| Page 1509 | National Parks Traveler

I'm a bit dismayed by the comment that blows off "Steamtown" as political pork. Railroading is a very large part of our Nation's historical and cultural heritage - to me it seems only appropriate that there should be a National Park Service Unit devoted to interpreting this historical and cultural legacy.

May 6th - 13:06pm | Lone Hiker

"We the People" ceased to be the government since the onset of the 2-party system, both losers know matter how you define the term. You have no true options any longer when it comes to your representation in Washington. Recently some good men have made the trip, seen the system, refused to play and left after one term.

May 5th - 19:22pm | J Longstreet

Beamis and Frank:

May 5th - 08:09am | Chasmanian Devil

Regarding Beamis' idea to move parks from the US government to non-profit control is laughable. There would be less money available for maintenance if that happened. Interior is moving forward in all agencies to improve safety and facility maintenance.

May 5th - 08:02am | Chasmanian Devil

As an Interior employee for some decades (I am not speaking as an official however) I have seen firsthand this issue and the root cause as always is lack of money and direction from administrators, Congress and the White House! It appears politicians love spending money on the new (Steamtown) but fail to maintain the old (Wawona tunnel).

May 4th - 22:43pm | Linda

My personal opinion is to De-Centralize... more would be done and our national treasures would be in better hands. I believe that you are on the right track and hang in there... There is more support than is realized. Thank you for bringing the report to life!

May 4th - 16:03pm | dtroutma

I remember times over three decades ago when the fans in the Wawona tunnel would go pffffttt, CO would build up, and the sensors would fail.

May 4th - 13:10pm | Kurt Repanshek

Frank and Beamis, First of all, welcome back. Now, in light of Frank's contention that the two of you were asked to stop commenting at the Traveler, let me set the record straight by pulling from the email I sent you both last December:

May 4th - 12:36pm | FrankC

J Longstreet, Both Beamis and I were asked to stop posting on the site. For me the asking was a bit stronger; my user account was deleted for me. As I write these words, I have a feeling they may just be deleted, even though there is no profanity or personal attacks contained therein.

May 4th - 11:30am | J Longstreet

Beamis, I thought you'd decided not to participate in Traveler any more... it's sad that no matter what the problem in the national parks, you always find a way to blame the "top-heavy" "befuddled" managers of the NPS. I'm not suggesting managers are blameless, but did you note that a significant finding of the report was that:

May 4th - 10:02am | Anonymous

I'm going to be spending the next 4 years travelling the US's National Park system as well as several State Parks (not to be named for obvious reasons). We will be documenting ALL issues that we find in ALL parks and will make them publically, and hopefully nationally, known.

May 3rd - 13:38pm | Fred Miller

This is truly sad. I hope someone is going to come up with a sincere, effective plan to address these issues. I don't think another overpaid bureaucrat is the answer.

Where Are the Best Sunrises in the National Park System?

May 7th - 07:16am | Bob Janiskee

Marylander, I can sure sympathize. My own dawn visit to the peak of Haleakala -- probably the only one I'll ever get to make -- wasn't rewarded with a glorious sunrise either. It's a good thing that there's so much more to Haleakala National Park than a (sometimes) glorious sunrise witnessed from the mountaintop. What a fantastic place Haleakala is!

May 7th - 06:54am | Marylander

Two years ago I tried for 13 straight days to see sunrise at the top of Cadillac Mountain... only to make the drive and be buried in fog each and every time. So, my vote goes to North Rim of the Grand Canyon. [If we could include areas managed by the U.S.

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

May 7th - 04:49am | Marcia

Linda, you obviously know nothing about bears. Just ask an Alaskan about bears. People who know about bears will not even put out their garbage without a gun. As people encroach on the space of bears they lose their fear of humans. This in turn increases the likelihood of an attack. And I sorry to tell you my friend but bear spray is virtually useless in most real life situations.

May 7th - 04:40am | Marcia

T-Fly

Traveler’s Delightful Dozen: Windshield Touring Trips in the National Park System

May 6th - 21:31pm | Sabattis

In fairness, despite the comment about the "generally neglectful attitude", it should also be noted that the Bush Administration / Republican Congress (I list both only because I'm not sure which took the lead in this proposal) passed a law in 2005 that created a new grant program for "Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands" that uses transportation dollars to fund transit options

May 6th - 09:35am | Bob Janiskee

I see your point, Anon, but I think you’re a bit off the mark in implying that we are part of the problem instead of part of the solution. All of us here at Traveler agree that reducing vehicle-related air pollution in our national parks is a high priority goal.

May 6th - 07:19am | Anonymous

I can't help but find it the teeniest bit ironic that NPT sometimes publishes articles about climate change and the parks, yet is also publishing an article about driving around (read:burning gasoline, contributing to climate change) for the sake of driving around...hopefully, there'll be something on public transit in the parks :)

Bigger Boat Tours Coming to Voyageurs National Park

May 6th - 21:24pm | Sabattis

I'm curious as to what the source of this funding is - the first paragraph makes it sound like a Congressional earmark, but the last part sounds more like a private charitable donation. Perhaps the most surprising thing, however, is why hasn't the Park Service entered into an agreement with a private concessionaire to offer tour boat service?

Lake Powell Expected to Rise 50 Feet This Summer

May 6th - 15:51pm | Lone Hiker

The "sky is falling" amateur climatologists love to point out the increase in man-made carbon dioxide emissions due to the automobile and the mechanisms related to the Industrial Revolution. All well and good. But as Bob pointed out above, our Mother Earth and her environment is a slightly more complicated issue than we would care to imagine.

May 6th - 15:14pm | Anonymous

So you're happier with the theoretical benefit not losing our place on Earth with species extinctions, habitat loss & environmental disasters. If you lived in the southwest, you would have been out of water for the last few years had it not been for Lake Powell. I think we should do all we can to make it easier for humans.

Yellowstone Bison Population Healthy; Montana Priming For Hunts

May 6th - 14:32pm | Sean

If the available range for bison is expanded, it might be nice to be able to hunt them the same as deer or elk. Idaho and wyoming are all about elk feed grounds because they make so much money via outfitters, even if these turn into disease hot-spots.

2008 National Park Service Centennial Projects Run the Gamut, From Traveling Trunks to Biodiversity Inventories

May 6th - 06:39am | Sabattis

From a basic accounting standpoint, expenditures on items that are greater than $5,000 and have a useful life of greater than one year, are typically considered to be capital expenditures, and would not typically be funded out of an "operations budget." At some point, I think it would be good to not be so grumpy.

Congressman Introduces Legislation To Double The Size of Big Thicket National Preserve

May 6th - 06:33am | Sabattis

An interesting idea - but how should Congress prioritize scarce dollars for National Park System expansion? Should these dollars go towards Petrified Forest in-fill, for example? Or go for relatively new resources like Big Thicket?

Groups Ask for Extension on Comment Period for Grand Canyon "Natural Quiet" Definition

May 6th - 06:30am | Sabattis

Yes, "nothing seems speedy when the Federal government is concerned", but at the end of the day, that is probably one of the advantages of democracy - not one of detriments. Extended periods of consultation have been used by defenders of the Parks on many occasions to prevent ill-considered decisions that would adversely affect the Parks or the government at large.

May 5th - 13:26pm | Random Walker

Yes, a permanent web page of issues and comment periods with how to / where to voice our opinions would be very advantages for us “National Parks Traveler" users.

May 5th - 12:37pm | Anonymous

Comment periods are open to everyone and all parties interested in the National Parks need to take advantage of them. In reading your article on the GCNP overflight comment period I did not see a link or information to where to send our comments. Would you please provide that informaion in future columns and add it to this one? Thanks!

Vet Removes Snare From Neck of Wolf in Denali National Park and Preserve

May 5th - 17:58pm | Wendy

Thank the Lord for the vet & volunteers who saved the wolf's life. I shed tears for this beautiful animal, when I read about the valiant effort. The moron who snared these wolves ought to be made to wear a tight snare around his/her neck. Yes...that's my opinion about those people. They're all just a waste of good oxygen!!

May 5th - 17:34pm | Anonymous

My deepest gratitude to the volunteers and to Dr. Denise Albert for their conscientious pursuit in finding this half strangulated wolf. Your efforts are most admired for it's conduct in the love of all "beautiful things large and small". A job well done!

May 5th - 16:23pm | Fred Miller

Hey - How about some GOOD news for a change ?? This is GREAT !!

Groups Sue Cape Hatteras National Seashore Over ORV Traffic

May 5th - 15:35pm | matt from richm...

It is amazing that these people are allowed to waste such resources on something they have never seen. I personally challenge any of these yahoos to show me video of what they claim. If in fact these accusations were true don't you think they would have a picture of donut marks with hundreds of oil puddles on their website?

Public Comment: Grand Canyon Overflights Noise Reduction

May 5th - 15:18pm | Random Walker

Thanks for linking us up Kurt! If there's a volunteer out there who wants to take on this task.... Don't know about that, last time I volunteered it took me four years to get out of it! :-)

In the News: Loss of Cougars in Yosemite National Park, "Uranium Rush" at Grand Canyon National Park

May 5th - 11:59am | Random Walker

We all strive for safety, prosperity, comfort, long life, and dullness. The deer strives with his supple legs, the cowman with trap and poison, the statesman with pen, the most of us with machines, votes, and dollars, but it all comes to the same thing: peace in our time.

May 5th - 09:45am | Anonymous

Kurt, thanks for bringing this critical issue to light. As a strong supporter of Aldo Leopold's conservation concepts on land ethics, I severely chastise the Bush & Cheney administration for their rape and pillage polices towards more exploitation of energy resources at the borders of our national parks.

Interior Secretary Opens Door for New Gun Regulations in National Parks

May 5th - 11:05am | Scott Woodruff

Rick, what I find most amazing is all across this country when this issue of government (that would be the Interior Department also) violating the people's Second Amendment Rights, it appears that the public is overwhelmingly in support of them to NOT do it.

Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park

May 5th - 01:41am | India Holidays

Very nice picture

Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

May 4th - 22:03pm | Lone Hiker

This method of conveyance adds nothing to the NPS. As is currently stands, the vast majority of visitors come only to "see" the parks, and if that is to be ones specific intent, the Segways might have a limited market.

May 4th - 05:48am | Bob Janiskee

I'm open to argument on the issue of persons with physical disabilities being allowed to use Segways in the national parks. That's why I used the word "perhaps" in my comment. Anon has made a strong case for it. I realize that dealing with ms is very difficult, and I do wish him the very best.

May 4th - 01:33am | Anonymous

Well this "lardass" also happens to be diagnosed with ms.... So does my "lardass" status discount my disabled status????? Rude and tactless people like yourself make going out in public with obvious disabilities that much harder... You look and see a "lardass" and not a person who has been fighting ms and fatigue that continues to add to weight problems...

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel

May 4th - 17:09pm | Geezer

The settlement to protect bird habitat is an excellent measure and long overdue. I went to Cape Hatteras once and never went back because the beach buggies had the run of the beaches. It wasn't safe to lie down and enjoy the wind, the waves and the sun, unless you went to the few miles that were then closed to ORVs. Thanks to the Audubon Society and their allies.

May 4th - 00:13am | FriscoFran

My parents live in the Outer Banks and have forever – at least as long as I can remember. Despite assertions to the contrary – the new rules and regulations will SIGNIFICANTLY and ADVERSELY impact fishermen (and fisherwomen).

It's Time to Book Your Summer National Park Vacation

May 3rd - 22:13pm | st. george isla...

I also like spontaneous trips, sometimes I don't even book in advance, but I do have a pretty good idea how many parks are within an hour's driving distance.

Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview

May 3rd - 17:07pm | Julie

I am so glad to hear about her next book coming out! It has been too long since the last one...and with gas prices, that is probably the only way I can get to a national park this year!

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

May 3rd - 13:10pm | Anonymous

I live in Colorado and every time I cross NPS ground i do not unload my weapons because the criminals and drug addicts that frequent the road I travel and the the trails and canyons where they grow there crops do not unload theres. I love to sport hunt but i do understand that government land is off limits to any sort of hunting so any one shooting on government land is still prohibited.

Groups Sue To Overturn Removal of Greater Yellowstone Wolves from Endangered Species List

May 3rd - 10:40am | Anonymous

Hey Anonymous, you may call Mr Saunders a skilled hunter but he had a cheap shot. Another words, unethical kill! If you peacock ranchers allow wildlife to have it's natural space to roam and breed and just maybe there can be some natural balance between predator and prey ratio.

May 2nd - 23:53pm | Anonymous

Those wolves are vicious...kill 'em before they get your pets or kids. Our ancestors killed 'em all off for good reason!

May 2nd - 23:50pm | Anonymous

That there Tony Saunders in that picture is a killin' mochine! I know Tony...he is quite the skilled hunter. He's a good man!

May 2nd - 21:20pm | Justin Forte

I hope and pray that the removal of the wolves from The Endangered Species List is overturned.

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