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Pruning the Parks: North Dakota’s Sullys Hill National Park (1904-1931)

Apr 28th - 10:23am | Anonymous

As to abolished parks, what about Fossil Cycad (fossils removed by researchers and collectors)--is that still part of a federal site? There's a list somewhere on the NPS website about "parks that used to be" that indicates decommissioned units, including Fossil Cycad. Or is the reference above referring only to "parks" and not to other unit designations?

Apr 27th - 09:08am | Bob Janiskee

MRC, I'm glad you prompted me to add that vital information to my Sullys Hill Park article. It's a good thing we've got knowledgeable readers like you out there to keep us Traveler writers on the straight and narrow. As for tormenting me with that Yosemite date question, well, I can do without that.

Apr 27th - 08:53am | MRC

Thanks, Bob, for the clarification. The original version of this article sounded like the presidential proclamation was unilateral and I was unsure if the president could do so at that time. With your added information it is clear that Roosevelt used an option congress had given him in a formal law.

Apr 27th - 07:13am | Bob Janiskee

You raise an interesting point, MRC. The Antiquities Act that Congress passed in 1906 provided the President with a tool he could use to safeguard the public interest by quickly preserving nationally significant cultural and physical resources. The initial proclamation, creating Devils Tower National Monument, occurred in 1906.

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

Apr 28th - 10:22am | Anonymous

"I'm actually a bit concerned that US born people and naturalized US citizens with minor to heavy accents might be disproportionately targeted." Then maybe they (US born and naturalized US citizens) should themselves work to rid the country of illegal aliens of their nationality. If they weren't disproportionately illegal, they would not be disproportionately targeted.

Apr 28th - 10:19am | Rick B.

It doesn't make it a Godwin's Law violation to realize that every movie ever made about the Nazi's has a scene where an authority uses the phrase "Papers please?" Since I live in Washington State I have to wonder what a similar law here would mean - to challenge everyone who looks like they may be an illegal Canadian immigrant.

Apr 28th - 10:16am | y_p_w

I'll preface this by saying that I'm not a fan of this law as written. It's horribly written with the only criteria for law enforcement detaining someone and asking for proof of legal status. I'm actually a bit concerned that US born people and naturalized US citizens with minor to heavy accents might be disproportionately targeted.

Apr 28th - 10:05am | Chas Clifton

Considering how illegal immigrants and drug runners have made places like Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument downright dangerous, this law may have an up side! You have to understand, however, that this new law is mostly political theater. It is designed to provoke the feds into doing what they were supposed to do all along: securing the border.

Apr 28th - 09:47am | Anonymous

To the readers who think a driver's license or id is enough to prove citizenship, there is this from the US consulate: Proof of U.S. Citizenship can be demonstrated by a: a full validity U.S. passport Certified U.S. birth certificate; or Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization from USCIS

Apr 28th - 09:44am | Anonymous

Arizona trip has been on the bucket list for a while, considered going this year, but will postpone indefinitely now. I have traveled outside the US in countries where I had to carry both birth certificate and passport through the market, and was still stopped by police with semi-automatics. I certainly don't plan to spend my money in a state paving the way for similar circumstances.

Apr 28th - 09:27am | Anonymous

I just canceled a trip to Flagstaff

Apr 28th - 08:57am | Landscape Photo...

I had firm plans to finally do some serious photography in the Southwest over the next couple years - these plans are now on indefinite hold. There are plenty of other beautiful places to visit, photograph, and spend my money.

Apr 28th - 08:30am | jim

Given the combination of Vermont carry and the state making a serious effort to combat illegal immigration my family is considering moving to Arizona. We've scheduled a trip to Page AZ as a result. There is no question that we'll visit the Grand Canyon for a few days during this time.

Apr 28th - 08:20am | Anonymous

Didn't have plans to visit Arizona before but certain will now.

Apr 28th - 07:00am | Kirby Adams

We didn't have an Arizona trip planned, but certainly wouldn't cancel it if we did. I see the potential for abuse under the law but I also fully understand the desperation of residents of border areas. There's not going to be an easy answer, but it must be addressed immediately.

Apr 28th - 06:05am | Anonymous

I think its about time someone did something about illegal immigrants. The word says it all - illegal. They are illegal. They have no business coming to our country unless they do it the way our forefathers did; through the proper legal channels. If its good enough for the rest of us why is it we have to bend, break our rules for those slithering across the border.

Apr 28th - 05:51am | Volpe

We are planning a trip next year to Arizona and never considered any impact from the new law.

Updated: Drilling Rig Disaster Could Send Oil Spill Into Gulf Islands National Seashore

Apr 28th - 09:55am | Chris

To the ones fussing about McCain, Sara, and the republican, I just heard today (Wed. 28 2010) that Obama made a speech on March 31st that he wants and has planned on more offshore drilling. See the video for yourself. here~~~> http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/31/obama.energy/

Apr 28th - 09:34am | Chris Cain

Just because George W Bush stopped drilling in the Gulf when in office and Joe Scarborough killed a bill to allow drilling the Gulf doesn't mean that it's our fault. I'm a life long Republican and didn't vote for Obama but now that he's in office we get an oil spill. DO THE MATH!!!

Apr 28th - 08:36am | Rich Watts

Conservatives!?!?!?! It's their (your) fault we're in this slimy mess. I've got a better drilling method for you. It's called a frontal lobotomy. Too bad it will be empty like every other conservatives head. This oil rig is a prime example why we should have another civil war. Conservatives should not be part of my country.

Apr 27th - 16:57pm | Brad

What gets me is that in todays technological age we still have to go and get submarines to have shut off valves on the bottom of these things. Why have they not found a way to close the well. All wells should have some backup system if not having a 3rd backup. Ex.

Apr 27th - 15:32pm | Kurt Repanshek

Being from Jersey, I'm pretty good at sensing sarcasm, which is what your comment amounts to, right James?

Apr 27th - 15:27pm | James V Wirth

If the Republicans would stop all of the hippy, green living crap we could fund better drilling methods. This is the conservatives fault for not allowing free drilling in the Gulf.

Apr 27th - 11:24am | Kelly

The cost of this one oil spill -- $100 million to drill the relief well, $1.6 billion in insurance losses, PLUS the cost of the wasted crude oil, PLUS the ecological problems, we could probably pay for thousands of homes to be heated with solar energy, pay the cost for all new cars that are manufactured to be hybrids, then we wouln't have this problem.

Glacier National Park Taking Comments On Bear Management Plan Revisions

Apr 28th - 09:12am | Kurt Repanshek

An interesting, and somewhat disconcerting, aspect of this bear management plan was pointed out to me this morning.

National Park Mystery Photo 22: Where Do You Need To Travel For This Shot?

Apr 28th - 09:10am | Kirby Adams

Got the guide hired for Apostle Islands kayaking in August already!

Apr 28th - 08:30am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, several things come immediately to mind. 1. Obviously I need to get up earlier to start answering these guesses. 2. Pictured Rocks and Apostle Islands look quite similar to one another, and a bit similar to Glen Canyon. 3. I'm going to have to dig deeper into the files to come up with more difficult shots.

Apr 28th - 07:44am | Anonymous

Picture rocks in the U.P. of Michigan

Apr 28th - 07:08am | Anonymous

Pictured Rocks in the UP

Apr 28th - 06:51am | Kirby Adams

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Apr 28th - 06:36am | Eric

Looks like Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Apr 28th - 06:20am | MRC

Is this Kayenta sandstone? Then it should be at Glenn Canyon NRA or Canyonland NP , as these are the only parks with the Kayenta formation at water level - at least as far as I know. As the picture shows no sign of falling water levels, it probably is not on Lake Powell. which might point to Canyonlands.

Apr 28th - 06:05am | DJJeffrey100

Is it Pictured Rocks?

Apr 28th - 06:03am | flathead

Pictured Rocks in Michigan

Two Men Killed While Attempting To Raft Through "The Narrows" Of Zion National Park

Apr 27th - 21:42pm | Kolob Shadows

My question would be how they got that far up the river to raft back down, W/O permits or equipment. Two different rivers Spring and Fall.

Apr 27th - 10:36am | Anonymous

I knew one of these young men and he was very adventurous and lived life to the fullest!! I am saddened by this and my thoughts and prayers go out to thier families! They were so young!

Apr 27th - 09:28am | Lee Dalton

A raft built of logs. Springtime runoff from a near-record snowpack. High water trying to squeeze between narrow canyon walls forced into rollers with immense hydraulic power. Cold water. Apparently no wet-suits or dry-suits. Hypothermia. These guys were doomed before they started.

Apr 27th - 08:53am | dennis g.

Hiking the narrows at the right time of year can find it very tame. But in general, during mid August thru early September (thunderstorms leading to flash floods) and late March thru mid May (very high, very rapid and freezing water due to snow melt) will not find a very hospitable environment.

Three New Guided Hikes at Mesa Verde National Park Offer a Unique Experience for Visitors

Apr 27th - 20:13pm | Lee Dalton

Well thank you. It's a good shot better than some other efforts.

What Do You Think About Sightseeing Tours Circling Mount Rainier National Park?

Apr 27th - 17:19pm | tomp

Wendy-- Just to clarify: the revenue & profits are to the commercial air tour operators, not NPS. To the best of my knowledge, NPS doesn't receive a dime from the air tours of Grand Canyon or elsewhere.

Apr 27th - 16:07pm | MRC

The "best" place in a national park to see and hear Harley-Davidsons is of course Devils Tower National Monument in the days around the Sturgis Motocycle Rally, an annual event each August. Several thousand Harley drivers each year pass Devils Tower on the last leg of their ride to the rally. Those days usually are the ones with the most visitors of the National Monument all year!

Apr 27th - 15:01pm | justinh

"I feel the same about Harley-Davidson motorcycles - especially the ones that have been modified to be louder. The sound can carry for miles." - Y_p_w I think Hot Springs NP must a mecca for this. Hiking the Ouachita Mountains, making coffee from the hot springs, going to the historic spas--an otherwise serene day constantly interrupted by the obtrusive noise.

Apr 27th - 13:28pm | Sue

The beginning of Yosemite? The wilderness experience does not include air tourism. It is the responsibility of the N.P.S. to protect the integrity of the Park. This does not include the noisy intrusion of airplanes and helicopters.

New Tours Add to the Archaeological Richness of Mesa Verde National Park

Apr 27th - 16:00pm | beschundler

This is great!

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Apr 27th - 15:49pm | JHN

I spend a considerable amount of time in rugged, remote areas and feel fairly comfortable making tough traverses, but I only made it halfway on the Angel's Landing trail before I turned around. That there aren't fatalities weekly is very surprising to me - I left the area as soon as possible so that I wouldn't have to see someone plunge off the side.

Voyageurs National Park To Have New Headquarters Complex In 2011

Apr 27th - 13:28pm | justinh

MRC, Thanks for the lead! Justin

Interior Department Wants Transparency, FOIA Process Impedes That Goal

Apr 27th - 10:08am | beschundler

To visitors of our national parks they are amazing and wonderful places. They are places which inspire the imagination, recall the special events of our history, and evoke admiration and humility. Nevertheless, like all special places and like any kind of organization, behind the scenes they can have problems because they are managed by people, and people are human.

Updated: NPS Director Jarvis Ends "Core Ops" Budgeting Across The National Park System

Apr 27th - 10:03am | beschundler

The controversy about Core Ops has raised lots of questions about how some of our national parks have been setting budget priorities and spending money.

Apr 27th - 09:58am | beschundler

In the midst of the debate about how much money has been spent in different ways and at different levels of the Park Service, it's interesting to go to http://php.app.com/fed_employees/search.php and just compare some numbers.

Fall near Buffalo National River Claims Life of Former Football Star

Apr 27th - 05:53am | Connie Hopkins

I agree! How horribly sad for his family to witness it too! I fell off a ladder *10 years ago while putting up Christmas lights. I "only" had to get 10 stitches in the back of my head along with a couple in my shin. I could've very easily broken my neck, landing on a pile of firewood but thankfully, I didn't!

The Essential RVing Guide

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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.