A long look at whether a landscape that generally includes the mountains encircling San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo Valleys of Los Angeles and Ventura counties in California should be designated a unit of the National Park System is suggesting that 173,000 acres be added to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

I have never been much of a landscape photographer and am ashamed to admit that during my first visits to Grand Teton National Park, where the views don’t get any better, I only had eyes for the close up shots of the bears.

As most folks know, the Northeast has endured a pretty tough winter, and it is taking a while to put things back together. At Cape Cod National Seashore on Massachusetts, for instance, several problems exist that could impact your National Park Week plans if they involve a trip to the seashore.

The trail climbed steeply uphill, helped by a wooden staircase, and into the trees. The crowds, though, mostly went straight, making our choice easy. Up we went!