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Developing Diversity in the National Parks

Sep 27th - 15:09pm | Anonymous

ayyyy, here we go again... if tax payers are funding a park system that they aren't using, then the whole system itself, including the backlog of maintenance, is in danger of implosion and becoming irrelevant...

Sep 27th - 12:38pm | E. Johnson

I thoroughly enjoyed the article. It was heart warming to know that NPS is concerned about diversity especially since I believe its funding comes from all Americans. A little less fear and negativity and a little more inclusiveness could really change the state of our public lands.

Sep 26th - 10:11am | Kath

I was thinking about this issue on my Labor Day trip to Yosemite. Believe me, there was plenty of diversity of visitors in Yosemite Valley. Asians, East Indians, Hispanics and blacks. California is diverse so Yosemite visitation is diverse. So at least as far as Yosemite is concerned, I don't think there is any diversity 'problem'.

Longtime Yosemite Wilderness Ranger Retires

Sep 27th - 14:26pm | Tom Christensen

CONGRATULATIONS....... WENT TO YOSEMITE GRAMMER SCHOOL WITH RANDY MORGRNSON REMEMBER HIM? "BACK COUNTRY RANGER" "THE LAST SEASON" AMAZON.COM

Death Valley Looking to Electronic Rangers to Raise Money, Lure Younger Generations

Sep 27th - 14:24pm | Lone Hiker

They wouldn't happen to have some pizza and a drive-thru liquor store handy too, would they? I hope these devises are nice enough to inform you where the restrooms are.......

Sep 26th - 20:34pm | Merryland

So now they can hire an illegal alien to collect your money and hand out these gizmos to the techno-starved masses. For me, our National Parks will always be the place to get away from places like this blogosphere, the computer on my desk at work, my telephone, and my kids' video games. I love it when the cell phone doesn't work.

Sep 26th - 17:02pm | Claire Walter

These sound like the 21st century of those audio tapes you used to be able to buy or rent to describe places motorists were passing. Claire @ http://travel-babel.blospot.com

Bay Area Cartoonist with Yosemite Park Focus has Died

Sep 27th - 09:57am | Anonymous

Jeremy, a creative genius with a flair to make us all laugh with his delightful cartoons. I'm sure all the folks at Camp Farley miss him as much I do...the Yosemite spirit lives on!

Death Valley May Be On Lookout For Steve Fosset

Sep 26th - 20:27pm | Merryland

And SAR folks aren't very good at interp... although there are a few out there that can do it all -- my heroes.

Sep 26th - 18:32pm | Equally Anonymous

I doubt the GPS Rangers will assist in the search, but they would be able to provide information to visitors while traditional rangers are out looking for Fossett. Besides, interp rangers aren't very good at SAR!

Sep 26th - 15:40pm | Anonymous

No word yet from the Park Service as to whether the new GPS Electronic Rangers will be up for the challenge of a Search and Rescue mission. The park may employ some iPods as back up.

Overdue Hiker Turns Up in Rocky Mountain National Park

Sep 25th - 21:16pm | Merryland

DENVER -- Search and Rescue teams have found a hiker who went missing in the Rocky Mountain National Park Tuesday evening. Link: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14205018/detail.html

NPS Snowmobile Plan for Yellowstone, Grand Teton Bucks Science, the Public, and Itself

Sep 25th - 16:47pm | jersu

I hate to throw this into the mix without double checking first, but I *think* one big difference between the motorcycle noise and snowmobile noise, is that snowmobile noise is unregulated. Motorcycles have to meet federal standards for highway travel, whereas snowmobiles are an off-road vehicle not confined to the same regulations.

Sep 25th - 16:35pm | repanshek

Kath, you raise a good point. I can't give you a complete answer, but I do know that those who want to see a snowmobile ban focus on the complete pollution package -- noise, air, water, etc., as well as wildlife disturbances.

Sep 25th - 14:17pm | Kath

I googled a bit and found that motorcycle noise is an issue along the Blue Ridge Parkway per a recent article in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Sep 25th - 13:20pm | Kath

I've never had the pleasure of visiting Yellowstone or Grand Teton in winter, so I can't comment on the noise and pollution brought about by snowmobiles in the park. Few people (relatively) visit those parks in winter.

Padre Island Interpretive Program Simply Succeeds

Sep 25th - 15:43pm | pkrnger

I agree with Merryland above. The internet and other electronic means of communication are excellent mechanisms for promoting inter- and intra- staff communications.

Sep 24th - 16:27pm | Merryland

I support the administrative merging of co-located parks to reduce the upper management ranks. What's funny is that the techno-approach being used to reach visitors could also easily be used for management and staff to regularly interact.

Sep 23rd - 16:52pm | Merryland

This ranger latched on to the fact that this kid had an interest in Peregrines and went with it. Bully for her, as TR would say. She could have easily recited the usual blah blah swearing in ceremony for the kid and then re-parked her butt back behind the desk and pasted on a smile waiting for the next "Where's the bathroom?" question to come along.

Sep 23rd - 15:41pm | jersu

Haunter Hiker and Beamis - thanks very much for weighing in.

Sep 23rd - 15:03pm | haunted hiker

Yeah. What Beamis said.

Sep 22nd - 01:25am | jersu

Jon, Thanks very much for adding that video. It demonstrates exactly my thoughts regarding this article. For all the talk about "reaching out to the iPod generation", I think something very important is being missed. People want to talk with people, they want to connect with someone at the park, kids included. There are lessons to be learned in that short video.

Sep 22nd - 00:12am | Merryland

I'd like to see anyone replace this ranger or this kid's experience with an ipod... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfQ0oX-PLnU

Judge Orders Cross Removed from Mojave National Preserve

Sep 25th - 12:16pm | Randy Potgiesser

I am continually amazed at people who are "offended" by religious symbols or the beliefs of another person. No where in any documents of this country except the liberal media does it give you the right to not be offended. You're offended by something? So what? Live with it.

Sep 23rd - 07:48am | Dan Simonds

Have we forgotten that this country was founded on christianity? God has always been a big part of our country.I`m offended by those who are trying to take God out of our country.The worst thing we can do is allow these people to remove religion from our government.

Biodiversity Studies in the Parks Reveal Previously Unknown Species

Sep 25th - 10:50am | Lone Hiker

The outcome of this endeavor shouldn't be all that surprising. Microbiologists estimate that a mere 2% of all existing microbic life forms have been catagorized to date, again a function of research dollars (and time) not being allocated to the expansion of these types of projects.

How Would YOU Fix the Statue of Liberty?

Sep 24th - 17:24pm | jersu

Yes, Bandelier has ladders available for folks to climb, to get a good look at the dwellings carved into the cliff face (cavelets I think they are called). To get to these ladders requires visitors take a somewhat steep and narrow path that includes many stairs.

Sep 24th - 16:30pm | Merryland

I think Bandelier also has a bunch of ladders throughout the park that visitors are allowed to climb. Is anyone out there familiar with that park and how that gets handled?

Sep 24th - 14:00pm | Lone Hiker

While 268 steps is not MY idea of a strenuous endeavor, I get the point. But I totally disagree with the "can't tell 'em they're too fat" notion............just try and get your two-seater butt on a mule into the Grand Canyon. I'll attest to 200 lbs. not being a conventional guideline for obesity, but that's the limit for Arizona mules.

Sep 23rd - 22:30pm | Anonymous

Having worked at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (America's tallest lighthouse) which is opened for climbing, I've been down this road before. It's a historic structure which was not designed for thousands of people stomping up and down on the historic structure every day and its 268 steps.

Sep 22nd - 19:59pm | Merryland

Hi Nancy... In fact, I think the model for the historic lantern tour at Jewel Cave would work well here. Reservations a must. Sign on the dotted line. Narrow passages and steep climbs, claustrophobics -- you've been warned. Kids must be able to walk it all on their own (no carried kids). --Jon

Sep 22nd - 17:44pm | Nancy Bandley

I am very fortunate to have made the climb to the top- twice- once before she was refurbished and I think I still have a jacket with the rust stains to prove it! and again, once she was refurbished. I have also visited every one of the 391 park units in the US park system, so I draw on some experience. The statue is history, art and a symbol.

Sep 21st - 19:39pm | Lornie

I think it is still under warranty...so, take it down, send it back to France for the fix

Sep 21st - 12:32pm | Anonymous

Yes, we are the best "dam" country. So many dams on our rivers... On a related note to the story, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The statue isn't the problem; the problem is too many visitors.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Sep 24th - 14:51pm | Anonymous

Yea, maybe we should have elevator shafts running up the inside of the dome too, and an emergency staircase running down the face. Grow up. The park service does not need to put trails in the wilderness either. Since they do, should they put drinking fountains every 500 yards? The truth is, people do not need to go into the wilderness.

Management of Lady Liberty Discussed in Congress

Sep 24th - 13:34pm | jersu

Alexander,

Sep 24th - 13:06pm | Alexander Brash

The Statue of Liberty, like all national parks, should be open and welcoming for Americans to enjoy. Closure of the crown illustrates the chronic funding shortfalls facing our national parks and the critical need for a $200 million increase contained in legislation now moving through Congress.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vandalized

Sep 23rd - 20:35pm | Merryland

I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but there are lots of idiots out there documenting their blatant disdain for park regulations and general stupidity on YouTube. Hopefully it will do more to contribute to them being caught rather than encourage more idiots to come out of the woodwork to try to out-do them.

Sep 23rd - 07:32am | Dan Simonds

These are the same kind of young adults that knock over grave stones,spray paint on private property,hurt animals,and steal from our elderly. When they catch them,they need to be put to work cleaning up instead of putting them in jail.

Sep 22nd - 10:41am | Anonymous

Merryman, I have seen most of this pathetic action that you relate so well. In some of the parks that I did managed, I've seen mean sick kids (and parents) breaking glass and hiding the broken pieces in playground sand pits. Teenages breaking beer bottles on public beachs, and obviously (if your in bare feet) you can figure what happens next. Always a first aid kit at hand and tweezers.

Sep 21st - 21:32pm | Merryland

Walked by the Memorial today with my daughter. Didn't see the evidence -- perhaps they've cleaned it up already.

Sep 21st - 13:43pm | Claire Walter

This in inexorably sad.

Sep 21st - 12:27pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I guess I really don't understand what would motivate someone to do this. It's an odd act of vandalism.

Dry Conditions Blamed For Bear Problems in Grand Teton, Yosemite

Sep 23rd - 09:12am | blatz_rox

I would like to know about what may have happened to the missing hiker in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve.They say they found his gear near the airstrip where he was to be picked up, & some footprints that possibly are his near the Russell Glacier. Can anyone tell me if there are a lot of bears around there, & what type of terrain it is.

Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite

Sep 22nd - 22:05pm | Rick Deutsch

I've met Butch and hiked with him on the Mist Trail last spring. He's a great low-key guy. The book is huge....nearly 600 pages and with no photos. A kind of War and Peace read. I use it for reference. For example, turns out the man who fell off the Half Dome cables in June was the first and only hiker to die while using the cables when they were up for summer hiking.

Amusing Looking Sign on Blue Ridge Parkway

Sep 22nd - 13:31pm | Evan

This one is in Idaho Fall, ID:

Arches and Canyonlands In the Fall: Rock Architecture and Dwindling Crowds

Sep 22nd - 02:00am | MRC

You are absolutely right in praising Arches and Canyonlands NP. They are spectacular places. And you are so right in recommending a tour to the fiery furnace in Arches NP. I was there some years ago and told everyone who traveled the region not to miss either the parks nor this specific area.

Sep 22nd - 00:59am | Dave O

There are 10 BLM campgrounds along Highway 128, the Colorado River Road, just north of Moab. We stayed at Goose Island just over a year ago and really like the quiet. And it was a very short drive to Arches. There was no water available, but then I wasn't paying the price for a luxury lodge!

Is There Any Better Time to Visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton Than Fall?

Sep 21st - 22:08pm | William Masek

Yellowstone has got to be one of the most picturesque parks in the world. It has so much variety to offer any type of traveler. Definitely a number one place to visit. Great article. Enjoyable reading. William Masek www.letsgotraveltheworld.com

Hidden Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore

Sep 21st - 11:39am | JP - Thousand O...

When I first visited Mt. Rushmore in 1975, the video shown to visitors at the park included a segment about the "Hall of Records" and the original intent of its creator, Gutzon Borglum.

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