Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's plan to turn to surge-pricing at 17 national parks in a move to try to eat away at the National Park System's $11.6 billion maintenance backlog apparently has gone up in smoke following widespread opposition.

Hurricanes. Freedom of Information Act requests. Congressional hearings. Wildfires. These are just some of the aspects of writing about national parks and protected areas that keep Traveler busy.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the National Park Service's Vanishing Treasures Program are offering a free Log Preservation and Repair Intensive Workshop from April 10-19. The workshop focuses on the hands-on skills necessary for repairing and reusing historic log structures. Participants will be working together on an actual structure. The goal is to complete a log cabin by the end of the workshop.

If you're in the RV business, or want larger campgrounds, or perhaps more lodging concessions on public lands, you're likely thrilled with the makeup of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's "Made in America" Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. If you prefer less infrastructure on public lands, well, you're probably in a funk over his appointments.