There are well-known units of the National Park System, and then there are those that are publicity forsaken outposts. But that doesn't make them any lesser. Indeed, they are overlooked jewels. Barbara Jensen, a self-described wanderer, recently found her way to one of those jewels.

The fact that Mount Rainier is an active volcano, and its location not far from Seattle and Tacoma, have landed it as the second-most dangerous volcano in the United States, according to the United States Geological Survey. That threat has the USGS wanting to expand the lahar detection system at Mount Rainier National Park, a proposal that merits public input.

Storm-weary Gulf Islands National Seashore, which just started to reopen areas after recovering from Hurricane Sally, could find itself in the track of another hurricane later this week.

An agreement has been reached to allow the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to work with the National Park Service to cull the number of bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.