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Can Blackwater Falls Area of West Virginia Support A National Park?

Feb 28th - 08:31am | Matt Stubbs

This area of the country is also one of my favorites. I have spent many trips in this area especially Seneca Rocks. I have hiked to the top as well as learned to Kayak in the snow run off from our friend Dapster. This place is wild and wonderful as West Virginia states.

Feb 27th - 16:43pm | Ron

National parks are a popular budget to cut by the far right, along with education and infrastructure, which is why we have underinvested in our natural assets in recent decades. It is time to fully fund and add new land to our park system. We lag some third world countries in the amount of land set aside for restricted development believe it or not.

Feb 27th - 16:39pm | Ken

Studies of the National Park system show they produce huge return on investment. The latest study in 2005 showed American taxpayers spent $2.6 billion on the National Park System and the return on their investment was more than $12 billion.

Feb 27th - 13:03pm | Reed

I have been a frequent visitor to the entire area, especially Canaan Valley, for over 50 years. I have witnessed the charm and the remoteness of the area decline as it has been developed.

Feb 27th - 12:43pm | WVa

I see nothing wrong with the current mixed configuration of National Forest, National Rec Area, and State Parks. These designations have provided the area with a high degree of environmental protection will still allowing the public to freely access these areas.

Feb 27th - 11:18am | Cornell

1. Land acquisition is not the only cost. There is the cost of personnel. Furthermore, roads and structures also incur costs. The National Park Service is already spread too thin. In today's political climate, the National Park Service will be lucky to maintain its current budget and will probably have its budget cut.

Give Us A National Park, But Please, Not Its Regulations

Feb 28th - 08:07am | Matt Stubbs

"Take away the snowmobiles, SUVs, ATVs, access, and any other thing that impedes the natural ebb and flow of nature in her own course. The result will be sustenance and provision for people for generations to come -if we will just leave it alone."

Feb 28th - 07:23am | Matt Stubbs

This article points out these items and selects certain activities to exploit. If one really feels like we are ruining the park systems by allowing these types of access then why is building bridges, walkways, parking areas, bathrooms, and several other permanent structures allowed to sustain pedestrians?

Feb 28th - 07:06am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

I am a strong advocate for upgrading the Pinelands National Preserve to a National Park. Should this happen, a way of life for many people will change forever given current regulations. Off-road vehicles, hunting, fishing, road access, and many other things would be affected, things that have been taken forgranted for perhaps hundreds of years.

Trickle of Documents Highlights National Park Service's Mistakes In Hubbell Trading Post Investigation

Feb 27th - 16:41pm | Anonymous

And what about the meeting? I hear rumors that the meeting took place and Hubbell management wasn't not receptive to inputs given. Is this correct?

Group Claims Big Cypress National Preserve Going Too Far With ORV Access, Panther Impacts

Feb 27th - 15:37pm | Anonymous

Swamp buggies and hunting camps have been in the Big Cypress for over 100 years now, LONG before there was ever a "Preserve" or "National Park". It is truly insulting for you "tree huggers" to come in and make it sound like the true hunting / camping enthusiasts are to blame.

Hiking all the Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Feb 27th - 13:46pm | Anonymous

It helps to get the names right. That's the Grapeyard Ridge trail mentioned above. And it's not particularly obscure unless you consider anything other than the AT as obscure. Oh, and that's not a railroad artifact; it's the ruin of a self-propelled steam engine of the type used to power farm equipment, saw mills, etc. The story is widely published.

Feb 27th - 09:38am | Phyllis Northup

We have a "Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Hikers Challenge - 95 Miles of Superior Hiking". Registration, maps, list of trail segments and miles to check off are available at the Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore in Munising, MI. A certificate from the park will be awarded to those who finish.

Add Cataloochee Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park To List of Reservation Sites

Feb 27th - 12:59pm | William Britten

I post a daily blog with news and photos from the Great Smoky Mountains. http://williambritten.com/wordpress/ or get all the Smokies news on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WilliamBrittenPhotography

Drier Conditions Expected to Lead to More Dust Storms Over Arches, Canyonlands National Parks

Feb 27th - 09:55am | Anonymous

I agree with the above comment and climate change is nothing more than cyclical changes the earth goes through.

Feb 26th - 22:45pm | Anonymous

Um. Disruption of soil by range cattle and OHVs is undoubtedly a far bigger contributor to soil loss via dust clouds than climate change, both currently and in the near term. Fat chance getting any controls on that from the state of Utah...

Traveler's Top 10 Rivers to Ride in the National Park System

Feb 27th - 08:44am | B. Grant

I'd have to put in a vote for the Green River in Mammoth Cave National Park, KY. We did this float last fall and it rivaled our Snake River trip in Grand Teton for peacefulness and wildlife.

These Big Bird Sightings at Grand Canyon Are the Real Deal

Feb 27th - 06:50am | john lee

io am concerned about a current prospected wind farm that is slated to go in on perrin ranch, with 62 of 405foot high wind turbine towers .this is located close to red lake hwy. 64 to the grand canyon . about 40-45 miles south of canyon. i understand that back i 1925 condors were spotted in williams which is even further to the south than these wind turbines.

Updated: National Park Service Budget Would Grow by $138 Million Under President's FY12 Proposal

Feb 26th - 17:14pm | Anonymous

I want my vote (for Obama) back: "Both the Save America's Treasures ($25 million) and Preserve America ($4.6 million) grant programs would be zeroed out." THEY ARE NOT THE SAME PROGRAM, they are not redundant. Gads can he read?

How Many Wolves Are Enough In Washington State?

Feb 26th - 14:46pm | Musk Oxen Rock

Maybe a new livestock specie that could be introduced as a natural wolf inhibitor would be a more natural balance. http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154947

Feb 26th - 11:00am | Idaho_Roper

People may conclude no, but they don't have any science to back it up.

Traveler's View: The National Park Service Failed Its Mission With Plan For Addition Lands at Big Cypress National Preserve

Feb 26th - 09:40am | Kurt Repanshek

Anonymous, I, too, was curious when I heard of NAS's decision to sale the acreage on Currituck Sound. So I called Audubon and asked them to explain the seeming contradiction between that sale and their efforts on Cape Hatteras National Seashore to protect nesting sea turtles and shorebirds. This is what they told me:

Feb 26th - 09:09am | Anonymous

You should read this article as well. www.associatedcontent.com/article/5459140/national_audubon_societys_dark...

What's Real And What's Not Behind Reality TV's Nature Shows?

Feb 26th - 08:45am | Someone in the ...

Those very same deceptive practices, in some cases much more harmful, are widespread by those that get cover by environmental symbolism. Examples anyone? Just pick any feel good argument and most likely you'll find some disturbing real motivations.

Feb 26th - 07:13am | Anonymous

I assumed that more people knew that shows like PBS's Nature, and Wild Kingdom were fake.

Feb 25th - 21:29pm | Sue

Those like Grylls make me sick. They 'capture' snakes then eat the poor innocent things. The tv show is not life or death and a poor animal has to die.....not right. I saw the Gold Rush episode where they killed the bear. Uncalled for especially since it was their fault a bear was in their camp (food left out) and it was not the same bear that took the cookies/crackers anyway.

Feb 24th - 20:20pm | Random Walker

Unlike Tom, I have no doubts, I gave up on The Discovery Channel long ago. Folks really thought it was all real reality? LMAO! Time for me to jack off line and go for a wander awhile...

Feb 24th - 17:22pm | Julie Trevelyan

Being a backcountry enthusiast, my b.s. meter went off the first time I saw Bear Grylls defying "certain" death on his show.

Feb 24th - 13:21pm | y_p_w

I remember seeing some documentary on the City of Anchorage's bear hazing team. They were shown dramatically throwing unsecured trash cans at some black bears to get them to take off. I wonder if they perhaps laid in wait with a situation they knew was going to produce a bear incident.

Feb 24th - 10:28am | Todd Wilkinson

Matt: Great thoughts. Indeed, it might be calling the kettle black if, in wearing his polo shirt, Palmer was pretending to be hosting a reality TV show, after he pretended that his plane crashed and he was marooned in the Amazon, but the photo was taken of him as he, being a college professor, was on his way to deliver a lecture.

Tracking Crime in National Parks Is Not An Exact Science By Any Means

Feb 26th - 07:03am | Kirk

Let me give a point of view as a concessionaire employee that works at the grand canyon. I live in a small town approximately 35 miles south of the canyon and work nights. NPS officers are under the impression that any employee that is arriving into the park at that time of night has been drinking at the bar and needs to be stopped using any means possible.

Roped-Together Climbers Die in Fall On Mount McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve

Feb 25th - 23:32pm | Deborh

I came across this site searching for information about my childhood art teacher, John's grandmother I believe. My hope was to get in touch with John's mother I met only a few times many years ago. I am shocked and sad for both men's families. My heart goes out to his family.

Where in the World is Paul Fugate?

Feb 25th - 16:28pm | cat

I too, would have attended the Memorial had I known about it. Although I did not know Paul or Dody Fugate, as a Tucson resident at that time I followed this perplexing case closely. I vividly remember the "Where Is Paul Fugate?" bumper stickers and my heart ached for his family.

Reader Participation Day: Should A Federal Budget Stalemate Lead To Closure of National Parks?

Feb 25th - 15:21pm | y_p_w

Will Strong: How do you close down a park? It is open space. Are there no rangers, no security? So what?. Sure "close" them down, it wont stop me using them.

Feb 25th - 14:40pm | vink80

At 87yrs old and retired for 25+ yrs I've seen and hiked in most of them --- so I'm done with 'em ! !! !!! !!!! How selfish can one get ???? More seriously -- I think they are over developed, over visited, and the private

Feb 24th - 21:07pm | Someone in the ...

If we could just learn what we can do without the government it would be the best lesson to be learned. That's the biggest fear of those in government! Maybe we should try it. A corrective situation has been presented to us so lets learn the lesson and get on with it:).

Feb 24th - 20:26pm | Sabattis

A government shutdown may not be a reasonable solution, but it is probably what is required by our Constitution... "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law".

Volunteer Opportunities at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Feb 25th - 10:13am | Danny Bernstein

And you get to wear a uniform. You can't beat the experience. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Tidal Pool Science in Olympic National Park: The Video

Feb 25th - 10:03am | Jane S

Reminds me of my days as an archaeologist, mapping sites and taking measurements in a similar fashion. Fascinating video.

Lodging Sale At Yosemite National Park, Where You Can Leverage 50% Savings This Fall on Second Night Stay

Feb 25th - 00:49am | Natalie - Coppe...

Thanks for the heads up on not planning to go there during the fall, Kurt! I never would have guessed that the waterfalls can actually dry up. My kids would really be disappointed if they don't get to see this when we go.

Arches National Park Developing Formal Climbing, Canyoneering Management Plan

Feb 25th - 00:20am | y_p_w

There is a strong tradition of climbing in our national parks, whether it's big wall climbing in Yosemite, or mountaineering in Denali, Grand Teton, Mt Rainier, etc. It's an activity that frankly isn't terribly popular compared to the millions of tourists who visit without even thinking of climbing a rock.

Feb 24th - 15:18pm | Anonymous

Rock climbing at its best is an inappropriate activity for a National Park. It is intrusive, destructive, and trashy; just ask the BLM for a copy of the study they did along Indian Creek.

Newspaper Turns Back the Calendar and Calls for "Buffalo Commons National Park" in Kansas

Feb 24th - 19:45pm | Ben

You do realize that the Buffalo roamed freely in the Great Plains and for sure in the areas of Kansas proposed. These Bison are hardy animals and the lands being brought up ARE their NATURAL grazing homes.

America's Great Outdoors Report Carries Lofty Goals That Need Widespread Support For Success

Feb 24th - 19:42pm | Keeper

To Ron Saunders and friends, "ROCK ON!" K

Feb 24th - 16:08pm | Ron Saunders

What a letter. I have no doubt a great many of us can identify to some degree with the writer. Cudos to Keeper and those like him. I have been to the canyon and can understand. Wish I had been able to take that Mule ride but time did not allow. Maybe some day. Lets urge the continuence of that experience for all.

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

Feb 24th - 17:17pm | Anonymous

This is during the same season that eleven mountain climbers were struck while climbing the nearby Grand Teton. What a crazy season it was in Wyoming. I heard one of the people in Yellowstone suffered an extra shock from her medical alerts system she was wearing around her neck. This kind of stuff is so coincidental and crazy.

Wyoming Legislature Agrees To Sell Land Inside Grand Teton National Park; Will Congress Pay For It?

Feb 24th - 14:32pm | jean flinders

I am glad the Interior Dept is trying to buy the land. I am soooooo sick of developers getting their hands on every bit of land. They are so greedy.

Public Comment Opens On Whether to Allow Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park

Feb 24th - 14:31pm | Big D

"We need to head in the direction of clean technologies like solar energy, wind farms." I agree, lets build a line of wind turbines along the GCNP boundary, with solar paenls beneath them. Just kidding. "Gaining Energy independence" via the official "green energy" technologies is like peeing on a forest fire.

Efforts to Regulate Off-Leash Dogs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area Spark Debate

Feb 24th - 14:20pm | Ron Saunders

This has been one of the best open discussions of an extremely volatile situation affecting many Parks and Recreation Areas. I am encouraged with the manner in which so many people have commented. Facts and opinions without the, too often, accompanying insults and adjectives.

Scuba Diver Dies at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Feb 24th - 12:17pm | Anonymous

As a divemaster candidate, I am baffled and confused to know why regional scuba would take a student diver out on such a cold day when hypothermia is the biggest concern which could lead to a heart attack or his regulator (breathing device) freeze up. My condolences to the family for their loss.

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