Since launching this blog in mid-August, I've been scrambling to bring it to life, to meet the mission I outlined for myself, and to stay on top of all the issues swirling about the national parks thanks to those in Washington who think the National Park Service needs a redefined mission.
    I still have a long list of goals that needs to be achieved -- more posts to take you into the parks, more items on gear I like, a new feature on trails, and longer book reviews.  Bear with me as I continue to bring this content on line in the weeks and months ahead.
    I also need to take time to acknowledge some other bloggers out there, a task I've overlooked. Fortunately, Chris Clarke, editor of Faultline, an environmental magazine he nurtured in California until costs became too great, didn't overlook me.
    At his blog, Creek Running North, Chris recently pointed his followers to my blog, calling it "quite possibly the single best online source of news on US national parks." That's well-received praise, as that's the goal I set for myself when I launched the blog, and I continue to strive toward it each day.   
    The Neo Commons Blog run by "Ranger Bob" offers content similar to mine, though he ranges farther afield than simply the national park scene. A retired NPS ranger with 34 years working for the agency, Ranger Bob was one of the very first to post a comment on my site and offers some good insights into what's taking place these days.
    Check out these sites and see what they have to say, as we share many of the same concerns.