| Page 1182 | National Parks Traveler

Restrictions eased for groups gathering at national parks By Ed O'Keefe Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, October 15, 2010 Small groups wishing to gather at national parks, including the Mall in Washington, no longer need to obtain a permit from the National Park Service, it was announced Thursday.

Great Gray Owls in Yosemite National Park Deemed to be Distinct Subspecies

Oct 21st - 12:18pm | GGO

What is sad is the fact that the Evergreen Lodge located just outside Yosemite's border is hosting live music events every few weeks. These outdoor music events are loud and can be heard up to 5 air miles away and further and last well past midnight, sometimes until 5-6AM. This type of noise pollution can only hurt the Great Gray Owl's population in and near Yosemite's northern border.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Needs Packers To Help With Elk Culling

Oct 21st - 12:18pm | Eric

Here in Nebraska when the Game and Parks Commission needs whitetails culled they issue permits, and charge a nominal fee for these special permits. They don't spend money on contractors and employees, they let people do the hunting.

More Calls For "National Park" Designations Across The National Park System

Oct 21st - 11:41am | grace w.

The folks behind the "name change" from the GGNRA to the Golden Gate National Parks is directly coming from the GGNRA's non-profit arm, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Congresswoman Pelosi.

How Much Garbage Can You Identify From Zion National Park?

Oct 21st - 11:34am | Sheila

If you're picking up trash you might as well pick all of it up!

Oct 21st - 11:33am | Sheila

that was my first thought...I can't walk anywhere and not see cigarette butts!

Oct 20th - 15:27pm | Jon Merryman

Ah yes, there WERE plenty of cigarette butts (about 20) but I opted not to pick those up. Hate 'em.

Oct 20th - 14:45pm | John Robert "Bo...

you'd never catch me swigging that "In-Bev" Bud Lime crappolla... I see future archeological sites... but do agree humans must be much more aware of their environmental impact, and no impact areas mean NO impact

Oct 20th - 14:07pm | tomp

I'll add a zipper pull with a bit of cord attached; bar code sticker from a piece of fruit; torn off top from a jerky bag; several pistachio shells; orange ring from a gatorade (or possibly milk) jug; black with silver hair elastic; I suspect that the citrus was a lemon or lime, not orange, based on how thin the peel is and the way it was cut for a drink.

Oct 20th - 13:44pm | DOCREP

Ladies and Gents, There is a wire bag tie on top of some white material probably napkins; the long steel bar reminds me of a drift pin used to alighn two holes so a bolt can be attatched; looks like an old corn cob;

Oct 20th - 13:23pm | Laran

Over the years of my adult life, I collect almost an entire set of tent stakes by scavenging at my camp sites. It's a great, free, eco-friendly way to get replacements for the inevitable bent stake syndrome.

Oct 20th - 12:27pm | Mike Painter

Are there any cigarette butts in there? If not, that would be a miracle!

Oct 20th - 10:34am | Jon Merryman

This doesn't include the discarded pot of baked beans (the beans, not the pot) in the nearby grass. Wasn't sure how to include that in the photo!

Oct 20th - 09:57am | Anonymous

Perhaps the amount of Corona bottle caps can explain part of the problem!

Oct 20th - 08:54am | Anonymously-Yours

Is Waldo somewhere in there?

Campsite No. 7 in Zion National Park Gives Up Its Garbage

Oct 21st - 10:17am | Jon Merryman

FYI - my list was meant to be a challenging list of things to find, not a complete list.

Oct 21st - 07:17am | Anonymous

more: 21. 7 corona bottle caps 22. 2 miller lite caps 23. bud lite cap 24. bits of a broken plastic spoon 25. tissue/paper nakin bits 26. corn cob 27.blue button 28. several copper pennys 29. numerous bottle caps--some older, some newer 30. bits and pieces of glass/plastic 31. what looks like some line and sinker

The Tramp and the Rough Rider meet in Yosemite National Park

Oct 21st - 07:32am | Connie Hopkins

I would absolutely LOVE to see this! Having read numerous books on TR I find him to be absolutely fascinating! Ironically, it was while my husband and I were in Yosemite for the first time in 2006 that I was in the midst of reading Edmund Morris' biography on TR, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt".

Visitor Survey: Bryce Canyon National Park

Oct 21st - 00:30am | Chad Moore

I think the survey result that "only" 47% of Bryce Canyon visitors felt that the night sky was "extremely" or "very" important is actually a pretty encouraging number. Consider that many Bryce visitors only spend a couple of hours and roughly half of the visitors aren't aware that that there is even good stargazing there.

Cost of Search for Missing Plane Over Katmai National Park and Preserve Approaching $1 Million

Oct 21st - 00:22am | Anonymous

I can tell you that there is a LOT of effort going into this search. My boyfriend is one of the people on the boat as we speak searching. They are in the middle of the ocean in rough weather/waves getting ill and all...doing what they can to find that plane! My sympathies to all loved ones involved.

Yearling Wolf Killed In Vehicle Collision in Grand Teton National Park

Oct 20th - 23:01pm | Anonymous

We just returned from vacationing in Grand Teton Park, and it's no wonder these animals are getting killed by vehicles. The first thing we noticed is at visitors/drivers are mostly in violation of the roadway speed limits. Men, who obviously find the curves of the park appealing to their "I-wish-I-was-young-again" days, are mainly the culprits.

DNA Tests Indicate Yellowstone National Park Elk, Not Bison, Most Likely To Spread Brucellosis

Oct 20th - 21:08pm | Anonymous

That is a stupid comment and will never happen. Why do people say stupid (stuff) like that.

Reader Participation Day: Does Hunting Season Move You Out of National Forests and Into National Parks?

Oct 20th - 15:24pm | George

I used to hike mainly in national parks during hunting season. But now with firearms allowed in the parks, I'm sticking to the few remaining places where no firearms are allowed, such as certain state parks.

Oct 20th - 14:17pm | tomp

There's a huge difference between the durations of hunting seasons in the west (relatively short) and the southeast (4-6 months), and differences in deer hunting with dogs, etc.. It's pretty easy to pick times and places to hike between bow, black powder, and regular hunting seasons out west.

Oct 20th - 14:02pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ranger, Having written, and read, a lot over the years about hunting accidents, most of which occur on public lands other than national parks, I'd venture that it's much safer in parks than forests during hunting season. That's not to paint a broad brush "irresponsibly" as you believe. It's just measuring the odds.

Oct 20th - 13:02pm | Ranger

But wait, there's more! I just checked today's paper only to find an article that says there ARE hunters in the backcountry of my park. "Poachers sentenced for killing deer in Yosemite": http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/20/3117035/poachers-sentenced-for-killing....

Oct 20th - 12:49pm | Ranger

Also, I leash my dogs when hunters are in the area. Hunters don't need my dogs disturbing their hunt any more than I want my dogs to encounter stray bullets.

Oct 20th - 12:45pm | Ranger

Kurt, I think it's irresponsible of you to paint "hunters" with such a broad brush here. I have never felt at risk from bow hunters, for instance, but I do pay attention when rifle season opens. And I don't worry much about rifle hunters deep in the backcountry, but I do watch my step when close to roads. "Hunters" are not a homogeneous group any more than "black people" are.

Oct 20th - 12:27pm | Anonymous

Please remember that hiker Meredith Emerson hiked with her dog and she was still killed in spite of that fact. Be safe!

Oct 20th - 10:47am | Anon

After working for both USFS and NPS, I'm willing to hike in either agency's lands during hunting season. But, if it is land that allows hunting (some NPS sites have hunting seasons too) then I like to wear bright colors. It doesn't have to be head to toe orange as long as the color is non-deer-like.

Oct 20th - 09:27am | RangerLady

At CARE, we're so close to National Forest land and BLM that we can sometimes hear the gunshots. The other day I was assisting campers when a single rifle shot rang out. Every visitor there stopped and started looking around with big eyes. I wasn't the only one who didn't like hearing that sound in the park! I have nothing against hunting. In fact I love eating wild game very chance I get.

Oct 20th - 09:18am | Bob Janiskee

Hunting season has caused me to leave South Carolina. And take up temporary residence in South Dakota.

Oct 20th - 09:07am | Laura

Since I've only just gotten into hiking, I hadn't given this much thought before. However, it was more than a little creepy to hear gunshots while hiking in a state park this past Sunday. It did make me uncomfortable, and I would definitely retreat to a national park if I lived closer to one.

Oct 20th - 07:52am | Anonymous

Definately, I like to walk my dogs and during the best season of the year I don't feel safe. Walking during hunting season with or without my dogs is unsafe. Unfortunately I can't walk them in the National park either because they are not allowed. I wish there were a few dog permitted trails.

Camping 101 – Rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Teach Area High Schoolers the Basics

Oct 20th - 11:44am | Camping Equipment

What a great program! I'd like to see that roll out nationwide in every High School in America.

What Every Visitor to Glacier National Park Needed to Know … in 1920

Oct 20th - 05:58am | Anonymous

Ahh the good oldays. However, look again at the prices. A days stay was almsot a 1/2 week to a week wages. By todays standards it was expensive. So enjoy now for we may loose it if everthing proceeds as it is going

Oct 19th - 11:38am | pkrnger

I really like the emphasis on getting to know the park intimately, by spending at least a month hiking and camping. Who today would be able to afford a full month in the park other than retired RV'ers, park visitors from Europe, and park employees?

Washington Man Dies After Encounter With Mountain Goat in Olympic National Park

Oct 19th - 23:34pm | Jon Merryman

Um, you should "milk it for all its worth"?

Oct 19th - 20:11pm | Random Walker

[url=http://example.com/]Billy Goats Rough What should you do if you're attacked by a mountain goat? By Brian Palmer[/url]

Velma Melmac Has Left Yosemite, Never to Return

Oct 19th - 23:06pm | Beth Pratt

Bob--thank you! Like Laurel, I worked with Phil in Yosemite and I considered him a friend. One of my favorite memories was of a trip to Ostrander Lake, when Phil and his wife Susan kept the group in constant laughter with their jokes and antics. This spring I had a drink at the Farley Bar in Fort Baker and toasted Phil's photo. He is surely missed!

Commentary: How Do You Prefer National Parks, Utilitarian, or Utopian?

Oct 19th - 22:21pm | Carolyn

There is already a clamoring for more machine abuse of the wilderness areas. More crying and whining about why can't someone take his noisy, air polluting machine into the woods. More possibility of more and more land outside the parks being devastated by man.

Cherokee Orchard Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Under Construction

Oct 19th - 22:18pm | OldLibrarian

Has the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail reopened yet? It was supposed to open October 1st.

End of Season Coming For Shenandoah National Park

Oct 19th - 21:14pm | Anonymous

Spent the last several days visiting Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Parkway. Beautiful!!! Fall color has been fantastic and we've enjoyed every second of our trip. Shenandoah had so much more to do than we possibly had time for (yes, I had my Shenandoah Check list - thanks, Bob!!!) Now I only hope to come back in the spring for all the beautiful wildflowers...

Traveler's Checklist: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Oct 19th - 20:25pm | Lee Dalton

Once upon a long time ago, I used to crawl through caves and was proud to be called a "Spelunker." But time marches on . . . . So if I can't be a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ these days, what am I?

Oct 19th - 13:19pm | Ranger Lana

Nope, it wasn't me, but I think I know who your talking about pkrnger. And fair enough on the "spelunker" criticism, I didn't read that correctly. I'm probably a little sensitive to that comment. As a caver, that word gets on my nerves. :) The quick response is greatly apprciated, and I'm sorry if I was a little harsh.

Opening Events for The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Held in Two States

Oct 19th - 19:55pm | stormy

The Trail of Tears was a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. President Andrew Jackson was the 1st to use the Act to forcibly remove Native Americans from their homeland. Martin Van Buren ordered further removals. The actual removals were done by the U S military under the auspices of the Secretary of War, Lewis Cass.

Oct 19th - 16:11pm | cici

Enlighten me....who was responsible for that march?

National Park Service Denies Request for Bridge Across St. Croix River Between Minnesota and Wisconsin

Oct 19th - 18:44pm | anonymous

The change in position is easily explained. Look who was at the head of the Executive Branch in 1996, and then again in 2005. Just one of a long list of ill-advised projects pushed through by a Republican Administration laser focused on running roughshod over FLPMA and NEPA. Is Bachmann still in office? ;)

Oct 19th - 16:33pm | Jon Merryman

If you look at the complete lifecycle costs, bridges and tunnels can often be about the same cost. If you factor in not having to clear snow from the bridge deck, the environmental benefits of not having road residue wash into the river, and the benefit of the unimpeded view from a virtually invisible (and relatively silent) tunnel, I'd say a tunnel could make perfect sense.

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