| Page 1245 | National Parks Traveler

Thinking back to National Lampoon's Vacation, there was a reason why Clark Griswold is in such a hurry to take just a glace at the Grand Canyon and hightail it out of there. He'd just had his credit card denied at the El Torvar, with the clerk refusing to take an out of state check. He then just accidentally opened the cash register, took out a wad of cash, and left the check behind.

Jun 14th - 19:12pm | Random Walker

There was the silly "Harry and the Hendersons," parts of which were filmed in my favorite National Park of all, The North Cascades. The underrated sci-fi B-movie "Cherry 2000" was filmed mostly in Death Valley National Park.

Jun 14th - 18:08pm | Kolby

Another bit of trivia: One of the first scenes of Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi has C3PO and R2D2 walking towards Jabba's Palace. Although the palace was a painted addition to the shot, the "road to Jabba's Palace" was filmed in Death Valley National Park, a few miles south of Zabriskie Point.

Jun 14th - 16:19pm | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, ypw; you've added some important content -- especially The Shining. I must have been sound asleep at the wheel on that one. I could have sworn that The Shining came out in the 1970s, but the release date was May 1980, and it definitely belongs there. I'll go back in at some early opportunity and edit the list to include your additions.

Jun 14th - 15:19pm | y_p_w

Parts of The Shining were supposedly filmed at Glacier National Park. The alleged inspiration for the hotel was the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. The 1986 movie Big Trouble in Little China had a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge from Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands.

Jun 14th - 10:52am | Bob Janiskee

The original typo (title did not match description) was corrected, Ron, thanks to sharp-eyed reader mikeD. The correct title for that 1989 film is Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. BTW, the Star Trek film to which you refer is Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). Star Trek VI, which was released in 1991, is subtitled "The Undiscovered Country."

Jun 14th - 10:27am | Ron Scofield

It was just an oversite I am sure but the Honorable Mention movie listed as Star Wars V: The empire Strikes Back should have been Star Trek VI: Voyage Home.

Updated: Phone App Reviews: Chimani's Acadia and Nomad's Great Smoky Mountains

Jun 14th - 20:54pm | Kerry Gallivan

Just wanted to let everyone know that version 1.1 of the Chimani Acadia app was just approved by Apple and is available on the App Store for download. It includes the additional photos mentioned in the article, as well as 13 new trails and updated Ranger Events.

Jun 14th - 08:28am | Jenn Grover

Let me pass along a little Android love.....National Park Maps, National Parks Tours, What's Invasive, plus the usual bunch of hiking apps (Hike Utah, etc) and Google Earth.

Off the Blue Ridge Parkway and into Shenandoah National Park

Jun 14th - 17:25pm | Bob Janiskee

Peter Bizon, ARAMARK's Executive Chef at Shenandoah National Park, is in charge of the menus at Skyland and Big Meadows. You can contact Chef Bizon at [email protected]

Jun 14th - 17:03pm | Duncan deGraffenreid

Skyland and Big Meadows restaurants used to serve the bestest Buckwheat pancakes up until i think last year. I asked about it and was told it filtered off the menu for lack of demand. If you could put in a good word for bringing them back, the park would be a better place :) Loft Mountain is a beautiful place to camp....I love the mostly flat sites on top of the mountain.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway: Peaks of Otter Lodge Really Has An Otter

Jun 14th - 14:06pm | grey_lensman

David & Kay, I am enjoying your articles. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah park are beautiful places. Stay safe.

Jun 14th - 13:38pm | Joe Veler

Contrary to what it might seem, the Peaks of Otter are probably not named after the cute furry mammals that swim and crack shellfish with rocks on their bellies. :-)

Jun 14th - 10:42am | Kurt Repanshek

Good question we should have addressed. It stems from three mountain peaks that together are referred to as the Peaks of Otter.

Jun 14th - 10:20am | Anonymous

Where did the peaks of otter name come from?? Seems kind of odd??

Reservations Open May 15th for Turtle Watch Program at Canaveral National Seashore

Jun 14th - 12:47pm | Oshiners

I called about 2 weeks ago and again today and left a message. I hope I hear from you soon.

Unexpected Deaths of Two Mountain Goats Halt Study at Glacier National Park

Jun 14th - 11:55am | tahoma

It wasn't 'scientific research', haunted hiker, but Olympic National Park spent much of the 1980's relocating introduced and unwelcome mountain goats. I was told by insiders that the mortality rate was about 25%, mostly due to heat stress during transport. They probably have quite a bit of data about drug reactions as well?

Jun 14th - 09:42am | Anonymous

Sounds like it was a problem with placement of the needles and possibly the dose used?? Hopefully the great people doing the research can continue and learn more about our mountain friends!!

Jun 12th - 09:41am | haunted hiker

From the AP ..."park officials decided to suspend the research permits until they can determine what went wrong. The three-year study on how climate change affects mountain goats is being conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Montana." Maybe the NPS and the WCS should conduct a three year study on how scientific research affects mountain goats.

The Yosemite Fund and The Yosemite Association Come Together Under The "Yosemite Conservancy"

Jun 14th - 10:31am | Anonymous

Mark-- you are right-- there is a problem with to many people wanting to see Yosemite-- will you please stay home next season so someone who has not been there can go?? LOL

Jun 11th - 18:23pm | Mark

Thank you for posting this article, as it gives the public (me) a chance to speak out. And now, the former Yosemite Fund, who formerly had no physical presence inside The Park, does have one, thanks to their so called merger with the Yosemite Association, something I see more like a forced takeover.

Jun 11th - 15:44pm | Benjamin Lord

One of the best films on Yosemite National Park was done some 20 years ago, I believe from Robert Redford, called "Yosemite: Fate of Heaven". At least that is how I remember the title. It is arguably the best contemporary portrait of the National Parks ever attempted, as of this moment. The film dramatically captures exactly those kind of issues your above commenter is expressing.

Historic Cabins In Zion National Park Get Renovated, But Retain Old Look

Jun 13th - 23:12pm | y_p_w

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned the full-on meltdown I saw at the Bryce Canyon Dining Room before on this and other forums. I was actually feeling a bit sympathetic. We got our lunch order in before the meltdown started, and we waited patiently for our order without saying anything to the one waitress on duty. There were maybe 15 occupied tables and one server.

Jun 13th - 21:57pm | jessstryker

Time of season is a huge variable and I can say with certainty that when a facility is pushed beyond capacity I have seen tempers flair both with customers and staff. But I understand this, and am typically very forgiving toward it. I'm certainly not a "hotel snob" and confess when I review the really nice ones I feel a bit like a fish out of water.

Jun 13th - 20:57pm | Lee Dalton

Hmmm. Maybe I need to qualify my remarks. My stay at Mammoth Hotel was in winter. All the employees I encountered were mature Americans. Maybe that makes a difference. My two snowcoach trips in Yellowstone in 2008 and 2010 were provided by some young men who would make excellent interpretive rangers.

Jun 13th - 17:30pm | y_p_w

Ranger KT: I can't believe they are putting TVs in the rooms at the Zion Lodge, especially when there is so much else to do there.

Jun 13th - 13:56pm | Ranger KT

I can't believe they are putting TVs in the rooms at the Zion Lodge, especially when there is so much else to do there.

Jun 13th - 11:29am | Kurt Repanshek

While I've largely been satisfied, and impressed at times, with Xanterra's stewardship at Yellowstone, I do remember an exchange in which a server at the Old Faithful Inn dining room, when we noted the fingerprints and smudges on our wine glasses, responded that that was about as good as it gets.

Jun 13th - 11:23am | y_p_w

Lee Dalton: I have to say that in all my contacts with Xanterra -- in Yellowstone and in Zion -- I've come away very favorably impressed. Of course I don't know what goes on behind the scenes or in the parks' concessions management offices, but as far as my visitor experiences have been, Xanterra has always left me more than fully satisfied.

Jun 13th - 11:00am | jessstryker

When I last visited the lodging at Zion the historic cabins were already in good shape and substantially restored when compared to many other NP lodging. Xanterra has put considerable money into facilities at this resort over the last few years.

Jun 13th - 09:02am | Lee Dalton

I have to say that in all my contacts with Xanterra -- in Yellowstone and in Zion -- I've come away very favorably impressed. Of course I don't know what goes on behind the scenes or in the parks' concessions management offices, but as far as my visitor experiences have been, Xanterra has always left me more than fully satisfied.

Reader Participation Day: Has Arizona's Approach To Controlling Illegal Immigrants Led You To Cancel a Grand Canyon Trip?

Jun 13th - 20:14pm | Anonymous

the law does nothing of the sort have you read it?

Ranger Ingenuity 401 - Horse Rescued from Canyon at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Jun 13th - 18:08pm | ts308

Very cool. Ingenuity is rare in our everyday life. Good job by all. I can only imagine the wittisms Ranger Mengel uttered.

Jun 13th - 15:30pm | MARTY MCCASLIN

There could not have been a better choice that to Chris Mengel supervise this operation. He has the talent, experience and coolness to get a large project like this completed safely with out further incident. Marty McCaslin

Jun 12th - 21:08pm | Dr. Rebecca Gimenez

THAT is what we call keeping it simple and doing a great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations - and Anonymous is correct - there is training for this - and a text book in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue.... Thanks for sharing the photos and story! Dr. Rebecca Gimenez

Jun 11th - 10:24am | Anonymous

Well done! True, this type of operation is not covered in Rescue Systems 1 or 2, but there is training available through CA State Fire Training. The name of the course is "Large Animal Rescue- Operations", a technical rescue course designed for emergency responders to resolve these types of incidents. Keep up the great work!

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Jun 13th - 00:59am | boomchuck

I did the Angel's Landing trail yesterday but stopped at the chains. I actually got to the third chain and decided that I wasn't going to be comfortable with it and backed down. No shame in that. In the park brochures there are plenty of warnings about being properly prepared for this and all the other hikes as well as warnings for people that have trouble with heights and balance.

Another Cellphone Tower OKed for Kings Canyon National Park

Jun 12th - 22:23pm | Jessica

Hi, I am moving to this national park in the grants grove area for 5 months starting july 2010, i was just wondering if cell service does work in the grants grove area, and what cell phone service works the best? I am very close to my dad who has medical problems and not being able to talk to him on a regular basis would be very difficult for me.

Bluffs Lodge and the Best Coffee Shop in a National Park

Jun 12th - 18:03pm | Anonymous

David and Kay - thank you so much for posting your travels... we're hoping to make it to the Blue Ridge Highway in the fall and your posts are helping in our planning! Thank you! I look forward to reading more in the coming days.

Jun 11th - 15:34pm | Joe Veler

I live in the Boone/Blowing Rock area and I think this is the "best" area of the Parkway to travel. You guys passed right by us on the way to Bluff's Lodge.

Midnight Mission Plucks Climber off Mount McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve

Jun 12th - 07:57am | Anonymous

Our thoughts are with Joris' family and friends, Godspeed to Sam Many from Belgium thanks to anyone involved in the rescue op.

Jun 11th - 23:12pm | Anonymous

NPS volunteers camping out on a glacier for 3 days just to watch for a window to launch the bird? Three helicopter squadrons dispatched by the Air Force. Hats off to everyone involved!!

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

Jun 12th - 02:51am | Ken

Phil,

"Why I Want To Be a Park Ranger When I Grow Up"

Jun 11th - 20:44pm | Jill Jackson

I loved this poem! In fact, I was tearing up a bit. I don't know why. I'm 54 years old, and I want to be a Park Ranger, too!

Dream Hikes Coast to Coast, Your Guide to America's Most Memorable Trails

Jun 11th - 17:07pm | Cornell

IMHO, because the trails selected are limited to day hikes, the appropriate title would begin "Dream Day Hikes ...".

Jun 11th - 07:52am | Kurt Repanshek

Good idea, Asa. Maybe it's all tied into our ADHD...;-)

Jun 11th - 07:41am | Asa

Cool idea for a book. Although not having any multi-day hikes is a real drawback. Unfortunately though, day hike books sell. Just look at the proliferation of "Hikes within X miles of Some City" books. I've been reading the Mountaineers Books on hiking in the Pacific Northwest for over 15 years and have noticed that there are fewer and fewer multi-day backpack trips listed.

Traveler's Gear Box: Osprey's Manta Hydration Daypack

Jun 11th - 09:35am | MikeD

That's so weird about the hose. Almost seems like you must be missing the hole, but obviously you aren't. I guess you could cut one into the fabric, but obviously that's less than ideal.

Reader Participation Day: Best and Worst Values in National Park Lodging

Jun 11th - 09:29am | pkrnger

Hmmm. I wonder if Ron's missive above will get noticed by NPS management and Xanterra? If Kurt were to publish a "report card on lodging in the parks" would it affect the quanlity of service? I believe it would.

"If You Enter the River, You Will Die."

Jun 11th - 07:38am | Anonymous

The sign should also say: "If you try to recue and enter the river you will die too." (At the great falls, maybe it does already)

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