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Reader Participation Day: What Was Your Most Memorable Ranger-Led Experience in the National Parks This Year?

Sep 14th - 12:06pm | y_p_w

For winter 2005 in Yosemite, I decided to attend a ranger-led walk on the subject of bears. It was unseasonably warm with a bit of rain and no snow in Yosemite Valley. I went to the visitor center first to ask about what I might try doing the next day, and when I asked about the bear walk in an hour, the ranger I talked to said that he was going to lead it.

Sep 14th - 11:19am | Deb Drager

During our visit this summer to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, we attended several activities led by Gaelyn. She is a wonderful storyteller and truly loves what she does. At one of the campfire programs she told the story of Old Clay Man and Old Clay Woman and how they came to the Native Americans in the area that had been making baskets and showed them how to use clay to make pottery.

Sep 14th - 10:53am | AnonymousD

This is not exactly the kind of thing you're looking for, but I am very grateful to a Grand Canyon/South Rim ranger for reaffirming a decision I made. I didn't get his name, unfortunately.

Sep 14th - 06:06am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

Ranger Wolf at Manassas has the kind of voice and storytelling capability that makes you feel like you are in the heat of battle.  We visited in early summer.  As we stood on the ridge along one line of cannon, he pointed over the ridge to the treeline where another line of cannon stood.  Along with those over two-dozen cannon stood thousands of men firing rifles across that two-hundred yard no

Sep 14th - 04:57am | Bob Janiskee

The ranger-led boat tour of Yellowstone Lake that I took on August 25 was especially memorable, and for several reasons. August 25 is "Christmas in August" day at Yellowstone (and has been since 1959), so several employees, including the boat captain, were wearing Santa hats. Our ranger guide, Amber, did an excellent job -- one of the better narrations I've heard on a boat tour.

Update: At Grand Canyon National Park, an Abandoned Uranium Mine Must be Cleaned Up

Sep 14th - 09:40am | Carvo

How the cleanup affected Bryan has nothing to do with the history of the time. Just like the Twin Towers going down; if they'd not been build there wouldn't be any mess to clean up? Mining is what enables computers to be built, cars and even toothpaste. The original copper mine of Hogan became something different that employed many and served it's purpose.

History To Be Made With Dismantling Of Dams Impacting Olympic National Park Watershed

Sep 14th - 06:11am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

This is great.  Hopefully it will serve as a catalyst and precursor for the removal of the dam and restoration of the Hetch-Hetchy valley in Yosemite.  There was some great discussion on  this board about that subject earlier this year.

Grand Canyon National Park Lookout Tower That Ed Abbey Spent Time on Among Four Added to Historic Register

Sep 14th - 00:05am | Bob

Interesting article about the towers @ GCNP.  I spent weekends in the Hopi Point Lookout from 4/69-9/69.  I was finishing my sophomore year at Northern Arizona University School of Forestry.  We had an 8 week forestry summer camp from beginning in June.

Politicians Past And Present Want Interior Secretary To Permit Oyster Farm At Point Reyes National Seashore

Sep 13th - 22:43pm | Spare the Rod:)

Hey Anonymous, you HAVE to admit that's what's going on at the very highest levels of government so an ASS kicking humbling is what's needed.  Like children acting badly that need a correction they should have gotten somewhere along the line.  They will feel better in the end:).

Sep 13th - 20:01pm | Anonymous

So, you think their letter stinks of revisionist history but I'm sure you're perfectly fine with the hatchet job the Park Service did with their so called report.  So skewing, selectively manipulating, concealing, and misrepresenting scientific data is OK as long as it supports your position?  You don’t have to respond, I already know your answer…

Sep 12th - 18:56pm | y_p_w

Anonymous:

Sep 12th - 17:20pm | Anonymous

In addition to the Federal govt rejecting Bagley/McCloskey/Burton's claims about public fishing rights extending to commercial aquaculture, three State agencies (Coastal Commission, Dept Fish and Game - twice, and the State Lands Commission) have all rejected those claims as well.

Sep 12th - 10:24am | Michael Mery

Drakes Estero is in wildnerness now with the inclusion being incomplete because of the grandfathered commercial activity.  Full inclusion awaits the ending of the activity and no further legislative action is required.

Sep 12th - 10:23am | Kurt Repanshek

Sarah, the answer to No. 1 is the OIG report itself. As for No. 2, the 2004 Solicitor's report seems to be the most recent legal interpretation of the ground rules in play. If you're going to question that, why should we rely on statements made over four decades ago that are not reflected in the resulting legislation?

Sep 12th - 09:53am | Sarah Rolph

Two questions: 1.  What is your evidence for this statement? "Interviews conducted by the Solicitor's Office, however, indicated that on at least five occasions the farm's workers caused disturbances of seals during pupping season."

Wyoming Governor Calling For More Snowmobiles In Yellowstone National Park

Sep 13th - 21:49pm | Anonymous

Is there a process for comments from ordinary citizens?  I figure my opinion should count just as much as Gov Meade's andd MY preference would be for NO snowmobiles.  I suspect the animals would agree with me.   

Sep 13th - 15:37pm | Kirk Giloth

The National Park system was not created to provide economic opportunities to surrounding states.Since Gov. Meade's State is the only state in the union to benefit from sales tax from a National Park , maybe he would give up that little perk to the park to mitigate the effects of 540 more snowmobiles polluting the park and  disturbing wildlife?

Sep 11th - 14:24pm | Kurt Repanshek

Politics....?;-)

Sep 11th - 14:20pm | y_p_w

I'm just wondering what the point is in describing the impacts of snowmobile traffic on counties that frankly aren't affected by such visitation.

Sep 11th - 14:05pm | Kurt Repanshek

I guess I'm not sure of your question, y_p_w. Most snowmobile traffic does enter at West Yellowstone. Very little comes through the East Entrance. That would remain the case under the park's preferred alternative (which reportedly is being modified).

Sep 11th - 13:52pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek How might closing the East Entrance to over-snow traffic affect the tax coffers of Cody, Wyoming, and its surrounding Park County?

Sep 11th - 12:13pm | Anonymous

I'm really conflicted over this issue.  I have enjoyed snowcoach trips twice from Mammoth to Norris and Canyon.  The snowcoaches are probably no more nor less noisy than snowmobiles.

Sep 11th - 11:40am | Kurt Repanshek

y_p_w, Here's your answer from an article we ran back in July: How might closing the East Entrance to over-snow traffic affect the tax coffers of Cody, Wyoming, and its surrounding Park County?

Sep 11th - 11:32am | y_p_w

I'm curious as to whether there's much of an economic benefit for Wyoming since the majority of the snowmobiles enter through Montana. I suppose they receive sales and hotel taxes.

Buy A Starry Print, Help Friends of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Sep 13th - 16:06pm | Gary Knowles

This new photo, like the two gems before it, are truly works of art. They capture the awesome beauty, solitude and grandeur of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  Weller and the Rummels deserve a standing ovation. Bravo!  

Accidental Bear Spray Discharge Forces Evacuation of Visitor Center at Grand Teton National Park

Sep 13th - 12:58pm | Dave Parker

Heck if a can went off, I would run as well, but I would be sure to come back after disapation so that nobody thinks it was a deliberate act, but I can tell you what anytime a can of bear spray goes off I am hightailing it out of there!  Yikes!

Sep 13th - 12:07pm | Dick Gutierrez

What a coward to run-----guess it shows what kind of man he is

Sep 13th - 11:05am | Dave Parker

I do not carry my bear spray in the visitors centers nor any of the stores or other buildings I might visit when I am in the parks, I would suggest to anyone take your bear spray off before entering the buildings in the park, it is a sure fire way to prevent this type of incident happening.  I also hope there was no damage done to the artifacts there, they could be cleaned with care and time, b

Sep 13th - 10:00am | Yellowstone Gal

No mention is made of the lovely American Indian artifacts in the adjacent museum. They are all (or very nearly all) in glass cases, but I assume the cases are ventilated in some matter. It would be a terrible shame if all that beautiful beadwork and so on were damaged.  Unlike t-shirts and post-cards, they're irreplacable.

Sep 13th - 06:18am | Dave Parker

Bear spray in the US is regulated by the EPA as a pesticide and that is what regulations it comes under in all 50 states.

Sep 13th - 01:05am | Ranger Smith

Not smarter than the average bear it seems.

Sep 13th - 00:14am | y_p_w

I remember being at the Colter Bay Visitor Center waiting for someone. I overheard a group of rangers talking about the bear spray that they normally carried. One ranger said that he thought he'd me more likely to need to use it against a person than a bear.

Sep 12th - 21:35pm | Leland22

He was probably running because his behind was on fire. :>)

Sep 12th - 16:55pm | Anonymous

Or as Homer would have said - "Doh!"...

Sep 12th - 16:22pm | Chuck Paugh

That's what I call a Boo Boo with the Yogi spray

Easy Park Hikes – Bass Lake Trail Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Sep 13th - 12:44pm | Danny Bernstein

Bass lake is beautiful. And now with the trees changing colors, it's even prettier. Danny www.hikertohiker.com

Yosemite Conservancy Provides $10.5 Million For Trail Restoration In Yosemite National Park

Sep 13th - 12:19pm | tahoma

Hat's off to the Yosemite Conservancy and especially all the butt-bustin' trail workers that made this happen!

Congresswoman Bachmann Would Support Drilling For Oil In Everglades National Park

Sep 12th - 22:09pm | toothdoctor

Thanks for the heads up on Thunderbear--I had not heard about it before.  I did not realize that the span was in such a state of disrepair!  I have to admit that from what I remember in reading the original article awhile back, it sounded like the bridge's sole purpose was to support more traffic for Bachmann's constituency.  I would agree that if its safety rating is that poor, it does need to

Sep 12th - 12:21pm | Rick B.

I keep it bookmarked and just read the most recent yesterday. I'd say he is more "unofficially the official spokesman for all of us".

Sep 12th - 09:01am | Lee Dalton

Toothdoc, if you want a full, unbiased report on Michelle Bachmann and the bridge, try Googling up Thunderbear and check out the latest issue. Thunderbear is the official spokesbear for all of us who treasure our parks.  His words cannot be disupted because his factual research is far more thorough than that of any of our Congresscritters.

Sep 11th - 12:20pm | toothdoctor

One thing that I have not seen brought up -- surprisingly since it relates to and was covered by this site – to exemplify how Bachmann "goes off", is her single-minded drive to put a bridge through the St.

Archaeologists Find Curious Prehistoric Artifacts At Noatak National Preserve

Sep 12th - 19:02pm | Dawn

I have seen objects from eastern europe, similar to the discs they found, that were dated to around 7,000 to 5,000 years ago and were described as "loom weights".  They even had similar markings on them.  It will be interesting to see if there are more discs and what they might have been used for.

Sep 12th - 09:14am | Cynthia Adams

What a remarkable discovery. I hope further excavation will reveal more.  My curiosity ius whet with anticipation.

Updated: Unenviable List: Ozark National Scenic Riverways Ranked Among 10 Most Endangered Rivers

Sep 12th - 18:51pm | Anonymous

How many canoers have floated the river and dumped there canoes full of trash over in the deep holes? Did you even try to recover the debris, or did you leave it in the river? There are way more tourists that come down here and think they can get away with everything and leave us to clean up the mess. 

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Sep 12th - 16:28pm | Barbara Reavis

We, too, miss the Lodge and the restaurant!  We have been there opening weekend and closing weekend for many years.  Along with day trips just to sit on the patio!  We hope a new concessionare can be found and we can meet all of our friends there in the Spring.

Sep 12th - 16:25pm | Barbara Reavis

Shannon~ we miss all of you so very much!  Hope to see you in 2012!  Have a good Winter and we will see you in the Spring!!!

Olympic National Park Officials Kill "Aggressive" Mountain Goat

Sep 12th - 15:31pm | Anonymous

Yes, let's go ahead and close every single park just so we can keep humans isolated in their cities and keep goats safe up there from us!!

Sep 11th - 15:46pm | jeff morrison

killing the goat was a stupid move by the nps....the bottom line is that every time you go into the backcountry something could go wrong ,so its nobodys fault but yours for going into the backcountry. This comment was edited to remove a gratuitous comment.--Ed.

Big Cypress National Preserve Superintendent Defends "Addition" Lands ORV Use

Sep 11th - 20:05pm | Ozzie

My name is Osvaldo Gonzalez. I am an avid fisherman and hunter in the Miami-Dade County and Collier County area for about 30 years. After waiting all year, on September 3, 2011 (the opening day of archery season in the big cypress) my day was over before it began at 5:55 a.m.

The Ledge, An Adventure Story Of Friends And Survival On Mount Rainier

Sep 11th - 15:10pm | Connie Hopkins

This book looks like one I won't be able to put down!

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