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Survey Says National Park Service Is Far from the Best Government Agency to Work For

Apr 21st - 15:19pm | Rick Smith

I concur with the comments of David Smith above. I worked for the NPS for 31 years. Did I have a bad boss or two? Yes, but is that any different than, say, IBM? Were all my training needs met?

Apr 21st - 14:04pm | David Smith

I appreciate the passion so many people have shared on this subject. The NPS draws employees with strong convictions and this is evident.

Apr 21st - 09:44am | NPS Ranger NER

Trust me what this article says is true. I work at a National Historic Site in the North East Region. I have heard it doesn't affect the larger "Parks" such as Grand Canyon. But, it does exist and is only getting worse.

Reader Participation Day: Has The Change In Gun Rules Changed Your National Park Plans?

Apr 21st - 15:10pm | Anonymous

I've visited approximately 100 NPS sites and have never felt threatened or the need for a gun. I'm not against guns, my husband is a hunter and I've taken an NRA-sponsored shooting class, but I"ve never felt the need, whether in the city or the wilderness, to be armed.

Apr 21st - 12:01pm | Fred Miller

There are a number of National Parks here in Washington not far from where I live. I have not visited them YET. One big reason was that I don't go in to the woods without my firearm. Now that I can legally carry it with me concealed, I'm planning on visiting as many Parks as I can as soon as I can.

Apr 21st - 09:46am | 4permits

Yes, it has. Where as I was NOT going because I could not have my gun, I will be going with my family now becase I will have the ability to defend them. Google Dr. Gaery Kleck. With 2.5 MILLION defensive uses of a firearm in this country every year Guns SAVE Lives!!

Apr 21st - 09:29am | TrailMonster

I'd prefer if everyone had a gun, then maybe those that can't read the laws or refuse to follow the laws regarding guns would be less inclined to pack them around or even think about pulling one out for fear of like retaliation. Get real this ain't your Grandpa's National Park anymore.

Apr 21st - 09:28am | Anonymous

Yes, I am more likely to feel safer knowing that law abiding citizens may be armed in National Parks. Before only criminals an Park rangers, who are few and far between, were armed.

Apr 21st - 05:18am | Volpe

Was never a factor on any planned visit.

National Park Quiz 81: Vertigo

Apr 21st - 13:39pm | Bob Janiskee

Never have heard of "extra cosmic brownie points" before, but if there is such a thing, I believe you richly deserve some. Heck, you should get at least five or six ECBPs just for knowing that Kim Novak starred in Vertigo. :o)

Apr 21st - 12:56pm | RLMiller

8 correct, plus both extra credit. Do I get extra cosmic brownie points for having been to Balcony House, Painted Wall, Angels Landing, and (I think) various aretes?

Apr 21st - 07:02am | Bob Janiskee

Nice going, Connie. This was a tough one. Eight's a damn fine score.

Apr 21st - 06:17am | Connie Hopkins

WOW! I got 8! I am surprised that I knew even THAT much. Having been born and raised in St Louis, The Arch was a given. If I had missed that one I would have my "Loo" card revoked!

Reader Participation Day Bonus: How Many National Park-Designated Units of the National Park System Have You Visited?

Apr 21st - 13:32pm | xnprngr

40. More to come.

Apr 21st - 13:12pm | Sparky

Well, folks, it looks like I am at the low end of the thread at 10. Kind of sad - but I'm working on it! At least I have made it to some of the blockbusters from east to west like Acadia, Yosemite, Hawai'i Volcanoes, Zion, and the Grand Canyon (but not Yellowstone yet?! WHAT?) We'll be going to Crater Lake and Redwoods this summer.

Apr 21st - 08:52am | RangerLady

20 for me and I returned to many of those parks time and time again. Hoping to hit Arches and Mesa Verde again this summer.

Apr 21st - 08:20am | Jon Sparks

14 and looking to do more. And I've now done 56 of the NPS sites. Would love to do them all.

Apr 21st - 00:03am | Karen

33 parks so far. Thankfully, there are more beautiful places to look forward to :)

Apr 20th - 22:58pm | beschundler

This is testing our memory...but we have been to 45 definitely, and maybe another two. And we've enjoyed them all---some more than others---but nevertheless, they all are impressive, inspiring, and different!

Apr 20th - 17:20pm | y_p_w

19 for me, although it would have been an even 20 had a tropical storm not got in the way a scheduled visit to Fort Jefferston (Dry Tortugas). I would admit that a few of those visits were exceedingly short. The same storm canceled the snorkeling boat trip I had planned at Biscayne, as well as reduced the number of tourists later that week for the glass-bottomed boat tour.

Apr 20th - 15:33pm | Bob

Exactly half, 29, if I'm allowed to count parks that I visited before they were designated parks (Cuyahoga, Death Valley), and the Channel Islands VC. Can a judge issue a ruling on these? :)

Apr 20th - 15:17pm | gin

Only 12 so far, but with our son living in Utah plan on doing several more in the next few years. He also has the NPS bug and camps with his family at a National Park every summer.

Apr 20th - 15:16pm | Judy

11 for me. Hope to add Canyonlands next month

Apr 20th - 12:17pm | MRC

A lively thread without ORVs and beach access? Sounds great. My number is not that impressive: 19 plus the Ventura Visitor Center of Channel Islands - haven't made it to the islands yet but to the VC on the mainland.

Apr 20th - 10:21am | Anonymous

28 counting those with my parents, those with my kids and the rest as a senior. Next month it's time to finally go to the Channel Islands.

Apr 20th - 09:32am | dennis g.

17 and still counting.

Apr 20th - 09:29am | griz

I've been to 24 so far. My first National Park was Shenandoah. Three good friends and I went on our first real road trip after our high school graduation in 1994. My most recent National Park visit was at Voyageurs National Park. My wife and I visited in January to do some skiing and snowshoeing.

Apr 20th - 09:16am | Anonymous

14 and counting

Apr 20th - 07:13am | Valerie

29 great places on our list

Apr 20th - 07:07am | Connie Hopkins

17 so far! Planning to add a LOT more once we retire!!

Apr 20th - 00:10am | Rick B.

A dozen or so and many more of the larger NPS family. Happily stamping away on my NPS Passport.

Apr 20th - 00:10am | Rick B.

A dozen or so and many more of the larger NPS family. Happily stamping away on my NPS Passport.

"Hike the Smokies Challenge" Begins on April 25 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Apr 21st - 08:46am | JimB

Danny - Thanks for bringing the 900 club to our attention. That's a noble and ambitious goal. Kudos to those of you who have completed it.

Apr 21st - 07:41am | Danny Bernstein

Great idea. Unfortunately, the Park completely ignored the Smokies 900 club, www.900miler.com, a club that recognizes hikers who have walked all the trails in the park. There are about 300 of us.

Ranger Confidential, Living, Working, and Dying In the National Parks

Apr 20th - 23:35pm | Field Ranger

I loved the book. It was the mythology of the NPS told on paper. Ms. Lankford comes through again with, in my humble opinion, her best book yet. Having heard and known many of the tales in the past, it was wonderful to learn the details that were exaggerated or glossed over. I stood on the rim for Cale's funeral and shed tears when the helicopters passed overhead.

Apr 20th - 09:33am | Chief Ranger

Great review! Cale Shaffer was an excellent ranger who's life was cut short. We continue to place our employees in risky situations needlessly all for the sake of the mission. For those of you working for the NPS who have not heard about Operational Leadership (also known as Crew Resource Training, Human Factors: Threat and Error Management) get to know it.

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Apr 20th - 21:12pm | Charles Johnson

I observed an American Marten on the northeast side of Caples Lake, Nevada near the camping area. It was in the early spring of 1999, just after the hiking trails began to become free of snow. It was in a snow mound covering a fallen tree, very visible and only 7 to 8 feet away from me when we came face to face. It's ear shape is what stood out from other mammals I have seen in the area.

Voyageurs National Park To Have New Headquarters Complex In 2011

Apr 20th - 21:03pm | Michael Colter

Maybe with a new building they can return phone call in a timely manor and not take two weeks after your home from your trip to return your CALL.

Bat at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tests Positive for White Nose Syndrome Fungus

Apr 20th - 17:19pm | justinh

This is indeed very sad news.

Apr 20th - 14:49pm | Will

To clarify for anonymous #1, any crime committed in a National Park is punishable by fines OF UP TO six months in jail or $5,000. I think thats reasonable and completely agree with anonymous #2. And to confirm that the violator doesn't always get the maximum fine just look at the guy who shot and killed an elk in the Smokies, he will probably only receive a $500 fine. Is that just?

Apr 20th - 13:31pm | Anonymous

I am disappointed in the first comment. The 'violation' is to try and go the caves while they are CLOSED! Seemed pretty simple explanation to me. But, then even on this website, we still have to put with anti-government comments that in this case, have no business here. This is a very bad situation and we need to take it seriously.

Apr 20th - 08:44am | Anonymous

"Stiver emphasized that the Park’s caves would remain closed and Rangers would increase their enforcement to reduce the likelihood that visitors might transport the WNS pathogen to uninfected colonies either in the Park or elsewhere. Violators face fines of up to six months in jail or $5,000." Exactly what violation are we talking about???

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

Apr 20th - 16:24pm | Anonymous

I live near Evans Creek near the Carbon River Glacier entrance to the park. We have chosen this spot to live in serentiy with nature and have no love for the flybys we already receive from the Military, Commercials planes or private planes. We are buzzed significantly already. The impact to those that live near the National forest is upsetting.

National Park Service Renews Partnership With Mountain Bike Community

Apr 20th - 14:17pm | Zebulon

Toothdoctor, I also get tired of people bringing the same irrational argument to ban bicycles from trails. Cuts both ways. :) You're bringing the same old argument: "you're free to go in the park, you just can't bring your bike". So what if the NPS changed the access rule so that you could not hike, but could only mountain bike in the park? How would you like it?

Important Advisory to Dog Owners Issued by Padre Island National Seashore

Apr 20th - 10:31am | Anonymous

It's probably due to a HAB outbreak & the dogs eating the dead fish. But seriously, who wants to take their family to vacation and wade through another person's dog droppings anyway? That's why we pick States that have designated dog beaches. It's past time for Texas to work on that, don't ya think?

Loss of the Historic Baker-Robinson Whale Oil Refinery Rankles Officials at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Apr 20th - 06:48am | Peggi Medeiris

On March 7, 2010 the Standard-Times described the last minute efforts to document the Baker Robinson Whale Oil factory. What needs to make absolutely clear is that the 1838 candle house was gutted LAST week to make a June deadline.

Apr 20th - 06:45am | Bob Janiskee

Thank you for the additional information, Peggi. I certainly didn't mean to imply that I support the decision to sacrifice Baker-Robinson.

Apr 20th - 06:25am | Peggi Medeiris

Sorry this doesn't fly at all and the blog doesn't reflect the truth of what happened. Baker Robinson had been placed in 2005 on the Preservation MA Most Endangered Properties list. It was included in the Park's Management Plan and legislaton was pending to extend the boundaries of the Park to include it. The developer originally claimed it would be restored.

Next Time You're In Washington, Stop By the Old Stone House

Apr 20th - 05:31am | Raoul Pop

Thanks Rebecca!

Traveler’s Checklist: Congaree National Park

Apr 19th - 20:41pm | Bob Janiskee

Downed trees and other obstacles don't close the canoe trail, Barky, they just make for frequent portages/hauls and more work (meaning less fun). What can make the canoe trail nearly impassible is low water following prolonged periods with little or no rain. That's the crux of it. Maintenance crews can clear out debris from time to time, but they can't make rain.

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