It rather sounds as though the woman may have had some sort of possible mental breakdown and decided to simply 'bug out' as it were. Thus the need for 'medical expense coverage'.

Treasure Hunter Indicted For Digging In The Fort Yellowstone Cemetery

Oct 24th - 02:01am | Rick B.

Benita... No prize for you, but thanks for stopping by.

Oct 23rd - 11:44am | Humphrey Plough...

On second thought, I clearly wasn't being harsh enough.

Oct 23rd - 11:35am | no one of conse...

Just had to go and drag politics into it, huh? At least get your facts straight if you're going to do that.

Oct 23rd - 09:43am | Benita Slaeker

Your fabulist tale is just as phony as his was, and your innattention to real facts just as obvious. Our president saved this country from the twin fabulists, Obama and Biden who stopped to taking money from China as their 'legacy, who lied to us about what they did and why'.

Oct 22nd - 21:09pm | Humphrey Plough...

So, this guy was willing to desecrate a cemetery in pursuit of an unearned fortune that he thought someone else had desecrated a cemetery in order to hide? In exactly what allegedly Christian denomination was he raised?

Vandals Again Chop Up Saguaros At Saguaro National Park

Oct 24th - 01:53am | wiseoldwoman

This destruction has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican! This stems from hatred with no respect or love for nature!

Oct 23rd - 18:15pm | Joshua Israel

How truly sad! The destruction of our great National Treasures. Is there no honor left in people! I have seen "Saguaros" once. Truly Majestic!

Oct 21st - 10:09am | Humphrey Plough...

Well, gosh, dscottjorgenson, are you trying to make some point about how we all should vote in the upcoming election. If we care about our national parks and protected public lands, we need to vote a straight democrat ticket, all the way down the ballot of course.

Oct 20th - 18:55pm | dscottjorgenson

Of course, when DHS contractors level hundreds of saguaro, organ pipe and other cactus as they wipe-out the entire Roosevelt Reservation along the border at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, as part of building Trump's illegal border wall, nary a word is said, and NPS cooperates. Ironic.

Oct 20th - 03:28am | Cardona

This national park was my favorite out of the twenty-five (25) that I have visited. The saguaros were beautiful. I hope that justice get served to the slasher.

Oct 19th - 21:55pm | Michael Memmott

I hate seeing stuff like this. What's the point? Why ruin things for others

Oct 19th - 21:22pm | Betty Day

Please catch these fools!! Karma may have one fall on them after breaking!! Gee, how terrible? I'm a Native and this really ticks me off! If you can't respect the scenery, LEAVE THE STATE! PLEASE!

Falling Into the Grand Canyon Isn't Always Fatal

Oct 23rd - 20:37pm | Anonymous

Taxpayers cost? That's what rangers are there for. My buddy tragically jumped off the rim thinking he could fly. Marine life... I'm glad my tax dollars had him recovered and for him I bet it was pretty. Tied his dog off to a tree and tried to fly...again tax dollars used to look after dog until a friend could fly down there to retrieve him.

Interior Officials To Seek Land Swap With U.S. Virgin Islands For School On St. John

Oct 23rd - 18:02pm | Larry

This is interesting. I always thought whistling cay was owned by NPS so this would make sense.

Wildfires Force Closure Of Rocky Mountain National Park

Oct 22nd - 18:03pm | Bill Stock

Hiked in the park yesterday, October 21, 2020 , had clear skies & no worries. R.M.N.P. only been open for 1 week not requiring a reservation, so wanted to spontaneously enjoy it as I have for 35 years. Say 28 deer and other wildlife & now the treasure is BURNING and Closed. Sad

Utah Congressman Proposes Sixth National Park For Beehive State

Oct 22nd - 16:59pm | Robert Parker

Great comments from Mike and Humphrey. Utah's national parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion) may be protected from extraction, but they still need help in reducing over-tourism. This affects Grand Staircase-Escalante as well, although to a lesser degree. These lands are the people's lands, and vailed attempts from politicians like this can't be taken seriously.

A Year Later, Death Valley Overlook Recalls Navy Pilot Who Died In "Star Wars Canyon"

Oct 21st - 15:27pm | Anonymous

Hi I was wondering if the jets had resumed low level flying into the canyon.I used to go nearly every year and miss it.I heard they fly over the top .Do you know anything? regards Mike

The National Park to Park Highway

Oct 21st - 14:55pm | Erik

How many miles is this route

Ed Bearss, Past Chief Historian Of National Park Service, Dies At 97

Oct 21st - 13:49pm | Denis J Dwyer

Once you met Ed you knew he was the real deal. Marine to his core!

National Park Service Releases Few Details About Hiker Missing In Zion

Oct 21st - 08:07am | wild places

I was prepared to be sympathetic but alas it looks more and more like we may have all been had. Found a half mile from the parking lot? The gofund me has stopped taking donations at least.

Oct 20th - 17:53pm | Wondering about...

this whole story does seem very fishy especially when things are getting added on like the bump on the head national news has covered all of this such as Good morning America CNN and news channels maybe there should be a little more questioning about what really went on good grief all the people that put in hours and hours of searching and then just to pack it up and leave as if nothing hap

Grand Teton Renews Historic Crest Trail

Oct 21st - 02:34am | Rick B.

There is no doubt that this is hard back-breaking work, but once a section of the trail is completed there has to be an incredible sense of satisfaction when the crew looks back on what they've completed. In particular, in a future year, ---"Yeah, kids, I was on the crew that built that...".

Three Days In Redwood National And State Parks

Oct 20th - 22:13pm | Terri Enyeart

Redwood NP is my favorite place we have ever been. Prairie Creek is the best for camping on Gold Bluffs Beach with the milky way overhead, crashing waves at night, pouring rain too, wake up to the sound of elk footsteps right outside the tent. If Bigfoot lives, he's here ! You didn't mention Fern Canyon so I hope you didn't miss that it's gorgeous. We always find the most salamanders there.

Running The Volcanoes At Petroglyph National Monument

Oct 20th - 16:18pm | Stavros Mitchelides

I did the EXACT same thing in May, it was such a fun run!

What Not to Do with an Old Cannonball

Oct 20th - 10:48am | Dennis P Smith

Hello, I have what I think is a cannonball that was found somewhere around Quenemo Kansas over 60 years ago. It has what appears to be have a round seam like a screw in plug about 3 inches across. It has been setting in a box for years and has little rust, is in good shape. Civil war vets used to have annual reunions in Quenemo until there was no one left.

Nearly 200 Miles Of Fiber Optic Cable Proposed To Network Yellowstone

Oct 20th - 07:28am | Douglas E Lee

I was a first time visitor this fall. I used a first come, first serve campsite. It would be helpful if there was a data screen at each location, showing in real time the occupancy and availability of sites at each campsite. A fiber connection project would be helpful in creation of such a system. I would support this upgrae. yours, Douglas Lee

INN Member

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