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Obama Administration Proposes $12 Billion Interior Department Budget, Extra National Park Funding

Apr 30th - 15:02pm | Anonymous

I hope the National, State, and local parks will continue to flourish even though there are many difficulties.

Tour Group Gets Up Close -- Too Close! -- To Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Apr 30th - 13:54pm | Anonymous

Multiply the fines by ten and note that on the signs. And stick to it, no exceptions!

Apr 30th - 09:50am | Becci

I was watching the web cam when it happened, my jaw dropped too.  I couldn't beleive the arrogance of the whole group.  Then afterward reading that they "Did not see the signs"  That's the biggest lie I've heard all year. All 30ish of them should have been fined and the tour company banned for at least the rest of the season.

Apr 30th - 00:43am | Dale

Once agian dumb people doing dumb things and with no clue why it was wrong.  The gene pool defiantly need's to be purged.

Apr 29th - 20:10pm | Bruce

Again, the law of natural selection is [momentarily] averted!

Apr 29th - 18:20pm | Happy Toadster

I have seen the many signs in multiple languages throughout the park and I am constently amazed at the visitors who break the rules. I agree with the other person. Fine them all and maybe we can close the budget gap.

Apr 29th - 17:44pm | R Stefancik

Maybe they should post a picture of someone's scalded foot in the thermal areas.  One picture like that might be worth a thousand warning signs.

Apr 29th - 13:44pm | WI-Cheesehead

Props to my fellow Wisconsinite!  Way to go!

Apr 29th - 13:31pm | Mike Painter

The touring company's Yellowstone NP operating permit ought to be revoked.

Apr 29th - 12:08pm | samsdad1

The story should tell us how 26 people can break the same law and go away fine free? Simlar (dare I say) Cape Hatteras where several violate the letters of the law and escape unscathed even when the Rangers are watching. I say fine them all large amounts and this will evetually cease.

Apr 29th - 11:50am | dennis g.

Having been to Yellowstone, I can say that the signs are numerous and easy to read. These people must be either blind or stupid - and they're not blind. And the fines are too low.

Updated: National Park Service Budget Would Grow by $138 Million Under President's FY12 Proposal

Apr 30th - 10:27am | Anonymous

first off, you are right about the the bombs. you are insane if you think the nat park can mange its lands. they are on a buying spree for resources, appearing to cater to the selfish interests of a select group. come visit quinault this summer, that might change your mind. or even contact me private!

Some In Congress Urge National Park Service To Find Solution for Yellowstone National Park Bison

Apr 30th - 08:41am | Ranger Paul

It seems like congress is sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong again.

Apr 29th - 14:30pm | The Truth

The NPS is a major part of this problem.  They have known the truth regarding the politics and science of this issue for years, and have failed to provide moral leadership.

Apr 29th - 10:11am | RangerLady

I agree with C.C. Let them do what they have to. Many bison cannot survive the Yellowstone winters and have to migrate to find better grazing, which means they have to go out of the park. There has not been a single documented case where burcellosis has been transfered from bison (or elk) to cattle.

Apr 29th - 07:55am | C.C.

Let the bison roam!  They shouldn't be managed as livestock, they are wildlife!  The cattle industry should not have any more say over where the bison migrate!

Apr 28th - 13:10pm | richp39

These guys were so worried about how NPS was managing bison in Yellowstone, they couldn't come up with an annual budget for the whole country until 6 months into the budget year. I wonder how much the final budget allocated to developing a new policy for the bison?

Apr 28th - 12:48pm | samsdad1

blaming the nps is like blaming the bullet.

Apr 28th - 12:28pm | Bob

The NPS could probably come up with a scientifically-based solution tomorrow, which Congress would reject on political grounds on the day after tomorrow.  The problem here isn't with the NPS.

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

Apr 29th - 16:54pm | Zebulon

Clearly, Imntbike has made all my points and then some.  I'll go back to doing spreadsheets and making a buck or two. :)

Apr 29th - 16:32pm | imtnbke

Hey, Rick —

Apr 29th - 15:48pm | Rick Smith

Imtnbike--

Apr 29th - 14:35pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, roads and fancy hotels are definitely allowed....although some think there should be more, but that's another story;-)

Apr 29th - 14:25pm | imtnbke

Fair enough. I admit that I write in a polemical style.

Apr 29th - 12:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

"Toys" denigrates? And "Luddites" doesn't;-) (Sorry, couldn't resist....)

Apr 29th - 12:42pm | imtnbke

Well, even so, that doesn't take away from the undeniable fact that there's a tension between the traditionalists and the nontraditionalists (whom it would be unfair to denigrate as relying on "toys"; it's a far broader issue than that) that must be a major challenge for the NPS.

Apr 29th - 12:31pm | Kurt Repanshek

The devil's advocate would have to question IMTNBKE's Luddite comment by noting 1) That Sam enjoys playing in the waves at Cape Hatteras and was awed by the Grand Canyon, two age-old aspects of nature that are obviously appealing to generations young and old, no other toys required, and 2) in the Traveler's recently concluded essay contest for youth 8 to 18 the winners

Apr 29th - 12:04pm | samsdad1

I agree with IMTNBIKE and would take it further with possible kid developed storylines on both side of the issues. My 6 year old knows about several of these parks from our visits, but by far his two favorite ones offered the most for his age. Cape hatteras (things to do and waves) and Grand Canyon (PURE unadulterated AWE)

Apr 29th - 11:58am | imtnbke

I'd vote for an article or two on what NPS is doing to make itself relevant to younger people. The poor agency has for decades been beset by the demands of elderly curmudgeons, and the organizations that represent them, like the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, the Audubon Society, etc., that nothing change.

Apr 29th - 06:19am | MRC

For me the features are main reason to read the Traveler. History and politics are my leading interests. The next best thing are personal accounts about trips to the parks featuring well known or not so well known trails and experiences.

Apr 27th - 21:47pm | Anonymous

I'm with David... I like learning about experiences in the park. I like the "check lists" and just in general, what activities people enjoy in a given park. To list a bunch of hikes is one thing but to give an actual account of the hike is so helpful. I especially like learning about things that aren't the "norm".

War And Consequences: The American Indian Movement Vs. The National Park Service At Fort Laramie, Part II

Apr 29th - 16:04pm | David H.

Richard Sellars has not only provided the rationale to widen---or is the word to "correct?'---the way NPS wants us to remember a significant and treacherous part of US history surrounding Fort Laramie, but he also told his story with clarity, and almost perfect pitch and balance.

Apr 27th - 22:33pm | Mellody

Thank you, Mr. Utley for mentioning about the fur trade, that actually was the start of Ft. Laramie. That is one fact that I had forgotten about. But, then again, like you said, that part of history is only mentioned briefly, if at all. The fur trade and the Native Americans go way back before the military intervened in the region.

Camper Killed As Severe Storm System Thrashes Natchez Trace Parkway

Apr 29th - 15:23pm | Jay

"Greater love hath no man than this..."

Road Trip 2011: The National Park Lodges

Apr 28th - 22:43pm | Ron and Lynda

Amazing adventures !We even duplicated a few of them with great success. Couldn't do without your books. They come along in our backpack. THANKS!

Apr 28th - 00:43am | Hhotelconsult

This is an epic, grand, brilliant vacation.  So envious.  I helped on Cavallo... it's a special, rare place.  I hope you enjoy yourselves... be safe, have fun.. and keep doing what you obviously know how to do: live life, live it well... and enjoy it every step of the way! =)

Apr 27th - 21:01pm | PM

Really enjoyed your Lewis & Clark travels last year, looking forward to reading about your adventures this year.

War And Consequences: The American Indian Movement Vs. The National Park Service At Fort Laramie

Apr 28th - 15:11pm | Eric DeLony

I too am retired Park Service. Though not my area of expertise, we discussed this interpretation of Fort Laramie several times over lunch in Santa Fe. I've been to Ft. Laramie one time and found it to be an outstanding Park Service restoration/rehabilitation.

Driver Survives Plunge Off South Rim At Grand Canyon National Park

Apr 28th - 11:23am | Bruce

The evolutionary process of natural selection was unnaturally kind to this individual.  This time.

Apr 28th - 01:09am | Cornell

Txtng is precisely what I was thinking.

Kemp's Ridley Turtle Nesting Season Off To Good Start At Padre Island National Seashore

Apr 28th - 10:48am | MarkN

We here in Texas are keeping our fingers crossed that the Kemp's nesting numbers continue to improve. With nests showing up last year from the Mexican border to Galveston Beach the prospects are great. While fishing the jettys at Port Aransas last year I was amazed at the numbers of turtles living in and around the South Jetty. The same can be said for the North Jetty at South Padre Island.

National Park Mystery Photo 35 Revealed: This Big Gear Turns No More

Apr 28th - 10:42am | Dottie

Actually, I answered it early yesterday morning (the 27th), but never went back to check it until late last night and discovered my answer never "took".  Remember well the hot buggy day hiking down to that place in the late 1970's.

National Park Mystery Photo 35: Big Gear Turning

Apr 28th - 08:08am | Kurt Repanshek

Belated congratulations to Dottie, who figured out the answer. And while she didn't mention exactly which sugar plantation -- by now you all know it was the from the Reef Bay plantation -- in light of the many possibilities out there, she deserves congratulations!

Apr 27th - 23:47pm | Dottie

The sugar and rum plantations in Virgin Islands National Park.

Apr 27th - 22:12pm | Anonymous

I'm not sure if my previous post went through (having computer issues...) Is it Keys Ranch in Joshua Tree NP?

Apr 27th - 19:59pm | Kurt Repanshek

Nope.

Apr 27th - 19:34pm | Eric

Grant Kohrs Ranch NHS?

Apr 27th - 19:17pm | Rick Smith

I give up if this one is wrong--Lowell?

Apr 27th - 19:17pm | Kurt Repanshek

Sorry Rick, not even close.

Apr 27th - 19:15pm | Rick Smith

I give up if this one is wrong--Lowell?

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