| Page 1258 | National Parks Traveler

The thought of making a local OFF LIMITS to satisfy some serria club wonk is absurd culling land and managing it as a public trust is a obligation of humanity you cannot manage what you cannot access. a mechanic cannot fix your car if he cant open the hood and a doctor cannot treat your illness unless he can make you say ahhhh ,

Black Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Apr 10th - 19:16pm | Anonymous

okayy anonymous...i want you to put your self in the shoes of that boy that was attacked.... you would want any bear killed if that had happened to you. and care about the bears...they shouldnt be attacking people... many stories that i have read, its little children being attacked and many people have been mauled to death...

Celebrate Earth Day With A Trip To Florida Bay And Everglades National Park

Apr 10th - 17:44pm | Anonymous

Beautiful photo. Thanks =)

Reader Participation Survey: How Much Local Control Should Be Exerted Over National Parks?

Apr 10th - 15:21pm | RodF

Bryan, just FYI, Gettysburg Regional Airport is only 1 mile west of the Park. (I landed there, we pulled our bicycles out of the back of our plane, and rode throughout the Park. Isn't that air touring, even though non-commercial? And yeah, I took a couple descending circles over the Park on final approach, to scout out the route we'd be biking. Should this be banned?

Apr 9th - 09:17am | RangerLady

R. Mastrogiuseppe,

Apr 8th - 12:31pm | R. Mastrogiuseppe

If NPS leaders are as serious about reducing noise in Parks as it appears, they must acknowledge that the loudest sources TRULY are motorcycles and park maintenance crews who seem insensitive to QUIET VALUES.

Apr 8th - 11:44am | Kurt Repanshek

I believe Rocky Mountain is exempted, to, in the original language of the air tour management act....

Apr 8th - 11:04am | Kurt Repanshek

Bryan, You're right that bureaucratic fighting between the FAA and NPS over who has jurisdiction over the airspace over national parks has created an incredible logjam.

National Park Service Renews Partnership With Mountain Bike Community

Apr 10th - 14:34pm | toothdoctor

To Zebulon,

Eaglets Hatched At Channel Islands National Park

Apr 10th - 12:17pm | y_p_w

Very nice. However - in a similar vein, is the Traveler working on an article on the California condor chick that recently hatched at Pinnacles National Monument?

Apr 10th - 12:14pm | Kurt Repanshek

Good point, y_p_w. Unfortunately, we've been two-thirds down in manpower this past week, and when there's only three, well, can't get to everything....:)

Apr 10th - 06:47am | Connie Hopkins

I have been visiting every day and have thoroughly enjoyed observing them! In fact it was a bird carcass in the nest because the next day, K-26 was plucking its feathers and feeding it to her eaglets. I also observed K-10 return to the nest with another kill.

Apr 8th - 06:41am | Connie Hopkins

THIS IS SO COOL! I clicked on the live webcam and after only 2 minutes K-10 began feeding them from a carcass in the nest. I got to watch for *10 minutes and then he sat on them again and did some "nest-keeping"!

Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

Apr 10th - 12:04pm | y_p_w

Again - the question at hand is whether or not the NPS is going to issue commercial use permits to Segway-based tour operators. We're not talking about one or two mobility-impaired Segway operators on their own, but large groups of people (most who can likely walk well enough on their own) riding these things on organized tours.

Apr 9th - 20:20pm | Anonymous

As a spouse of a disabld person, who is a young 42............ THANK YOU!! We have 2 Segways due to my husbands disablility after being shot in the line of duty. My husband has much difficulty with prolonged walking and any grade variation. The Segway has been like new legs to someone who once ran 3-5 miles everyother day.

Apr 9th - 20:04pm | Anonymous

As a spouse of a handicapped person I find your short minded opinon offensive. Some disabled are able to stand and balance themselves quite well and it is the walking that can create their limitations. Allthough veiwing a national park on a Segway many seem like not seeing it at all to some, for the disabled it may be the closest they can get.

Updated: Effort In Maine To Restrict Guns From National Park Units Falls Short of Goal

Apr 10th - 07:32am | Ridge Runner

Congradulations!! The only ones that will benefit from this is are the criminals. You don't really expect criminals to pay attention to this, what they would consider as a petty law. In fact, they like this type of gun control; makes it easy pickens for them. Get your head out of the sand!!

Apr 9th - 10:00am | justinh

"I am glad the anti gun people feel safer when they can't see a gun!" I'm not sure the folks you're describing actually exist.

Apr 8th - 17:52pm | Concerned Taxpayer

"A concerted effort in Maine to draw the line on national park visitors arming themselves has fallen short of the original goal. But the measure Governor John Baldacci signed this week will at least outlaw open carry in Acadia National Park." I am glad the anti gun people feel safer when they can't see a gun!

Apr 8th - 12:11pm | Spring Breeze

I only wish that we could ban people entirely from these wonderful natural places. We have a tremendous amount of technology in the world today and we need to use it!

Apr 8th - 08:52am | Kurt Repanshek

I would wager that one is not "derelict in your duties" by not carrying a firearm.

Apr 8th - 08:35am | Chet Szymecki

For the life of me I can't imagine why anyone would want to restrict my ability to protect myself and more importantly, my family.

Apr 8th - 07:38am | RodF

On crime in national parks, I would like to cite one example. A volunteer backcountry ranger stationed on the wilderness Queets River in Olympic National Park heard volleys of gunfire upriver. He hiked up close enough to get binoculars on the scene. Three campers were target-shooting the migrating salmon leaping the rapids in the river.

Apr 8th - 05:54am | Richard

It's funny how as soon as the federal government gets control of land, it becomes a no-no for anyone BUT government types to carry weapons there. Last I knew, we had gotten rid of Kings here so why was 'the King's Land' off limits to Citizens carrying guns in the first place?

National Park Mystery Photo 21 Revealed: Congaree National Park "Skeeter Meter"

Apr 10th - 06:49am | Bob Janiskee

At Congaree, most visitors stroll the upper and lower boardwalks, not the ground trails. Even during prime mosquito weather, those boardwalks are unlikely to be swarming with mosquitoes. When I was actively volunteering at CONG and bringing students there on field trips, I spent a lot of time on both the upper and lower boardwalks.

Apr 9th - 16:35pm | tomp

Doh! Finally a mystery photo that I immediately recognize (although I have a photo of the older version circa 1996, not this fancy engraved wooden version), and I'm on travel and miss my chance! I also have photos of 4-6" of snow on the cypress knees...

Foal Added to Herd At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Apr 9th - 19:14pm | Bob Janiskee

Colorado Jim and I were on the final leg of our Coastal Carolinas Dumb & Dumber trip two days ago when we stopped by the Ocracoke pony enclosure at feeding time. The little foal was nowhere to be seen, darn it. Win a few, lose a few.

Apr 8th - 09:09am | RangerLady

Connie, Even though they're different islands that also is the first thing that pops in my mind. I never got over my love of horses and I am determined to own a Chincoteague "pony" one day. My parents took me when I was 14 to see the pony swim and 14 years later I was a ranger there. The highlight was when I got teh chance to meet the real Maureen Beebe!

Apr 8th - 06:51am | Connie Hopkins

I should clarify that I DO realize this article is about the Cape Hattaras herd of wild ponies and not the ones from Assateague National Seashore.

Apr 8th - 06:45am | Connie Hopkins

All together now, "Awww..."! I remember devouring the Margarete Henry books as a child! I think most little girls my age must have read "Misty" and "Stormy".

Yellowstone National Park's Wolves Seem to Prefer Elk Loin Over Goose Breast

Apr 9th - 15:51pm | RangerLady

I don't blame them. I'd rather have elk over goose any day. Goose is way too greasy.

Photo-shopped or Actual?

Apr 9th - 13:43pm | Hiking lady

Absolutely stunning photo! The juxtaposition of the elk, sand dunes, and snowcapped mountains is breathtaking. I definitely need to plan a hiking trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park. I've been to RMNP and love it there.

Yosemite National Park Putting $1.3 Million To Use Improving Transportation

Apr 9th - 12:44pm | Emily Schrepf

This is great news for Yosemite! Reducing traffic and providing alternative forms of transportation within and to our national parks is an exciting way that we can address the issue of air pollution.

Apr 9th - 03:02am | Anonymous

It's about time!! Because of all the congestion, it's easier to walk from your location to your destination. You actually get their faster than the bus & cars!!

Creature Feature: Burmese Pythons Prowl the Everglades, and That’s Not a Good Thing

Apr 9th - 12:31pm | Jess

Don’t forget the Indigo Snakes, Kingsnakes, Storks, Hawks, Gar, Large Mouth Bass, Soft-shell Turtles, Raccoons, Opossum, and Feral Pigs that would also love to make a meal out of these snakes.

Reader Participation Day: Which National Park Are You Heading to This Year?

Apr 9th - 12:13pm | Anonymous

Voyageurs National Park in July. Will the mosquitos carry us away?

Summering in Yellowstone National Park: The Logistics

Apr 8th - 21:26pm | Connie Hopkins

Leave it to an Aggie to know how to build a fire! Wink, wink!

Traveler's Checklist: Glacier Bay National Park

Apr 8th - 15:41pm | Random Walker

I was looking toward the face of a glacier from my prime spot on the forward deck of a cruise ship when I noticed tiny specks of yellow and red in the water. Raising my binoculars I scanned the face of the glacier. As I realized these were kayaks a chunk of ice the entire height of the face fell forward and dropped into the bay.

Apr 8th - 14:33pm | qtluong

Want to paddle a bit further ? The park operates a shuttle boat that can take you within 1 or 2 days of paddling (depending on the drop off points that change periodically) from the glaciers. For instance, when I was there, it was possible to visit the Mc Bride glacier in a total of four days from Bartlet Cove.

House Republicans Say Interior Secretary's Proposed Snake Ban Bad for Business

Apr 8th - 12:43pm | BigBlue56

I couldnt agree more with this post. I am 100% Democrat and yet I side with the Republicans 100% on this issue. Causing a law that will seriously cripple an industry is absurd just to save a small area in Florida.

How Goes The Plowing Of the Sun Road In Glacier National Park? Here's An Update

Apr 8th - 09:45am | Kurt Repanshek

The Traveler will have a longer piece looking at Glacier, glaciers, and climate change on Sunday.

Apr 8th - 09:28am | RLMiller

On a related note, a new report out yesterday shows that Glacier has lost two more glaciers, bringing the total remaining down to 25. I have a DailyKos story about it.

Apr 8th - 06:54am | Connie Hopkins

We are heading to GNP in July and I can hardly wait since it's not only my favorite Park but this year marks its Centennial. Having seen the pictures in past years of plowing the road all I can say is that is a job NOT for the feint of heart!

When Is Conservation of Park Lands Prudent, and When is the Spending Wasteful?

Apr 8th - 06:33am | Michael

Mauro Gasperi is the son of Caroline Gasperi, who has worked for years trying to persuade the Park Service to protect the Castle Nugent property. She is one of several heirs to the land, but is one who lived there many years.

On Bison Science, Bison Politics, and the Rebisoning of the West

Apr 7th - 23:53pm | williamj barkley

A thoughtful and fair article written by a cool head. Thanks.

Bark Beetle Battles Continue This Year At Rocky Mountain National Park

Apr 7th - 21:02pm | Anonymous

end of the world, people . forests are dying in every state. research it if you don't believe me. 12-12-2012 the end.

Wild Horses in a Georgia Wilderness? Cumberland Island National Seashore Completes Annual Count

Apr 7th - 20:20pm | Grad Student SLS

I would like to do some further research on the repercussions and impacts feral horses have on barrier island systems. Does anyone have leads on insightful primary literature (i.e. scientific journals) that focus on these issues? Any help would be appreciated.

National Park Mystery Photo 21: Trying To Avoid the War Zone

Apr 7th - 19:01pm | Anonymous

In addition to an official list of state things, some states also have an unofficial list. In my home state of NJ the unofficial state bird is the mosquito. I also lived in the PA Poconos for a while. There were at least two different types of GIGANTIC mutant looking mosquitos there. Once, when I tried to kill one, the dog I had then ate it after I knocked it down.

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