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A Year in the Life ... of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Dec 4th - 18:31pm | Lee Dalton

Neat!

Looking At The National Park Service's Goal To Eliminate Plastic Bottles

Dec 4th - 16:23pm | Lee Dalton

No, I didn't say I want to shut down the production of anything.  It's that kind of rather irrational argumentative stance that makes it hard to reach any kind of decent solutions.  When an argument doesn't make good sense, it's difficult to counter with much of anything.

Dec 4th - 16:21pm | justinh

"When he pays his entrance fee - if not a deposit on the bottle." Now see what I wrote in parentheses.  You're making my point.

Dec 4th - 14:44pm | ecbuck

"When has any visitor to a national park paid a recycling fee?" When he pays his entrance fee - if not a deposit on the bottle.

Dec 4th - 12:09pm | justinh

ecbuck, When has any visitor to a national park paid a recycling fee?  (Think about where the savings will ultimately come from.)

Dec 4th - 11:35am | ecbuck

Lee - you want to shut down the production of anything people litter with?  Ok no more cans, no more paper, no more tires ......  My experience is that people are for the most part very respectful of the parks and litter is a relatively minor issue.  And if people litter, the answer is to punish the litterers not all those that use the product appropriately.

Dec 4th - 10:49am | justinh

ecbuck, I'm not sure I quite follow the logic of your comment.  In any case, I was following up on Mike Painter's post, which happens to be in the spirit of Lee Dalton's above.  Recycling is a waste of money and energy with respect to the alternative: reusing.

Dec 4th - 10:47am | tahoma

Coca -Cola is one of the most thugish international corporations around. Besides aggressively opposing container deposit legislation worldwide, they've also meddled in Mid-east foreign policy, violently busted unions in Columbia, and preempted local farmer's water supplies in Mexico. Camelback and Mike Painter both hit the nail on the head.

Dec 4th - 08:56am | Lee Dalton

Could we all be paying a price indirectly, though?

Dec 3rd - 19:09pm | ecbuck

Why - if you aren't buying the bottles you don't need to worry aboue the waste, recycling costs or electricity usage.

Dec 3rd - 16:54pm | justinh

"a ban on disposable bottles reduce waste and recycling costs, but it also would lead to sizeable savings in electricity usage"   Seems to be a pretty reasonable goal.

Dec 3rd - 15:46pm | ecbuck

Sorry Mike, I don't see the convenience of a plastic bottle as "waste".   Nor do I see why you want to confiscate money from others (via taxes) when someone is voluntarily willing to give it.

Dec 3rd - 12:57pm | Mike Painter

The hierarchy with respect to waste is:    Reduce.    Reuse.    Recycle. Note that "recycle" is last. Thus efforts should first be directed at the first option. A ban on bottled water, while making sure that refillable bottles are available with filling stations, is thus the preferred alternative.

Dec 3rd - 12:21pm | Rick B.

It is pretty cynical and apathetic to recognize that a 100% change is impossible, so why try to make a partial change. We'll never get China to halt their industrial pollutants, so we shouldn't try to improve our own? Every plastic bottle less available for Timthy Tentpeg to discard on a trail is one less that I then have to pick up and carry out.

Dec 3rd - 09:45am | Kurt Repanshek

While I agree we'll never rid plastic from civilization, I think reducing our reliance on it would be a good deed with many benefits for all. The key, of course, is to not create a new problem by solving an existing one. That's where innovation comes in.

Dec 3rd - 09:43am | Anonymous

"BTW-wouldn't it be great...."

Dec 3rd - 09:22am | ecbuck

"Wouldn't it be great to find a way to reduce plastic waste?" Sure - but we don't have to get rid of plastic in the process.  Its called recycling. BTW - wouldn't it be great to have a multi-million dollar funding source for the NPS?

Dec 3rd - 08:53am | Keeper

Ah, a world without PC!!!!!   I know what I want for Christmas, lol.  Makes me smile just thinking about it!

Dec 3rd - 08:51am | Kurt Repanshek

Why meaningless, ec? Wouldn't it be great to find a way to reduce plastic waste? According to NPS calculations, the savings in plastic, energy, and dollars would be substantial.

Dec 3rd - 08:41am | ecbuck

Hmm - should we ban bottles for symbolic yet meaningless (in the real scope of things) purposes or should we allow the bottles which the public wants and in the process get millions of corporate dollars that can sustain the parks and park activities?

Dec 2nd - 20:02pm | Camelback

NPS Director Jarvis clearly misrepresented this issue by stating the bottle ban was shelved due to perceived safety concerns.  In fact, it is clear from the documents supplied by PEER, that safety concerns were never part of the discussion, the decision involved the potential reaction of a large corporate donor.  

Dec 2nd - 15:03pm | ed-123

It’s not enough money to influence anybody Statements like this can only harm the NPS

UPDATED: Economists, Academics Urge President Obama To Protect Public Lands, Create New National Parks

Dec 4th - 15:14pm | Anonymous

John McCain and his son hiked rim to rim at the Grand Canyon a few years ago. Pretty impressive at his age.  I think true park lovers go to the parks.  As simple as that.  I don't think we'll ever see this president or his wife do any sort of outdoor activity in a national park.  He prefers golf and she prefers more luxurious surroundings.

Dec 4th - 14:45pm | Anonymous

Laura Bush and her girls also rode Grand Canyon Mules down to Phantom Ranch where they stayed the night, riding out the next day.  Witnesses said they had a glorious time as do most all veterans of the Ride.  Better than Martha's Vineyard?  I believe so.  It would appear that the Bush girls (at least) are true friends of the Parks. 

Dec 4th - 13:24pm | Kurt Repanshek

He did visit Yellowstone (if only for a day), as well as Acadia. And when he first took office his Interior Department put a hold on oil leasing near Arches, Canyonlands, and Dinosaur National Monument to take a closer look at possible impacts, and the Interior Department is moving to withdraw 1 million acres around Grand Canyon National Park from hard-rock mining.

Dec 4th - 13:06pm | Anonymous

This president vacations in mansions on Martha's Vinyard and Hawaii.  He just isn't a national parks lover.  Other than one photo op at the Grand Canyon, I don't think he's ever been to a national park.  While Laura Bush did the High Sierra Loop in Yosemite, Michelle Obama prefers luxury trips to Spain.  The national parks are just not on this president's radar at all.

Rehabilitating Forney Ridge Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Forever

Dec 4th - 09:38am | tahoma

Thanks for this story, Danny. The trail rockwork is impressive, as is the continuing endowment for maintenance!

Updated: Greenpeace Climbers Arrested for Climate Change Protest at Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Dec 3rd - 22:28pm | Anonymous

Genius. I appluad those who have the drive to do something while the rest of America does nothing.

National Park Service Proposes To Change Name Of Ross Lake NRA to North Cascades National Recreation Area

Dec 3rd - 12:25pm | CElbert

Wouldn't it be simpler to just roll Ross Lake NRA into North Cascades NP and just manage that portion of the national park for appropriate recreational use?  Same with Lake Chelan NRA.  That's essentially the way the entire complex is managed now, so do the multiple designations really matter?  In my opinion, the two recreation area designations along with the national park is more confusing th

Dec 3rd - 11:01am | MarK P.

The Thunder Creek wilderness designation is finalizing an action authorized by legislation in the 1988 Washington Parks Wilderness Act. There was a pending non-conforming use (a proposed dam) that has since bit the dust, hence now the area can be designated wilderness without problems. Here is the description from the NPS planning newsletter:

Dec 2nd - 12:23pm | Kurt Repanshek

That seems to be the same process at work at Point Reyes National Seashore and Drakes Estero.

Dec 2nd - 12:19pm | Anonymous

Just did some research and learned something new. Chapter 5 (Affected Environment) says this about "potential wilderness":

Dec 2nd - 11:00am | Anonymous

How does an NPS plan "convert" potential wilderness to designated wilderness? I thought only Congress could do that.

Legislation Could Force Bicycles Off Roads In Some National Parks

Dec 3rd - 10:19am | Barry

I don't know why I always read the thread posts: they are inevitably depressing, full of ignorant and hateful opinions based almost entirely on anecdotal evidence, and sadly reflective of the state of critical thinking and policymaking amongst our relatively privileged population. Where do I even start to respond to the people complaining above?

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

Dec 2nd - 23:08pm | George Durkee

Rick et al: Your mention of the Best Places to Work survey (and the recent Morning Report pep talk on same) reminds me of former DOI Inspector General Earl Devaney's Congressional testimony some years ago:

National Park Service Falls in "Best Places To Work" Rankings

Dec 2nd - 19:22pm | Anonymous

I guess the question now is do we want more of the same or leadership that restores pride and professionalism to the agency?  So tell me folks, who's job description includes those criteria, really?

Dec 2nd - 14:55pm | Anonymous

I like agree with a lot of the comments on here.  And I have to reiterate with what Disgusted stated above.  I have worked for the NPS for a little over 8 years now and I work with some of the most dedicated employees, who love the NPS mission and what our national parks stand for.

Dec 2nd - 11:58am | Anonymous

So, Soon, it has to get worse before it gets better?  The saying "never say never" has new meaning nowadays as I "never thought I'd see the day" that things would be the way they are, in so many areas.  Bring on the worse if that's what it takes.   Sounds like you've got perfect timing concerning your pending retirement.  Sorry you'll miss out on the adventure, lol! 

Dec 2nd - 11:13am | Soon to be reti...

Purchasing and contracting that don't work, implementing a plan to centralize nearly all HR functions that mirrors the failed approach taken by the Forest Service, refusal to accept and plan for zero-sum budgeting--all of which make it harder and harder for employees to do their mission-related jobs.  Why would anyone be surprised by this outcome?

Dec 2nd - 09:04am | Richard T

Rick Smith: I believe historically that "moderately conservative" would be a good description of demographics among NPS Employees.  I also believe there has been a definite move to the left.

Dec 1st - 20:49pm | Rick Smith

Richard T.-- In my 30+ years as an NPS employee, I found most of my colleagues to be moderately conservative, Republicans in the Teddy Roosevelt mode. I certainly did not consider them "left of center". Excuse me if I am misunderstanding what you mean by that phrase. Rick

Dec 1st - 19:23pm | Richard T

Owen, looking at the leanings of those that have been directing the NPS which is sure to bring on a conversation is that it appears that "most" everyone that should share the responsibility for the state of things good or bad (throughout the agency) are left of center.  Is that statement arguable?  Probably not particularly pleasing to hear.  Is that not a fact?

National Park Visits Help Grow Utah's Tourism Industry By Nearly 5 Percent In 2010

Dec 2nd - 12:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Good catch, ec. Fingers don't always do what the brain tells them. I'll correct it in the story.

Dec 2nd - 11:01am | ecbuck

" were up by 6 million in 2010, an increase of 1.2 percent over 2009 levels, the state reported." Those parks had 500 million visitors?  I think you meant to say "up to 6 million".

Dec 2nd - 10:16am | David Crowl

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, although not a NPS unit, offers stunning views during our drive from Capitol Reef to Bryce. I would recommend this drive to anyone visiting Utah. I agree with Preston's points about religion and politics but would not let that deter my visits either. I love traveling to Utahs Parks.

Dec 2nd - 08:59am | Lee Dalton

But Rob Bishop, our Congressional representative from the 1st District says national parks are not money makers.  Do you mean we shouldn't believe him?

Traveler's Gear Box: Jetboil's Sol Ti Cooking System

Dec 2nd - 08:56am | justinh

I can highly recommend the JetBoil Flash.  An even lighter version is all the better.  Thanks for this gear update!

Dec 2nd - 08:50am | Danny Bernstein

I love my Jetboil. I have been scaling down my backpacking cooking since I first started backpacking. I can't believe that we used to fool around with white gas when we did the A.T.

Creature Feature: The American Crocodile is Florida’s Comeback Kid

Dec 2nd - 08:17am | Ms. Greene's Class

Thank you for the great article! We learned some interesting facts about crocodiles. My students thank you. ui

Appellate Court Rules Yellowstone Area Grizzly Bears Should Remain On Endangered Species List

Dec 1st - 20:10pm | Leland22

You just gotta love this Country. On one hand, you hear Conservation groups say to let the scientist and biologist make decisions and let "science" rule and the politicians and all of us to butt out (i.e.

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