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Centennial Projects: Mountain Biking in Big Bend National Park

Sep 18th - 21:09pm | Merryland

I like Grand Canyon where some of the paved roads are closed to vehicular traffic in the high volume months but allow bikes to share the road with the occasional bus -- that's more akin to "safe, family-friendly biking" where sightseeing while riding is possible without a huge risk of killing yourself. I enjoy both the road and trail.

Sep 18th - 20:36pm | zack

While I can't comment on what the Park Service has actually written regarding cutting new singletrack, trails 5 feet in width are far wider than most singletrack utilized by mountain bikers.

Sep 18th - 18:36pm | haunted hiker

I disagree with the last two posters. Mountain biking can be a wonderful addition to other methods of self propelled travel in national parks.

Sep 17th - 17:08pm | Glenn Scofield ...

Here, here, Anonomous (not verified) 2... well put.

Sep 17th - 16:05pm | Anonymous

mountain bike trails do nothing for transportation, especially when you follow the mountain bike centric IMBA trail building standards, (http://www.imba.com/resources/trail_building/) they exist primarily for the thrill of biking on a trail, so let's be sure to minimize any expectation that the parks will somehow work to "reduce their

Sep 17th - 08:53am | Anonymous

In July I spent a week at Far View in Mesa Verde nat. park, where bikes of any kind are apparently not allowed, at least I never saw any. That surprised me. I just assumed bikes and specific bike trails or paved bike paths would be a natural benefit to such a location by reducing auto traffic and its air pollution.

If You Have to Ask the Price, The Ahwahnee And Jenny Lake Lodge Are Probably Out of Reach

Sep 18th - 07:35am | jsmacdonald

Let's be a little clear hear. In the parks where companies like Xanterra and Delaware North are running concessions, they are already to that extent privatized - regulated, in many cases monopolized (in Yellowstone, there is some competition for some services between those two concessions, for instance), but raked in by a corporation.

Sep 17th - 22:33pm | joe

I have deep concerns about privatizing the amminites of the NPS. The next maybe a company from Spain gains the bid for these concessions. Then the 80% of the profits are not even invested in the US. Also once this profit making system is estiblished what next? Will they start to place private security forces in place of forest rangers. We're doing that to fight our wars.

Sep 17th - 21:36pm | Anonymous

I do remember this kind of fiasco with the MCA Corporation. They actively and shewedly screwed the NPS with there Yosemite Concessions and made millions, while kicking in a measly 2% to the Parks coffers! MCA is gone, but talk about a sweetheart deal with back room corruption. This trend still continues till this day!

Sep 17th - 18:38pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I agree, Beamis. They are not.

Sep 17th - 17:21pm | Glenn Scofield ...

The idea that fair market competition would lower prices in Yosemite or any other park is absolutely absurd. Where in the rest of the world does that happen? Resort industries have a monopoly by their very presence in the valued place so prices only go up up up.

Sep 17th - 16:37pm | Kath

I agree with competition. If one company operated the Yosemite Lodge and another operated Curry Village, the competition would likely spark improvements to both properties as each vied to be the better facility with the better rates.

Sep 17th - 10:16am | Kath

Places like the Ahwahnee were built specifically to cater to the super-rich. Stephen Mather, first NPS superintendent, thought that in order for the National Parks to get the funding and approvals needed in Washington, they had to be places where the wealthy movers and shakers in the East Coast elite wanted to vacation. So the parks needed hotels that would attract that sort.

Sep 15th - 19:32pm | Merryland

I'm pretty much not interested in these sorts of accomodations so long as I can still carry my tent and sleeping bag. I did, however, get the steak dinner at Phantom Ranch once when hiking through the canyon and boy oh boy was that a good investment regardless of the price, which I no longer recall. After eating astronaut food for a day or two or three, that was one awesome meal.

Sep 15th - 12:57pm | Anonymous

Gotcha Frank! Excellent points made!!

Sep 15th - 12:04pm | Anonymous

Kath, if your a well heeled silicon valley boy, the Ahawahee Hotel is no subject of high prices. Why can't we All have a taste of the good life at the Ahawahee. The hotel systems in the National Parks should bear in mind that the super rich shouldn't alway's get that carte blanche treatment.

Sep 15th - 08:59am | Kath

All the prices for lodging in Yosemite are very high compared to comparable lodgings elsewhere. Tent cabins in White Wolf are $93. per night for four cots and a Franklin stove. No electricity. The motel rooms at Curry Village are approx. $170. with tiny bathrooms. Yet, these accommodations are almost always full during the summer so using basic Economics 101, they are not overpriced.

This Just In : Fort Hancock STILL a Mess

Sep 18th - 05:21am | Merryland

Make a decision NPS -- are the buildings worth keeping or not?

Sep 18th - 03:25am | MRC

I repeat my thoughts on the Presidio of San Francisco: If you believe modern, commercial uses of large, multi-building areas are inconsistent with the purpose of a unit in the National Park system, then take them out of the System and give them to the BLM or create a new agency to manage federal property of this kind.

Successful Search in Rocky Mountain National Park

Sep 15th - 06:17am | Judy

I am glad that this turned out well. However, they should never have split up. In my training and experience it is the obligation of the stronger hiker to adjust their pace to their partner or slowest of the group. You DO NOT abandon people on the trail!

Sep 13th - 21:42pm | Claire Walter

No wonder he seemed lost. From the Longs Peak Trailhead, the twosome would have started up the main trail. At a trail intersection, the companion probably zigged to the right toward the Boulder Field and on toward Mt. Lady Washington, while Mt. Everhard lagged behind and then zagged to the left and ended on the trail to Chasm Lake.

Olympic National Park Ready for Wolves?

Sep 14th - 20:08pm | jsmacdonald

Wyoming's plan doesn't just call for a hunting season; Wyoming's plan calls for wolves outside a certain area to be classified as vermin. There is a lot of question also whether the number of packs that Wyoming must maintain can be maintained with the policies in place.

Sep 14th - 14:13pm | Random Walker

This is the best news I have heard since my return home to the PNW. Now to do something about those pesky Mountain Goats in the Olympic National Park ;-} "Real life ain't always like a Kevin Costner movie." Nor is it like Disney's "Never Cry Wolf." Thank the heavens...

Sep 14th - 14:11pm | Mike

It will take several years before anyone can go "hog wild" in any state. Actually there will never be anyone ever going "hog wild". The animals are far to protected to allow that to happen and hunting is actually the best way to control the species populations of game animals. Hunting isn't a free for all, it is a thoroughly managed and proven effective way to control species populations.

Sep 14th - 10:43am | jsmacdonald

One note on booming wolf numbers, a report by Ed Bangs on Wyoming wolf numbers put out this summer suggests that Wyoming wolf totals this year may decrease slightly (this is before Wyoming plans to go hog wild in exterminating wolves).

Sep 14th - 10:21am | Mike

I think wolves are great. If kept in check they do good things for their environment. But it sounds like at least one of the people in that meeting have their heads in the clouds when it comes to how "wild", wild wolves really are. These are not the neighbor's chocolate lab down the street, they are amazing hunting and killing machines.

Sep 14th - 07:52am | Merryland

I suppose you wouldn't want the wolves munching on the fishers... but nice to see the effort is still on track. I have started seeing more coyotes here in the Baltimore/DC area -- it's very exciting. Bring in your kitty cats for the evening folks!

Private Party At Charlestown Navy Yard Doesn't Lack Alcohol

Sep 14th - 15:59pm | Anonymous

The person who arrested the guy was a "Park law enforcment ranger" not a "Police Officer" although they call themselves police officers..

Sep 10th - 22:39pm | Anonymous

I would just like to add that the parks were set aside for the benefit and enjoyement of the people. The parks were meant to be used!!

Sep 10th - 15:25pm | Anonymous

"On an earlier comment, the "guy in the yellow shirt" who stopped a visitor from entering the Navy Yard, that was one of the law enforcement fellows...funny they have "POLICE" on the back of their shirt..they wish..."

Grand Teton Puts Down Another Bear

Sep 14th - 06:26am | jsmacdonald

My point is that over the longterm, this is no way to solve this problem (and it's actually no way to solve any law enforcement problem). There's posters all over my apartment complex to "report suspicious activity." There are two freaking plain clothes police officers living in my building, an attempt to intimidate and scare residents.

Sep 13th - 18:57pm | haunted hiker

Randy, I think you make an excellent point. Lately, I've noticed that, in some parks in particular, the condition of NPS trailhead bulletin boards is pathetic. Water stained interpretive brochures. No trail information. And no updated, if any, safety advice. I'm not saying that was the case at Grand Teton. Just something I've noticed elsewhere.

Sep 13th - 15:37pm | Randy

Jim Macdonald,

Sep 13th - 06:23am | jsmacdonald

"It is what bears do," but this situation could have avoided if people had taken the time to inform each other about bears and this bear in particular. Not all organizing is advocacy organizing. We are still combating long held cultural stereotypes about the joys of feeding animals as well as the simultaneous sensationalizing of bear attacks.

Sep 12th - 20:34pm | Randy

We reported this Bear to the Ranger at Jenny Lake on August 29, 2007, we had 5 hikers turned around coming towards us on the trail by the String Lake Trailhead, they had encountered the black bear and said it was aggressive towards them.

Sep 11th - 14:33pm | Lone Hiker

So, when do they begin the sensible course of action......close the park until people can act responsibly? Hopefully, the winter snows will come early and often.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Sep 13th - 17:54pm | Anonymous

I am going to climb half dome the last weekend in September. I want to be as safe as possible and get a harness and caribiners. However, I have never done such a hike that would remotely require this, so I have no idea where to start looking. All I am finding are harness for those who would do such climbs as the face of half dome. I am doing the back side. Any suggestions?

GAO: Interior Failed to Provide Park Service With Tools To Cope With Climate Change

Sep 13th - 07:53am | Lone Hiker

I fully understand your sentiment that I'm either completely off my nut or some other such metaphor, and that the flatulence issue was something I invented to justify an opinion. For any and all interested parties, I suggest that your view a news article from the Associated Press, 9/12/07

Sep 10th - 13:01pm | Lone Hiker

I'm not particularly enthralled with the prospects for the future either. And to Jr. Ranger, I have six of my own who I am most concerned about, but to claim that the old farts aren't doing anything and the younger generation is spearheading the movement isn't at all accurate.

Sep 10th - 11:54am | vink80

YOU ARE ALL OVER LOOKING SOME BASIC FACTS: I AM 83yrs old --- WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL IN PHILLIPS, MAINE I WAS TAUGHT AND SHOWN SOME BASIC THINGS ABOUT THE ICE AGE. GROOVES ON WHEELER HILL MADE BY MELTING AND MOVING GLACIERS ---- DAVIS ROCK CARRIED IN AND DROPPED BY THE GLACER. ---- AND ALL ACROSS COUNTRY THERE ARE LANDMARKS MADE BY THE ICE AGE MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO .

Sep 10th - 10:50am | Anonymous

Lone Hiker, good points and well taken but that does not satisfy my curiousity why you didn't blame this all on the cockroachs (emiittance of huge amounts of methane gas). In jest!

The Secret Life of Drugs in Parks

Sep 13th - 04:39am | Merryland

Olympic National Park (WA) Multi-Year Drug Investigation Concludes With Arrests, Seizures

Dry Conditions Blamed For Bear Problems in Grand Teton, Yosemite

Sep 12th - 17:49pm | Merryland

OK, I guess I missed that last minute safety... Bears 14, Cowboys 2

Sep 12th - 10:55am | Lone Hiker

I would be curious to view any correlation in past years to ecological and environment data pertaining to "dry" years and the resultant effect on whatever might be considered a normal level of annual encounters between the bear population and human visitors would equate into, and I'm certain that these data are readily available.

Sep 12th - 06:19am | jsmacdonald

There's more to this - apparently, the man wounded the bear, and so the portion of the Gallatin National Forest that he was in was closed off because of the dangers of a wounded grizzly bear (and they aren't absolutely sure it was a grizzly that attacked). Of course, I've got relevant stories in the newspaper on the black bears as well as this latest grizzly incident.

Sep 11th - 23:09pm | repanshek

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes he eats you!

Sep 11th - 20:27pm | Merryland

Another bear incident just outside the Yellowstone boundary on Sunday I believe -- some park employee was out HUNTING for black bear when a grizzly decided to go hunting for HIM. Details are on the NPS website if you're interested. Final score: Bears 14, Cowboys 0

Judge Orders Cross Removed from Mojave National Preserve

Sep 10th - 14:26pm | Lone Hiker

Good job Kurt, you have indeed touched a common nerve.

Sep 10th - 11:19am | entropyhed

It's tricky to respond posts like this (but watch me try anyway :) ). The best I can do I suppose is keep it personal. I'm an atheist. I'm also an occasional visitor to the Mojave preserve and have seen the cross. Am I deeply offended the cross is there? No. I'm regaled by Christian imagery everywhere I look, and quite honestly a bit numb to it. Am I offended? Yes.

Sep 10th - 09:35am | repanshek

Tom, I appreciate your diligence in tracking down the court order. But I would disagree with your analysis that this case is "not about religious symbols at all."

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