Jim Burnett


Biography

Jim Burnett has had the unusual opportunity to enjoy not one, but two "dream careers." Three decades as a ranger with the National Park Service took him to eight parks: Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Glacier, Buffalo River, Big Thicket, Lincoln Boyhood, National Capital Parks and Colonial. Most of his career was spent in "protection" duties (fire, search & rescue, emergency medical services, and law enforcement), but he also had the chance to work in natural resource management and interpretation.

Following his retirement from the NPS, Jim embarked on a new adventure as a writer. In addition to on-line pieces and several short articles in national periodicals, he's the author of two books: Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks and the sequel, Hey Ranger 2: More True Tales …. Jim writes primarily about the lighter side of life in the parks and sometimes describes his books as examples of what can happen "when you head west but your trip goes south." He and his wife now live in East Texas.

Homepage:
http://www.heyranger.com


Jim's Most Recent Comments (view all)
  • 12/02/2008 1:21 pm - Reading the Fine Print – Did the NPS Ever Manage This National Monument? : MRC - Good comment about wilderness in Alaska, and the impact of a lot of small aircraft.
  • 12/01/2008 9:55 pm - Reading the Fine Print – Did the NPS Ever Manage This National Monument? : d-2: Excellent analysis. There's no doubt in the The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 that the USFS would manage Misty Fjords. This article was forwarded to another forum, and a couple of NPS veterans on that board pointed out that Misty Fjords was carved out of the ...
  • 12/01/2008 3:55 pm - BLM, NPS Modify Oil and Gas Lease Auction near National Parks in Utah : There's still plenty of consternation about the reported "compromise" between the BLM and NPS. A recent letter to the [i]Salt Lake Tribune[/i] by a Vernal, Utah resident makes a good point: [quote]Like previous energy booms, this one will eventually subside and tourism will help take up the economic slack -- ...
  • 12/01/2008 1:40 pm - Reading the Fine Print – Did the NPS Ever Manage This National Monument? : d-2 Thanks for the additional background on Misty Fjords and other areas in Alaska! I didn't intend to suggest in the original article that only the NPS could manage national monuments, but to point out that there was a bit of confusion about the early days of Misty Fjords. Given ...
  • 11/26/2008 9:45 am - BLM, NPS Modify Oil and Gas Lease Auction near National Parks in Utah : A November 17th report by the Idaho Statesman and some other media sources say Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne sent Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett to Utah to work out an agreement between NPS and BLM and officials, and she said the problem "was resolved." We'll likely never know what was ...
  • 11/25/2008 7:38 pm - National Park Service Chastized For Poor Cultural Resource Oversight : Certainly an issue that needs attention. My experience on the subject is limited to working at two parks that were heavy on cultural resources and 6 others that more heavily emphasized natural resources. To some extent, how well cultural resources fare as compared to other needs depends on the park ...
  • 11/22/2008 1:56 pm - Study Touts Economic Benefits of Mount St. Helens "National Park" : Lots of good comment have been made above. As to Kurt's question early in the piece about how much weight economics should be given when decisions are made on additions to the National Park System, my vote would be "none" - a proposed site should be able to stand on ...
  • 11/22/2008 1:43 pm - Got Quiet? Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve has Plenty : This is a wonderful park, and one that a lot of the flood of tourists to Colorado overlook. Perhaps some of those who enjoy the area think that's not a bad thing - and it's also part of the reason why parts of this park [i]are[/i] so quiet!
  • 11/17/2008 2:07 pm - Mammoth Cave National Park Produces Its Master Trails Plan : The increased cost is bound to be a concern for the park, but the best news I read into this story is the fact the park listened to the public, and ditched their preferred alternative and took a different approach after reviewing the public comments. That's a refreshing contrast to ...
  • 11/16/2008 3:41 pm - Do You Care About Energy Exploration Near Our National Parks? : To go back to the title of Kurt's story that started this discussion: "Do You Care About Energy Exploration Near Our National Parks?" My answer is "yes," and it sounds like quite a few others share that view. It is encouraging to read the comments in favor of a combination ...


Jim's Most Recent Articles (view all)

Reading the Fine Print – Did the NPS Ever Manage This National Monument?

The political and legal process required to create a new unit for the national park system can be long and complicated. In some cases, it's almost as difficult figuring out later exactly what happened in that process! That's the situation for a large national monument that's sometimes described as "another Yosemite." The question of the day is …was it ever part of the national park system?

This Park Nourishes Its Forest Service Roots

This park celebrates its 93rd anniversary today, but the area was first protected in 1904 as part of the San Francisco Mountain Reserve. It's not in California, however, and it was managed by the U.S. Forest Service until 1934.

Sea Turtle Rescues at Cape Lookout

Numerous sea turtles have been caught by unusually cold weather along the North Carolina coast since mid-November. That has led to dozens of rescues of the endangered reptiles in the past week at Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Improvements to the Hermit Road at Grand Canyon Make Trips Greener and Safer

Travelers to the Grand Canyon have been enjoying trips along a route known as the Hermit Road for nearly a century. A lot has changed since horse-drawn "touring coaches" began those trips in 1911, and the road has recently reopened following a 9-month project that makes future travel both safer and a bit easier on the environment.

Rescued Yosemite Hiker Has Lots to be Thankful for This Year

A solo backcountry trip to Yosemite National Park offered a lot more than a hiker bargained for earlier this month. A major mistake could have led to a tragic outcome, and the man has plenty to be thankful for this November.

The Next Big Wildlife Management Issue for Parks?

A new challenge facing national park managers sounds like material from a Hollywood medical thriller. Unfortunately, it's fact—not fiction—and it has the potential to become a major problem in the years ahead.

Upon Further Review - What Visited Your Campsite While You Were Sleeping?

One of the classic national park experiences is a Colorado River float trip through the Grand Canyon. As one group discovered, however, memorable moments on such trips aren't limited to running the rapids, and some surprising adventures can also occur when you tie up for the night.

Welcome to "Paradise on Earth, California style"

Here's some good news as we near the end of 2008—you're part-owner of a spot described as "Paradise on earth, California style." Your on-site managers are working on a plan for the place, and you're welcome to give them your ideas.

"Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot" is Still Good Advice

A recent report from the Buffalo National River in Arkansas confirms the validity of the old expression about shooting yourself in the foot, although in this case a would-be hunter's miscue had both a literal and figurative outcome.

The Ex-Soldier Who Bought a Battlefield

Throughout history, military leaders have inevitably been linked to the scenes of their battles. General Douglas MacArthur is remembered for his "I shall return" pronouncement, but one famous American military figure went even further. He returned as a civilian and purchased a battlefield where he had fought—and lost—an engagement sixteen years earlier.