| Page 1119 | National Parks Traveler

Actually the evidence is pretty clear, the 19,000 elk prior to the wolf import are now 4600, a little over 2000 of which actually are inside of Yellowstone, and much less after this winter. It isn't just the northern herd, the Norris-Firehole herd that numbered a steady non migrating 600-700 animals ever since counting began was down to 50 last fall and may soon go extinct. The only elk herds

Apr 7th - 22:06pm | Anonymous

Some people just will not accept the scientific evidence thats right in front of them. No amount of clearly stated, verifiable evidence will change an uneducated wolf-haters mind.

Apr 7th - 20:11pm | Anonymous

Dr. Smith doesn't "claim" anything. He is an experienced scientist and he reports the numbers that are accumulated by his team and others who know their jobs. He's not sitting on a couch sniping at the people who actually are making a difference. If you think you can do better, go out there and do the hard work.

Apr 7th - 18:59pm | Anonymous

At least this year he didn't try to claim the elk were "down to 10,000" like he did last year in Ntional Geographic. In fact they evidently were careful not to count in March this year since there were only 4000 by counting into Montana last fall, and we have had a very hard winter. Interestingly the elk in areas all around Yellowstone, including Rocky Mountain National Park are increasing in

Signs Indicate Federal Government Shutdown Would Save Little In National Park Circles

Apr 8th - 11:43am | Jim Macdonald

I have a very specific question about this regarding bison in Yellowstone.

Apr 8th - 11:07am | Ranger Bri

You are so right! The impact to the local economy will be serious and the gov't won't be saving very much money! Most parks will still have their Law Enforcement and Maintanance staff working. I wish we could still keep the parks open with the understanding that there would be limited services such as no visitor centers, no ranger led programs etc.

Apr 8th - 10:10am | Matt M.

I understand the parks would technically be closed. A shame, but it is the way of the world we live in.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Proposing to Preserve Five Light Stations

Apr 8th - 09:23am | Lee Dalton

Thank you for your response, Bob. Someday, I'm gonna have to get up to visit APIS -- even if I can't stay in a lighthouse. Hmmm. Do you need any volunteer lighthouse keepers?

Apr 8th - 08:50am | Superintendent,...

Jon, Thanks for the kind words. Apostle Islands really is an incredible place and the park staff are grateful for the support from visitors and the people and businesses of Bayfield, our gateway community. Stop in and say hi when you are back in the area. And Kurt, thanks for great coverage of the Apostle Islands and the rest of the NPS system. Bob Krumenaker

Apr 7th - 23:21pm | Jon Sparks

This site is awesome. if true (and I believe it is), how cool is it that the Sup from Apostle Islands is on here and commenting. Visited your place 3 years ago and was really impressed Bob. Looking forward to spending some more time there when I can do a little kayaking back to the caves. Also must get some more of that fabulous wine bread in town.

Apr 7th - 12:44pm | Superintendent,...

Lee,

Apr 7th - 11:50am | Kurt Repanshek

Lee, when I talked to the superintendent back in 2009 about the lighthouses and their restoration, he said B&Bs were not in the mix. Things might change, but that's what he said at the time.

Apr 7th - 11:45am | Lee Dalton

There are other places where lighthouses, fire lookouts, and similar places have become very popular places for people to spend a night or a few while visiting. Is there a chance this could happen here? Could some kind of agreement be arranged with a concessionaire to turn these into a kind of bed and do-it-yourself breakfast?

National Parks' Closure Being Highlighted In Congressional Budget Impasse

Apr 8th - 09:22am | Kurt Repanshek

Samsdad1, according to the approved ORV management plan, there will be 27.9 miles of year-round designated ORV routes on the seashore, 12.7 miles of seasonal routes, and 26.4 miles of vehicle-free miles.

Apr 8th - 09:18am | Ryan

I am sorry, but I have been to CAHA many, many times, actually got married on the beach there and have NEVER had any problems with access to anything. If I do find that there is a closure, I go somewhere else. Yes some areas are closed and in that way, access is restricted, but the park as a whole is more open than "closed".

Apr 8th - 08:49am | samsdad1

"Way to make it all about CAHA again samsdad1 - unreal. To my English friend, if you need some help finding places to go, regardless of the shutdown, I would love to help, please do not let a few angry people deter you from visiting this country, or you could just visit Canada, they have some lovely parks I believe are still open for business."

Apr 8th - 08:44am | Ryan

Seems like a bunch of folks are missing the point...390 parks will close, 15K or so NPS employees (1 million or so feds in all) will be out of work for an uncertain amount of time with no certainty they will be paid for the time they are furloughed. Don't get lost in ideology, real people are invloved.

Apr 8th - 02:38am | Rachel

Spot on, Reality check! The Democrats knew that their chances in the last election were dire if they passed another budget of deeper debt and spend, spend, spend as they usually do. Well, turns out it backfired and got a passel of 'em tossed out. Now they are crying about all the "children who will starve" if Paul Ryan's budget plan is passed...

Apr 8th - 01:25am | Anonymous

No, what they are saying is the parks will CLOSE. No one may go backpacking, hiking, rafting, canoeing, etc. I mean good luck enforcing it but anyone within the boundaries of a closed park could be charged with trespassing on Federal land. And if the government isn't involved who will maintain the trails?

Apr 7th - 22:16pm | Reality Check

Re: Jim Burnett If people get [angry] enough and they may when they get hit with what's coming. Going to be an interesting correction. Either that or we're done for and it seems at times that's what the aim is.

Apr 7th - 21:56pm | Zebulon

I don't know why we would expect our elected representatives to behave any better than Joe Public commenting on the internet. Fixing our fiscal mess will require sacrifices, but from what I've seen neither party is ready to sacrifice its own sacred cow (pick your preferred entitlement). So, we keep going along grandstanding on a few measly billions in cuts when the real issue is in the trilli

Apr 7th - 20:29pm | Jim Burnett

re: comment from Reality Check: "The Democratic Pres., Senate and the House were supposed to present a budget before the last election..." Not so many years ago, the federal fiscal year began on July 1st. That fiscal calendar was shifted to an October 1st start because Congress was often failing to do its job and pass the required budget bills by the deadline.

Apr 7th - 19:09pm | Jonathan Hoyt

Please save the parks for the people. Before you cut the parks make sure to visit the majestic sights that are inspiring and majestic.

Apr 7th - 18:02pm | Reality Check

Re: Rick B Sounds to me like a very selfish concern. You are all being played, along with the military and others to make it as painful as possible. The Democratic Pres., Senate and the House were supposed to present a budget before the last election but were afraid that it wouldn't be politically wise. NO substance only deception and ...okay lies!

Apr 7th - 13:53pm | Reality Check

Interesting and widely successful PR campaign. That's all that counts. No reality needed. Respectfully

Apr 7th - 13:01pm | Rick B.

I'm sorry, but I just can't reconcile the term 'reality check' with tea party rhetoric, and really don't like having such oxymorons associated with the national parks.

Apr 7th - 12:53pm | Anonymous

Until the military, social security, Medicare and prior tax cuts for billionaires are part of the discussion there's no point in even talking. But all those entitlements are part of the untouchable reality of most conservatives. No wonder the country is going broke: don't tax but spend anyway.

Apr 7th - 12:37pm | justinh

It would be a shame if the parks close because budget negotiations have, at this late hour, turned into a pretext for fighting the culture wars.

Apr 7th - 11:50am | Ryan

Way to make it all about CAHA again samsdad1 - unreal. To my English friend, if you need some help finding places to go, regardless of the shutdown, I would love to help, please do not let a few angry people deter you from visiting this country, or you could just visit Canada, they have some lovely parks I believe are still open for business.

Apr 7th - 11:10am | Anonymous

In response to the question of "why dont they work and keep the park open, they will get paid anyway...." There is actually a federal law that makes it illegal for nonessential federal workers to voluntarily come to work during a shutdown. It is true that federal employees were retroactively paid after the 1995-1996 shutdowns, but that repyment was not automatic; it required legislation.

Apr 7th - 10:42am | Ron Saunders

Anon April 7 1:22 AM Levin, Limbaugh, Drudge, Fox News ? Nope. They don't control our government. The Silent Majority is speaking. The Fiscally Responsible are speaking. Time to listen Up.

Legislation Would Add Official Wilderness To Olympic National Park, Transfer Acreage to Quileute Tribe

Apr 8th - 08:46am | Anonymous

[color=#333333] This is a crime! I have been to this area many times and I am aghast as to what I see. The reservation is in deplorable shape with abandoned vehicles and trash everywhere.

Apr 7th - 09:25am | Anonymous

Seems like a gift of 785 acres to the tribe. The land on the north side of Lake Croissant is already national park (non-wilderness). And it has lovely views of all the clearcuts to the north when you hike up to the ridge crest. Boulder Creek cmpgrnd is also already NP. It seems implied that there is a swap, that the tribe is giving up something in exchange for 785 acres. But what?

Unforeseen Repairs Will Idle Bodie Island Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Indefinitely

Apr 8th - 08:35am | samsdad1

Danny try calling around and get a flyover of the park. Nothing like it. The Government cannot close the air above.

Apr 8th - 07:51am | Danny Bernstein

I'm off to Cape Hatteras soon on my last leg of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. I was looking forward to climbing all the lighthouses. That's the only elevation that I'm going to get on this trip. What a disappointment. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Apr 8th - 06:18am | hatrasfevr

My comments to Ms. Holda were in response to her NPS announcement that the restoration of the Bodie Island Lighthouse was stopped due to lack of funding......the scaffold was being removed ....and the final restoration MAY be funded in 2012. The facts are:

Nine Injured By Lightning Strike At Old Faithful In Yellowstone National Park

Apr 8th - 05:54am | Anonymous

I was there when it happened, amazing, but we went into the lodge for some food as soon as the eruption ended. (Not Old Faithful Lodge, the other one that's closer.) We had just sat down when we heard the hail on the roof; it was very loud. We ate quickly and I walked back on the boardwalk to get the car at OF Lodge. I had to sort of skate and slide since the walk was covered with hail.

Really Getting Away From It All: The Loneliest National Parks

Apr 8th - 00:02am | Jon Sparks

Couldn't agree more about the First Ladies Site. Not only is it missing a strong NPS presence but it is very difficult to drop by and be apart of anything but the bookstore. Tried to do so last summer and I mostly I got to use the restroom and get my stamp before moving on. Not easy.

A Brief Word From Those Who Moderate Traveler Comments

Apr 7th - 21:24pm | Steve Nelson

I agree with Lee. I can actually make comments without people shouting at me here.

Apr 7th - 20:35pm | MaryBeth

Great--thanks. MB

Apr 7th - 19:00pm | Lee Dalton

Thank you, Kurt. Traveler is one of very few websites that have somehow managed to keep reasonably civil discourse going. Let's keep it up.

Apr 7th - 18:56pm | J.R.T.

Basically, you're saying, "Grow up people!" Can't say that I blame you there.

Reader Participation Day: Does Low Visitation Justify A National Park?

Apr 7th - 20:37pm | Bruce

Nope. Not if you can shoehorn into the remaining 5% the Postal Service, FAA, Medicaid, Air Force, CPSC, Social Security, Amtrak, EPA, Department of Labor, Coast Guard, OSHA, garbage collection, CDC, Navy, FDA, Department of Motor Vehicles, 911 Emergency, court system, Fire Department, Interstate Highway System, FDIC, snow plowing, National Mint, SEC, Department of Health, Police, EPA, Marines,

The World's Top Ten National Parks

Apr 7th - 18:28pm | Rick Smith

Is that you, Alejandro? Rick

Apr 7th - 16:44pm | Alex

Hello,, I think you guys have been close by but still missing Torres del Paine NP in the Chilean Patagonia , the Juan Fernandes archipielago (where Robinson Cruseo story was originated)which holds the second most important place in endemic species in the world after Hawai, and so Chiloe NP which preserves plenty of red wood trees dating form 2000 years or more along with native people on the pa

Mammoth Cave Testing New Route to "Snowball Room"

Apr 7th - 14:32pm | Rick Martz

Last week (3/30/11) I took my 2 grandkids on the Snowball tour. This was perfect for us because our four-year-old could easily walk it and he was free! We were pleasantly surprised how good and inexpensive the food was and appreciated the restroom break.

April Fool's Story On Cape Hatteras Not Funny To All Readers

Apr 7th - 09:00am | samsdad1

SS! Great post and I agree but for a few areas. Please clarify the following

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Apr 7th - 08:58am | Anonymous

We stayed at Bluffs Lodge last fall and enjoyed it very much. I'm sad to hear they won't be opening this year. It really is a great place to stop.

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