Kurt Repanshek


Biography

Kurt Repanshek built his journalism career atop a 14-year stint with The Associated Press that saw him rise from a general assignment reporter to correspondent-in-charge for the state of Wyoming. Since embarking on a freelance career in the fall of 1993, his articles have appeared in Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, Audubon, National Wildlife, Hemispheres, Wilderness, and other publications. He launched NPT in August 2005 because of his love, and concern, for national parks.

His other credits include an article on national parks of the world for Microsoft’s Encarta CD-Rom as well as three guidebooks to the national parks. A contributor to the Travel Arts Syndicate, his stories have appeared in the Miami Herald, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Denver Post, and other newspapers.

During his AP career Kurt helped direct and contribute to AP coverage of the 1988 forest fires in and around Yellowstone National Park; covered statewide, congressional, and presidential campaigns, and; closely followed public lands issues in the Rocky Mountain West. A freelance story he wrote on the collapse of the WordPerfect software designer won top honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, Utah chapter.



Kurt's Most Recent Comments (view all)
  • 5/15/2008 10:44 am - Park History: Carlsbad Caverns National Park : Rangertoo, I worded it that way to reflect that Carlsbad initially was a national monument. The "hook" for the post was the fact that May 14 is its anniversary as a "national park" as legislated by Congress.
  • 5/09/2008 6:58 am - Bigger Boat Tours Coming to Voyageurs National Park : Sabattis, Better interpretation is definitely a plus. My concern is that the system for funding the parks is out of whack. Too often it comes down to whose congressperson is more adept at earmarking legislation or calling in favors for support. Just look at how the Centennial Challenge funds are ...
  • 5/09/2008 6:13 am - Vet Removes Snare From Neck of Wolf in Denali National Park and Preserve : Neil, What we aim to bar are comments that take direct personal attacks on others. We prefer to see comments rise above that level. Do we always succeed? Perhaps not as best we can. But some comments are so blatant in their personal attacks that the decision not to let ...
  • 5/08/2008 10:09 am - The General View of Boy Scouts : As big an enterprise as scouting is --and it's huge; according to Wikipedia, the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America#Finance]BSA ranks 12th nationally in terms of nonprofit revenues[/url], with $665.9 million in 2005, and the chief scout executive was paid [b]more than $900,000[/b]!!-- one would think the organization could afford to either better train its ...
  • 5/08/2008 6:10 am - Bigger Boat Tours Coming to Voyageurs National Park : Perhaps this case points to a larger question across the National Park System: Just what does the National Park Service owe communities surrounding parks, and what do those communities owe those parks? As I understand it, private concessionaires have not been able financially to make a go of running tour ...
  • 5/08/2008 5:43 am - The General View of Boy Scouts : Frankly, Stephen, I think the problem starts at the top, with the leaders. Without going into too many details, the problems I've seen with the Boy Scouts points directly to a lack of solid leadership. Is there a training program or a test scout leaders have to go through or ...
  • 5/06/2008 3:02 pm - New Trail Web Site for the Smoky Mountains : Thanks for the news, Smoky Mountain Hiker. That's just the sort of information we're hoping folks will share. I'll check to see if you're on our favorites page; if not, I'll add you to it. Cheers, Kurt
  • 5/05/2008 6:34 am - Moonbow over Yosemite Falls : ADJ, When you're editing your post, scroll down until you see the "File Attachments" link. That's where you can attach photos. It's somewhat ironic that you mention moonbows, as Bob and I were talking just the other day about Top 10 Moonscapes in the park system. Looking forward to your ...
  • 5/04/2008 10:10 am - Report Shows Visiting National Parks Could be Hazardous to Your Health : Frank and Beamis, First of all, welcome back. Now, in light of Frank's contention that the two of you were asked to stop commenting at the [i]Traveler[/i], let me set the record straight by pulling from the email I sent you both last December: [quote] I don't think there's any ...
  • 5/02/2008 8:55 am - The Yellowstone Association : Stephen, I'd say that's pretty good news. It can be terribly difficult to get a book into a national park bookstore/gift shop. What's your journal about? We might want to review it here at the Traveler.


Kurt's Most Recent Articles (view all)

Coal-Fired Plants Obscuring National Park Vistas

On a clear day, you often can see for miles and miles. But as a report from the National Parks Conservation Association points out, clear days are harder and harder to find in our national parks under the Bush administration's relatively laissez-faire approach to coal-fired power plants.

Montana Governor Asked to "Provide Leadership" In Yellowstone Bison Controversy

With hazing operations resuming to drive bison back into Yellowstone National Park, conservation groups are urging Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to "provide leadership" to resolve the controversy.

National Park Service Sued Over Personal Watercraft at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Gulf Islands National Seashore

In an action sure to inflame some national park visitors, Friends of the Earth and The Wilderness Society have sued the National Park Service to reinstate bans against personal watercraft at Gulf Islands National Seashore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Public Comment Section and Traveler Forums

Have you checked in on the latest public comment periods in the National Park System? Have you looked into the Traveler Forums for lodging information?

Too Much Snow Delays Opening Of Yellowstone National Park's Norris Campground

When it snows in the Rockies, it really snows. The most snow in a decade this past winter has resulted in too much snow to open the Norris Campground in Yellowstone National Park on schedule.

Blue Ridge Parkway Revising General Management Plan, Might Close Campground

It's been roughly six decades since the Blue Ridge Parkway's general management plan was tinkered with, so it shouldn't be too great a surprise that parkway officials are working on an update. However, what parkway officials are proposing might not sit well with everyone.

Park History: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

How times have changed. These days when you drop down into the underworld that is Carlsbad Caverns National Park you do it via stairs, not old guano buckets as was the custom early on in the park's history.

Comment Now: General Gun Regulations for Areas Administered By the National Park Service

The Interior Department hasn't made it easy to comment on this issue by having the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, not the National Park Service, collect public input. As a result, the typical comment page does not appear on the Park Service's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment web site.

Speak Out on Pending National Park Service Proposals

Now the Traveler is making it even easier for you to comment on pending National Park Service proposals, be they general management plans or the proposal to allow park visitors to carry concealed weapons in the parks.

Comment On: Hot Springs National Park Cultural Landscape Report

Description: The National Park Service has released for public review an environmental assessment for cultural landscaping in Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas. The environmental assessment (EA) was prepared according to requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, applicable regulations, and agency procedures.