| Page 1426 | National Parks Traveler

"Environmental Impact"? People armed in a National Park will have no more impact than staying on a marked trail. To the chagrin of those who flap their arms in panic at the thought, I don't know one person that visited a park WITHOUT a concealed firearm. This was before CCW holders were allowed to. When you encounter hikers on a trail, I would place money on at least half being armed.

Believe it or Not, Yosemite National Park Once had a Zoo

Feb 18th - 11:12am | liz

My great-aunt, Hazel Carpenter, lived in Yosemite Valley in the 1920's while her husband was employed by Curry Company. She once told me the park also had elephants during her time there, kept for the same purpose, and they were eventually removed because they were not "natural".

National Park Quiz 42: Rocks and Minerals

Feb 18th - 11:08am | KevinM

On question 1 isn't the Claron limestone and Entrada sandstone?

Feb 18th - 08:49am | Bob Janiskee

It's nice to know that even the experts find some of these quiz items challenging, Jim. Be sure to let me know if these little quizzies get too easy for you.

Feb 18th - 08:27am | JimB

Nice photo of the Harmony Borax Works at Death Valley - but you got me on the super bonus question!

Bears with a Foot Fetish? Big Bend National Park Offers New Bear Safety Advice

Feb 18th - 09:59am | Anonymous

The shoes probably carried the odor of food the same way clothes do. It's long been recommended that you changed your clothes after eating because the bear can smell the food on your clothes. Same deal with shoes apparently.

Feb 18th - 07:37am | Bill R.

Another great article on one of the finest parks in the NPS system. Hope articles like yours will keep the public aware of how important it is to keep a clean camp. Littered trails and campgrounds are a sore subject with me. Never would have though of shoes though! My education never ends. Thank you.

First Ladies National Historic Site Struggles to Attract Visitors

Feb 18th - 08:36am | Anonymous

Here's a question - when was the last time the NPS Director actually fought for the budget? When was the last time the Director went out and stood up for at least maintaining the current budget as opposed to taking cuts? Why was it only NPCA fighting for NPS to get stimulus money? Where was the Interim Director?

Bush Administration's Haste Could Doom New Gun Rules In National Parks

Feb 18th - 07:47am | Sailorcurt

Without even bothering to provide link after link to case after case of violent crimes occurring in national parks, specifically what superior anti-crime measures or magic spell causes criminals to eschew national parks?

Feb 17th - 23:50pm | RAH

This was not a last minute issue but it was a late change. It is not surprising that many not in the know of the beginning would not be aware that this rule change was attempted for 5 years. It is also known that NPS was against this rule change. But the DOI controls the NPS and they were not against the idea.

Feb 16th - 11:11am | Lee R

Thanks for enlightening us VCDL member. And I agree this was not technically a started "last-minute". However, the haste with which the rule was pushed through means it was sloppy and may have done more to harm the process than spur it along.

Feb 16th - 02:12am | VCDL Member

Many posting here have claimed that this rule change was the result of a last-minute push by an outgoing Republican administration, and was done at the behest of the NRA.

Feb 15th - 17:10pm | Anonymous

Re:2. OK Amstutz... I was not talking about jay-walking... I would include all crimes in my assessment of normal humans stopping crimes. It doesn't always take a gun. A gun may make it easier but it may not make it all situations safer. Re:3. Parks are already protected by LE's

Feb 14th - 23:23pm | Amstutz

1. It's spelled Amst U tz. 2. I'm talking about violent crimes not jay-walking or littering. 3. Places you cannot carry are already protected by officers with guns. ie. Court house, Police station, etc. 4. What negative impact on the park could guns have. I'm not being funny I am seriously wondering. Nobody has given one here yet.

Feb 14th - 22:33pm | Anonymous

MHopper1000, I'm right there with ya, buddy. I'm tired of leftist liberals trying to destroy the constitution..."from my cold dead hands," filthy hippies! Bring it!!

Feb 14th - 11:46am | Anonymous

"FYI MH, there are tons of reports of CCDW carriers stopping crimes"-Amststz Hmmm, there are many more reports of people without guns stopping crimes.

Feb 14th - 08:46am | Amstutz

FYI MH, there are tons of reports of CCDW carriers stopping crimes. Therefor we have shown that by carrying there is the possibility that we are keeping you safer.

The World's Top Ten National Parks

Feb 18th - 02:21am | MRC

Well, the CNPSR.List is a bad joke. They are obviously not at all familiar with the variety of parks that exist, because no one who has seen at least eleven parks in the world would ever think of naming Snowdonia among his or her Top 10.

Feb 17th - 11:56am | Rick Smith

Geoff-- The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees just published its list of its members' top 10 parks. Maybe you have seen it in one of the many stories that have run about the list in newspapers across the states. Here is the Coalition's press release announcing the list.

Feb 16th - 05:57am | Geoff

Funnily enough i wrote about my ten favourites, out of the ones I've visitedm just recently: http://itinerantlondoner.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/top-10-national-parks/ Would have to agree that Tikal should be in there, in fact I think it should definitely be a contender for number one.

Feb 14th - 07:47am | Sabattis

I definitely have to second the nominations Macchu Picchu, Gros Morne National Park, and Iguazu Falls National Park. Gros Morne has spectacular fjords, and is also one of the only places on Earth where rocks from the Earth's mantle are exposed at the surface.

How Will Stimulus Help the Parks? At Great Sand Dunes National Park It Could Mean Reclamation and Restoration

Feb 17th - 10:33am | Anonymous

Open the dunes up to ORV traffic to help fund any restoration and see the dollors roll in. Plus more people will be able to enjoy it.

Feb 16th - 17:50pm | Neal Newman

"...the reclamation of the abandoned sand and gravel pits at Great Sand Dunes will help in the effort to restore native trout to Sand Creek..." America is shedding a half a million jobs per month with millions more at risk. The nation turns to our government for help, and our drunk on pork Congress bails out the trout at Sand Creek. Leadership, or foolish greed?

Glory, Shame, and Remembrance at Colorado’s Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Feb 17th - 01:35am | Anonymous

Sand Creek was not unique--it simply got more publicity than some of the other massacres of Native people; the only other one getting as much publicity was Wounded Knee in 1890. The massacre of Shoshonis by General Connor's California volunteers at Bear River in 1863, and the massacre of Blackfeet by the 5th cavalry under

How Long Before Gravity Takes Over?

Feb 16th - 15:15pm | Anonymous

Jesus, Frank, give it a rest. Do you just enjoy cutting NPT down at every turn?

Collapse of "Wall Arch" Proves Gravity Does Work at Arches National Park

Feb 16th - 04:22am | MRC

@ anon: Your pic shows Mesa Arch in Canyonlands NP and there it is legal to walk over it. It might not be smart, but it is legal. Only Arches NP it is forbidden to climb or walk over any named rock formation including the arches.

Feb 15th - 09:41am | Anonymous

Just because there is a rule that says you can't do something it doesn't stop the people trying to. If you think you can't walk over an arch take a look at this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8602783@N05/3281780132/ Tried to report it but they were long gone.

Survey Predicts Change in National Park Gun Regulations Will Lead to Wildlife Shootings, Management Problems

Feb 15th - 23:24pm | Anonymous

Mr. Burnett, I checked your link: /2008/09/trigger-happy-man-shoots-another-rustling-brush#comment-8646

Updated: Murder-Suicide Leaves Two Dead at Grand Canyon National Park

Feb 15th - 17:01pm | Anonymous

When Maverick was in his 70's he decided he wanted to hike the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim 80 times before his 80th birthday. He exceeded his goal, wore out who knows how many pairs of shoes, and always had a smile and a story for my tour groups as we lunched on the porch of the Bright Angel Lodge. Thanks, Maverick. We'll see you down by the creek...

Major Bike Race Will Affect Yosemite Traffic on February 18, 2009

Feb 15th - 16:41pm | Ray Bane

I only wish I could be there to see the tour pass by. This is an exciting event. If you are in the neighborhood don't miss it.

Is San Juan National Historic Site Haunted?

Feb 15th - 13:00pm | Boricua from NYC

Here is my contribution for the readers who don't speak Spanish: a translation of the "interesting story" referred in this post. In fact it is an old Puerto Rican Legend that was reproduced by the website linked in this post. Hope you like it: Puerto Rican Popular legends: Legend of the “La Garita del Diablo” (The Sentry box of the Devil)

Feb 14th - 20:25pm | James NomadRip

These forts are really something everyone should visit. We spent days wandering through learning about the history of the sites.

Ken Burns' National Parks Documentary: Where Does it Stand?

Feb 15th - 12:48pm | MOUNTAINFILM

The series is going to premier on the big Screen at Mountainfilm in Telluride - all 12 hours - May 22 - 25, 2009 with Ken Burns in attendance. It should be a pretty amazing weekend with topics ranging from the National Parks to a symposium on food as well as about 60 other films exploring global cultures, adventure sports and the environment. mountainfilm.org

National Park Service Revenues Down $1.3 Million On Transition to America The Beautiful Pass

Feb 15th - 08:26am | Sabattis

The post above is spot on - the appropriate comparison is not ATB Pass revenues vs. National Parks Pass revenues, its total revenues vs. total revenues. I think many people could make the argument that the National Parks Pass was under-priced at the level of visits to just two premiere National Parks in one year.

Feb 14th - 23:23pm | Anonymous

It costs more and looks crappier. Of course people would avoid it like the plague.

Will Recent Storms in Death Valley National Park Fuel A Spring Bloom?

Feb 14th - 17:49pm | Kurt Repanshek

Here's the latest wildflower forecast from Death Valley: Wildflower Update for Death Valley National Park February 8, 2009

Feb 14th - 16:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Jim, I'm told that Lake Manly, at least a portion of it, did reappear following the Feb. 7 rainstorm.

Feb 14th - 14:39pm | Jim Olson

This Valentine's day Iam sitting in the LA Basin watching a series of storms come through. I was wondering if there is a possibilty that a portion of Lake Manly might reform? Be a great chance to get an, "I kayaked Death Valley", shoulder patch if it did.

Feb 14th - 11:32am | Anonymous

Howdy Kurt: If the good rains continue to come, I surmise we just might catch the belly flowers in bloom as well. Get your best camera out for a spectacular spring showing.

Feb 14th - 06:46am | Bob Janiskee

Kurt, your Death Valley article is very timely, given that the park just celebrated its 76th birthday this past Wednesday (February 11). Speaking of timely, it looks like my January 19-21 visit to DEVA was just in the nick of time, since roads have been closed now in many of the areas we visited.

Are We Properly Caring for Our Ocean-Based National Parks?

Feb 14th - 15:10pm | Sabattis

First, let me note that protection of marine resources has historically been substantially undervalued. Nevertheless, I have a couple quibbles with the above article.

NPCA Applauds National Park System's Cut of Stimulus Package, But Says Much Remains to Do

Feb 14th - 14:01pm | Sabattis

It would be really interesting to understand what some of the primary motivations among the various Congresspersons and their staffers were for the NPS getting the lower figure. Some questions that would be worth investigating - did some of the Senators questions whether the NPS had sufficient support staff in place to spend the money quickly?

New Lodge Gives You an Opportunity to Better Know Kenai Fjords National Park

Feb 14th - 13:12pm | Sabattis

This is great news. I'm not sure how many Lodges have been built recently in National Parks, but it doesn't seem like many. This Lodge sounds like it should really benefit visitors to this relatively unknown gem of a National Park.

Rare Motion Pictures Show Civil War Veterans at the 75th Gettysburg Battle Anniversary Reunion

Feb 14th - 12:56pm | Bob Janiskee

The handshake is a good suggestion, Franz; I can attest to the worth of it from personal experience. Let me make an additional suggestion. If it isn't feasible to stop and thank the uniformed military personnel you see, say a soldier hurrying past you in an airport terminal, just salute him/her by placing your hand over your heart. You'll see a lot of smiles.

Feb 14th - 12:32pm | Franz Schmidt

Short, but very moving. Having been to Gettysburg and several of the other War Between the States battlefields (which by the way are disapearing at an alarming rate due to urban sprawl) and stood where the battlelines were formed on Cemetary Ridge, and tried to imagine..... And stood above looking down into Devil's Den and hearing the voices....and wondering how we could ever forget....

NPCA, Congressman Issa Battle Over Propriety of Stimulus Funding for National Parks

Feb 14th - 11:43am | Sabattis

It seems pretty clear that Mr. Obey has taken several steps to recuse himself from lobbying his Dad. Nevertheless, in Washington perception is all too often reality.

If Science in Lake Clark National Park Is Good, Is It Also Good in Yellowstone National Park?

Feb 14th - 11:29am | Sabattis

Another interesting question is where science should rank in the National Park Service's mission. The NPS already has two priorities: preservation and visitation, should scientific inquiry also be in the mix? Or should scientific inquiry primarily be handled by a combination of other Federal agencies, such as the US Geological Survey and partnerships with universities?

Two Rangers Have a Narrow Escape with an Avalanche in Alaska

Feb 14th - 08:29am | JimB

You're exactly right about the long drive - that's a fact of life in much of Alaska. My one brief visit to Skagway suggested that shopping for anything but the basics is pretty limited there, but this was a good reminder that I'm glad I don't have to drive 812 miles one-way to get to the nearest Home Depot!

Feb 14th - 07:10am | Sabattis

Its also interesting to note that a road trip from Skagway to Anchorage is some 812 miles (nearly 16 hours) and requires travelling through Canada to get around massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. That's quite a drive for a training session, let alone for shopping!

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