| Page 1063 | National Parks Traveler

Public access to Hampton Roads & Chesapeake Bay shoreline continues to disappear. The opportunity to have a beautiful & historic shoreline available to its citizen-owners should not be squandered. The current leading proposal for National Park/Monument status is a balkanized split of natural wetlands & beach to the north and stone fort only to the south; connected by a thread of a

Sep 23rd - 07:35am | Steven T. Corne...

Thanks for this fine article calling attention to the continuing threat to national historic landmark land at Fort Monroe, with its four centuries of American history going back to the time of Jamestown. It’s vital to understand, though, that the Virginia politicians claiming -- with smiley faces and in

National Park Road Trip 2011: Looking Back Over All The Miles...

Sep 23rd - 22:43pm | PM

Have really enjoyed following your adventures this year and last year. Hoping you take another long trip next year.

Canadian Charged With Spray Painting Names Over Famous Rock Outcrop In Grand Canyon National Park

Sep 23rd - 22:40pm | Desertphile

Crucifixion is too good for this clown.

Is The Time Right For A "Maine Woods National Park"?

Sep 23rd - 14:47pm | Anonymous

"A National Monument can be established by Presidential decree. It's not the preferred way, but it happens from time to time. Also - many of the new National Monuments created by decree in recent years haven't been administered by the National Park Service. Now funding (which requires Congressional action) is a different issue."

Sep 23rd - 14:27pm | Anonymous

Quimby and Restore's misanthropy demanding to impose the elimination of civilized human use other than primitive hiking on millions of acres of private property in Maine is a ban on human civilization. They demand in general that people subordinate themselves to nature, giving up modern civilization on hehalf of a primitive living in "balance with nature" and "population controls". They are r

Sep 23rd - 14:26pm | y_p_w

Anonymous: The National Park Service cannot establish a new area without Congressional authorization.

Sep 23rd - 13:46pm | Spirit Coyote

One of the several anonymous posters said: "Quimby and Restore want government imposed wilderness or the equivalent specifically for "ecosytem restoration". Allowing a handful of hikers with the ability, resources and inclination to spend days or weeks walking into areas no one else can get to is not human use of the land

Sep 23rd - 10:07am | Anonymous

"A ban on human civilization?" Really? "hate anything with a gasoline engine?" Hate? Anything with a gasoline engine? This language is so hyperbolic and over-the-top, it doesn't bear even a nodding acquaintance with reality.

Sep 23rd - 01:53am | Anonymous

"I've done some checking on what the issues are, and it does get complex. One concern in Maine seems to be that many of the traditional timber concerns are selling out to housing developers. These timber companies were willing to allow recreational users on their property for hunting, snowmobiling, etc if they sought permission.

Sep 23rd - 01:40am | Anonymous

"Anon wrote, 'In contrast, Quimby is buying up as much as land as she can in order to impose wilderness 'ecosystem restoration' and prevent human use forever.' She's donating it to be a national park and preserve! How could that mean "prevent[ing] human use forever"? It means the exact opposite! A park that would forever keep open the land for camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, etc.

Sep 23rd - 01:18am | Anonymous

"Anon wrote, 'Where the government controls the land there are no private property rights.' Obviously. But if someone donates their land for public enjoyment, that person's 'rights' aren't being taken away by the U.S. government.

Sep 23rd - 00:28am | Anonymous

"I think the issue under lying all of the opposition to this park is that rural Mainers hate and fear PFAs--People From Away. If you aren't a 4th generation Mainiac, then your thoughts, values, and opinions have no value to the self described "True Mainer". These people know that a park will bring in lots of PFAs,..."

Sep 23rd - 00:17am | Anonymous

"What law is Quimby breaking by donating her land to the United States?"

Sep 22nd - 19:17pm | NPS_Survivor

I sense a some inherent paradoxes in "Anon's" statements. If Ms. Quimby purchased the land, she has all the private property rights she needs to block access, cancel camp leases, deny access, etc. Bravo for those rights. Non-owners don't have the right to access her lands without paying for the privilege or getting specific permission.

Sep 22nd - 18:56pm | NPS_Survivor

That's right. The entry of land developers into the Maine backcountry is really the other side of the story.

Sep 22nd - 16:42pm | y_p_w

I've done some checking on what the issues are, and it does get complex.

Sep 22nd - 14:07pm | Anonymous

Anon wrote, "In contrast, Quimby is buying up as much as land as she can in order to impose wilderness 'ecosystem restoration' and prevent human use forever."

Sep 22nd - 13:57pm | Anonymous

Anon wrote, "She does not have a 'right' to impose Federal control because she owns land. No one has a 'right' to change the form of government over a region of a state whether or not he owns the land."

Sep 22nd - 12:29pm | Anonymous

y_p_w: "I think the objection is that it may be a seed for NPS to step in and perhaps take away many of the traditional uses by acquiring land using eminent domain."

Sep 22nd - 11:49am | Anonymous

No one is telling Quimby what to do with her own land as long as she owns it. She does not have a "right" to impose Federal control because she owns land. No one has a "right" to change the form of government over a region of a state whether or not he owns the land.

Sep 22nd - 11:44am | y_p_w

This post highlights the strangeness of the objections to Quimby. It sounds as if people would be happier if she DIDN'T share this land forever with hikers, campers, snowmobilers, hunters, etc. but instead locked it away from others to use.

Sep 21st - 23:54pm | Anonymous

Anon wrote, "Quimby has the right to whatever the hell she wants with her land. If you bought 100,000 acres of land with your money, would you want a bunch of people telling you what you could do with it? She could keep people off it forever, bulldoze it, cover it with trailer parks, etc., but she wants to give it to the people of Maine instead for us to enjoy. How great is that?"

Sep 21st - 23:39pm | Anonymous

Anon wrote, "Where the government controls the land there are no private property rights." Obviously. But if someone donates their land for public enjoyment, that person's "rights" aren't being taken away by the U.S.

Sep 21st - 22:33pm | Anonymous

I think the issue under lying all of the opposition to this park is that rural Mainers hate and fear PFAs--People From Away. If you aren't a 4th generation Mainiac, then your thoughts, values, and opinions have no value to the self described "True Mainer". These people know that a park will bring in lots of PFAs, who are different in many ways from rural north woods folks, such as being educa

Sep 21st - 18:51pm | Anonymous

NPS_Survivor wrote "... when the locals see the parks as restrictive---they are right. The key is Congressional authorizations and cooperative management. Perhaps it would be better to have a "zoned" park...

Traveler's Gear Box: Merrell Women's Verta Shirt: Practical Function & Flattering Fit

Sep 23rd - 11:43am | k d g

Is it made in the USA?

The Waterworks of Yellowstone

Sep 23rd - 11:43am | Kurt Repanshek

Lee, I'll look into that, but in the meantime, if you click on the picture it will, of course, bring it up for you to admire as long as you'd like;-)

Sep 23rd - 11:39am | Lee Dalton

Hmmm. I just timed it and found it's at about four seconds right now. How about ten?

Sep 23rd - 11:38am | Lee Dalton

Kurt, is there any way to slow down the transition from one picture to another? We need more time to admire them. Perhaps four seconds each instead of what seems like just a split second?

Yosemite Visitor Falls to His Death

Sep 23rd - 05:17am | Melinda Sue

RIP to my wonderful Brother n Law...u are truely missed an will always be in our hearts...Ur the best brother n law I couldve ever asked for. Memories are for always an forever.

Reader Participation Day: Should More American-Made Products Be Available for Purchase in America's National Parks?

Sep 22nd - 22:13pm | Reality Check

Bruce, that's not the way that people that have managed to have enough to travel in these Parks think. Examples: Oakland Bay Bridge, MLK Memorial and even while the Pinyon Nuts are being gathered by native Americans around the Grand Canyon they'er selling Pinyon Nuts at the market that are from, you guessed it, China! There's a reality our there:).

Sep 22nd - 19:19pm | Bruce

Do you think it's important to have more American-made products available for purchase in America's national parks? Yes. This is becoming more and more important to preserving our economy and standard of living, in my opinion.

Sep 22nd - 13:09pm | y_p_w

Anonymous:

Sep 22nd - 12:02pm | Anonymous

The National Parks are our National Treasure. As such we should be promoting "Made in America". Tourists to the park, should they be Americans or Foreigners should be able to take home American made gifts from an American treasure. This will also create the much needed jobs here. It has been shown that items made here are not any more expensive than those made in China. Let's support Ameri

Sep 22nd - 10:58am | David Crowl

Unfortunately, the companies that made these trinkets in the USA are out of business because they could not compete in the world market. So if the buyer for the shops can buy an American made product that is comparible in price and quality, he should. I imagine the supplier for the shop does not give them much choice.

Sep 22nd - 10:14am | Fred Bauer

Certainly most of the goods sold should be from the USA, especially in the National Parks. Ideally the goods would be produced as locally as possible. And don't get me going on free trade issues!

Sep 22nd - 08:23am | Anonymous

I work in Yellowstone. I hear many folks complaining that so many items offered for sale are made in China. In an American Naitonal Park, they want to purchase items made in America.

Sep 21st - 15:43pm | Danny Bernstein

Great Smoky Mountains Association emphasizes not only made in USA but local products. They have local honey, stone ground flour and other food stuff. Check them out at http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/ Danny

National Park History: Yosemite's Cosmopolitan Bathhouse & Saloon (1871-1884)

Sep 22nd - 19:36pm | Lee Dalton

Another excellent and fascinating article by Bob. Many thanks. You do a terrific job.

Nighttime Tours Set for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, To Celebrate National Public Lands Day

Sep 22nd - 17:34pm | Nordic Track Nate

I attended this celebration two years ago and loved it! I had such a great time! They should really consider doing this every year! I know I would love to attend again!

Grand Canyon National Park Rangers Scaling Back Search For Two Missing in Colorado River

Sep 22nd - 17:21pm | Anonymous

Respect the families LynnBerk. Nobody is perfect...

Team Investigating Fatal Bear Attack at Yellowstone National Park Releases Report

Sep 22nd - 09:48am | Lee Dalton

Dave, I'm guessing that you've never been involved in darting a bear. That's not something you'd want to do with a bunch of people milling around. It can be very, very tricky. Sometimes a well placed dart brings results almost immediately. But frequently, it takes considerable time for the dart's contents to take effect. When that happens, the bear's reaction is completely unpredictable an

Sep 21st - 19:24pm | Dave Smith

Was Matayoshi killed by a habituated roadside bear featured as an entertainer in Yellowstone bear jams? The report shows that park visitors on the road in Hayden Valley saw Matayoshi. Matayoshi was only 5-7 miles from the spot where a Michigan hiker in Hayden Valley was killed a few weeks later. Same bear?

Guided Hike Will Explore Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 21st - 15:39pm | Danny Bernstein

Hi folks: I would love to see more new faces on this fabulous hike. It's so full of history and beauty, as well. Please sign up and I'd love to see you on the trail. Danny www.hikertohiker.com

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