| Page 28 | National Parks Traveler

The "Vermont Abanaki" are NOT a federally recognized tribe. They are as native as someone like me who has a native in their ancestry line but are not actually descended from a line of native people. Huge difference. So much so the actual Abanaki people of Canada do not recognize the "Vermont Abanaki" as a tribe.

Congaree National Park Boosting Camping Fees To Cover Reservation Costs

Dec 4th - 10:53am | SmokiesBackpacker

It is a crock. And FLREA, the BS law that allows it is up for sunset next year. Tell your congress people to end this economic rape of taxpayers immediatley by sending Recreation.gov packing.

Dec 2nd - 15:57pm | Jerryc123

What a crock of $%^&. Another excuse for every park in the Country to raise their campground rates to "cover" the cost of reservations. This following requiring reservations at most all federal campgrounds in the Nation. First come/first served worked just fine. Go back to that. And what happens to that reservation fee I paid up front to make the reservation.

Dec 2nd - 08:39am | chris...

The war on the poor continues.. This for profit money making scam using OUR public lands needs to come to an end. Bill Gates and Booz allen have enough money.

Dec 2nd - 08:10am | Chris...

High costs and a for profit scheme? The nps really outdid itself. They likely fired the staff that used to take these reservations

Input Sought For Solutions To Crowding At Laurel Falls In Great Smoky Mountains

Dec 4th - 10:50am | SmokiesBackpacker

Chris, you are spot on. Superintendent Ca$$iu$ Ca$h should get an award for limiting access by taxpayers to taxpayer funded lands. Rec.gov will have their $14. Mark this post. Doesn't matter what the comments are. The NPS cares not.

Dec 2nd - 08:53am | chris...

the previous poster is correct- the NPS does not care. If you have not noticed the "covid pandemic" gave the NPS the excuse to implement the recreation gov scam and all of the other plans to reduce visitation, increase costs, and expand the NPS foot print to block development.

Land-Based Whale Waiting In The Gulf Islands To Honor Moby Doll

Dec 4th - 09:24am | Jennifer Bain

Thanks for the tip about San Juan Island - it would be great for its own story in 2023. To be clear, though, in my story I got to Saturna/East Point myself via a car ferry like everyone else. And you can do land-based whale watching in Greater Victoria at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard LIghthouse NHS (also mentioned in the story).

Dec 3rd - 22:42pm | Anonymously

Wish you would have at least pointed out that similar opportunities are available across the water in San Juan island national historical park. In fact, the park offers an extensive land based whale watching tour in the NPS app which makes finding whales accessible to far more people, most of whom don't get offered private boat rides by parcs Canada staff.

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Dec 2nd - 15:22pm | Dale

"most of the dire warnings at parks are overblown" when the warning/danger is real people don't take it seriously Yes, you've hit the nail on the head.

Around The Parks: NPS Seeking Public Comment

Dec 1st - 18:38pm | SmokiesBackpacker

The NPS is not interested in your comments whatsoever. At all. And everyone that has ever dealt with them knows that. What they are doing is checking a box for the failed law known as the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. It requires them to collect feedback then summarily disregard it.

"Narrows" Trip Leaves One Dead At Zion National Park

Dec 1st - 16:23pm | Melody G.

This story touches my heart. Its important to say, the good advice being given here is for a very fit, hiker in a certain age group. Truthfully most vacationing people overestimate their own capabilities. It's easy to do, and we've all been guilty of the mistake on some given trek. For safety sake, especially outside your home territory, be painfully realistic, even overly cautious.

Nov 30th - 17:54pm | Terry Smyers

My sympathy to the family.

Nov 30th - 17:14pm | Paul Kryder

It is nearly the dead of winter. Too isolated a trip to do this time of year. The combination of extreme cold and being wet for extended time periods (which you have no choice about when hiking the Narrows, since you must walk mostly IN the Virgin River, up to your waist at times) can be lethal. They should have waited at least until April to do this trip.

Nov 30th - 07:32am | Louisiana Woodsman

Just last week in New Hampshire, a 20 yr old girl died from hypothermia after went hiking in a treacherous area in one the parks and took a fall. She wasn't dressed appropriately for the weather, and had no survival gear whatsoever. People need to understand that there's more to this than taking a walk around the block at home...

Nov 29th - 03:17am | Cindy Nielsen

I have to respectfully disagree with some of your advice. Loading up on carbs prior is not helpful and science shows that during backpacking and long day hikes we use primarily fats as our main energy source. Check out the Gear Skeptic's evidence-based YouTube videos on fuel and nutrition and hydration during backpacking type activity.

Nov 28th - 14:52pm | Terry

Something to insulate you from the ground along with your space blanket

Nov 28th - 04:42am | Kris

The average does the bottom up

Nov 28th - 01:36am | Cheryl Foust

I lived/worked at the South Rim of Grand Canyon AZ in 1989. Unfortunately I saw unprepared hikers get themselves into trouble. Educate yourself about the hike and be prepared.

Nov 27th - 21:58pm | Anonymous

All of the advice posted here is terrible. The Narrows top down should never be undertaken at this time of the year with anything less than a full body dry suit... in addition to any camping gear you're taking along (sleeping bag, tent) that should be rated for less than 20 degree temperatures

Nov 27th - 18:20pm | Phil123

Not the same hike. Same trail.. but they did the upper part down that you cant access from the bottom.

Nov 27th - 18:16pm | Phil123

Forst thing is if you have to ask this question DONT consider it and seek out the knowledge. Someone in a comments section isnt gonna do that for you.

Nov 27th - 13:40pm | Yang

I just finished the hike on the Tuesday (4 miles in and out) before thanksgiving, it was very cold...I rented wet gear and my feet were wet and cold. I packed food/snacks and water. I had a clear plan and aware of my abilitie. Many folks have already given good advice and I will add...there's no shame in turning around at anytime, if you're cold, wet and tired.

Nov 27th - 11:10am | Andrew Nolan

"This is a 3-4 hour hike minimum", maybe if you are jogging. If your goal is hiker safety then be real about how long and difficult this hike is. Most people hike 2.5 miles per hour=6.5 hours for the average tourist.

Nov 27th - 10:44am | Mark Sompel

You are walking in cold water which may come up to your chest. Prepare accordingly. The first time doing this, walk up the river from the pulpit parking area, the last shuttle stop. Get a feel for the hike and the water. It's cold in November. I can't see doing this in November without special gear, like a wetsuit.

Nov 27th - 09:34am | Tiffany S

What no one is me toning here is that this wasn't the family friendly up and back Narrows hike that everyone does in a few hours. These people got a permit and did a 16 mile overnight trip, in frigid weather, while the trail is all in the watercourse, ankle to waist deep. I'm camping in the NP right now and it's in the high teens and low 20s at night.

Nov 27th - 09:02am | Cindy Broenner

I have been to Zion Natural Park..this is probably the most big and beautiful natural landscaped park ever..but evidently the most dangerous..so take care.. always.

Nov 27th - 08:55am | Dave Reichard

Excellent suggestion! Very light and flat EZ carry. Sheds rain. OK to be damp inside in emergency if you're staying warmer. An electric rechargeable hand warmer is small, portable, worked for me 8 hours to provide survival warmth inside. Would make the difference.

Nov 27th - 07:15am | Daryl B.

We hiked it in August. I did not see any option that includes staying dry. I can't imagine doing it in November.

Nov 27th - 00:24am | MikeBSD

Very sad. I'm wondering if an emergency blanket would have been sufficient to keep body temperatur up?

Nov 26th - 22:15pm | Damon

Tragic for sure but aside from crowds, there is no reason in my mind why you wouldn't mame this trek in the Spring/Summer time.

Nov 26th - 19:57pm | Jack.

Space blankets are okay, I've used them the problem is there kind of rigid they're hard to tuck in and a lot of heat will escape.

Nov 26th - 19:49pm | Paul margraf

That's tragic I hiked it with my brother and sister in April and we did 3 miles and back and we were dead exhausted and dry I can't imagine what she went through

Nov 26th - 18:40pm | Matt J Mittelstadt

This is a 16 mile hike not a sunday stroll thru the tulips.. 2-3' times per week jog or hike 3-5 miles. Year around is best but at least 2 months before. Always a small pack with good shoulder straps. This is a 3--4 hour hike minimum. Start Hydrating 2-3 days before 30-40 oz of water. Load up on carbos for 2-3 days.

Nov 26th - 18:20pm | Sc

Bring a space blanket and extra non-cotton layers. Know your athletic ability. Time your progress and assume you will get significantly slower over time due to fatigue. If you don't have enough time, turn back. You can also purchase emergency phones or beacons, although in this case it likely would not have helped in time.

Nov 26th - 15:26pm | Jg

For anyone else considering such a hile, what should one do to prepare? What are the possible pitfalls? This info could save lives.

Nov 26th - 10:59am | Daryl Hobson

I've hiked the Narrows since 1983 and preparation is key, especially in November. The couple were wolfully unprepared.

Nov 25th - 14:34pm | Kevin Whitaker

I am sorry to hear about another hiker that left unprepared after all of the postings about this one trail. The real pity is that this could have been avoided for less than $2 on Amazon for a space blanket that fits in your backback or even your back pocket. Please remember you are a visitor, not a resident. Research and Preparation are your friend.

Nov 24th - 19:35pm | Laborman

Not the first death of the year in the Narrows reported here. Hikers need to learn and take it seriously.

Room To Grow? For Parks In The Eastern U.S., More Than You Realize

Dec 1st - 11:24am | A. Johnson

But if the Park Service can work to overcome these challenges, That's a yuuge "if", and history tells us that it cannot. Any visit to the crumbling structures in Cades Cove in Smoky Mtns NP shows that the NPS is not ready to meet any current challenges.

Nov 29th - 23:30pm | Arcadia

Expanding parks has nothing to do with unaffordable housing. Especially not in the east, where less than 5 percent of the land base is recreation land. Parks are egalitarian, used by all people and popular across all demographic categories.

A New Mexico National Park Road Trip

Nov 29th - 15:41pm | A. Johnson

Nice summary.

Nov 29th - 13:48pm | Stella Otto

Great summary of 3 very interesting parks. We vistied them in Octobe 2021 and spent 5 dyas camping at Badelier. That geve us a hub to take in Los Alamos NP as well as other area sites. It was an amazing and enchanting trip. I'm glad to hear thah the Park Service will be opening the Kozlowski Trading Post. We only got to view it from outside.

UPDATED | Got Those Recreation.Gov Blues

Nov 29th - 15:16pm | Mike Sauber

I just discovered that Booz Allen gets all the money from the lottery system Of which single digit number of people get (90 or so percent of those lottery attempts money goes straight to Booz Allen). IF you are lucky enough to win a chance to camp/enter, THEN the money you pay goes to the park system.

Photography In The National Parks: Getting Great Smartphone Shots – Part 2

Nov 28th - 19:05pm | steve reed

I have a moto Z force droid with interchangable, modular backs. One is a battery booster, another is a polaroid 2"x3" color printer (great for sticking on the back of business cards), but the best is a hasselblad spec 10X optical zoom glass lens by carlZeiss which overrides the internal camera. It will shoot 16Mpix in 16x9 format, or a 21Mpix square format.

The Recreational Evolution Of Cumberland Island National Seashore

Nov 25th - 14:08pm | Jenny

At Cumberland, and on other federal lands, we need to acknowledge that horses are an introduced and invasive species. All feral horses should be removed from all areas to protect the habitat and native grazing animals.

Nov 23rd - 11:31am | Tree lover

Please don't change Cumberland Island! The solitude, vegetation, beaches, history, and of course the horses, are why people visit. A most special place in the National Park System. These prpo changes would ruin it for future visitors.

Nov 23rd - 11:26am | Chick

Cumberland Island is such a special place. It is one of the best in the National Park System. The solitude, beaches, vegetation, history, , and of course, the horses are why people visit. These proposed changes would ruin all that for future visitors.

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