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At Big Thicket National Preserve, a Combative Drug Dealer Changes His Mind When Ranger Stafford Shows Him His Taser

Sep 12th - 12:09pm | Ted Clayton

These 5 male and 1 female "perps" (buncha local kids?) could have been dangling their bodies over a precipice, risking injury & death ... and putting others at risk and costing the public money attempting to rescue them ... and that would have been 'approved recreation'.

Sep 11th - 17:31pm | HelenBakagin

The only way to assure that all people who commit crimes are treated equally during their encounters with law enforcement is for law enforcement officers to treat all of them as prescribed by policy - in this case arrest, in other cases citation.

Sep 11th - 16:49pm | Anonymous

I agree that it is most assuredly not a victimless crime. The substance abUSERS are not the only ones that hit rock bottom. Before that happens, families are ravaged. Abusers get high, get into debt (max out [cash advances, too] credit cards off the charts), empty bank accounts, come close to or actually lose jobs, lie, steal & whatever it takes.

Sep 11th - 13:42pm | Lone Hiker

I've got the answer to all the park service's woes, but I bet you won't like it........

Sep 11th - 09:08am | Bob Janiskee

Beamis, I agree with the general thrust of your argument, but I take issue with two specifics. First, Johnny Walker Red is cheap and popular (the world's best selling whiskey), but you really should expand your horizons and develop your sophisticated side. Try a couple of bottles of JW Black Label (but not on the same day). Secondly, dealing in illicit drugs is not a victimless crime.

Sep 10th - 18:22pm | Rick Smith

Frank--

House Subcommittee Considers Bill to Relax ORV Rules for Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Sep 12th - 11:49am | dapster

Alas, it would seem that the bill may have died in committee yesterday. Voting was divided strictly along party lines. Go figure. The vote was close, though. From the "Island Free Press":

Sep 11th - 15:16pm | dapster

Mr. Finegan, JTH supplied the document I was about to bring up myself. This designation is indeed not listed on the NPS website for the area, and has curiously disappeared and reappeared over the years for reasons unknown.

Sep 11th - 15:06pm | Greg

As several on this page have stated both sides are adament in thier beliefs. I have been visiting and driving on the beaches of NC for more than 40 years . Before the advent of the SUV and when there were no restrictions. Each year there are more and more restrictions and less area to enjoy.

Sep 11th - 15:04pm | Greg

As several on this page have stated both sides are adament in thier beliefs. I have been visiting and driving on the beaches of NC for more than 40 years . Before the advent of the SUV and when there were no restrictions. Each year there are more and more restrictions and less area to enjoy.

Sep 11th - 14:10pm | EB

Something that is being missed here is that during bird closures these areas in question are off limits to all human activity. Not just ORV's but anyone that takes a notion to stroll along the seashore risks arrest and heavy fines just for walking on the beach in a protected area. What an incredible shame that this is allowed to happen in a National Seashore that our tax dollars pay for.

Sep 11th - 14:05pm | Eddie

Another side to the ORV access that the SELC and DOW don't want you to realize is that access to the beach per the consent decree also restricts pedestrians. That is in most instances you are not allowed to even walk there if you would be so inclined.

Sep 11th - 13:58pm | dapster

Bob, I have posted here testimony compiled and submitted by Hatteras Local Virginia Luizer. I apologize for the length, but it does tell the whole story, from the beginning toi where we are now, in the most concise single document I've seen yet. I'll back away for a while now. Sorry to jump in twice so early in the thread.

Sep 11th - 12:51pm | JTH

Stella, I bet you have never been to Cape Hatteras National Seashore And RECREATIONAL AREA! ( not wildlife refuge) Driving on the beach is not only a tradition that dates back before ww2 it is a Necessity to access remote areas of the seashore.

Sep 11th - 12:17pm | Anonymous

I don't see any end in sight for this controversy. Neither side is going to be happy with anything, and I doubt the success of the RegNeg committee. People hold their beliefs too tightly on both sides.

Sep 11th - 11:45am | dapster

Stella Maris, Spoken like someone who has never actually visited CHNSRA. Some folks seem to think this area is something akin to Daytona Beach, where the beach is just an extension of the highway. That is simply not the case. I submit below photo to give you some perspective on just what this area is like with vehicles on it:

Sep 11th - 09:19am | Ginny

ORV Impacts "Preliminary analysis indicates that major storm events may have the ability to �wipe the slate clean� as they move sediment off shore. In terms of the compaction, sediment grain sizes, and beach faunal communities, storms may remove all damage that is caused by ORVs, allowing new populations of animals to inhabit the area."

Sep 11th - 08:23am | Bob Janiskee

This controversy is much more complicated than it may seem at first glance. The scientific evidence doesn't imply that ORV beach driving should be totally banned at this seashore, only that it should be subject to reasonable rules benefiting protected wildlife species. Right now the interested parties are arguing about what those rules should be.

Sep 11th - 07:42am | Stella Maris

There is absolutely no reason for ANY vehicles other than emergency rescue vehicles to be driven on the beaches....Many species of animals are adversely impacted by this intrusion. Also what good can come of gasoline and motor oil leaching into the sand and the water? If people want to surf fish,let them carry their gear themselves!

Critics: Changing Gun Laws in National Parks Would Open a "Pandora's Box" of Problems

Sep 12th - 11:29am | Ted Clayton

Ms. Anon, Thanks for your down-to-earth account of the importance of personal protection. I not only disagree with Bob Janiskee, that it is somehow disturbing or that something is amiss to hold that "If you don't look out for yourself, nobody else will." - but worse, I hold that he is fundamentally & factually mistaken on the point, both in principle & in practice.

Sep 12th - 11:13am | Rick

Bob says, "I do admit it disturbs me to hear an ex-police officer like yourself say "If you don't look out for yourself, nobody else will."

Sep 12th - 09:22am | Bob Janiskee

From what you've said, Anon, I judge that you're a very trustworthy individual who, by virtue of your fine training and long experience, could be expected to act very responsibly if allowed to legally pack in the national parks. I assure you that it's not people like you I'm worried about.

Sep 12th - 08:44am | Anonymous

I'm a female and believe in carrying a weapon, whether its on the road or in a park. I am not about to let some ciminal violate me or hurt me. I value my life way to much. I carry a weapon and I know what is right and what is wrong unlike some people out there. I dont think I'm a threat to anyone except to the criminal who is out there to hurt me. I know how to use a weapon.

Canyonlands National Park, Still A Work in Progress After All These Years

Sep 12th - 10:39am | SaltSage236

Canyonlands National Park is the least visited of Utah's five national parks and is truly one of the great gems of the national park system.

Sep 12th - 08:33am | Mike T.

Canyonland's is a beautiful park....one of the best I have ever visited. Great trails that lead to fantastic views.......this park is a must see. When Arches NP gets too crowded, just head a few miles up the road to Canyonlands......well worth the trip.

National Park History: “The Spirit of the Civilian Conservation Corps”

Sep 12th - 06:09am | Barky

My mom (a child of the depression) and I sometimes have this conversation: "what this country needs is a good hardship to get us back on track."

Sep 11th - 07:39am | Lorna Jones

My mother used to talk about how the CCC brought money back to her hometown during the depression. She grew up in Stuart, VA. The CCC was "up on the mountain" building what we now call the Blue Ridge Parkway. On weekends the men would walk down the mountain to spend the weekend in "town" - no meals were provided over the weekends, so the men literally had to walk out to find food.

Rocky Mountain National Park Rangers Cleaning Up After Climbers

Sep 11th - 20:38pm | JayHero

Not to surprising, I mean this is Colorado were talking about here. The people in this state have a have poor attitude. I don’t go to the state of Colorado any more because the people have becomes rude and arrogant. Every time I come across folks from Colorado in places such as Yellowstone they are inconsiderate to other campers. They also refused to obey the speed limit in Yellowstone.

A Historian's Take on the National Park Service

Sep 11th - 10:44am | d-2

Thank you for the useful interview with Dr. Pitcaithley. Just a few quibbles: On his point on Women’s Rights: Dr. Pitcaithley states that one exhibit panel that provided historical context for the site contained a paragraph or so that represented President Reagan's environmental policies in rather harsh terms .

Sep 10th - 19:48pm | Barky

What a great article, he touches on a lot of great NPS topics. Hats off to Dr. Pitchaithley. ==================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

The Denali Road Lottery Offers Regulated Leaf Peeping at Alaska’s Denali National Park

Sep 11th - 01:52am | Anonymous

After a season of protecting the park and wildlife and protecting the safety of the visitor by having experienced bus drivers why open the road to hordes of inexperienced folks? It is not an easy road to drive and the lottery seems to negate what the park has been practicing and preaching all summer long. Why????????

Fall Colors: What Can We Expect Across the National Park System?

Sep 11th - 01:13am | Anonymous

The past two weeks have been absolutely beautiful in Denali Park. The colors are as crisp as I have seen in 30 years here. Snow is falling below 4000 feet tonight. When summer ends we will be in winter.

Sep 9th - 10:46am | Nick Mojave

Don't forget about Zion. The high country / Kolob Terrace area has some of the most spectacular fall color in the West in late September, and the canyon itself can have some great color in November.

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Sep 10th - 21:15pm | Jeff

We were fortunate to see three young martens playing about 15-20 feet from us as were traveled down the Cleetwood trail at Crater Lake on September 8th, 2008 at about 9:30 AM. Unfortunately, I spent more time struggling to get my camera out of my backpack (DOH!) than watching them, but my 2 companions enjoyed a nice view.

Visitation Decline at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Has Area Businesses, Residents, and Governments Worried

Sep 10th - 20:53pm | Bob Janiskee

Yes, Barky, there's a very distinct attendance spike in October. The GRSM attendance data for the most recent five-year period (2003 through 2007) show that average visitation in October is 1.13 million, while September visitation averages 883,000. October visitation actually exceeded both September and August visitation in all five of those years.

Sep 10th - 19:56pm | Barky

Question: is there an increase of GSM visitors during leaf season? That's when I managed to visit the park, and it was absolutely spectacular! I remember hiking up some mountain under the canopy, and hitting the top, and seeing acres and acres of brilliant color. Took my breath away, it did. ==================================

Sep 9th - 15:33pm | Leo Benson

My observation is in direct opposition to Mr. Cureton. My family moved to Gatlinburg in 1942. I grew up there, leaving in 1960 after college. The visibility in the 50's and 60's was good in October but not so good in other months. Now, having moved back in 1996, the days of outstanding visibility in mid-summer, Spring and December/January are much more prevalent. than during my youth.

Sep 9th - 10:39am | Smoky Mtn Hiker

Bob - if there's a silver lining in this story it's that experts are predicting (as Kurt mentioned in his Fall Colors post) above-average leaf color this fall for the Southern Appalachians. Last year, the fall color season in the Smoky Mountains region was muted due to the extreme drought and the above average temperatures during the summer and fall.

Sep 9th - 10:02am | Bob Janiskee

Good point, SMH. I went back and tweaked the article.

Sep 9th - 08:31am | Jim Cureton

While I may agree that gas prices have created a downturn, I believe that climate change is another great contributor. The Smokies are just not what they used to be.

National Park Quiz 19: Trails

Sep 10th - 19:54pm | Barky

50% are too infirm for trails? Wow! Must be our great American diet ... =================================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Hosts 150,000 Weekenders and a Hells Angels Poker Run

Sep 10th - 09:54am | Bob Janiskee

Lots of people have had very positive interactions with Hells Angels, Marylander. And many others have been bullied, assaulted, and even physically harmed. These are Hells Angels, not Hells Pussycats. (If you know who the Hells Angels "One-Percenters" are, you know that they are some of the baddest dudes on this planet.)

Sep 10th - 08:52am | Marylander

A lot of people are scared of the Hells Angels, but I have to say that the 2 times my family and I have stumbled into one of their rallys they have been very well behaved. Better behaved then the regular tourists around them. In 2006 we arrived in Cody, Wyoming for the July 4th weekend, only to discover to our surprise that there was a Hells Angels rally.

National Parks Will Waive Entrance Fees on September 27, National Public Lands Day

Sep 10th - 08:26am | Bob Janiskee

Good points.

Sep 10th - 08:10am | Rangertoo

Two-thirds of the parks don't charge any entrance fees. By my count, only 16 of the top 50 most visited parks charge entrance fees and some of those (like Lake Mead and Acadia) are only seasonal or for parts of the parks. Thus, the overwhelming majority of visitors to the national parks never pay an entrance fee.

Federal Judge Refuses to Let County Cut Highways in Roadless Section of Death Valley National Park

Sep 9th - 19:23pm | chip westbrook

Rs 2477 is a restriction on an 1851 law setting apart all roads and trails as public and 60 feet wide that the title to the those set asides were removed from federal control leaving the underlying title in we the people of the united states these roads and trails were to be recorded and protect by the counties

How To Buy National Park-Related Gifts Without Leaving Home

Sep 9th - 11:12am | Anonymous

The long awaited Mt. Rushmore pewter ornament is now available at www.innerpeacedesigns.net. It is under the ornaments tab. I've been looking on their website for a month or two and today it's there. I ordered one. The detail is beautiful on it. I may purchase more for Christmas gifts.

Is Climate Change Driving A New Forest Regimen in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem?

Sep 9th - 08:27am | Kelly

Kurt, thank you for a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece. I hope you will write more about the effects of global climate change on our national parks. Are you planning on writing more regarding actions the national parks are doing to prepare for climate change or to adapt to it? I understand that response to the issue varies quite a bit among the parks.

Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest

Sep 8th - 22:34pm | Anonymous

I Loved The Grand Canynon & would like to visit the Southwest again this fall!

It’s Good to be the President When You Visit Gettysburg National Military Park

Sep 8th - 15:38pm | jsmacdonald

Or ... admit it was political and snipe on. I'm all for sniping. Happy hunting,

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