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Why Stop At Golden Gate National Recreation Area? What Other NRAs, Monuments, Etc., Should Be Renamed?

Jul 30th - 15:25pm | Lone Hiker

I'm humbled to discover that someone aside from the gun liberals reads anything I post Lepanto. And true enough, I failed to be specific and painted everyone with the same broad brush, which is a sure recipe for disaster, or inaccuracy at the very least.

Jul 30th - 14:45pm | Bob Janiskee

Well, PC, Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) certainly has been in the news a lot lately. As Traveler has reported, Rep. Cubin has vigorously supported the controversial (and very expensive) plan to keep Yellowstone’s Sylvan Pass open for snowmobilers. I don’t find any mention of Devils Tower National Monument on Rep.

Jul 30th - 14:23pm | PC

Barbara Cubin has filed a bill that would block the renaming of Devil's Tower N.M. to Bear's Lodge.

Jul 30th - 10:47am | Lepanto

Dear Rangertoo

Jul 29th - 21:10pm | Lone Hiker

I believe the idea that National Park units were "something special" was tied directly to the public's perception centered around those first units, which included Yosemite and Yellowstone, which at the time of their designation were located in areas of the country that were traversed by few save the hearty; those who explored the "wild" country on vacation, and the mystique that grew out of th

Jul 29th - 15:23pm | Rangertoo

Lepanto - Well, seeing as John Reynolds and I have both been in senior management of the NPS and have been involved in the writing of bills and negotiation of designations with Congressional staff, I would have to counter that we are right in our assertion that the names are not as studiously determined as you may imagine.

Jul 25th - 19:27pm | SaltSage236

It makes me wonder when the NPS might think a quota system will be necessary for crowd control in Zion. I'm thankful for the bus system there, though. When I first visited a decade ago, the place was gridlock all the way to the Narrows. Today, the bus is a breeze, with local stories from the bus driver to boot.

National Park System Quiz 13: Mountains

Jul 30th - 14:18pm | Kirby Adams

...with Virginia's Mt. Rogers in an NRA. You're right about the high points. I wouldn't expect a slight rise in western Kansas or a little bump in Florida to be a national park. I just would have thought states like MT, ID, CO, AZ, NM, SD, OR, NV, UT, etc. would have more of their high points just by chance fall into an NPS area.

Jul 30th - 11:11am | 50 Stars

I also counted five contained in the national parks themselves: TX, CA, WA, TN and AK. Not totally surprising considering many state high points are just that - high points - and not true mountains or significant features.

Jul 30th - 06:50am | Kirby Adams

The question about Mt. Whitney's western slope being in a park got me thinking about how many actual state high points are within national parks. Seems like a surprisingly low number. I count six, with five in national parks and one in a national recreation area. Anyone want to see if I'm correct? I had to have missed a couple.

Jul 30th - 06:08am | Kirby Adams

Finally, I get to rest on my laurels - 9 of 10 (but missed both bonuses). I was about to enroll in GEOG 370 after the last several quizzes.

Telegraph Fire Closing in On Yosemite National Park

Jul 30th - 12:35pm | Steve Sergeant

The Telegraph Fire started on Friday afternoon. By about 6pm on Saturday, the smoke was pouring over the Sierra Crest into the Hoover Wilderness, 50 trail-miles northeast of Tuolumne Meadows. It looked like a storm coming in, except for the orange sunlight.

Should the National Park Service Drain the Capitol Reflecting Pool to Save Birds?

Jul 30th - 11:52am | MRC

Come on, that's D.C. - facts are overrated, just give it the right spin.

Jul 30th - 11:32am | Anonymous

I think it is a no brainer - drain the pool! Then find a way to recycle the water. I can't believe there is no recycler already. Everyone who has a pool knows that you need to recycle or aerate the water to keep it from becoming stagnant and a breeding ground for mosquitos and bacteria!

Jul 30th - 10:40am | jsmacdonald

No doubt an easy choice - you can have a pool with dead birds and tourists getting sick from sticking their hands in the pool, making the pool an ugly sight - or you can have an ugly empty pool but no one getting sick. On the other hand, maybe it would give the Capitol Police something better to do than harass people.

NPS Director Bomar Extends Freeze on Fee Increases at National Parks

Jul 30th - 08:47am | Kitty Benzar

Kudos to Director Bomar for a good decision. American families struggling with gas prices and the credit crunch aren't likely to be willing to pay increased rates for something as discretionary as visiting a National Park. In fact, at $25, Parks like Grand Canyon are already overpriced - and that doesn't include your backcountry permit!

At Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Things are Not Always as They Seem

Jul 29th - 22:05pm | Anonymous

Are you kidding? Misuse of firearms is dangerous. The purpose of a firearm is not to kill everything in sight. The AK-47 is not inherently evil. All weapons were originally in the hands of warriors. When civilization was settled, and nomads became farmers, not everyone needed a weapon.

Man Bitten at Saguaro National Park by Gila Monster

Jul 29th - 14:22pm | Sharon

My Mom was one of the park volunteers. The bitten gentleman was taken to her house. She called 911 for the ambulance. The man indeed was not "all quite there", but then again he had already been bitten and was severely dehydrated. Mental illness or not, how foolish to fling any creature around your neck like that.

Rookie Firefighter from Olympic National Park Killed by Falling Tree in California

Jul 29th - 09:22am | Emily Zivot

I think your headline would be more powerful if it had one less word. Andrew Palmer was a firefighter, not a "rookie." Identifying him as a rookie highlights his inexperience and makes his loss seem understandable or even expected. Fire crews do have a dangerous job; they deserve our respect in addition to our thanks and support.

Jul 27th - 22:40pm | J

I went to Port Townsend High School with Andy, he was a really good kid. I pray for his family and for everyone close to him.

Jul 27th - 17:12pm | JimB

A tragic loss - and a reminder that the men and women who serve on fire crews day after day all across the country have a dangerous and difficult job. They all deserve our thanks and support.

Delaware Can Relax; The New National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Series Will Celebrate “National Sites” Too

Jul 28th - 16:10pm | National Park Q...

It's ironic that H.R. 6184 was introduced by Michael Castle of Delaware, the only state without a national park.

Jul 28th - 15:03pm | Bugsyshallfall

I believe that every state should have at least one National Park, and by the way anyone know of any areas in Delaware not yet a state or other type of federally park land that could become a great National Park

Jul 27th - 06:31am | Bob Janiskee

An attractive feature of these special coin series is the large seigniorage (or profit) representing the difference between the face value of the coins and the costs of their mintage.Substantial gains result from public hoarding/collecting of coins placed in circulation as well as the sale of uncirculated proof and silver coins to collectors.

Jul 26th - 23:29pm | Pixie

I am sure the Mint made a fortune on the state series. I hope revenues from the national parks series goes to the upkeep of the parks system.

Jul 26th - 13:49pm | Nick Mojave

Sounds great, but... it's too bad they're limited to just 2 per state. The law should have a provision allowing for every national park to be represented on a quarter.

Jul 26th - 13:46pm | Marylander

Delaware has several areas that could make great national parks, and I've always been surprised that they have never really fought for it. My family and I often go to Delaware, not just for the tax free shopping, but for the bird watching!

Lightning Strike Kills Park Visitor at a Sandy Hook Beach in Gateway National Recreation Area

Jul 28th - 15:01pm | John Newton

Over hear on Long Island it was pretty bad. Twelve people got struck by lighting. It down poored like their was no tomorrow.

Mountain Bikers to Seek Access Through Listening Sessions

Jul 28th - 14:25pm | Anonymous

I think that this is a great success story. I believe that it is long overdue for the Park Service to realize that hikers and equestrians are not the only valid trail users in the parks.

Jul 28th - 10:54am | james

Thought you might like the follow-up on your "dodging bikes" comment at Big South Fork. I hate to disappoint you, but mountain biking was apparently a success: Shared-use Big South Fork trail deemed a success By Morgan Simmons (Contact) Sunday, October 7, 2007

National Park Service Agrees, Conditionally, to Keep Yellowstone's Sylvan Pass Open For Snowmobiling

Jul 27th - 23:37pm | YellowstoneJunkie

YeeeeeeeHawwwwwwww!! Gettin' my sled ready!

Jul 27th - 17:06pm | JimB

Irregardless of the actual costs to keep this route open for winter travel, it's a shame that much or all of a badly needed budget increase for the park will be diverted to this one project. Here's a key to the bottom line: A 2008 Wyoming travel guide has a full page color ad on the back cover. The "headline" for the ad reads, "Cody has a nice city park. It's called Yellowstone."

Second Black Bear Euthanized In Yellowstone National Park

Jul 27th - 14:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

But what happens to the bears if they don't have the habitat protections of a national park? There are some parts of Yellowstone that are simply off-limits to humans so as not to interfere with grizzlies. Should more limits be instituted?

Jul 27th - 13:34pm | Anonymous

Hello the bears were here first!!!

Jul 26th - 13:13pm | recent visitor

First of all, if you want to impress the public with your comment, then use some punctuation, check your grammar, capitalization and spelling!!!

Jul 26th - 06:06am | Anonymous

We just got back from Glacier and the information regarding bears is in the information handed out - but many people don't seem to read it. While we were there, a back country campsite was closed due to a bear shredding a tent. We never heard if there was food or something in the tent but it seems likely that there was something in there that shouldn't have been.

Jul 25th - 18:41pm | Anonymous

It is not only the visitors that need to be educated, but the staff. I stayed at White Wolf campground a few summers ago, and the camphost left out eggs to entice the bears to the campsite his niece was staying at. It angered me, we had bears in the camp all night, people yelling and banging pots & pans, so much for the tranquility of nature.

Jul 25th - 18:26pm | Anonymous

With the experience per say that the NAtl parks have you would think that they could of caught this bear and tame it for it wildlife habitat or put it in a local zoo?I'am pretty sure most people that visits our parks today out side of the old school people are lame.dumb,and stupid.and don't take the necessary percautions when thier out in the wilderness.there should be required trainning before

Electric Map Going Away at Gettysburg National Military Park

Jul 26th - 23:48pm | alaskaabi

I am incredibly disappointed with the Park Service decision to discontinue the electric map presenation. In my opinion, although the program was "low tech" by today's standards. it gave the viewers a feel for the North-South-East-West of the battle field for a preliminary orientation before the actual driving (or walking tour).

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jul 26th - 22:26pm | Gene K.

No. You spray your buddy by mistake in a panic attack and are lunch for the bear.

Is the National Park Service Obligated to Better Promote Proposed Change in Gun Regulations?

Jul 26th - 21:24pm | Anonymous

Kurt, excellent rebuttal and it helps reading between the lines better on thee issue.

Jul 26th - 19:56pm | Kurt Repanshek

Frank,

Jul 26th - 17:40pm | Mrs. White

"At the end of the day, you're more likely to die in a car accident, from cancer, from poor health and exercise habits, illegal drug use, and illicit sex than from roaming a park unarmed.

Jul 26th - 09:21am | Anonymous

One of the best comments yet on this issue. Not your usual NRA spiel or gung-ho and gun-ho comments like Freddie pistol hugging pete.

Jul 26th - 03:04am | FrankC

"At the end of the day, you're more likely to die in a car accident, from cancer, from poor health and exercise habits, illegal drug use, and illicit sex than from roaming a park unarmed. Let's try to keep some perspective here."

Hidden Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore

Jul 26th - 13:30pm | Anonymous

We've heard that behind Mt. Rushmore, is something hidden by our government, having to do with aliens or alien craft. Is there any truth to this, or has anyone else heard anything of this?

Jul 26th - 13:18pm | Anonymous

We've heard that the carvings were put there to hide something alien or otherworldly or something that our government is hiding regarding aliens or alien spacecraft. Can anyone else elaborate on this?

Any Question About Who's Calling the Shots in Yellowstone National Park?

Jul 26th - 00:32am | Robert DeMaagd

People go to yellowstone to rest and relax, to get away from the noise of the city. Snowmobiles are too noisy, too polluting, and destroy vegetation when the snow cover is not that deep. Even when the snow cover is deep, taller plants are susceptible to damage.

Traveler's View: Concealed Weapons Have No Place In Our National Park System

Jul 25th - 21:11pm | KC

I am in the US Navy and currently hold a concealed weapons license and teach small arms safety. I have read most of the comments that have been written and it seems to me that the people who are opposed to allowing law abiding Americans who have been licensed by the government to carry are concerned for their safety.

Jul 25th - 20:53pm | Chet Szymecki

Although I disagree with your article Mr. Repanshek I most certainly enjoyed reading it. You have done a fine job researching and presenting you point.

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