| Page 1071 | National Parks Traveler

Happy Birthday National Park Service, Aug. 25,1916-2011: Still Young at 95 Years. We pray The Next Century NPS Agency Planning includes a greater Respect & Support for Science and scientific researchers to better understand the changing biota surviving in fragmented landscapes like Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

Road Work Will Create Some Delays For Travelers To Zion National Park

Aug 25th - 17:01pm | Lee Dalton

Red pavement again. Good. Zion is simply not Zion with black pavement.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Preparing To Hurricane Irene

Aug 25th - 14:44pm | Karen

LOVED our vacation this year on Great Island. We are planning next year!! I hope our cabin is still there!!

Aug 24th - 17:44pm | Erik

Great. Leaving for these parks two weeks from today. i hope they are still there when it's all over.

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Aug 25th - 14:37pm | Judy & Glenn

WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT BLUFFS LODGE AND COFFEE SHOP ARE CLOSED. HOPEFULLY, SOMEONE WILL REOPEN BOTH FOR THE 2012 SEASON. IT WAS ONE OF OUR VERY FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT - SO QUIET AND RELAXING THERE. THE COFFEE SHOP HAD SUCH GOOD HOME-COOKING.....A FAVORITE WAS COUNTRY HAM.

Mannheim Steamroller Celebrates Glacier National Park in New CD

Aug 25th - 14:00pm | Jim d

Will this be on itunes?

Aug 25th - 13:40pm | Connie Hopkins

I remember when we first moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1986 everyone was always talking about Mannheim Steamroller, based out of Omaha. I remember going to their concert in December 1989 in Omaha with some friends, it was like the Midwest's special little secret. Not long after, they became world famous!

Will Obama Administration, Wyoming Governor, Find Common Ground on Dealing With Wolves?

Aug 25th - 12:53pm | Anonymous

they're simply wild creatures doing what's in their nature, as they've done for centuries. some are just too quick to rule 'kill' as a quick solution to just about anything anymore. there are too many humans populating the world, just because there wolves, and have gotten' bad stigma of the years doesn't mean the should be wiped off the planet.

Public Access To Santa Rosa Island At Channel Islands National Park To Be Restricted For Deer, Elk Hunt

Aug 25th - 11:46am | Hunter/Gatherer...

Several of these Channel Islands provided private sector jobs creating economic stimulus through ranching, Commercial Fishing and controlled hunting among others. One may still be able to see the Livestock Ferry tied to the dock in Santa Barbara (Probably not).

Aug 25th - 10:26am | rdm24

Doesn't the military already have exclusive access to two of the other Channel Islands (San Nicolas and San Clemente)? Did they identify the need for a retreat on a third island, or is this Hunter's way of showing support for the military, need and cost be damned?

Reader Participation Day: Are you a VIP (Volunteer in the Parks)?

Aug 25th - 10:01am | Rick Smith

Rick B-- I was there in mid-summer of both 2008 and 2009. Rick

Aug 24th - 21:23pm | Bill Atwill

I worked with Honors students from 8 different colleges and universities doing trail maintenance in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May 2011. This was part of thecooperative Partners in the Parks project between the National Collegiate Honors Council and National Park Service. NPS Volunteer Trails coordinator, Christine Hoyer is the best!

Aug 24th - 19:33pm | Keeper

Very cool, Rick! I've had very similar experiences with the youth and adults of this country and others on Mule Rides into the Grand Canyon. It really fills you up to help facilitate experiences that mean so much to individuals. Of course, the Canyon is the real star here! I'm just smart enough to stay out of the way:). Rock On, Rick, Keeper

Aug 24th - 15:59pm | Rick B.

When were you there, Rick? I believe I met you at the Museum of the National Park Ranger on our last trip through.

Aug 24th - 15:22pm | Rick Smith

Danny--After a 31-year career as an employee of the NPS, I returned for two summers to serve as a VIP at the Museum of the National Park Ranger at Norris Junction in Yellowstone. The museum,at the height of the season, has about 300 visitors a day. The VIP actually has time to talk to the visitors and discuss the issues facing Yellowstone or the NPS.

Aug 24th - 12:01pm | Gary Byler

While single I volunteered at Joshua Tree NP, Devils Tower and Canyon de Chelly NMs recently. I think it was fantastic. I had to quit and beg out of another VIP at Great Basin when I had an eye problem and required surgery. Now it seems that is not going to be a problem and I am hoping that my new wife and I can get back to being VIPs someplace soon, perhaps next year. VIP is the best kept

Aug 24th - 10:23am | Laurel

Danny: I was a VIP in Yosemite National Park to week-long natural resource restoration trips in four separate years, and I was a VIP "Grafitti Buster" in Mesa Verde National Park to remove grafitti scratched into rocks along park trails and scenic overlooks.

Aug 24th - 09:26am | Connie

We volunteered at Lake Ranger Station (Yellowstone NP) in 2002....best experience of our lives. The rangers were awesome. My husband and I were afforded opportunities we would never have had as a regular visitor to the park. I got to go out on a private tour of the lake with "Ranger Rick" and other volunteers. My husband, a fly-fisherman, got to go out on the boat to help with the netting o

Grizzly Bear Shot and Killed By Hikers In Denali National Park and Preserve

Aug 25th - 01:24am | Anonymous

Seems to me, rights of humans must always outweigh that of wild animals or dangerous game as defined by law (as well as similarly dangerous humans). Bears are considered potentially dangerous, and like humans who present imminent threat of great personal injury (pretty given), you

Cracks Caused By Earthquake Closes Washington Monument

Aug 25th - 00:12am | Loaded

Yes, there are cracks in our National Heritage. What a loaded statement that is, Bruce!

Aug 24th - 21:23pm | Bruce

Earthquake impressions on two levels: 1) Human. No lives were lost, no injuries that I read about. Sobering to think how much more powerful than this one the earthquake in Japan was, let alone the devastating tsunami that resulted.

Aug 24th - 17:53pm | RangerLady

Grrrr...I'm heading there in 2 months. I so hope the damage isn't too bad.

How Many Bison in Yellowstone National Park?

Aug 24th - 22:38pm | jsmacdonald

One number missing from this article that ultimately accounts for the lower numbers is that 211 (by Buffalo Field Campaign's count - and I witnessed dozens of the deaths and gut piles myself) bison were killed between Montana's and the hunts of the treaty tribes (mostly by Salish-Kootenai and Nez Perce but some also by the Umatilla - the Shoshone-Bannock also have treaty rights but did not hunt

California Woman Dies In Fall From Half Dome Cables In Yosemite National Park

Aug 24th - 19:46pm | Anonymous

That is ridiculous! remove the cables, why because someone died. One person to ruin it the experience for everyone else. When you go to half dome you realize the danger. You could die! if you dont want to put yourself in that situation dont do it. I have a better chance of dieing in my car on the way to half dome. Should we make the world carless so no one dies?

Junior Ranger Discovers Important Saber Tooth Fossil at Badlands National Park

Aug 24th - 17:28pm | Abigail

She's goes to my school!

Proposed Backcountry Fee At Great Smoky Mountains National Park Would Be A First For Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers

Aug 24th - 15:08pm | Tom Thomas

I wouldn't mind paying, In fact I want to do my fair share for this Park - but have questions and concerns: Will my senior pass be honored? How do you plan to supervise these campsites and shelters to make sure folks that have no reservations will not be a continuing problem?

New "Puppy Cam" Features Sled Dog Pups at Denali National Park and Preserve

Aug 24th - 14:16pm | Anonymous

@Anon 8/23 6:23pm I can't live in the doom and gloom 24/7. I've always got time for the puupycam! It lifts my spirits :)

Aug 23rd - 21:08pm | Bill H

Hmmmm, I don't see a chain. I see a rather nice kennel and dog house.

Aug 23rd - 19:23pm | Anonymous

Wow. All that's going on in our government and national park system, and we get puppy cams from NPT.

Aug 23rd - 10:30am | Anonymous

P.S. They are not living at the end of a chain. It might be time to check out the webcam, Margery.

Aug 23rd - 10:11am | Margery Glickman

It's appalling that the rangers force the dogs to live at the end of a chain. Jurisdictions across the United States have banned or severely restricted chaining because it's cruel to dogs. For more facts, go to the Sled Dog Action Coalition web page: http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks-abuseinkennels.htm#chaining

What's "The Most Beautiful Place in America"? GMA Viewers Pick Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Aug 24th - 13:46pm | Anonymous

I wish somewhere the criteria for the ten finalists was published. I live near the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear's southern cousin. They are both gorgeous, have dramatic diversity for the biologists, and I love them. But none of the ten finalists were places like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Denali, the Tetons. That just seems too strange. And every time I have seen th

RV Accident in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Injures 6

Aug 24th - 09:02am | Jane

Gee, I hope you never get into an accident, apparently you have no idea the decisions that have to be made by rescue teams. I am grateful that the family is safe and no workers were injured in the recovery process.

Lightning Strike Kills Visitor at Bryce Canyon National Park

Aug 23rd - 20:31pm | Anonymous

I was at Bryce last month. The rangers do a good job of warning visitors what to do when thunderstorms approach. Visitors are told repeatedly NOT to stand under any lone tree near the rim. Maybe this man didn't hear a ranger talk or maybe he paused for just a moment, just the wrong moment.

Aug 22nd - 19:09pm | Barky

What a tragedy. Don't forget that lightning can actually travel great distances to hit you: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/lightning/lightning_faq.htm#8

Peeking Inside The Rangers Club At Yosemite National Park

Aug 23rd - 20:08pm | Henry Thompson

A wonderful atmosphere and the Ranger's I met are great! Thanks Ray for all your help! Hope to see you all next Summer.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

Aug 23rd - 18:52pm | Johnny Odom

Perhaps im a little late finding and responding to this post but am glad i found it. I live in Indiana as like many others on this forum and i as well drive a thousand miles to new smyrna and haulover beach and spend about a thousand dollars, so me and my family can visit the Nude Beaches.

Are Hunters Good Wildlife Stewards When It Comes To Wolves? Not According To This Study

Aug 23rd - 15:17pm | ILoveBears

Wow. I'm more than a little shocked & saddened at some of the comments. As stated above, the label "hunters", covers a large spectrum of people. Some of the hunters are exceptional & wonderful people. Some hunters would fall into the scourge of the earth category (in my book). Then there is a huge population of hunters that are trying to be the best they can be, with varying level

National Geographic Visits Portugal's First, and Only, National Park

Aug 23rd - 04:32am | Waypoint

Great article about our Pan Park. Thanks! :)

Where Can You Enjoy The Best Wildlife Experiences In the National Park System?

Aug 22nd - 22:14pm | LindaHanney

Several weeks ago we witnessed a brown bear and her cub fish for salmon at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site operated by the US Forest Service near Hyder, Alaska. We also saw eagles and various other birds. We were returning from six weeks in Alaska and didn't think we could see another beautiful sight, but we certainly did.

Creature Feature: The Banana Slug is Living Proof that a Slimy Little Gastropod Mollusk Can be Loaded with Charisma

Aug 22nd - 22:13pm | Tracy

I love these great little creatures! From the first time I saw one in the Olympic National Forest I was totally enamoured. I even have a life size tattoo of one!

New Species Added to Park Lists During Bioblitz at Great Basin National Park

Aug 22nd - 19:05pm | Barky

What a neat way to teach kids about biology. :-)

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