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Actor Pierce Brosnan Cited For Walking In Yellowstone Thermal Area

Dec 28th - 09:16am | Lee Dalton

But . . . But . . . He's FAMOUS!  And wealthy.  Don't fame and wealth convey special privileges?

The Bridge Over The Virgin River, Zion National Park

Dec 28th - 05:20am | Rebecca Latson

Antoine, you should check Zion National Park's website to find out about closures and other alerts.

Dec 27th - 19:02pm | Antoine France

Hi Rebecca,  Is the brige whos been closed in May ? Is it fix or it is another one ? comin soon, thanks 

More Access Opens In Death Valley National Park

Dec 26th - 20:11pm | Abby Wines (Dea...

You are correct. There have been BLM employees also assisting with road work.  Caltrans and Inyo County have also done a lot of road work, but the roads they have worked on are not part of this group that just opened.  

Dec 23rd - 11:57am | Smokey

There are also other agencies assisting DEVA with their flood recovery. It's not just NPS employees.

Senators, Congressmen Join Bid To Restrict President's Use Of Antiquities Act

Dec 26th - 19:39pm | Rick B.

From my house I can see hillside slopes that were managed in the manner described --- denuded, a more descriptive term. Not a one of these congresscritters is a friend.

Dec 26th - 18:30pm | allen bohnert

Agree - lets us it to the full extent = positively, of course.  Plus, if using the Antiquities Act to designate National Monuments was good enough for Teddy Roosevelt, then it's good enough for me as well.

Dec 25th - 10:01am | Bill in Montana

If using the Antiquities Act to designate National Monuments was good enough for Teddy Roosevelt, then it's good enough for me.    

Dec 24th - 17:00pm | lori Atwood

The timber companies' idea of managing a forest area for " permanent timber production" is to clear cut sections, leaving the slopes essentially bald.  Small and large animals that had lived there have their world upset.

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Points To NPS Morale Issues

Dec 26th - 19:08pm | WaltD

So exactly what level of improvement is sufficient IYHO?   Years after year after year the NPS scores in some of the lowest levels of employee satisfaction across the entire federal government.  NPT has every right to pusblish the results as they are publiuc records widely read.  And where better to publish them than NPT which covers everything NPS?   

Dec 19th - 18:14pm | Chris…

Cash bonuses are not a perk for the seasonal staff that largely comprises the most workforce. it sounds like they intend on paying the problem mgmt to keep up the good work...

Dec 19th - 16:13pm | BCKENNER

NPS employees don't need PEER to tell them the NPS has serious employee morale and retaliation issues. NPT does a service by publicizing these continuing poor employee polls. This has been true for 20 years.  

Dec 19th - 13:05pm | Kurt Repanshek

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2023/11/sunsets-arent-enough

Dec 19th - 12:48pm | What more can p...

So. Are you a mouthpiece for PEER or reporting on what is really going on?   Scores improve but not good enough for NPT.   Maybe PEER can keep NPT afloat? 

2023 In Review | Stories That Deserve Another Read

Dec 24th - 06:51am | Mather

Thank you for posting.  Good articles.   The Great American Outdoors Act has been a tremendous plus for the NP System.  Bipartisan legislation is something we could all embrace.  I don't understand why the Department of the Interior doesn't do more to tout its success.  Seems like a winner.

UPDATED | National Park Service Proposing To Demolish Deteriorating And Unneeded Structures At New River Gorge

Dec 22nd - 11:02am | Mr. Brightside

Everything seems possible - when you don't have to implement it!    Properties are acquired all the time with no idea concept of how NPS will pay to operate these things and no new money.  I applaud the park for moving this forward.  

Dec 22nd - 07:41am | Judy Deegans

NPS is about to commit sacrilege by demolishing buildings in the New River Gorge and in the town of Thurmond. Sad, indeed.

Dec 22nd - 00:52am | John Dickman

It would be nice to see pictures of the proposed buildings to be demolished.

Dec 21st - 14:31pm | Jean

If any of these buildings are listed on the National Historic Registry, then they should stay.

Dec 21st - 14:13pm | Stuiterbal

I disagree. Only buildings with significant historic or cultural significance should be kept. If the NPS acquires land that has various random ranches or basic agricultural infrastructure, those should just be removed.

Dec 21st - 06:33am | Ryan B.

I'm sorry to burst the bubble, but when a park becomes a National Park and contains items, locations, or artifacts listed in the National Historic Registry, it is supposed to be against Federal Law to "remove, deface, or disrupt" said items. These properties are a part of history. They should either be kept up or allowed to "Naturally" return to nature. Yes, I said what I said. 

Dec 20th - 13:37pm | Steffanee Jurado

Houses are history.

Help The Traveler Earn A $7,500 Match From The National Parks Conservation Association

Dec 21st - 14:17pm | Kurt Repanshek

The hope is that donations from readers and listeners will match that amount. So far this week donations have reached $5,000.

Dec 21st - 13:43pm | Stuiterbal

What are the requirements to reach this $7,500 match from the NPCA?

Update | Jemez Pueblo Quickly Given OK To Take Eagles From Valles Caldera National Preserve

Dec 20th - 18:42pm | Tom Ribe

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is surrounded by Pueblos. 6 Pueblos are close to the Preserve and another 13 Pueblos exist farther away. If more of these Tribes seek to kill eagles in the Valles Caldera, the eagle population could be destroyed. This is a no-win for the NPS. Hopefully this is the last time anyone wants to kill an eagle at the Valles Caldera.

Review | After The Blast: The Ecological Recovery Of Mount St. Helens

Dec 20th - 13:48pm | kathy dickerson

very interesting subject, one many, many would like to learn about. incl. myself.  but wagner uses scientific jargon and the backgrounds of his ecologists (geologists more interesting) way too much, cluttering up the subject.  By page 97 I wanted to throw the book across the room.  That's why i'm thanking you for telling us about later info.  You read it so i don't have to.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Testing Electric Trail Maintenance Equipment

Dec 19th - 14:37pm | David Govatski

The battery technology is getting better all the time. We switched to battery powered chain saws, pole pruning saw, and string trimmer a few years ago. You still need bar and chain oil for the saws but we have been using biodegradable bar and chain oil made from rapeseed or what we know as canola oil. The big saw companies sell biodegradable bar and chain oil alongside their fossil based oils.

Dec 14th - 09:50am | Snochasr

If it makes sense from an economic or efficiency standpoint, do it by all means.  But PLEASE do not claim that you are doing it for "THEE CLIMATE."  That is just stupid in spades.  First of all, recharging these electrics is probably done by fossil fuel plants, and second, If the US stopped burning fossil fuels entirely, Global temperatures would be reduced, 100 years from now, by roughly 1/100

National Park Service Working To End Trespass Cattle At Valles Caldera National Preserve

Dec 19th - 13:13pm | WaltD

Why should the so-called "do-gooders" spend their own money?  You don't explain.  The ranchers whose cattle are trespassing on public land and causing habitat injuries should be sent bills by the NPS to recover public monies spent in repair  And yes, the NPS should be more proactive in responding to these incidetns.

Dec 18th - 08:06am | Loui

How much does it cost to sue the NPS?  Maybe if the do-gooders spent that money on fence repairs the issue would be resolved already.

Fee Change Coming To Grand Teton National Park Backpacking Permits

Dec 18th - 18:10pm | Hoyt Johnson

I was helicoptered out to Idaho Falls last summer ($85,000 for the 65-mile ride), but no hard feelings; I'm going to try for the Grand again next summer.  The small increase in fees doesn't trouble me.  A movie ticket costs more than that these days.

Work Underway In Congress To Help, And Possibly Hurt, National Park System

Dec 18th - 08:57am | chris...

Everything listed as a positive is just a transfer of the wardens of that land to recreation.gov.  Putting it in wilderness status and or making it a national park/trail is just a euphanism for recreation.gov will now take your money.   

The Trouble With Horses On Cumberland Island

Dec 18th - 07:27am | Suzanne Spengler

As an owner of several horses in my life I agree explicitly with everything that you have shared from your heart.  There is a season for everything under the sun and it's time for the season of change for these beautiful horses.  They are not being cared for properly, and the environment is not conducive to a healthy existence.    

Readers Comment On The Future Of The National Parks Traveler

Dec 17th - 15:35pm | SmokiesBackpacker

Kurt et al are the only responsible guardrails against the NPS and their fee abuses. Other media are complicit in the schemes that have taxed citizens to use lands for which they have already paid taxes over and over again.

Traveler's View | When Did The National Park Service Lose Its Voice?

Dec 16th - 18:56pm | Where is the co...

Below is a note from the Director to all NPS employees. Yet no coverage in Traveler?  --------------------------------------------- Dear colleagues, 

Family of Man Killed By Mountain Goat in Olympic National Park Sues National Park Service

Dec 16th - 02:12am | cara ivens

Its not even a species native to this country tho .. it shouldnt be there to begin with

Update | Railroad Sued Over Grizzly Bear Deaths On The Doorstep Of Glacier National Park

Dec 15th - 11:04am | Daryl Hunter

When I'm photographing grizzles I always make freight train noises so they don't notice me.   Since if they are actually doing the mitigration stated the only answer is to shep Montana grain east instead of west.   

Dec 15th - 10:10am | A. Johnson

Why can't we sue wind turbine developers, owners, and operators for the THOUSANDS of deaths of endangered and threatened species of birds?   I note that Wild Earth Gaurdiians have made no such effort to protect birds from wind turbines.  According to WildEarth's IRS Form 990 (2022), they spent $530K to raise $4.3 million = 13%--a bit high for enviromentally-focused 501c3's. 

The Wolves Of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Dec 14th - 18:08pm | d-2

This is a welcome and excellent piece, fully up to the best aspirations of National Park Traveler. It provides great context to the politics that surrounds this issue, gracefully minimized in this piece that focuses on place and ecological resources, and, especially, wolves and predators in the environment.

USFWS Seeking Comments On Recovery Plan For Canada Lynx

Dec 14th - 17:13pm | Peg R

And yet, trapping of cats- Bobcat & Lynx-  & trophy hunting of Mountain Lions with high-tech gadetry & hounding dogs- is still legal. We must protect our apex predators if we wish to have  a balanced ecosystem. 

Transparency | National Parks Traveler By The Numbers

Dec 14th - 10:20am | A. Johnson

I appreciate Kurt's response.  Obviously I do not see all the comments that are deleted, but I l know which of mine were.  

Dec 14th - 01:34am | Mike B.

For what it's worth, I see no evidence of bias in the Traveler content.  As far as the comments, there are views expressed across the political spectrum, some of which I agree with and others with which I definitely disagree.  To me, this demonstrates fairness.  Finally, with regard to climate change, I believe that the science is clear:  it is real, it poses danger to the resources we all clai

Dec 13th - 12:03pm | Loui

I don't think balance in the comments is the issue.  It's the left leaning bias in the substantive content of many of the articles themselves that undoubtedly alienates many.  Some articles are written by Kurt, most by contributors.  

Dec 13th - 10:48am | Kurt Repanshek

Comment moderation is one of the trickiest aspects of running a website, especially when there is only one or sometimes two people trying to tackle it. That is why many organizations have done away with any and all comments. They create too many headaches.

Dec 13th - 10:11am | A. Johnson

First of all, I apologize for referring to Kurt as "KP".  If inattentiveness were rewarded, I'd be rich.  

Dec 12th - 17:14pm | Cary Carlson

  Would you explain what you mean by More Balance?   NP Traveler is certainly promoting park preservation.  It's not necesarily pro National Park Service or pro Federal beaurocracy..  it sure showcases park problems/threats, and offers readers wonderful education. I like its balance, or lack thereof.

Dec 12th - 15:32pm | A. Johnson

KP:  I do wish you the best of luck. As stated before though, I sincerely believe that you're alienating many potential donors by not offering more balance.  It's certainly your prerogative to do as you please, but I argue that it has a substantial downside.   Best of luck.

Lottery Dates For Angels Landing Permits At Zion National Park Announced

Dec 13th - 09:54am | A. Johnson

Let's look at some rough numbers:   80% successful permits (400,000) issued means that 500,000 folks applied.  So, about 100,000 folks were unsucessful, each spending $6--that's $600,000 of revenue for Zion (and yes, rec.gov) that they collected for doing NOTHING, having no impact on the park, with no additional duty on  the park.  

Dec 13th - 09:44am | A. Johnson

How does the NPS/rec.gov justify keeping the reservation fee for unsuccessful applicants?  Isn't there a perverse incentive to hype this lottery, knowing that more applicants for the same number of permits will mean more revenue from more unsuccessful applicants?   This is a sick and cynical marketing plan by NPS/Zion.  SHAME on them.

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 252 | Support Keeping the Lights On

Dec 12th - 12:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Brian, if you have any connections with those companies you mentioned, please let me know. We've tried them all and they've ignored the Traveler.

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