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Do Professional Hockey And Yosemite National Park Belong Together?

Jan 10th - 12:56pm | Nick Mojave

TZ - You're not answering my question, just talking about a bunch of roadblocks you think should be put up before this happens. How is the park harmed by two or three TV news trucks and two vans full of hockey players showing up at Curry Village for a few hours in the dead of winter?

Jan 10th - 12:08pm | TZ

Will the for-profit hockey team pay royalties for their use (on TV) of the National Park? What rights do they have to re-broadcast images of NPS employees? What other for-profit enterprises can 'use' the National Park in this media-friendly way? Would my high-school hockey team be equally able to commandeer this piece of public property for an evening?

Jan 10th - 08:35am | Mookie

Merryland, I'm guessing the Blue Hen never put skates on during your time in Newark.

Jan 10th - 00:49am | Nick Mojave

What is so egregious about this? A bunch of minor league hockey players skating in circles at Curry Village while the Fresno TV stations do live shots with their satellite trucks. We're not talking about thousands of fans, or even referees keeping things even... just a promotional appearance in the community. How, exactly, is the park harmed?

Jan 9th - 21:36pm | Merryland

Wow, that's a scary picture. Especially since I was the Fightin' Blue Hen mascot in college at the University of Delaware. Freddy looks a bit deranged. I wonder if they gave him a background check before they let him get near the kids!?

Park History: Wind Cave National Park

Jan 10th - 08:39am | Mookie

I also think there are elk in Wind Cave NP. When my wife and I were there in 2006, we climbed to the top of a fire tower atop Rankin Ridge. A ranger was in the tower with one of those radio/antenna jobs, trying to figure out where some radio-collared elk were at.

Jan 10th - 08:14am | wonderly00

Just a quick correction: the formation in the cave is called "boxwork" and probably 90 percent of the world's boxwork is found at Wind Cave. But I agree with Barky here, part of the park that many visitors miss, I think, is the wildlife on the surface. For a small park, it's got quite an abundance of easy-to-see wildlife.

Jan 9th - 21:41pm | Merryland

Beautiful cave, beautful landscape... I was disappointed that I didn't feel any wind when touring the cave though. I got the story about the little blowhole and was somewhat let down. But I'll definitely be back again sometime. Last summer it was Jewel Cave's turn -- another park gem (haha heehee).

Jan 9th - 12:45pm | Paul

I lived near Wind Cave National Park for years and have not only been on may cave tours there and camped, but actually worked for the Construction Co. that built most of the current buildings.

Jan 9th - 10:26am | jersu

I think the stories that accompany cave discoveries are usually pretty funny. It is so typical that the caves find their discoverers. Thanks for the writeup Chance. Your contributions are a great addition to the site.

Do Cougars Roam Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore?

Jan 9th - 22:25pm | Merryland

I've seen cougar footprints in the Everglades in '86 and the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt NP in '99 -- and that was exciting enough! As an aside -- we had a strange unidentified creature caught on film in Baltimore a few years back -- it was dubbed the "Hyote". Turns out it was a fox that had lost most of its hair. Talk about embarassing...

Lynx, Long Sought in Yellowstone National Park, Is Caught on Film

Jan 9th - 22:02pm | Merryland

Kurt, thanks for the lynx links... :-)

Jan 6th - 11:30am | repanshek

Bryan,

Jan 6th - 07:55am | Bob Janiskee

Intentionally killing 18 lynx during the winter of 1971-72 was a pretty sorry thing to do, but the size of the trapper take implies that there was a respectable population of lynx in the area back in the early 70s. Road kill can also be interpreted this way. There are lots of dead possums, raccoons, and foxes along the roads in our community.

Jan 5th - 18:00pm | bryan

Are there any protections that can be granted if this individual has naturally recolonized to the area? Are lynx threatened or endangered outside of the park boundaries?

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

Jan 9th - 21:56pm | Merryland

There once was a Jetson named Judy, But modernity made her quite moody. Said she, "In Yosemite, You must use each extremity... Yes, to walk in the park is our duty!" (C) 2008, Jon T. Merryman, All rights reversed.

Jan 9th - 05:32am | Lwiseman

One of the reasons people go to National Parks is to escape the noise and hubbub of everyday life which I believe is one of the reasons the parks are becoming more and more crowded. If they add Segways, they may as well start adding carnival rides, Starbucks, shopping malls, and start tearing up beautiful land for condos and Qwik-E marts.... We need areas where we can escape this.

Jan 8th - 14:08pm | cheflovesbeer

No, A simple answer to a simple question.

Jan 7th - 20:29pm | V

I absolutely love the National Parks. Although Yosemite is amazingly beautiful, it does not rank in my top ten favorite parks as it does for many people. Why not? It was too crowded. Adding Segways would only contribute to the congestion and detract from the purpose of National Parks and the beauty that they preserve.

Jan 7th - 19:02pm | jr_ranger

I cringe at the thought of hordes of Segways jostling for position in Yosemite - or any other large park - while the operators make a mint. They would be a nice alternative to the eternal traffic jam at Cades Cove in Great Smokies, though, if done properly. --- jr_ranger

Jan 7th - 16:50pm | wonderly00

I agree with all the other previous posters here. However, should we ask the reason that people visit the parks? I used to look down on people who experience the park from the inside of their car, or those who never venture more than 100 feet away from their motor homes.

Jan 7th - 14:10pm | Random Walker

It is wrong., goes against my personal ethics that Our National Parks are considered a source of profit for private corporations.

Jan 7th - 08:32am | p.scott rattermann

Wow kurt you have brought out the longest list of comments on any article i have read so far. good job. segways like many products have a place in the market, is the National Parks a viable market? maybe. would it be better to fire up a 4x4 pickup truck to run next door or use a segway? less fuel no pollution. Do we need segways running around a park like mopeds on a island in the caribbean?

Jan 6th - 22:54pm | Anonymous

This fall I was on the waterfront of the SF Maritime museum building that is being renovated and Golden Gate Park. I was enjoying a very nice evening walk along with several other walkers/runners when along came a Segway tour. I can only assume this group had a commercial use permit to operate within the park.

Jan 6th - 20:03pm | Anonymous

Segways in the National Parks...how tacky! Next we'll have conveyor belts to help the super obese get their fat butts around the parks. Parks are for wholesome exercise: physically, mentally and spiritually.

Jan 6th - 18:02pm | Kath

Segways are toys. They aren't transportation. They aren't for the handicapped. Little old ladies who need wheelchairs because of their hip replacements or osteoporosis won't be using Segways as an alternative.

Jan 6th - 17:46pm | scott white

Might as well throw another tire on the fire. Another not very brilliant idea actually receives the validity of controversy. Must we really even entertain this hair- brained idea? There is no practical use for a segway in the parks. The Handicapped can't stand on a segway, and if they can, they should just walk or take a shuttle.

Jan 6th - 17:17pm | Mr. Mojave

I see a perfect place for these – as an alternative to the summer shuttle in Zion (or other shuttle-only roads). But the rental must be economical – and not Xanterra economical, either.

Jan 6th - 17:03pm | Tom

Just, please make then available for the Handicap!!

Jan 6th - 15:49pm | Gary

Maybe they need to have baskets on them also so people can carry their candy, cigarettes, soda and Big Macs around.

Jan 6th - 15:42pm | Barky

Let's be realistic here. Segways are not an off-road vehicle. I doubt they can even go on a lawn, much less a trail. So, that limits their use to the following: -- roads -- sidewalks -- paved or well-graded interpretive trails

Jan 6th - 15:28pm | Anonymous

They are more environmentally friendlier than cars and motorcycles. If they could be used in such a way to cut automotive congestion in the parks, I'm for it. Also, they would be a handy tool for park rangers in certain areas. The Chicago police department use them to patrol the city parks.

Jan 6th - 14:57pm | Donna

Segways, the conveyance of the future. That is all well and good. I can see ones with handicaps using such a vehicle to get around in. I understand that. But.....National Parks!!! Please. The object of a National Park and the reason so many of us go there is to see and experience the outdoors. Which means walking, using those 2 branches of the human body that the "Big guy upstairs" gave us.

Jan 6th - 14:33pm | Jim

No, no, no, no and no. "Perhaps there are places in the national park system where Segways make sense..." That'll be another no.

Jan 6th - 14:22pm | Bob Janiskee

Allowing Segways in our National Parks is one of the dumbest ideas that ever came down the pike. Perhaps a case could be made for allowing disabled people to use them, in which case the Segways should be clearly marked as conveyances for the physically disabled. Being overweight and lazy should not be an acceptable excuse for using a Segway in a national park.

Jan 6th - 13:49pm | Anonymous

Please do not allow segways in parks- thanks

60 Minutes : The Age of Megafires

Jan 9th - 14:54pm | gruntsgt

I don't know if you know it BUT many of the crew members are laid off each winter. They don't make much money and rank is slow to come. A family member of mine having been with the USFS as a sawyer for about 9 years, he will not jump to a local fire station for more money because he just doesn't feel right being paid for standing around.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jan 9th - 10:44am | rock climbing tours

As late as the 1870s, Half Dome was declared "perfectly inaccessible",[1] but it may now be ascended in several different ways. Thousands of hikers reach the top each year by following a trail from the valley floor. The trailhead is only 2 mi (3.2 km) from Half Dome itself, but the circuitous route is 8.5 mi (13.7 km) long.

Zion National Park's New Backcountry Management Plan Reduces Daily Traffic in The Narrows

Jan 9th - 08:13am | Anonymous

50% increase in the subway? that's nuts. that route is already too crowded during the season when you don't need a wetsuit. i didn't read or comment on the plan, but that seems insane. i guess you can't trust the park service to really preserve an area. i say this because i've had to wait in line at certain obstacles on that route, and i've only hiked it 3 times.

Jan 8th - 16:21pm | repanshek

Good question, MRC. Some explanation:

Jan 8th - 02:04am | MRC

Does the three-day-rule for online permits mean, that no one can plan their backcountry trip in Zion more then three days ahead? This won't be popular by visitors from out of state or even international visitors.

Judge Tosses Surprise Canyon Lawsuit

Jan 8th - 16:44pm | Mike Heinz

Have you ever road a dirt bike? Do you know how much energy it takes to ride one? Do you know how healthy you have be to ride a dirt bike? Do you know this is about jeeps and not motorcycles? Do you even have a clue about what your talking about?

Jan 8th - 16:40pm | Mike Heinz

Please post a map showing the 97.5% of America that I can ride my ATV. I would like to go there. Who's makinr wild claims? Try 35% and getting smaller.

Jan 8th - 16:29pm | Michael Heinz

These people won't stop until the only place we're allowed to go is our living rooms playing video games and filing law suits. And who says" Kudos ", anymore?

Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitors Seem to Prefer Things Rustic

Jan 7th - 20:38pm | wonderly00

Hear Hear. Cape Hatteras is really developed, so if you want a developed national seashore, you can go there, and if you want a more rustic/natural seashore then Cape Lookout is the place to be. I love that there is no road access to Cape Lookout. That's what makes it so nice--and quiet.

National Park Service Retirees Outline 2008 Goals for Park Service

Jan 7th - 19:07pm | Barky

There is a glaring ommission in the retiree wish list. None of their items are even vaguely possible without clear, loud, unwavering support from our elected officials.

2007's Top National Park Stories

Jan 7th - 12:58pm | footsore

Just found your website. From what I have seen so far, looks good. I am a lifetime visitor of our National Parks and over the past ten years spend as much time, more really, visiting them on the web. What I have found over the last 12-18 months, since their websites have been taken over by the Washington Repubs, is the lowering of content.

Mission

Jan 6th - 14:10pm | Steve Sergeant

mexico adventure wrote: a real vacation means exploring new countries and cultures I'll grant that this definition supports your business model well.

Jan 5th - 13:13pm | mexico adventure

I would recommend a national park vacation for old people of families for camping but a real vacation means exploring new countries and cultures

Death Valley's Bobcats Likely Lured In By Poor Food Handling at Inn

Jan 5th - 11:35am | Linda

You hear it all the time: "Don't feed wild animals!". They tend to come back again and again. Free food is an enticement for them. Also, with the advancement of new communities and new properties being built, there's less and less land for wildlife to live in. It's a shame that humans have become such greedy land-grabbers. We need more protected land for our country's wildlife.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.