| Page 838 | National Parks Traveler

Hikertom you didn't understand my point I was trying to make in reply to the first person that replyed to my post. That gentleman implyed that if the Natl Park system takes over these area's they would become more restricted to the public in many ways. Less roads and access to area's that we as taxpayer have a right to as long as we don't abuse these lands.

Jul 10th - 15:31pm | David Crowl

Michael Kellett, I see your idea of cared went farther than mine. I was speaking of the roads, Facilities, and campgrounds. As for park management, it would definately be different under NPS for wildlife management. And I agree with your assessment. But the lakes, landscape and history would be great as a national park and the wildlife management would be enhanced as you stated.

Jul 10th - 09:06am | hikertom

Lance Martin: I agree with you about the Oregon Cascade Range being of national park quality. I was very impressed by the Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson areas. Oregon now only has one national park.

Jul 9th - 21:53pm | Quiet please

Mike,I guess what your saying then is to turn these lands into Natl Parks so that people don't use them. It appears that you have insider information that I don't understand and frankly don't want to understand. That's another reason not to put them into the hands of the bureaucracy of the Natl Park Service so that they can say who uses them and who doen't.

Jul 9th - 18:47pm | Michael Kellett

Hi Quiet please, I totally share your wish to keep wild and quiet areas that way. And I appreciate that you are a national park supporter. However, I have to disagree with a number of your statements.

Jul 9th - 18:26pm | ecbuck

Not everything has to be called a Natl Park to love and enjoy. Bingo! In fact - it may be more enjoyable if it isn't a National Park.

Jul 9th - 17:38pm | Quiet please

I have to agree with dahkota and Gila on their input let's see how many Natl Parks we can have. Many of these lands I have visited and have agreed this should be a Natl Park. Then I think what would happen if these beautiful natural wonders would be turned into Natl Parks.

Jul 9th - 17:21pm | celbert

I don't know why Oregon is relatively under-represented in the NPS. Quite a few areas -- Mt Hood/Columbia Gorge, Three Sisters and/or Newberry Caldera, Steens Mountain, Wallowa Mtns/Hells Canyon, Owyhee Canyonlands, Siskiyous/Rogue River Canyons -- would be outstanding parks. And Oregon Dunes should be a National Seashore, as was once proposed.

Jul 9th - 15:43pm | lance martin

afterthought I forgot to mention my example of an obvious candidate: the Cascades west of

Jul 9th - 15:38pm | lance martin

I'll be deeply interested in your book when it's done. I am very sure there has never been a serious attmpt to identify all serious candidates for new parks- yet this should have been done long ago

Jul 9th - 09:26am | Buxton

Gila Monster, spot on. There are those who think the only things worthwhile with a NP is that it is a way to spur the local economy.

Jul 8th - 18:53pm | CROTALID

Guess it's a matter of perspective on a place like Dolly Sods.

Jul 8th - 18:19pm | dahkota

I would mention Dolly Sods but that would just encourage more people to go there which would ruin the entire place. National Parks are amazing places but they attract entirely too many people, which means they attract more roads, easy to walk trails, and concessions. I much prefer keeping some places wilderness.

Jul 8th - 12:03pm | Michael Kellett

Here are a few quick additions.

Jul 8th - 11:44am | Gila Monster

It makes me sick to always read how (new) parks - would pump money into the surrounding towns - would bolster the region's economy etc. As if this would be the purpose of National Parks. Back on topic: how about a Big Sur NP?

Jul 8th - 11:22am | rdm24

The San Gabriel Mountains deserve to be a new National Park. The NPS proposed a piddling National Recreation Area that falls way short of the needs or merits of this area.

Jul 8th - 11:00am | CROTALID

Don't forget the proposed High Allegheny NP in northern West Virginia! Awesome place in my home state. Unfortunately, the state govt's obsession with gas fracking will prevent this. Wind River Range, Owyhee Canyonlands, and Maine North Woods would be awesome additions.

Jul 8th - 09:03am | David Crowl

I have to mention Custer State Park in South Dakota. I am sure that state is not ready to make it a N.P. but the scenery, history, and the wildlife make this well cared for park a gem. It is on the northern edge of Wind Cave N.P.

Jul 8th - 08:42am | RangerWhitt

These areas are beautiful and worth preserving, but don't forget about the east too. My mom runs a non-profit in northern Florida (Florida's Eden) and just for the reason of preserving alone...all the freshwater springs in North Florida are in danger.

Jul 8th - 04:21am | zrfphoto

I'm almost done writing a book on this topic actually, which features 70 locations for proposed National Parks. Each of the ones you listed are in it, but without giving them all away I would say that the other best candidates are: Colorado National Monument (and surrounding BLM lands) Big South Fork Hells Canyon Mount St. Helens Owyhee Canyonlands

Reader Participation Day: Which Road Would You Choose, Going-To-The-Sun, Or Trail Ridge?

Jul 10th - 18:46pm | Megaera

Quit asking me to choose a favorite child [g]. Honestly, my favorites are the roads up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic and Sunrise in Mt. Rainier, but I suspect that's just because they're closer to me and I've gotten to know and love them so well.

Jul 10th - 13:05pm | Ranger Dave

I've travelled both and, even though Trail Ridge Road gives you that "Rocky Mountain High", Going to the Sun Road gives that more intimate feeling. You are so much closer to the cliffs, mountains and water courses on GTSR and the sense of being on the edge is much greater. Both will take your breath away (TRR from lack of O2 and GTSR from fear) though.

Jul 10th - 10:18am | JT_gnp90

I'll have to go with Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun, with the flowers along The Garden Wall, the waterfalls, mountain goats and big horn sheep, etc. Spectacular & memorable.

Jul 10th - 08:33am | Connie Hopkins

I LOVE Going To The Sun Road, every curve opens up to mountain vistas that overwhelm me!

Jul 10th - 02:51am | celbert

I've been on both, and they are both spectacular drives, but I've got to give the edge to Going-to-the-Sun. As you approach Logan Pass from the rest, the view of the waterfall-laced cliffs off to the right is just breath-taking.

Congressman Claims National Park Service "Discouraging" Visitation To Yosemite National Park

Jul 10th - 18:40pm | Megaera

Is there a way to 'do something' about the horrible overcrowding in Yosemite Valley without limiting visitation? In the long run? If so, I'd like to know what it is. Yosemite's location near too many large cities, combined with how small the Valley is, is not a solvable problem, in my humble opinion. I find that incredibly sad.

National Park Service's 2012 Search-And-Rescue Caseload Reflects Many Ill-Prepared, Out-Of-Shape Visitors

Jul 5th - 20:09pm | dahkota

Thanks Stormy and Kurt. I had read that the first gen Spots were iffy and so questioned its value. But, good and so-so is better than nothing at all when a true emergency crops up.

Jul 5th - 11:51am | Kurt Repanshek

FWIW, here at the Traveler we've demoed the first-generation Spot PLB in the backcountry of Dinosaur National Monument and Yellowstone National Park, and it performed both good and so-so. We're currently testing their latest, a satellite phone, and have discovered some possible issues with it.

Jul 5th - 11:40am | Stormy

Dahkota- this is purely anecdotal, but my husband has one & will send me an 'I'm OK' message via the locator when he changes camps while backpacking (I'm a worrywart). It includes GPS coordinates and has been 'spot on' as to his location when he looks at the data when he gets home.

Jul 4th - 13:18pm | Quiet please

We have talked about this topic before. I personally think it comes down to using our noodles. Not taking a hike in flip flops or a small bottle of water on a hot day.Even the experienced taking to many chances. Hope we all have a safe 4th without heartbroken friends and familys.

Jul 4th - 11:14am | dahkota

"Interestingly, in just four cases were personal locator beacons responsible for a lost person being found, according to the report." I'm curious if this is because: people don't carry them, they don't work properly, they weren't deployed, or the signal was never relayed.

Jul 4th - 08:45am | Lee Dalton

Anyone who has spent any time rangering or in volunteer SAR work can tell you that nothing much has changed in the past 50 years -- except maybe the sheer numbers of rescues today. Here's an excellent video from Yosemite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZyCoUM_Sks

Jul 4th - 07:22am | Kirby Adams

Interesting breakdown of factors. I'd classify "insufficient equipment, clothing, or experience" as a subset of "error in judgment." Of course, headed out on a strenuous dayhike when in poor physical condition also falls under that error in judgment. So we could say all of those top three contributing factors boil down to people not thinking before they do.

Jul 4th - 06:08am | edmond macgregor

Are the search and rescue crews part of the national parks staff or are they on stand-by, paid when used? I know some are volunteers and aren't paid but what is the status of those who were paid?

Trails I've Hiked: A Trio Of Watery Jewels At Rocky Mountain National Park

Jul 5th - 16:39pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thanks for the kudos, atwillw. We've got some plans in the works to make the Traveler even better and give you and other readers a better format for offering your own suggestions regarding the parks. We think you'll all like it...

Jul 5th - 16:28pm | atwillw

First off, thanks to Kurt for producing such a fine online magazine as National Parks Traveler. Having just arrived home after hiking the Emerald Lake trail and then up to Lake Haiyaha, I only wish we'd followed Gila Monster's advice and looped around to Alberta Falls. Thunderstorms moved in early on July 1, so getting down off exposed slopes seemed more prudent at 11:30.

Jul 5th - 12:33pm | Gila Monster

Instead of tracking back after reaching Emerald Lake I'd suggest to do a anti-clockwise loop including Lake Haiyaha and Alberta Falls before returning to the Bear Lake parking area. We did this in July 2011 and experienced splendid solitude even in the middle of the day as soon as you get away from the Emerald Lake trail.

Heat Possibly Played Role In Death Of Grand Canyon National Park Hiker

Jul 4th - 18:12pm | Stormy

Thanks for the info, Kurt & Rudy.

U.S. House Subcommittee To Take Testimony On Yosemite National Park's Merced River Plan Impacts

Jul 4th - 12:04pm | Socratesfive

Happy 4th... Independence Day is a fitting time to discuss the NPS and the mismanagement of Yosemite. Abraham Lincoln braham signed the act in 1864 that states, “the United States granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the state of California, to be held, for public use, resort, and recreation, inalienable for all time."... Note; public use, resort and recreation.

Jul 3rd - 15:00pm | Zebulon

Regardless of the motivations to remove such things as the ice rink and bike rentals, it does not cast the NPS in a good light. They're either ultra cynical or incompetent...

Reader Participation Day: Where's The Best View From A Dining Room In A National Park?

Jul 4th - 10:14am | y_p_w

The Ahwahnee Hotel Dining Room is pretty well known for its view:

Jul 3rd - 20:10pm | Quiet please

Now that makes me hungry/Never ending list!

Jul 3rd - 19:47pm | justinh

How about the lawn at Jordan Pond House, Acadia NP?

Jul 3rd - 19:35pm | Quiet please

I have to agree with gutz54 way to many to pick just one. Off the topic some but a sack lunch sitting in a lawn chair can be just as memory filled. Just you and the quietness of it all. A happy 4th to all and the fredom to enjoy our great nation.

Jul 3rd - 18:13pm | Kurt Repanshek

Hmmm, no mention of the view from the Arizona Room down into the Grand Canyon on the South Room? Or of the pounding Pacific Ocean from Kalaloch Lodge??

Jul 3rd - 18:03pm | Megaera

On the balcony above the porte cochere at the Old Faithful Inn. The nice thing is you can get food at the Inn, or bring your own. The cafeteria in the Old Faithful Lodge, too, for that matter.

Yosemite Nature Notes: Neon Red Psychedelic Asparagus

Jul 4th - 04:32am | Rebecca Latson ...

That was a very cool video and now I want to go to Yosemite to photograph the snow plant! it may be parasitic and "...take but not give back...", but I think it *does* give something: (aside from nectar for the bees and hummingbirds) I think it gives a lovely dose of bright red color to those who notice it, during a time of the year when there are not many other flowers around.

Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks Asked To Open More Waters To Canoeists, Kayakers

Jul 3rd - 20:01pm | Quiet please

It could turn the rivers into a zoo. One mans joy turns the next guys experience into a nightmare. What's new.

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