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National Park Road Trip 2010: The Nez Perce

Jul 29th - 10:21am | HellsCanyon

It was wonderful to read about your time here in Clarkston, WA/Lewiston, ID at the North entrance to Hells Canyon! We sure hope that next time you can drop in to the Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau and say hello - we love to meet our visitors and find out how far everyone has traveled; plus, it lets us learn a bit about where they are from, as well.

Jul 28th - 13:32pm | tizzy

Love this. I visited much of this same route last year and found it completely fascinating. Particularly the Heart of the Monster.

Young Woman Dies After Being Submerged in Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park

Jul 29th - 08:34am | V.C. Wald aka G...

Regarding the apparent 5-minute lack of attention, it seems unlikely anyone timed it on a watch, so I wouldn't necessarily put too much stock in that figure, though it may have seemed like forever. Also, it may not have been obvious that she was unable to swim or that she was at risk of drowning.

Jul 29th - 02:41am | Anonymous

Anyone know why it took five minutes for someone to go in after her?

Jul 29th - 00:24am | Anonymous

It was in the fire hole swimming area. We were there....it is very sad. Some of the members of her party said she could not swim. Not sure how true that is but that is what the one person said...very tragic.

Jul 28th - 21:15pm | yellowstone98

I wonder if this occurred at the Firehole Swim Area off Firehole Drive south of Madison Junction...a beautiful location but also a place where I was always surprised at the lack of fatalities considering the relative risks of the river features (and large amount of cliff jumping occurring.)

North Dakota is Still on My Bucket List

Jul 29th - 06:23am | Bob Janiskee

Dimock, SD is a L-O-N-G way from Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Bogator.

Jul 28th - 22:01pm | Anonymous

I was in North Dakota last Labor Day weekend and really loved it. Flew into Bismarck and rented a car. Most of the rental car companies only allow 200 free miles per day with such a big state can get expensive. I was unable to find anyplace that was selling stamps while I was their.

Jul 28th - 17:05pm | Bogator

Well Bob, I don't know where you will be in SD, but the front door to the South unit of TRNP is only 250 miles from Rapid City . If possible, I would certainly go.

Jul 28th - 16:32pm | Bob Janiskee

I will be in South Dakota again this October, tizzy. Who knows, maybe this time I'll get up the gumption and strike out for North Dakota. Stranger things have happened.

Jul 28th - 13:39pm | tizzy

I think you misunderstood the omen. I think it was telling you to get yourself to North Dakota now. You never know when the door will close on the opportunity to go.

No Charges Forthcoming In Shooting of Grizzly In Denali National Park and Preserve

Jul 29th - 03:47am | Russell

Though it is a shame that the bear had to be killed, it certainly sounds like it was done for the right reasons. Good on the hikers for being able to defend themselves, and good on our legislators for being able to see past the hype and paranoia of carrying firearms in national parks.

Jul 29th - 02:45am | Anonymous

Ok Gary look at your state laws wherever you are and tell me the law chapter and section that allows you to use a firearm to kill another person in self defense.

Jul 28th - 23:05pm | Gary

Hmmm.....there is no law which allows the use of a firearm to defend your life... Are these park people people nuts! Should the hiker have allowed the bear to kill his companion? So you are allowed to carry a firearm but it's against the law to use it to protect your life! Amazing & stupid.

Three Canyoneers Survive Flash Flood in Zion National Park

Jul 29th - 01:15am | John F.

Dave- I am glad you are ok, after your ordeal. Do you have any idea of when I will get my shoes back? Your bro.

Jul 28th - 21:25pm | Greg

Dave, the three of you are blessed in a way most of us will never understand! Good to hear that you are doing well and I heard from Jason today that he was sent home! I don't know Joe but it sounds like he got the worst of it? How is he doing?

Jul 28th - 14:39pm | Dave F.

I am the third canyoneer that went over both water falls and had minor injuries. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers for Jason and Joe's speedy recovery. I visited Jason yesterday in the hospital and he was in good spirits and happy to be alive. I spoke to Joe the day before and he seems to be managing OK as well, albeit in a lot of pain.

Jul 28th - 14:25pm | Virignia

Hi Joey, We are the Jersey Shore wish you much love and hope for a 100% recovery Aunt Jacqueline, cousins Virginia, Patricia, Jerry, and Jacquie.

Jul 28th - 08:22am | Greg

Joe, I used to climb with Jason in CT... Cathy called me yesterday and left a message but I have not been able to get in touch with Jason yet. If you talk to him, let him know I will get in touch. If anyone could pull off getting through a flash flood like that it would be Jason!

Jul 28th - 06:43am | Anonymous

So glad your husband is doing well. I spoke with the other two and they seem to be recovering and getting it together. I would have been with them if not for a family commitment. It must have been terrifying but at thankfully they all made it through. Please pass onto Joe my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

National Park Mystery Plant 10: Heaven for the Climate, Hell for Society

Jul 28th - 22:46pm | Anonymous

i guss we dont need bear spray any more.

Jul 28th - 06:31am | Bob Janiskee

You got it, Eric. Good job. It's false hellebore.

Jul 28th - 06:22am | Eric

False Hellebore

Grizzly Bear Shot and Killed By Hikers In Denali National Park and Preserve

Jul 28th - 21:10pm | Anonymous

As to the comment above: He wasn't killed in Yellowstone, he was killed NEAR Yellowstone in a National Forest, run by the US Forest Service, in which the gun laws of the state of Montana have always been and continue to be controlling.

Jul 28th - 20:09pm | Anonymous

Bet the mother of the gentleman killed [near] yellowstone last night by a bear, wishes he would have been armed!No matter how she felt about guns the day before.

John Wessels Appointed Director of National Park Service's Intermountain Region

Jul 28th - 20:52pm | Yellowstone98

Secretary Salazar is from Colorado. Mr. Wessels is from Colorado.

Jul 28th - 18:08pm | Teagan Tomlin

Hi Kurt- it was nice to run into you on the Avalanche Trail. I hope you had a wonderful hike to Avalanche Lake! - Teagan (Interp. Ranger)

Reader Participation Day: Visit Wyoming's National Parks, or Those in Washington State?

Jul 28th - 20:22pm | Kari

Yellowstone & Grand Teton bring me so much joy (I am leaving for a trip there in four days!); however, I very badly want to visit Washington State's national parks, especially Mount Rainer. Rule of thumb: the further West, the happier I am. I vote Washington State!

Jul 28th - 19:01pm | Morgan

I am on my way to Yellowstone on Saturday. I can't wait. Everyone's comments has added to the excitment. Thanks.

Jul 28th - 17:05pm | Random Walker

Easy, Yellowstone and Teton National Parks are superbly fine places to visit awhile. The Olympic, North Cascades and Rainier National Parks infuse a little something into the brain that makes me want more of them, all the time..

Jul 28th - 17:02pm | y_p_w

I've been to 4 of the 5 National Parks mentioned (North Cascades is rarely visited an wasn't in our plan).

Jul 28th - 16:47pm | Bogator

This is a difficult choice. I plan not to make the choice. I plan to see them all. Right now, my wife and I have visited Yellowstone and the Tetons. We spent six nights there, most in Yellowstone, the most we have spent in any one place. We found the area to be irresistable, Our problem is one of distance; we live in Florida.

Jul 28th - 14:26pm | Bob

How long do you have? Tetons are a knock-your-socks-off day trip. Yellowstone and Rainier are both good day trips. If I had three weeks for a single park, I'd spend it in Olympic because of its diversity.

Jul 28th - 13:00pm | Rick B.

We live in Seattle, and the magnificent parks mentioned in Washington State are ones we visit all of the time. All three are weekenders from here, and we're quite proud of them. We've enjoyed Yellowstone more than once, and will return there again.

Jul 28th - 12:45pm | pkrnger

What a choice Kurt has given us! All of the parks mentioned comprise the best of the best the national park system has to offer. The scenery of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone are indeed iconic to all Americans. In the national parks of the State of Washington, you won't encounter moose or Grizz, nor will you encounter geysers and herds of American bison.

Jul 28th - 10:20am | RangerLady

Both! I visited Yellowstone and Tetons when I was 16 (many, many years ago) but it was just a quick drive-thru trip. We did both in 8 hours. It drove me insane that we weren't allowed to get out of the car and hike or look at anything, so since then I've been wanting to go back and actually experience the parks.

Jul 28th - 09:28am | MikeD

I've been to all these parks, though the Washington ones were in May so our experience with Mt. Rainier and NOCA was limited. But that said, I think I'd agree with the comments by V.C. Wald. Speaking of, VP Biden just was at Yellowstone.

Jul 28th - 08:36am | V.C. Wald aka G...

That's really a toughie, since Olympic is one wonderful giant park, North Cascades beckons, though I've not had a chance to explore beyond driving through it, and of course, Rainier is infinitely interesting. BUT, Yellowstone, especially when combined with Grand Teton and the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, is always and forever at the top of my list.

Jul 28th - 08:33am | Brad

Washington. I've been to the Wyoming parks but not to Washington's.

Jul 28th - 08:13am | onebigtree

I live in Wyoming and just came back from Yellowstone. For family vacation next month we are taking in North Cascades (drive through) and Olympic. I'll let you know when I get back :-)

Jul 28th - 07:16am | Jude

Washington state because I really want to see Olympic.

Segway Tours Being Demoed -- At $55 Per Person -- At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

Jul 28th - 20:01pm | Susan

I recently took the Segway tour of Spotsylvania Battlefield. It was a superb tour and great fun to ride the Segways. A quick 5 minute lesson and you off riding. The tour was led by Frank O'Reilly, one of the NPS historians at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania and author of a several books on Fredericksburg.

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Adds A Nearly 43-Acre Farm To Its Landscape

Jul 28th - 17:12pm | d-2

I was just reading about the trial involving the notorious 'Clark Rockefeller' - and wanted to resurrect this old thread about Saint-Gaudens National Historic site. You might remember about the guy who just took the name of Rockefeller, but was not really one.

Hoh Rain Forest Visitors In Olympic National Park Cautioned Against Elk

Jul 28th - 17:09pm | Random Walker

Heck, half the fun of camping along the Hoh River is watching the tourists interact with the locals..

Francis Beidler’s Long-Ago Decision Saved the Forest that Became Congaree National Park

Jul 28th - 15:38pm | Tom Fetters

This version of the logging up stream from Ferguson is very interesting. However, the company seems to have built a bridge over the Santee River and logged in Clarendon County for a number of years. One article mentions a logging railroad from Ferguson down to "Cross" which was near the end of the Berkeley Railroad out of Moncks Corner and ran to Cross from the east.

Greening the Parks: A Former Brownfield is Converted to a Lakefront Gem at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Jul 28th - 11:36am | Bill

I have visied the new Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk many times now since I discovered it this spring when I noticed the road side sign directing visiters to the site. On my last vist (during the weekend of the Gary Air Show) I noticed that many people are unfortunately already disrespecting the property in a number of ways.

Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Jul 28th - 10:26am | Diana

this is a great review! Randy's books are the best guides I've found for hiking the BRP trails. He also has one called Best Easy Day Hikes, its great for family hikes. I got my copies at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's online store, part of the proceeds go to support the Parkway!

Bluffs Lodge and the Best Coffee Shop in a National Park

Jul 28th - 09:20am | Wendell Rowell

Sparta is our adopted weekend home. We bought a little place there a couple years back just below the Blue Ridge Parkway. We can sit on our porch and look up at the travelers going by. The Bluffs Lodge Restaurant is our "special treat" place to go.

2008 Visitation to the National Parks Up and Down, But Essentially Flat

Jul 28th - 09:02am | Anonymous

Hobblefoot, information about how the National Park Service collects visitation information is available here: http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/ Click on Cuyahoga Valley from the pull down menu, then select the How we Count report in the Cuyahoga Valley Reports menu.

Orphan Train Rider Will Share Her Story at Homestead National Monument of America

Jul 28th - 05:21am | Charmaine L

If there's one big issue in Beatrice, Nebraska it's probably the debate over Homestead Act. People have come to Beatrice, Neb., since 1862, when the Homestead Act first parceled out land to pioneer farmers. The U.S. was in a different place at that time, economically.

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