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How Many Dead Bears Can Katmai Endure?

Feb 14th - 19:20pm | Snowbird

Could it be that the Alaskan Game Board is in the hands of the NRA gun lobby...I wonder about these guy's that will go to extremes to get a bear trophy over the fireplace..."something like a huge gut pile is a happy hunter"! Where's Grizzly Adams when we need him.

Feb 14th - 17:43pm | Alan

The McNeil sanctuary manager, a veteran of many years in the job, quit in protest over the game board's decision. He's a hero. The game board members are anything but.

What Do You Want To See In Traveler?

Feb 14th - 19:13pm | Random Walker

Good question, well put SteveSgt. I am liking your focus and your style of reporting on our national parks Kurt. It gets us park enjoyers thinking more about getting involved in our public lands. There are so many "easily digestable" sites out here with step by step lessons on how to enjoy our national parks that I find your site a breath of fresh air.

Feb 14th - 11:39am | SteveSgt

In the open-source software world, they have a phrase, "fork or bloat." Once a piece of software attains a certain level of popularity, users and developers become tempted to stretch the simple elegance and clear purpose of the original design to serve a wider or more general range of uses.

Feb 12th - 06:20am | Mookie

To respond to Jim (Jim, I do love reading your writing as well), I like the NP deals that Kurt posts. I see this blog as not only a place to exchange ideas on the Parks -- what's wrong with them, what's right with them, what needs to be fixed, etc. -- but also a celebration of what the parks have to offer.

Feb 9th - 19:46pm | Snowbird

Kurt, come to think about it again, regarding your article here. I really don't know what more you can do with this very informative blog. In most cases it covers just about every nick and cranny in the National Parks. I guess most of are sedated society today is becoming even more sedated and inoculated with junk food and junk T.V.

Feb 9th - 19:03pm | Snowbird

Since most of are National Park rangers go unrewarded in monetary pay for their hard work and dedicated service, how about promoting a story or two about a extroadinary ranger that devotes beyond the pale of exemplary service in the National Parks...a special article on "The Ranger of The Month"... something special that we all can be proud about. Just a thought.

Feb 9th - 17:02pm | Random Walker

How about a list of volunteer opportunities in our National Parks? Trip reports instead of hiking suggestions? As Jim posted above, I also would like to see a way for people to organize and take action upon issues you cover here. I have passed on the reading of lodging specials and that sort of thing, does not seem to fit in with the rest.

Feb 9th - 15:31pm | repanshek

Thanks, Jim. Check's in the mail;-)

Feb 9th - 14:39pm | Jim Macdonald

more sex, drugs, rock'n'roll, and snowmobiles Oh, and I'd especially love to discuss the age of the Grand Canyon for the 3,000 millionth time. Kurt, you have a good formula going. I think the site is popular because: 1. You are a good and fair writer. 2. You have great original reporting. 3. You cover as much as is humanly possible.

George and Hetch Hetchy

Feb 14th - 17:45pm | Alan

Hey, anything's possible with the wrecking crew that's holed up in the White House or whatever undisclosed location they're choosing of late.

Listening Sessions: Will the NPS Be Listening?

Feb 12th - 08:38am | Jim Macdonald

Kurt, I personally don't plan on attending the session in Washington, D.C. I'd consider disrupting the session, but most people here aren't interested in parks issues, although the National Park Service is one of the dominant law enforcement agencies in this city (even the most minor parks and traffic circles are usually NPS-administered).

How Many Volunteers Does It Take to Run A Park?

Feb 12th - 07:50am | kath

I agree that volunteers tend to be less knowledgeable than rangers. My last visit to Happy Isle Nature Center in Yosemite is an illustration. I asked what I considered to be a few simple questions about bears such as "how long do the cubs stay with the mother?" and the volunteer at the information desk had no idea.

Feb 11th - 14:26pm | Ranger X

I'm concerned that the standards for interpretive park rangers and interpretive volunteers are wildly disparate. For instance, a GS-5 park ranger generally either a year of GS-4 experience or a four-year degree in one of many fields: history, anthropology, biology, etc. However, there is no such requirement, that I'm aware of, for volunteers.

Feb 11th - 13:56pm | Alan

An early page in the privatization book. That's how I look at this. I have no problem with volunteers helping. But when I hear that the Pentagon has mislaid $12B, I have to wonder just what in the heck is going on. Each of the parks should be funded to the level its superintendent believes is prudent, given maintenance, staffing, visitation and infrastructure needs.

Walking on Water at Apostle Islands

Feb 10th - 17:02pm | retreadranger

I'll second your recommendation of the sea caves as a great winter destination. I know them well: I used to be the District Ranger in charge of that area. For a half-dozen winters in the 1990s, I spent many a Saturday and Sunday out on the ice, getting back to the most enjoyable part of a ranger's job: mingling with visitors and sharing their wonderment at spectacular natural beauty.

Draining Hetch Hetchy

Feb 10th - 08:50am | Mark Palley

Barbara Boxer has not opposed Hetch Hetchy restoration efforts. After the Governor's report came out, she expressed openness to further restoration studies. Cal. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, and Cal. Assembly Members Lois Wolk (Davis) and Joe Canciamilla (Pittsburg), all Cal. Democrats, are strong supporters of restoration. Congr. George Miller (Richmond) has expressed openness to it.

Feb 9th - 07:48am | kath

The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir isn't just used for water. It's also used to generate electricity. The entire operation could be moved downstream to other reservoirs that are already there. If an oil company were paying such a measly sum for drilling rights or ranchers were paying nothing to graze cattle on National Park lands, it would be a national, front page scandal.

Feb 8th - 16:44pm | Alan

$7M to study? How about using those bucks for the actual restoration? This is crazy. It's like hiring an architect to design a re-roofing project before hiring the actual roofers to perform a job that hardly needs architectural services. Come on. We can do better than this. If Feinstein and Boxer are in the way, let's push them aside. The ghost of John Muir is watching over this one.

Feb 8th - 13:49pm | Ranger X

Maybe someone else knows, but during what season does San Francisco need water from Hetch Hetchy the most? My assumption is summer. Studies say that because of global warming, more Sierra winter precip will be liquid rather than frozen, which means less snow melting in the spring and summer, which means Hetch Hetchy might be dry during the summer anyway.

Feb 8th - 12:14pm | kath

The scandal here is something that San Francisco could do right now to help Yosemite. That is, agree to pay a reasonable rent to the park. $30,000 per year is a paltry sum for drowning a significant portion of Yosemite. It's the same rent that has been paid for the past 70 years. San Francisco should pay the $8 million requested three years ago.

Feb 8th - 11:06am | Glenn Scofield...

The irony isn't lost on us Hetch Hetchy lovers that three attempts have been made in recent decades by politicians to study HH resotration and all three were Republicans: Ronald Reagan's Sec of Interior Donald Hodel, California Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger and now George Bush in his 2008 budget. And who is fighting the proposals the hardest? Democrats, led by Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein.

Shuttling to Acadia

Feb 9th - 13:53pm | Snowbird

Jim, I deeply admire your compassion shared with joshua.

Feb 9th - 10:58am | Jim Macdonald

joshua, I grew up a poor boy in Ohio; right now, I don't even own a car (though by choice). My first trip to Yellowstone was almost dumb luck and required me to have a job there (and a family that spent more money than it could afford just to get me to my job). So, I hear you.

Feb 9th - 08:58am | joshua

why do you people sit here and talk about a bus system is it the whole ,"my tax moneys going to this".

Feb 2nd - 17:43pm | jr_ranger

It's true that the parks face rampant overcrowding issues - which only breed trouble.

Feb 2nd - 13:25pm | repanshek

A reservation system would be a good tool, though I don't think the agencies have the stomach for it just yet. But keeping in mind what's going on with the climate, a combination of reservations and shuttles I think would be even better.

Feb 2nd - 13:18pm | kath

Having shuttle transportation in the park, doesn't really address the issue of overcrowding at some popular parks. It addresses some issues with traffic and parking only. Can't you foresee the day when the line for the shuttle to go to the South Rim has a sign that says, "The wait from this point is 60 minutes".

Feb 2nd - 12:33pm | jersu

I think we're on the same page here Kurt. When I said "most", I was thinking of the visitor you describe, hopping from overlook to overlook in their car. The time spent at that overlook might be less than 5 minutes, but if the shuttle only comes every 15 minutes, the nature of that "quick stop for a photo" fundamentally changes.

Shenandoah's Camp Hoover

Feb 8th - 16:47pm | Alan

Clearly, Bush visited Shenandoah for a photo op only. No other reason. Too bad the media mobsters were off watching Timmy Russert and other circuses. Well, actually it made no difference.

NPS Budget: Some Fallout

Feb 6th - 12:15pm | Claire Walter

Bush is no friend of the forests -- so it's no surprise that he is no friend of the people in the Forestry Department.

Feb 6th - 10:58am | Snowbird

Your so damn right Gregory! My friends in the U.S. Forestry Dept say the same thing. Bush is no friend to alot of people in the U.S. Forestry Dept.

Feb 6th - 10:36am | Alan Gregory

Kurt, one way the Bush team proposes to raise money in the proposed spending plan is the selling of national forest land. See http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WST_Bush_Budget_Northwest.html It's the second time the Bush administration has come up with this DOA proposal.

Bouncing Down the Road to Chaco Canyon

Feb 6th - 11:39am | jersu

I would be curious to know how many people have been turned back from a Chaco visit because of the existing dirt road. I would guess not many. Perhaps large tour operations and their buses which lead organized trips avoid the route for fear of upsetting their clientele on the miles and miles of washboard en route to the park.

Feb 5th - 20:47pm | Sabattis

Very interesting that your very next post was about limiting visitation.... After reading Ranger X's post, though, I have to wonder, though, is this really the spirit under which National Parks are publicly funded? He calls the prospects of paving the road a tragic mistake, because of the effects of increased visitation. But why limit visitation through a back-door like keeping a road unpaved.

Limiting Visitation

Feb 6th - 07:46am | kath

Why couldn't a reservation system work like any other reservation system? You check the date you want to visit. You put the entrance fee on your credit card and you are sent an e-entrance ticket by e-mail. If you have the yearly pass you enter your pass number into the system. Those without a computer could do the same thing by phone.

Feb 6th - 06:43am | Jim Macdonald

When you play God, you'd better have the wisdom of God to accompany your power. Descartes suggested that in some ways we have the knowledge of God (when it comes to matters related to necessity) but lack the power. Yet, today, we seem to have all the power to do whatever we want without any clue what we are unleashing. Our acts are universal; our knowledge is not.

Feb 5th - 21:03pm | Snowbird

Has anyone heard of the term "rotational grazing"? that is moving livestock from one pasture to the next without ruining the land from overgrazing...why can't this concept apply to the National Parks.

Feb 5th - 20:38pm | Sabattis

Even if one does choose to limit access - how does one allocate the visitation slots? In particular, any kind of advance reservation system based on waiting in line, or being the first to click on a website, will certainly risk creating a secondary market for entrance permits - it won't be long until those permits appear on Ebay...

Feb 5th - 19:19pm | Ike

I don't think parks should limit visitation yet, but I believe that it may be coming soon. The carrying capacity of certain areas, like Yosemite Valley, and the visitors' experience, like listening to natural quiet and not autos, can be increased with the elimination of private vehicles and successfully implementing alternative forms of transportation.

Feb 5th - 16:54pm | kath

1. It makes no sense to permit diesel buses in the parks. They pollute. They should be out. Anyone who has ever had the misfortune to have to follow one up the mountain to Sequoia would vote to ban the darn things. 2. I would be fine with a reservation system for entry to the most popular parks. It shouldn't be too hard to set up something online for easy access.

Feb 5th - 13:50pm | Ranger X

I'm for limiting car traffic, but not people traffic. For some reason, I missed this poll :

Feb 5th - 09:28am | Glenn Scofield...

The real elephant in the room when we talk about visitor capacity in the parks (and I'm really thinking about Yosemite now, since it's on the frontlines of the legal battle) is day-users.

NPS Budget: Boon, or Boondoggle?

Feb 6th - 07:40am | repanshek

My cynicism flows from a number of issues, not the least of which is the way this administration has treated public lands.

Feb 6th - 06:26am | Jim Macdonald

I think this budget confirms what some of us have been complaining about, that the parks are moving toward privatization, and this is yet another step along the way.

Feb 5th - 18:40pm | Sabattis

Well, you gave Bush credit where credit was due on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, but I guess that giving Bush credit twice in the same year was just too much for you.

Is Big Horn Canyon NRA Doomed By Drought or Politics?

Feb 5th - 20:49pm | Sabattis

Of course, there is a certain irony in fretting about the preservation of a dam and its man-made reservoir!

Climate Change and the Parks

Feb 3rd - 11:06am | Ranger X

"Alternative fuels, outside of solar power (and there are a whole host of issues with solar) are ultimately energy inefficient or require too much use of other resources."

Feb 3rd - 06:41am | Jim Macdonald

One thing that concerns me is the belief that some have that alternative fuels are the answer to this problem. I don't know if anyone here has studied the issues related to peak oil. Anyhow, a lot of discussions about this concept are pushing the envelope on thinking about energy.

Feb 2nd - 20:57pm | Ranger X

During seasonal training at Sequoia, Tweed discussed how climate change would affect old-growth sequoias. More precip falling as rain in the winter equals less snow melt. Less snow melt equals less water for trees in the spring and summer, peak growing season. Less water for trees means old growth sequoias are in trouble.

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