| Page 1455 | National Parks Traveler

Frank – Although I certainly respect the high regard you hold for areas such as parks, Vince has a good grasp of the political realities involved in setting those areas aside in the first place – along with the even more pressing realities confronting those areas today. A broad constituency will become more critical than ever if our parks are to survive.

Nov 12th - 18:48pm | Vince M

The presence of roads in our national parks is the primary - if not the only - way that most people visit them. Without visitors, the parks would have little constituency. Without a constituency, the parks would be overrun by those would would destroy them.

Nov 12th - 13:22pm | Kurt Repanshek

So Frank, is it not also hypocritical to call for the Mount Carmel Road to revert to its "former road-less condition" and yet use a computer, drive to work, and take advantage of all the latest technologies and conveniences of today's world? On one hand you seem to detest all infrastructure in parks, and yet have no qualms about using that infrastructure outside the parks.

Nov 12th - 10:16am | Kurt Repanshek

Hey Buzzman, not to worry, no plans to change the gradients or switchbacks. And I'd bet the red asphalt will remain as well. I don't think it costs significantly more. More pullouts would be nice, though not sure where to squeeze them in....

Nov 12th - 10:11am | buzzman

Having just visited beautiful Zion and having driven on this road in Oct 2008, it was easy to see that the road has been repaired and patched a lot and needs to be re-surfaced. But I think the switch backs and steep grades should remain. I drove a small RV, a pick-up truck camper, and didn't have any problems. The switch backs and steep grades add to the character of the place.

Fifty Year Ago Today, Warren Harding and His Buddies Conquered “Unclimbable” El Capitan

Nov 12th - 22:20pm | Rick Smith

Warren Harding and his partner, Dean Caldwell, completed another epic climb on El Cap's Wall of the Early Morning Light. This multi-day climb required the placement of many bolts for protection, something that other climbers felt was not "pure climbing". The second ascent of the route was completed by Royal Robbins and his partner, Don Lauria.

New River Gorge Bridge Hosted 1,062 BASE Jumps on Bridge Day, and Jumpers Say that is Not Nearly Enough

Nov 12th - 19:32pm | Jason Bell

This was one of the better Bridge Day stories I read this year. Great job and excellent research. I'm the Bridge Day BASE Jumping Coordinator since 2002 and it appears that we're finally making some progress in obtain additional jumping days from this bridge (despite NPS being against it). Hopefully, BASE jumpers and the NPS can work together in the future. Thanks. -BASE #428

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historical Site Commemorates a Great Achievement in Early Transportation

Nov 12th - 18:48pm | Bob Janiskee

Wow, Mike; that's some interesting genealogy! Having a connection like that will make your visit very special -- something to really look forward to.

Nov 12th - 14:43pm | Mike

My great-great-uncle died in the boiler explosion at incline plane #6 in 1852. He would have been 22 yoa. I would very much like to visit the area and see the park.

Arches National Park Finds Its Birthday Overshadowed By Drilling Concerns

Nov 12th - 16:43pm | SaltSage236

This is all the more tragic because you can already see oil wells from famous vistas within Arches. Spend some time at the Windows at night, look west toward Canyonlands, and lo and behold, it's very easy to spot flames from two or three flaring oil wells that sit just off the highway to Canyonlands' Island in the Sky District.

A Bison Roundup and a Birthday Celebration Make for Busy Times at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Nov 11th - 16:20pm | Bogator

My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the south unit of this park on 9/15-16 and it is indeed a beautiful park. I find it to be much more colorful than Badlands NP with a lot more wildlife. We are from Florida and we were on a month-long trip with our main destination being Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone NP. Our main purpose of visiting Roosevelt was to see wild (feral) horses.

Crews Remove Garbage From Marijuana Farms in Sequoia National Park

Nov 11th - 15:59pm | johnnyunger15

I will agree with your argument that moonshine is just as bad for one if not worse than someone growing marijuana and if marijuana were legal than people would not be growing it on forestry lands. Moonshine is illegal, just as marijuana is illegal and marijuana is harmful to the human body just as alcohol is.

New Solar Power System Puts This Park in the Forefront of Alternative Energy Use

Nov 11th - 15:51pm | GlenW

Good postings all. Hope this page gets a lot of visits.

Nov 11th - 14:37pm | JimB

I see some reasons to hope that attitudes about alternative energy are beginning to change - as illustrated by the private investment in this system at Death Valley and your example of T. Boone Pickens, who made his fortune in oil and gas, but now sees the potential for wind energy. When successful businessmen put their money on the table, we're making progress.

Nov 11th - 12:27pm | Lone Hiker

T.Boone's got a few advantages over the simpletons like me.......like hundred$ of million$ of them.

Nov 11th - 11:02am | Anonymous

Lone Hiker, always find your comments quite thought provoking and informative. If we throw in Boone Pickens into the equations with your constructive comments, do you think we have chance to set-up a decent wind grid that stretches from Texas to North Dakota? A enormous task at hand but the potentiality of the project appears to have great possibilities. I like the fact that Mr.

Nov 11th - 09:40am | Lone Hiker

Some pundits around the country have questioned the economics of "green" energy

23,110 Candles -- One for Each Soldier Killed, Wounded, or Missing

Nov 11th - 15:44pm | Stephen

I have done the Illumination tour twice before, and it is truly an awesome sight - you will be left breathless. To think that each light represents one soul...it sends chills. I highly recommend that you go if you are able! Once when I went, there were several "vignettes" of living history reenactors scattered across the field...I've often wondered if all the scenes were "real".

Mammoth Cave National Park Adding Hiking, Biking Trail

Nov 11th - 15:22pm | StuCrew

We spent the wonderful fall color change during the first week in November biking the new Railroad Trail. The article with pics can be found at www.Adventure-Space.com.

President-Elect Obama's Team Hints At Reversing BLM Leasing Decisions in Utah

Nov 11th - 15:14pm | JimB

One of our major problems is that we've never had a truly viable and comprehensive national energy plan. I'm not interested in which label is attached to the party currently in power, nor in the personalities, but I am interested in the results.

Nov 11th - 13:41pm | Susan in America

It's one thing for American's to disagree with policies but it's a completely different matter to see so many who are unwilling to address the critical obstacles to keeping America free and safe. How about that domestic energy plan? The president elect is too busy setting the state to ram through U.S. taxpayers funding worldwide abortion (Freedom of Choice Act).

Nov 11th - 11:57am | Lone Hiker

Back at ya d-2:

Nov 11th - 11:19am | Kurt Repanshek

Roger, until you know me a little better I'd prefer you not speculate as to whose alter I pray to or what my views are on resource extraction.

Nov 11th - 10:57am | d-2

Hi LoneHiker: just looking at the body of the article about Podesta's remarks, and the headline here of "HINTS," I'd say 'hints' is the right word here, and attacking Kurt's headline seems to me is unwarranted. Or characterizing '"friends" on The Hill' as if he were in some sort of conspiracy. Please be fair, as usually you are.

Nov 11th - 10:51am | Roger

So...I looked at the Jonah Field site...I can't figure out what you see wrong...looks like money and probably smells like money to me! JOBS too! And gee...even perhaps some good clean fuel for our cars!

Nov 11th - 10:49am | Anonymous

Cookie, my closest ally that works for the U.S. Forestry Service (forestry ecologist) tells me exactly what Kurt describes...a scarred environment that is indeed very obtrusive. Don't be an ostrich with your head buried in the sand and take a REAL hard look.

Nov 11th - 10:27am | Kurt Repanshek

Cookie, full-field development is not unobtrusive in the least. Just Google "Jonah Field" and take a look at the photos and air quality problems that have arisen in and around Pinedale, Wyoming. Even partial field development is fairly obtrusive, particularly when you think of all the access roads skittering here and there across the landscape, roads that ORVs will gravitate to.

Nov 11th - 10:16am | Cookie

Anon: Obviously you only talk the talk and not walk the walk because if you had been in the area you might notice some drilling rigs already. They are so non obtrusive that it is hardly noticed in this wide expanse of beautiful, glorious land.

Nov 11th - 10:09am | Lone Hiker

I think the term "fondly" is a bit of a stretch for the legacy Georgie Jr. will leave behind. Terms more akin to "with amusement", or maybe "with bewilderment" or "misguided" come to mind, particularly given the debacle that is the middle eastern "war". "Fondly" seems to be the current sentiments pertaining to Alan Greenspan, who "coincidentally" jumped ship at the most opportune moment.

Nov 10th - 21:46pm | Roger

How about the Democrat congress' 17% approval rating? Besides, if it were not for the liberal media feeding people like you misinformation, he would probably be at 60%. All it's been outa them for 8 years is HATE, HATE, HATE.

Nov 10th - 17:04pm | Anonymous

Well Roger, with Bush's recent approval ratings at a lowly 28%, the worst in American Presidential history, I guess I must be on something that justifies my discontent with the man. What's your excuse for his foul-up administration? I believe there's plenty of us that feel strongly as I do about the pathetic performance of this and now former President to be.

Nov 10th - 15:24pm | Roger

Anon, You need to see a good psychiatrist to cure your obviously serious case of BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome).

Nov 9th - 23:02pm | Bob M

Kurt, the above comment is not mine. FYI

Nov 9th - 21:12pm | Tim

Geez, Anon, do you have anything to say other than recite talking points? Try researching issues for yourself and come back with an educated opinion.

Nov 9th - 20:27pm | Anonymous

Kurt: God forbid such a terrible misdeed to be enacted upon this scared land that offers so much to the world in natural beauty and recreation. This pathetic insensitivity by the Bush administration is just another example of the callus behavior that reflects more rape, pillage and greed. This is Bush's last stance of in your face politics to scorch earth the environment before leaving office.

Nov 9th - 19:24pm | Anonymous

That's O.K., we'll not need jobs cause Uncle Obama will be spreadin' the wealth!

Nov 9th - 13:27pm | From somewhere ...

I'm not sure what can be done before the new administration takes office. After that time, the DOI can be instructed to attach additional environmental requirements to outstanding leases, and I think that will be the best defense against this assault on some of America's most treasured public lands.

Zion National Park Officials To Examine Needs of Canyon Shuttle System

Nov 11th - 14:30pm | Greg C

I visited the park the summer before last and utilized the shuttle buses which only added to the experience. Not only were the buses reliable and easy to use, but each bus comes with its own built in tour guide! The drivers were friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the park. Most of the drivers were there because they loved working in the park.

Nov 9th - 16:54pm | Dave

I live just an hour away from Zion and visit the Park many times a year. Each year I look forward to the shuttles closing so I can drive anywhere in the park, stop and get out my camera. I can come for a few hours or the whole day. But that works because there are few cars in the park from late October through March.

Nov 9th - 14:05pm | Anonymous

When we visited relatives in Las Vegas about a year ago, we went up to Zion for a day trip. I was somewhat leery of the shuttles, wondering if they would be on time and come by frequently.

National Park Quiz 16: Waterfalls

Nov 11th - 03:46am | Traveller

"you need to enroll in America’s National Parks" :) this is what i got

Colonial America and the Other San Juan Capistrano

Nov 10th - 18:17pm | Rick Smith

It's strange how the Southwest is ignored in high school history courses recounting the settling of what we now call North America. If the Pilgrims had landed at Santa Fe, they could have gone to church. Rick Smith

Nov 10th - 16:42pm | Tom Bremer

The modern history of this urban park and the current church / state relationships, as well as conflicts between local groups who claim the missions on religious, ethnic, and historical grounds, are as interesting as their colonial past.

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

Nov 10th - 13:49pm | Bugsyshallfall

I have let it go, I just want to see this piece of history protected.

Nov 9th - 20:38pm | Anonymous

I agree...get over it for crissakes. Everybody is a "victim" these days. And they use that status to feed at the public trough.

Nov 9th - 16:38pm | Anonymous

Let it go! It was 150 years ago!

Nov 9th - 15:59pm | Anonymous

What about the German-American that were internment? Why hasn't my family seen reparations?

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