| Page 1076 | National Parks Traveler

Hey Tim, I have to attest to the restroom cleanliness. Although they were scheduled to be cleaned one morning in August I convinced the maintenance crew to wait a bit as there were about 400 runners preparing to run the Crater Lake Marathon, Half Marathon and 6.2 mile races. We outnumbered them, lol! Awesome place!

Aug 17th - 18:27pm | Timothy Mahoney

Full disclosure, my name is Timothy Mahoney and I am the current manager of the Crater Lake lodge. I recently arrived here from Zion NP and have spent 10 years living and working in national pakrs for Xanterra and Aramark.

Reader Participation Day: What's Your Solution When the Weather Doesn't Cooperate During Your Trip?

Aug 17th - 19:17pm | Barky

Heck, I go out in it!! Of course, sometimes with dubious results. I hiked Shenandoah trails during on-and-off driving rain. Had all my raingear, was well protected, and had a ball. That is until I needed to go back up to the road. Had a wee bit o'trouble getting up the muddy trail. I was a filthy mess when I got back.

Aug 17th - 18:20pm | Wildweather

Make "Lemonade" :). Many times the challenges actually make the trip, if you are game. A test (I like breakthroughs:).

Aug 17th - 17:42pm | Anonymous

We find muddy river banks and pretend we're otters. :)

Aug 17th - 10:11am | AnonymousD

We are avid day hikers but not campers, which shapes our Park visits. We both enjoy reading, like museums, and happily chat with strangers. We also tend to plan each trip with an extra day in case we want to just hang out or do something new we came across unexpectedly.

Aug 17th - 07:54am | Anonymous

I pout and throw tantrums.

Aug 17th - 03:04am | MRC

Years ago, we had several days of constant and cold rain in Utah. For the first day, we went "underground" and visited Timpanogos Caves National Monument, the second day we went to SLC and did the "mormon tour" including some time in the genealogical records archive and we had the good luck to hear the Tabernacle Choir at a rehearsal.

Big Cypress National Preserve Officials Crafting Hunting Management Plan For Addition Lands

Aug 17th - 18:59pm | Ranger Bill

Once again the NPS has caved in to local pressure and national lobbying by folks whose idea of enjoying a resource is destroying it. While local concerns should be listened to, they shoudln't matter any more than the concerns of folks in distant places. Economic concerns shouldn't matter at all.

The Birth of the National Park Service: The Founding Years, 1913-33

Aug 17th - 18:48pm | Anonymous

See also: Preserving the Living Past: Legacy of John C. Merriam by Stephen R. Mark, in learning J.C. Merriam's role in the early visitor educational programs of the NPS.

Billy Malone And the National Park Service Investigaton At Hubbell Trading Post

Aug 17th - 15:40pm | Dave Montalbano

Rick- appointing new people with the "new systems" is pointless and not a long term solution. Special agents need to exist in a structure of extreme accountability.

Aug 16th - 21:38pm | Wind Change

Sorry but I thought of the Hubbell affair when I read this tonight. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/16/senator-blasts-atfs-reported-...

Aug 15th - 18:15pm | Wind Change

Okay, something more than direction change would be nice. Reconciliation requires something more for things to be righted. It didn't happen with the retirement of the principles involved and the continued Superintendent status of another. Coming to terms of mistakes requires confession and a request for forgiveness.

Aug 15th - 17:18pm | Rick Smith

All--

Aug 15th - 15:00pm | Wind Change

Hey Hank, sorry if I gave the impression that the book was not believable or factual. I believe it IS . I've had experiences with one of the principles involved and it's quite in his/NPS's character, I believe. A humbling is in order.

Aug 15th - 13:42pm | Hank Blair

Read the IG report if you do not believe the Berkowitz book. Everything is in the report.

National Park Quiz 97: Ships

Aug 17th - 12:17pm | R Stefancik

(9) True. Wreck diving is allowed in Michigan's Isle Royale National Park, which has nine major sunken vessels in its waters. Scuba diving is quite dangerous there, however, due to the water's depth, cold (39-45 degrees F in some places), limited visibility, and other hazards of open water diving in Lake Superior.

Aug 17th - 10:34am | tomp2

on #7, the San Diego Maritime Museum and Cabrillo National Monument are constructing a replica of the San Salvador at Spanish Landing, just across Harbor Dr. from the airport, and about 5 miles from Cabrillo NM. Most weekends and some weekdays you'll find CABR interpreters in their 1500s dress at the construction site.

Persistent Pedestrians: Black Bears in Big Bend National Park

Aug 17th - 11:15am | Rick B.

Are these bears drastically evolved differently from black bears elsewhere? There are so many areas with "surplus" population that I wonder if a little transplanting would help stabilize the population? Or would bears used to salmon and ready rainfall and such just wither in the desert.

Aug 17th - 08:54am | Lee Dalton

Terrifically interesting. I know I'll be letting my ignorance show, but I never dreamed of desert bears. Neat!

Where Can You Enjoy The Best Wildlife Experiences In the National Park System?

Aug 17th - 08:54am | Old Zion Ranger

Wind Cave and Theodore Roosevelt NP's for bison, elk, pronghorn and mule deer. Zion NP for big horn sheep.

Aug 17th - 08:16am | CraigBowman

prarie dogs not getting much respect ! Lots of them at Badlands NP. Mule deer and big horn sheep too.

Aug 17th - 03:06am | MRC

How about watching Gray Whales from Point Reyes NS? They can be seen occasionally from the shore.

Aug 16th - 22:45pm | Pookha

Rocky Mountain National Park not only has elk, but wonderful chipmunks (as well as other critters). Lots of fun.

Aug 16th - 13:18pm | JHawk

I would add Wind Cave for prairie dogs and Glacier Bay for humpback whales and seals.

Aug 15th - 15:21pm | riverotter1971

Kenai National park is awesome place for marine mammals- I saw humpbacks, orcas, sea otter, sea lions, seals, puffins, cormants, etc/

Aug 15th - 13:20pm | y_p_w

Anonymous: Do not add to this list our parks are to crowded and being ruined by lists like this as it funnels everyone to the same place. Just look at supertopo.com Since it only has the best and most popular climbs, that is where everyone goes and it has ruined climbs and the enviroment!

Aug 14th - 17:43pm | Anonymous

Do not add to this list our parks are to crowded and being ruined by lists like this as it funnels everyone to the same place. Just look at supertopo.com Since it only has the best and most popular climbs, that is where everyone goes and it has ruined climbs and the enviroment!

Mennonite Women Backpacking and Bears Falling in Shenandoah National Park

Aug 17th - 06:39am | CEM

My wife and I are about to become Mennonites. We started a website with pics chronciling our journey. Please check it out and feel free to join or leave a comment. www.quiettimes.webs.com

California Woman Dies In Fall From Half Dome Cables In Yosemite National Park

Aug 17th - 01:09am | Anonymous

Half Dome should be an adventure guided by experienced climbers. It's a solution that's good for the climbers, public and Park.

Updated: Drilling Rig Disaster Could Send Oil Spill Into Gulf Islands National Seashore

Aug 17th - 00:12am | men kimono

thanks for sharing this information, i really liked this blog, hoping more from you, thank you

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Aug 16th - 23:50pm | men kimono

great blog.. thanks for sharing the information.... excellent blog information presented.. thank you...

Shutting Down Small-town Post Offices Could Make Things Tough For Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers

Aug 16th - 19:34pm | Tour Guide

I thru-hiked the AT last year and didn't use a post office the entire time. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. The general store at Fontana Dam has everything you need to go the 3 days it takes to get to Newfound Gap where you can go into Gatlinburg. Those who still want to mail themselves food can send packages to hotels, hostels, and other businesses along the trail. The Northern Ou

Aug 16th - 17:50pm | Sam Stone

Poor rich hikers are losing a subsidy. Wah wah wah.

Aug 15th - 10:57am | Anonymous

Will the NPS Become as Mismanaged at the USPS ? with a reduced staff, wrong people selected for Top Management (Peter Principle: promoting people to their highest Level of Incompetence) apathy toward Science and Natural Resource Issues and solutions in favored bias toward Homeland Security,

Aug 14th - 21:06pm | Anonymous

I agree, most towns with a post office will have a merchant of some kind. However, I would not depend on UPS or any other carrier to step in to replace these offices. The Postal Service has been tasked with providing mail service to every citizen at the lowest price and for the same cost regardless of distance. With congressional oversight and the Postal Rate Commission on it's back, problem

Unresolved Search-and-Rescue Cases Are Scattered Throughout the National Parks

Aug 16th - 15:13pm | John

Over the past month or so, I have been reading about the tragic loss of young Dennis Martin in the Smoky Mountains in 1969. I have come upon this webpage through the "Websleuths" website. While some on the "Websleuths" page who have made entries about this incident have mentioned the possability that the Martin child may have been the victim of a predator, I have seen no mention of that here.

A Springtime Visit to Denali National Park and Preserve: Is It For You?

Aug 16th - 14:39pm | Ron K Anderson

We stayed at one of the lodges there many years ago. We want to go back to Denali National Park again this year. If anybody is planning to go there again, I would definitely recommend one of those lodges.

Public Comments Run Against Extension of Oyster Company Lease at Point Reyes National Seashore

Aug 16th - 08:36am | Keeper

"McCloskey believes that the Park Service "secretly feels very uncomfortable about administering privately leased lands." But he believes that that discomfort — or the beliefs of those who would like to see the entire seashore become "pure" wilderness — do not justify a misreading of the laws he authored."

Aug 16th - 01:07am | y_p_w

And one more: Marin Voice: History sides with oyster farm http://www.marinij.com/opinion/ci_18656522 Pete McCloskey served as a Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1983. He now lives in Rumsey in Yolo County.

Aug 15th - 23:37pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: Spurred by a U.S. senator determined to reverse congressional action from four decades ago...... Couldn't let this stand after recent reporting indicates that was clearly not correct.

GPS Unit Leads Couple Into Trouble Near Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Aug 16th - 03:12am | alex96

Provided you can actually read a map, these publications far outshine ANY maps for these areas that I've ever tried.

Marine Wilderness at a Crossroads In Point Reyes National Seashore

Aug 16th - 00:31am | y_p_w

Just thought I might add something to an old debate..... Former legislators back Point Reyes oyster company's claims http://www.marinij.com/ci_18672190

Another Yellowstone National Park Wolf Reaches Colorado

Aug 16th - 00:24am | Anonymous

There are a LOT of sightings in Colorado, including sightings of packs, so don't say there aren't any packs there, there are even sightings in southern Co. (Mexican Wolf?)

By the Numbers: Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Aug 15th - 19:45pm | Bruce

You ended up with your first love, and I with my second. Bully for you but alas for me. Oh well. [wistful smile] Keep up the good work, though, and thanks!

Aug 15th - 13:23pm | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for the feedback, Bruce. Glad you found the article interesting. I'm a history buff myself, as you might have surmised. In fact, I minored in history as an undergraduate and might very well have gone on to do graduate work in history had I not decided to pursue my first love, which is geography.

Traveler's Checklist: Petersburg National Battlefield

Aug 15th - 19:26pm | John G

Good article but not sure why the White Oak Museum is identified as "other sites in the area". It's probably seventy miles or more north of Petersburg.

Bryce Canyon National Park To Explore Ways To Expand Transportation Options

Aug 15th - 18:07pm | David WC

Great park best morning and sunset views in the west!

Cumberland Island National Seashore Now Offering Interpretive Tours By Van and Open-Air Tram

Aug 15th - 13:16pm | RoadRanger

A clarification: the photo caption refers to Plum Orchard Mansion, but the photo shows the ruins of Dungeness, a Carnegie family home on at the southern end of the main road on the island. Based on information in the article, Dungeness should be on the motor tour.

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