| Page 1501 | National Parks Traveler

Alas; "unimpaired for future generations" is a mighty limp criterion. It's not much of a stretch to say that lots of sustainable yield activities (including hunting, fishing, trapping, selective logging, and many kinds of gathering, just to name a few) would leave a park unimpaired for future generations.

Jun 8th - 16:30pm | Sabattis

I'd be curious to know how this lawsuit is proceeding. I think the environmental groups would have a fairly hard time with this case for two reasons: - it will be hard to establish that snowmobile use in Yellowstone is leaving Yellowstone impaired for future generations

Jun 7th - 22:14pm | Anonymous

It would seem that the conservationists are not going to be happy untill all human activity outside of the city limits is eliminated and you even have to wonder about there. The parks were established to be used. Yes we have to take care of over use and/or abuse but it was not intended to be reserved for any particular group including the granola crunchers.

National Park Service Director Bomar Scheduled to Meet With Mountain Bike Community

Jun 8th - 16:20pm | Sabattis

You are correct that the Gila River Indian Community prohibits almost all access to Hohokam Pima National Monument, as they consider themselves to be descendents of the Snaketown inhabitants and because they consider Snaketown to be a sacred place.

Jun 8th - 16:03pm | Bob Janiskee

Sport hunting is not a reliable indicator of protection. In the National Park System, sport hunting is permitted in national preserves (categorically, I think) and in some other parks.

Jun 8th - 15:41pm | MRC

Well, not all National Wildlife Refuges enjoy that high standard of protection, but some do. Pelican Island, the very first NWR, established in 1903, is off limits to visitors, as well as a number others.

Jun 7th - 07:25am | Sabattis

I'd like to make two points on this:

Jun 7th - 07:23am | Sabattis

MRC - you make some good points. I hadn't thought of actually considering National Wildlife Refuge to be a higher level of protection than a Naitonal Park. I had ordered them the way that I did because the National Wildlife Refuge rather famously can allow oil drilling under at least some circumstance - something that seems almost unthinkable in a National Park.

Jun 6th - 02:31am | MRC

@Sabattis: "I have a general sense of a descending order of protection from National Park Service to Fish & Wildlife Service to US Forest Service to Bureau of Land Management".

Jun 5th - 10:05am | Kurt Repanshek

"Superlative opportunities for recreation for public use and enjoyment..." Where do you draw the line for what's appropriate in a national park, for which the National Park Service has considerably different management mandates and responsibilities than does the U.S. Forest Service for national forests or the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for its empire?

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Jun 8th - 10:50am | John Meagher

I am offended and insulted, and angered, by your reference to us/ME as "some fool",

How We View National Parks Today Matters For Tomorrow

Jun 8th - 08:27am | Lone Hiker

Just remember Bob....... It's only those of us who freely admit that, in the grand scheme of things, we truly are neophytes in the intellect department, and are self-consciousless enough to admit that we don't know everything, that ever have a true chance to increase our knowledge base. After all, once you're omnipotent, what't left?

Jun 7th - 21:42pm | Sabattis

Aha! Yes, the Internet is both virtue and vice - connections and discussions with like-minded people around the world, and all of our msitakes broadcast around the world as well.....

Jun 7th - 09:53am | Bob Janiskee

Cuation! Weaselspeak alert! I'm quite aware that it is Congress, not "the National Park System" that designates units. Here is what happened. When I was drafting my comment, I wrote this sentence: ....

Jun 7th - 09:30am | Lone Hiker

The answer to your first question is simple Bob. Since the designation and "official" status are Congressional declarations, or movements, or processes, whatever..........it appears that as usual our government has its collective head up it's butt (or in the case of the Indiana Dunes, buried in the sand?) and no proper scientific classification has been awarded these locales.

Jun 7th - 09:27am | Sabattis

Two points:

Jun 7th - 08:05am | Bob Janiskee

With all due respect, Sabattis, you're asking the wrong question. It's a given that the designation types should matter. Classification is possibly the most fundamental concept in science or, if you will, scientific management. Each designation type should represent a group of parks having similar characteristics and similar managerial needs.

Jun 7th - 07:28am | Sabattis

Of course, Cuyahoga Valley was originally establised with the same National Recration Area designation as Gateway and Golden Gate, and was basically just "rebranded" for greater publicity. I think it would be hard to get too concerned if Cuyahoga Valley was managed in roughly similar ways to Gateway and Golden Gate.

Jun 7th - 06:34am | Bob Janiskee

Skyrocketing fuel prices, budget tightening, and related factors are going to keep people closer to home. This should make our urban-oriented national parks (the ones within day-tripping distance, that is) much more appealing.

Jun 6th - 10:01am | Rangertoo

Bay Area leaders may have advocated for Point Reyes, but they did not create it. Congress did. Also - I recommend you look at Indiana Dunes NL, an urban park older than Golden Gate or Gateway if you really want to see the face of urban/industrial/residential and park interface in a challenging area.

Jun 6th - 09:52am | Anonymous

One of my favorite National Parks. It has all the amenities that blesses the human soul. You can gaze at the open sea all day and never tire. Once the coastal fog recedes and you can see the great expanse of open sea...your inner soul begins to feel renewed.

Jun 6th - 06:06am | MRC

Point Reyes National Seashore is an amazing place. Unique geology, amazing nature, cultural heritage and superb recreation all comes together. I loved it, and even saw a gray whale and her young from the shore near the light house. But the problems to combine all those different assets and claims are hardly unique.

National Park Service Considering Commercial Developments for Alcatraz

Jun 8th - 04:55am | Anonymous

It's a fine line between a national park being a "park" and a commercial attraction. A strict limit on commercialization would seem to be needed, allowing revenue for the park and at the same time the park is remaining true to it's purpose.

Jun 7th - 21:49pm | Sabattis

I hope that Park advocates take a balanced look at this proposal. I think that a "night on Alcatraz" experience has a lot of potential to add value to the Park. Additionally, since this is an island in the middle of the Bay, additional visitor services would certainly have the opportunity to enhance the visitor experience, and to make it more enjoyable and comfortable.

Lake Powell Expected to Rise 50 Feet This Summer

Jun 7th - 17:52pm | jimhiker

The cut is for recreational boaters and the abiity to save time and more importantly, FUEL. I have read the comments from the various posters talking about climate change and can only smile and wonder to what extent everyone who posts about it really knows.

Jun 7th - 13:32pm | parkgoer85

What gags me are hypocrites that cry about touching the environment for any reason. Do they use roads to go places? Do they live in a home with running water and electricity? Do they use refrigerators or washing machines? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you better start changing you own life before imposing your views on everyone else.

Yellowstone Officials Now Recommending that Sylvan Pass Remain Open For Snowmobiling

Jun 7th - 16:00pm | Anonymous

If you read the inscription on the arch in Gardiner, you see it reads "for the enjoyment of the People". It does not have restrictions on who can enjoy Yellowstone. Just because some people feel their form of recreation is the best, they do not have the right to impose their values on others. Hikers feel only hikers should be allowed in the park. Bicyclists feel there should be no cars.

Jun 5th - 09:36am | jsmacdonald

Ummm...yeah, why wouldn't it be ridiculous? I think you meant the Old Faithful Inn, but either way ... is Yellowstone a museum? On what rational grounds do we put any ethical value on certain things in Yellowstone (or Glacier) and not others?

Hamilton Grange National Memorial Relocation Update

Jun 7th - 09:56am | Anonymous

I've been following this story with great interest and it got me to think...I know that buildings have been moved within National Park Sites (for example, the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras), can anyone think of another entire site being picked up and moved?

Jun 6th - 10:06am | lepanto

Actually, Hamilton called the process of getting the land, designing and building Hamilton Grange: ". . . a sweet project." For some reason the NPS release spins it as ". . . he called his 'sweet project.' " Splitting hairs??

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

Jun 6th - 15:50pm | Random Walker

Why does the gun issue extract such incredible outpourings of vitriol and personal attacks? LOL! Do you really have to ask?

Jun 6th - 14:47pm | Kurt Repanshek

Sorry anonymous, but am I to understand that raising one's voice to question management decisions is political? So if one were to question ESA decisions, or fee decisions, or trail-building decisions, one would be immersing themselves in politics?

Jun 6th - 14:13pm | Kevin

It's funny that folks keep using the term "Allow Weapons" What many do not understand is that a Criminal is a criminal. Regardless of what laws are in place. If they choose to carry and gun and to commit a crime, they are going to do it whether they are not allowed to or not. Placing a law to not allow a lawful person to protect themselves is absolutley ridiculous.

Jun 6th - 14:01pm | Anonymous

Excuse me, I thought you could read. I said YOU were being political! The NRA has always been political. I hoped you were above that. I was obviously mistaken. I have always supported the parks for non-political reasons, I thought you might also. Again, my error! Every thing is not political to every one.

Jun 6th - 13:52pm | Kurt Repanshek

Hmmmm, not political. That's why the NRA -- one of the most powerful lobbies in the country -- admittedly scripted the letters that were sent by senators to Interior Secretary Kempthorne, and that's why the NRA worked with Sen. Coburn to introduce his amendment to open the parks to concealed weapons.

Jun 6th - 13:36pm | Anonymous

Kurt, You protest too much! I've never been an NRA member or backer, but you need to be truthful: 1, this topic has been discussed at governmental levels for 5 years; 2, to imply this is a political issue in an election year is to make yourself political ( not a good or smart idea): 3, this is really a states rights issue, not an NRA issue once you get down to it.

Ribbon-Cutting Planned for $70,000 "Bio Toilet" at Mount Rainier National Park

Jun 5th - 21:24pm | Fred Miller

This is very nice of them. Are there any plans to add more of these elsewhere if they work as intended?

Congressman Accuses Sec. Kempthorne of Pandering to NRA on Gun Issue

Jun 5th - 19:19pm | Fred Miller

I repeat - NO metal detectors. If you don't have ENFORCEMENT, all you have is a rule. Rule-breakers don't obey rules. That's why we call them that.

Jun 5th - 15:40pm | pkrnger

I just don't get it. We don't allow people to carry concealed weapons in our public schools, churches, museums, libraries, and courthouses. Therefore, why should people feel a special need to carry concealed weapons in our national parks? Are our national parks not special, sacred places? Or, are they just another administrative variation of open space?

Jun 5th - 15:24pm | Fred Miller

You said, "How do you decide which laws or regulations are worth obeying? If wearing a concealed weapon where they're outlawed doesn't bother you, where do you draw the line?"

Jun 5th - 12:34pm | Lone Hiker

Enough with the careless use of statistical data. PLEASE!

Jun 5th - 10:36am | Art

Shhh, don't tell the Brady Campaign, but there's big trouble in gun-control paradise. The Times of London reports: "Knife-carrying youths face automatic prosecution as street violence spirals"

Proposed Settlement Filed in Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV Case

Jun 5th - 12:42pm | greene

As a lifelong North Carolina resident who has lived from the mountains, to the bustling modern Triad and Triangle regions and now to the Outer Banks ... I would like to point out that North Carolina has 427,823 acres in national wildlife refuges. And this does not count the Great Dismal Swamp refuge which is in NC and VA.

Park History: Lowell National Historical Park

Jun 5th - 10:25am | Bob Janiskee

There are four basic requirements for getting this particular gig. First, and most importantly, you must be willing to work for nothing. Secondly, you must love the national parks and have a sincere desire to defend them. Thirdly, you need to have some special ability, experience, or perspective to draw on.

Jun 5th - 10:15am | Phil Lupsiewicz

The New England Folklife Center no longer exists (you missed that one). It was a nice program, but unfortunately its administration passed from the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission to Middlesex Community College, which decided to discontinue it.

Jun 5th - 10:12am | Phil Lupsiewicz

I'll be looking forward to reading the histories of the Smokies and Biscayne. Great work your doing, how does one get such a gig??? I hope you have the opportunity to visit these sites. Your description of LNHP is extremely accurate, I take it you've been here. Maybe the national park traveler can add a video component.

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