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Reader Participation Day: What Do You Want To Read About National Parks?

May 11th - 11:47am | Kurt Repanshek

Jon, we'd love to offer that, but until we can find a reliable spam filter...some years ago we offered forums for just the sort of thing you're seeking, and it was a spam magnet. And with just one or two of us monitoring the site a day, having to vet all the comments to make sure spam wouldn't sneak through would be troublesome.

May 11th - 11:42am | Jon Sparks

I would love to have a message board for topics that are brought up by the crowd.  If I'm going to visit Big South Fork, I'd like to be able to post that and see if anyone has some suggestions on the best way to visit it.  Or I'd like to learn what apps people use to improve their park planning or experiences.  I realize that some of the control would be lost but I would also like that too.  Th

Does Today's Technology Offer A Better Connection, Or A Disconnect, To Enjoying National Parks?

May 11th - 11:31am | Travis Mason-Bushman

Facebook and Twitter are on their way out? I'd love to see your evidence for that, considering that both are rapidly growing in userbase and pageviews.

May 11th - 09:01am | Anonymous

One thing that has not been mentioned is the inability of the NPS to keep up with these new technologies.  We started doing podcasts years after they had reached their peak of popularity.  Now parks are into facebook and twitter.  I hate to be the one to break it to you, but they are on their way out too.  If my grandmother is doing it, then it most certainly is not the latest technology.  The

May 11th - 04:42am | Travis Mason-Bushman

I'm an interpretive ranger with the Forest Service (yes, we have some!) in Alaska, and am leading efforts to get social - including Twitter and Facebook pages for my home base, the Mendenhall Glacier R

May 10th - 17:16pm | Bob

It goes both ways.  I take youth groups to national parks.  Let's say they take pictures and share them with friends on Facebook -- the technology is exposing more people to the parks. That's all to the good.  Now, let's say they spend so much time on Facebook with their friends that they are mentally at home, not in the park.  That's a bad thing.

May 10th - 16:32pm | Keeper

I don't agree on the "staying relevant" argument.  I've had many parents and grand parents that have brought their kids and grandchildren for Canyon Mule Adventures to aid in showing what real interaction feels like and break from destructive obsessions that feed on instant gratification.  The transformations by parents and children is nothing less than miraculous!

May 10th - 15:17pm | Kerry Gallivan

Excellent topic! I think an important part of this conversation is the youth. These are the digital natives; the young adults who are, for better or for worse, growing up in a world in which they are always connected via the Internet and have multiple devices to interface with (i.e. laptop, smartphone, iPod, etc.). They experience much of their world and life via technology.

May 10th - 10:04am | y_p_w

Dave Crowl: Great discussion! I think the NPS needs to adopt a rule that they use some sot of Parkitecture that cell towers need to blend in to their surroundings. I have seen places in Colorado where the cell phone towers looked like Pine Trees. If they adopt a policy that reviewed placement and style of each tower, they could minimalize most unsightly views.

May 9th - 21:36pm | Reality Check

It could be that information is over rated!  REAL experiences are under rated ...and even to be avoided, it would seem.  Let's give both the attention they deserve and let humbling be a part of the experience:).  I'm with REAL INTERACTIVE on this.

May 9th - 19:26pm | Tom Vaughan

I'm with those who point out that this is not an either/or issue ... use technology appropriately, use personal services appropriately. I have to smile at the comment somewhere above about leaving technology out of the park but preserving visitor centers ... visitor centers are already a mediation of the park experience, with exhibits, books, videos, etc.

Reader Participation Day: Has The National Park Service Been Led Astray By Congress and Become A Catchall Agency?

May 11th - 11:04am | Joseph

Having spent summers at Yosemite National Park from my 10th through 18th years; from anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks, I have a deep respect for our system. We would do well to remember that we took it from the Native Americans as qualifications for statehood(Califronia). Reference The Articles of Confederation; which continued to 1848 and beyond.

May 11th - 09:51am | Rick Smith

I agree with Bri above.  Each unit of the National Park System is important and significant in some way.  I have visited many of the "lesser-known" parks, and each has a fascinating story to tell.  Kurt asks, "Is a house cleaning in order...?"  Once you begin "cleaning house", what criteria are you going to use?  Who is going to be the chief house cleaner?  What cleaning implements will be used

May 11th - 09:35am | Tree Pig

I think it is perfectly appropriate and consistent with the mission of the NPS to include historical sites, recreation areas, and other "non-natural" resources. However, I also believe that the Service has been diluated by areas that were added not because of the merit of the resources or the stories, but rather for reasons of political pork and/or desire for economic development.

May 11th - 08:52am | Anonymous

Noped'

May 11th - 08:29am | Bri

Having started my career in Big Parks: Everglades, Sequoia etc. I used to not understand why these smaller sites were part of the NPS.

Walking Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Part 1

May 11th - 10:51am | Sharon McCarthy

We learned that walking on the beach was very enjoyable at low tide (hard packed sand) and more challenging at higher tides (softer sand).  There were fewer people than I have ever encountered on a beach.  Most of the time there was just the two of us and our thoughts facing the waves rolling in.  The most awesome moment for me:  realizing I had actually hiked up the Outer Banks to the base of

May 11th - 08:50am | Jan

Enjoyed reading your write up about your sandy hike. You had me there, on the beach. It helps, maybe that we took our young children there in the mid 90s, so it was a memroy maker for me. I am pretty sure I would not like hiking on the sand for 4 miles straight, that would really be hard.

May 11th - 06:06am | Bob Janiskee

Great article, Danny. Love the photos, too. Looking forward to the next installment.

Discounted Campsites On the Way in June to Mark 'National Great Outdoors Month'

May 11th - 09:57am | Lee Dalton

It never ceases to amaze me how many of those Big RVs and some fancy-dancy 90 foot long double deck trailers have windows that can't be opened.  Air conditioners mandatory.  Fresh air impossible.  Then there are the satellite TV dishes. Ah, well.  Maybe this makes trails less crowded for the rest of us.

May 11th - 05:37am | Lone Hiker

The only negative here is trying to encourage a disconnected public to experience camping through the windows of your local RV dealer.  Is seems to at least me that National Great Outdoors Month should have concentrated their efforts on the "outdoors" portion of their statement.

Yellowstone National Park Officials Slowly Setting Corralled Bison Free

May 11th - 08:41am | C.C.

Good news!  At least it appears that way.....can never tell with the agencies making decisions about the bison.

Beauty From A Distance In Joshua Tree National Park

May 11th - 06:50am | mmech37

Keep your distance is right..Last summer I got a little too close to one of them. One of the tips broke off and stuck in my leg. Spent the next several minutes pulling the spines out. They don't come out as easy as they go in.

Should a Cesar Chavez Site be Added to the National Park System?

May 10th - 20:59pm | y_p_w

http://www.nps.gov/legacy/mission.html

May 10th - 19:48pm | Anonymous

The mission of the National Park Service - "conserve the scenery and the wildlife and the natural and historic objects therein....for the enjoyment of future generations" - too, bad, Lone Hiker, but history and human accomplishments are part and parcel of the NP system.  You are welcome to your personal opinion, but national policy and Congressional actions do not agree with you.

May 10th - 14:47pm | y_p_w

Sure this is political in nature. So are the several birthplaces/homes of former US Presidents or other political figures. I don't disagree with the argument that the NPS doesn't have adequate funding, but the inclusion of many NPS sites has been political in nature.

May 10th - 11:41am | Anonymous

no,besides that,we have enough on the table with the parks we have now,where is the funding and we cannot afford it..and most peop[le will not mention,the people that he orgainized for we mostly illegals...

May 10th - 11:15am | Mellody

When I think of the NPS I don't think of Cesar Chavez. This political not nature. We have national parks that need attention or have budget constraints due to congress defunding the NPS. Why create another site, for a political issue. If they (the state) has not set up an monument to him, why should the NPS do so.

May 10th - 10:30am | Hopefull...

Yes, let's make our Parks a testiment to the intelectual, not! Just skip the most grounded needs of our lives and live in those lofty places where we demean our predecessors (and ourselves) to assume the position of "creator." Could we add a good bit of humbling to the equation?

May 10th - 10:12am | Lone Hiker

i find that nature has done a more competent job at shaping the parks than man even could dream of, and when the influence of mankind does take hold, as in the damming of the Colorado River reshaping the topography and ecology of the Grand Canyon, then the entire system begins to rapidly deteriorate.  And due to those influences, along with the short-sightedness and generally low IQ of man when

May 10th - 10:03am | y_p_w

Lone Hiker: I find nothing or note in the terms Bryce Canyon or Grand Teton.    You do realize the origin of the name "Grand Teton", right? I'd hate for some of the names to be changed - especially Yosemite. The name was a reference to people.

May 10th - 06:21am | Leo Zia

Yes, and the perfect place?  The little village of WEED PATCH in Weed Patch CA.  There are the remains of a depression era GOVERNMENT CAMP for Oakies there and there is the NEW HOUSING for Migrant Workers during the growing season just a few miles down the road.  YES YES YES.  Thank you!!

May 10th - 05:21am | Lone Hiker

Practicality is not exactly my middle name.  People tend to enjoy wasting time debating issues without ever resolving them.  If our officials in Washingto DC should have taught us anything is that what they do best are protracted periods of nothing.  I tend toward the other end of the spectra.  Wipe the slate clean and do it over, correctly and completely.

May 9th - 22:44pm | y_p_w

Lone Hiker;

May 9th - 21:33pm | Lone Hiker

Indeed I did say, and have held fast to the position on these very airwaves for years that the national parks are not for the remembrance of mankind.  I stand against naming parks for a man, naming park features for a man, naming access roads, buildings, campsites, etc. for ANY man.

May 9th - 20:37pm | Anonymous

Yes! Please do add a Cesar Chavez historical site to the NPS. May his passion and comittment always be remembered and continue to inspire future generations. Our family would love to make a visit to such a place to honor his memory and lifelong work. School children would be offered an opportunity to visit and learn about Cesar and his monumental work of nonviolent social change. Yes! Yes!

May 9th - 19:59pm | Cornell

Lone Hiker, says,” For that matter any site designated to one person's achievements (good or bad) should be eliminated from NPS authority … this manner of "honor" has no place in the context of the national park service.”

Upcoming Road Work Will Make Travel A Bit Challenging In Olympic National Park

May 10th - 20:11pm | RodF

Trails to be inaccessible during May/June repairs: Boulder Creek/Olympic Hot Springs/Appleton Pass, Boulder Lake, Happy Lake Ridge, Griff Creek, West Elwha, West Lake Mills.

Walls at Risk of Collapse at Historic Fort Jefferson Make "Crumbling Infrastructure" a Harsh Reality

May 10th - 15:19pm | d-2

Rather than depending on "development project funding" for line item Congressional construction funding, many parks should have maintenance staff able to continually maintain the park.  Ft. Jefferson/Dry Tortugas is one of those parks.

National Park Road Trip 2011: Fort Davis National Historic Site

May 10th - 12:20pm | K Norwood

Please remember the BEST way to help this historic fort is to GO THERE!!!  The town of Ft Davis was hit very hard, but it IS still standing and there are still beautiful places to visit AND stay!  And I'm glad Mr. and Mrs. Scott enjoyed one of my other "haunts" of Roswell.  Bottomless Lakes is also a beautiful place!! And I promise the aliens WON'T get you...unless you WANT them to!

May 10th - 08:26am | Merle

This was very interesting to me, I heard about that fire on the news, but they didn't say much about the amount of buildings that burnt.  Aslo I am sure I talked to you folks in the visiter center in Deming NM.  Good luck on your travels.Merle  

Pruning the Parks: Mackinac National Park (1875-1895)

May 10th - 12:03pm | Bob Janiskee

Your explanation makes sense to me, Tricia. Unfortunately, as many of us can attest from personal experience, the information that the National Park Service makes available on the Internet is not always accurate, complete, and up to date. All things considered, though, the agency does a darn good job.

May 10th - 10:48am | Tricia Dally

Dear Sir,

May 10th - 09:45am | Bob Janiskee

Nice catch, Steven. That info should have been part of the article.  Here is the complete citation for the Mackinac National Park portions of this rather short (48 pages) report. Keith R. Widder, Mackinac National Park, 1875-1895, Reports in Mackinac History and Archaeology no. 4 (Mackinac Island State Park Commission, 1975), 6, 41-46.

May 10th - 09:05am | Steven Mullen

The full story is in Mackinac National Park 1875-1895 (Reports in Mackinac HIstory and Archaeology Number 4) by Keith R. Widder.

May 10th - 06:47am | Bob Janiskee

Samsad1, I heartily agree that Mackinac Island is a delightful place. The Grand Hotel experience can be a tad expensive, though. I haven't checked the hotel's rate schedule lately, but back in 1989 we paid nearly $400 for a one-night stay in a not-so-special room.

May 10th - 06:16am | samsdad1

One of the most beutiful places I have ever been. I have stayed at the Grand Hotel in Summer and in a bed n breakfast in the winter. for all those who think I live and breathe ORV then let me tell you this place is in my top five of places to visit and it allows no motorized equipment at all on the island...

Four Ranger-Guided Backcountry Hikes Reveal More Of The Wonders At Mesa Verde National Park

May 10th - 11:00am | Jim from nj

This sounds amazing. When I was there last year, I found the crowds distracting. The idea of being in a group of ten people with a Ranger to guide us sounds like an incredible opportunity. I just ordered my tickets for June 21, with my wife and 15 year old daughter. I'll let you know how it is!

National Park Foundation Launches Disaster Recovery Fund Drive For Gulf of Mexico Parks

May 10th - 00:28am | Ranthambore Nat...

We also have support the National Park Service’s and we also have to  create lasting capacity to help national parks recover from future natural and man-made disasters.

Wouldn't It Be Nice If the National Park Service Resumed the Distribution of Park Window Stickers?

May 9th - 21:45pm | Lone Hiker

I trust the lame excuse about people misinterpreting the sticker for a paid admission wasn't the real reason the stickers were discontinued.  But it does seem strange that a harmless, wonderful "novelty" such as this would go the way of the dinosaur when so many people actually supported the idea and still seek them out.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.