| Page 1552 | National Parks Traveler

My, my Anonymous, Bush and Cheney sure are powerful...they create hurricanes, kill small animals...you certainly have a lot of hate in your heart my man! Why are so many liberals so unhinged over Bush and Cheney? Who are ya gonna hate when they leave office? Clinton an enviro president? You have to be kidding...what did he do?

Nov 19th - 22:08pm | Anonymous

Anonymous & Yellowstone Junkie, I personally hold Bush & Cheney accountable for a lot of the botch-up and do nothing environmental policies in this country.

Nov 19th - 17:48pm | Anonymous

I gotta tell you Mr Wade. Yellowstone Junkie makes a valid point. Just because you didn't have a scientific study to show that snowmobiles were doing damage prior to Bush taking office is a lame excuse.

Nov 19th - 00:39am | Yellowstone Junkie

Uh, MR WADE...you had 8 YEARS of the Clintoon Administration to do MANY things for the parks, but you did NOTHING....

Nov 16th - 19:19pm | Bill Wade

Excuse me - your assertions are inaccurate. While you are correct that snowmobiles were allowed in YELL for a decade or so until the late 1990s, the leaders of YELL and the NPS then analyzed the science and determined that the resources were being damanged. They then initiated efforts to eliminate snowmobiles altogether in favor of the quieter, cleaner and more economic snowcoaches.

Park Service Issues Record of Decision On Snowmobiling in Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks

Nov 21st - 09:38am | Anonymous

Linda O'Neal, I sense your outrage and anger towards Director Bomar. I like I said before (some blogs ago) no governmental agency under the Bush & Cheney administration will thwart the advice of these two clowns. It's about greed, rape and pillage!

Nov 21st - 05:43am | Linda O'Neal

When I visit Yellowstone for the first time in the coming years, I hope I can still experience the silence and majestic beauty of this great land. I hope the whining of snowmobiles won't wash the silence away or keep wildlife from my eyes.

Nov 20th - 19:17pm | jsmacdonald

Anyone surprised? I'm trying to post all the news stories in the Yellowstone Newspaper, including press releases. If anyone has one not there, please send it along to me. We've already got quick press releases from the BlueRibbon Coalition (representing the snowmobile industry) and The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Stay tuned.

Everglades National Park Asked to Give Manatees Protection From Boaters

Nov 21st - 07:30am | Merryland

"...questions that still need to be answered with regard to this fascinating but still poorly understood species." Hmm, to me, this perfectly describes the human species. I often wonder why we do the things we do. Or don't do the things we should do.

Nov 20th - 12:04pm | Ed Wood

Difficult or not, it is the duty of park officials to close to power boats those areas needed to protect the manatees. Anything else is malfeasance and should be treated as such. The Park Service must do what is right and required of them without considering the effects on power boaters.

Does Hiking Yosemite National Park's Half Dome Still Present a Wilderness Experience?

Nov 21st - 07:25am | Random Walker

There are higher priority problems elsewhere to spend resources? How about removing the cable system entirely then. That ought to stifle, limit the flow of wilderness seekers a bit.

Nov 20th - 18:57pm | Rick Deutsch

Bingo Steve....good interview. Glad that to hear the Park's position on permits. After careful thought, I feel 60% of the people going up the Half Dome trail need education. When you get a wilderness permit, you have to listen to a bear-proof container lecture.

Nov 20th - 13:32pm | Steve Sergeant

As far as I can tell, the (big-W) Wilderness areas in the contiguous 48 states are all such small islands of wildness surrounded by lands that are in many cases heavily impacted by human presence.

Nov 20th - 11:25am | Lone Hiker

Glenn's notion of limited access has been practiced successfully with The Narrows and The Subway at Zion for many years. It makes perfect sense for high congestion regions, and I would personally like to see it extended to the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails, along with too many others to name in one posting.

Nov 19th - 12:07pm | Glenn Scofield ...

This is a very funny thread! It really shows the distinct dilemma that anyone (NPS or whoever else you want to put in there) faces with it's mission.

Nov 18th - 23:59pm | Random Walker

I believe this is a problem of our National Park Service; it has turned into government paid caterers. "Oh Ranger, there is a bear in my woods.." It is time the National Park Service stopped this nonsense and got back to preservation and education by not offering the couch, TV or tourist bus and urging folks to walk the Wilderness where expectations do not survive.

Nov 18th - 22:26pm | Jen

I agree with much of what has been said here. And truthfully, on a personal level, I do question many management decisions of the NPS. However, a big problem we face, more than NPS management, is the expectations of visitors . Too many people just want to see animals from their cars, tour buses, etc.

Nov 18th - 08:29am | Kath

I don't care what the legal definition of 'wilderness' is. For me, it's a place where I don't see any other human beings for long periods of time. With the crowds at Yosemite, even on so-called backcountry trails in the high country, that's impossible. (Doesn't matter if they're hiking alone, with a club or a 'corporate' outfitter).

Nov 18th - 00:06am | Anonymous

I would argue that the NPS has done much to promote wilderness. I know that even though the Great Smokies does not qualify as a wilderness area the NPS treats it as though it does have that designation. I feel certain that many other parks are doing similar acts. I live in Yosemite and have enjoyed the experience of hiking Half Dome, it is spectacular.

Nov 17th - 20:36pm | Random Walker

I agree Anonymous (not verified), the fact is that the National Park Service manages most of our wilderness acreage.

Nov 17th - 15:53pm | Anonymous

Unless these areas (or other areas in the NPS system for that matter) are within the boundaries of the Congressional designated Wilderness, they are not bound by the laws, prohibitions, and spirit of the 1964 Wilderness Act, nor do many of these areas have a wilderness management plan. Of course, the Wilderness Act didn't set forth use levels.

Nov 17th - 11:35am | Random Walker

A wilderness experience? You really have to ask? Most of the National Parks I have been to have raped the wilderness with roads, lodgings, gas stations, parking lots, buses, trails, bridges, signs, scenic flights, large groups guided by corporate outfitters, etc.. There are a few of Our National Parks that I enjoy as a wilderness type of experience.

The Alter and the Pulpit in Zion National Park

Nov 20th - 16:09pm | pkrnger

A very nice picture. Reminds me of scenes from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Another great spot for a Zion Canyon shot is from the top of Angel's Landing about an hour or so before sunset looking to the south. The lighting is spectacular at that time of day. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Yellowstone Snowmobile Decision Missing Record of Decision

Nov 20th - 11:42am | jsmacdonald

Another story in the Billings Gazette today is reporting Wyoming state representative Colin Simpson as saying the final draft when it is published will allow the East Entrance to stay open to snowmobiles.

Park Service's Top Investigator Pleads Guilty To Theft

Nov 18th - 18:01pm | Anonymous

Rick:

Nov 18th - 14:35pm | Doug

Pleading down to a misdemeanor from a felony is not new. In perspective, Oliver North confessed to treason before Congress, and they made him a millionaire in a body armor company selling to the government, ran him for the Senate, and gave him a television show.

Nov 18th - 12:17pm | Rick Smith

This will be my last comment on this thread. Most of the people with whom I worked owed their allegiance to the National Park System, not the National Park Service. Our work was our avocation, not a vocation. I wanted my actions to be measured by what I did for parks, not how well I executed budgets or performed other routine tasks.

Nov 17th - 22:57pm | Anonymous

I have to side with Frank and Bemis, and against Rick, who I respect. I saw so much administrative lawlessness and criminal behavior by NPS managers, at several of the units that I worked, that I left the agency and never came back.

Nov 17th - 21:08pm | Bart

Gang: I'm going to bypass Simple Proposals #13 & 14 to post my final Simple Proposal, as it seems entirely relevant to this discussion. #13 & 14 will come in due time. Stay tuned. My last Simple Proposal is about YOU. Are you just a government employee, taking the path of least resistance to career advancement and eventual comfortable retirement?

Nov 17th - 15:39pm | Rick Smith

Well, I read those comments, also. I am tempted to say that it is the same 4 or 5 people making multiple comments, but I can't be sure. Of course, if you are "chronically disgruntled", are a "nihilist" or feel "marginalized, you are more likely to comment on an issue like Ms. Buccello's conduct.

Nov 17th - 13:25pm | Rick Smith

It should come as no great surprise that some dual career appointments work out well in parks and some don't--not unlike any appointment. I helped make several dual career appointments during my career that worked out very well. As to nepotism being rampant, I doubt it.

Glen Canyon NRA Officials Thinking Of Digging For Water

Nov 18th - 13:02pm | Dale

A few facts for the uninformed. There are too many boats in that stretch, but until CRC is open, it is the only way to access the rest of the 100+ mile long main channel or the 2000 miles of shoreline. How many of you realize that at full pool, the shoreline of Lake Powell is longer than the entire west coast of the US, from Mexico to Canada.

Nov 18th - 12:15pm | Lone Hiker

A quick tutorial in the art of Creative Financing and the World of Contact Bidding:

Nov 17th - 21:28pm | Bart

Again, my apologies for posting Simple Proposals that seem to be out of context (but maybe they really aren't?):

Nov 17th - 20:54pm | Anonymous

Sounds like there are to many boats.

Nov 17th - 20:06pm | Dale

Lone Hiker must have never been to Lake Powell, or at least not since the CRC became unusable. The hazards in "Maytag Straits" cannot be resolved with more laws. The problem is that it is a narrow channel with sheer rock walls along both sides that do not absorb wakes, but reflect them full strength back into the channel.

Nov 17th - 13:28pm | Ted A

Lone Hiker,

Nov 17th - 12:41pm | Lone Hiker

Whether or not funding has been allocated is a non-factor. In order for those funds to have been cyphoned "Off the Top" the have to have been appropriated from some revenue source. If the local fees in the Lake Powell area have remained the same, it is a fact of business that they have been increased elsewhere along the Aramark corporate umbrella.

Nov 17th - 10:58am | Random Walker

As I have witnessed over the years on other forums and blogs, whenever a posting goes contrary to the beliefs of folks over at www.wayneswords.com they head over, join the offending forum / blog and post their values, beliefs etc..

Nov 17th - 09:25am | RainyRoads

Yes Pete, that is correct. The "SUM" cost of their (Aramark's) overhead package remains the same, so not only Aramark, but even those who actually USE Lake Powell, will be the one's indirectly paying for the project. As has already been said, "What's not to like?" Even Libertarians should approve of this one!

Nov 17th - 06:34am | Pete K.

LH:

Nov 16th - 23:25pm | RainyRoads

This will be my last comment on the subject, as IMO it's miles off-topic and the topic in question is of far more interest to me. I will however make this final comment. While Lone Hiker does indeed offer a few interesting ideas, he/she is dead wrong in making this comment:

Nov 16th - 22:59pm | Dale

Most of what the government does to us is on the shady side of unconstitutional, but this discussion is about the CRC. As the GCNRA is a national RECREATION area rather than a national park, recreation is the issue here. The cut has been lowered several times over the years. There are no artifacts that would be involved here. No time and waste of taxpayer dollars for an EA is needed.

Nov 16th - 19:21pm | Lone Hiker

Geez, if what you say is true, you'd sure think that a country as great as ours would have had at least one single Congress in those 97 some years decent enough to abolish that illegal 16th Amendment, now wouldn't you?

Nov 16th - 19:01pm | Lone Hiker

For clarification purposes, the studies I've surveyed make mention of 2 million boaters as an annual visitation estimate and does not directly correlate to 2 million vessels traversing the waterway. This I understand with all clarity.

Mission

Nov 17th - 12:21pm | Michael

I run a on-line travel site for anyone looking to go on vacations so i have been serching the web to find other sites that give informatioin about thier place of vacation and this site has excellent informatioin on Nationial Parks Iam using my Yahoo group to put links so people can see all the beautiful places they can go before they book on my site.

Plague Confirmed As Cause of Death for Grand Canyon Biologist

Nov 17th - 11:43am | John Lisa

Kurt, The death to biologist Eric York is a shame, but due to the Plague it is a disturbing one. When I lived in New Mexico I became aware of the strain of Hunta Virus associated with SW fieldmice. I am certain you are aware of that deadly virus. We just have to be very caucious these days and never take too much for granted in nature. Take care. John Lisa

Park History: Arches National Park

Nov 16th - 19:34pm | Lone Hiker

And maybe the biggest highlights of all at Arches......the crowds are miniscule and there's not a difficult hike in the entire park. Although somewhat off the beaten path, it's a fantastic place for families, even those who have younger kids not quite yet into the whole hiking experience.

Park History: National Parks Built Around Caves and Caverns

Nov 16th - 19:10pm | Lone Hiker

On a much smaller scale, the northern end of Snow Canyon State Park in St. George (or more accurately, Ivins, I believe) UT. has some interesting caves formed by the same geological phenomenon, repleat with cinder cone visibly scarred by the eruption a scant 10,000 years ago, as estimated in park literature.

Misty Hike at Yosemite's Vernal Fall

Nov 16th - 17:34pm | repanshek

What strikes me about this photo is its lack of color. Most photographers are taught to look for that splash of red when composing their shots, but the lack of color, the almost monochromatic composition, of this shot really sells it for me.

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks