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Trails We Hiked During 2011

Dec 28th - 18:40pm | Anonymous

Hiked from Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park.  28 miles of the most beautiful scenery in the world. 

Dec 28th - 12:35pm | MaryBeth

Dang it.  We hiked the Park Butte Trail up to Mt. Baker did I mistakenly say Rainier?   MB

Dec 28th - 12:33pm | MaryBeth

We, Bob and I, hiked the Park Butte trail up to the 5500 ft level on Mt Rainier  last summer.  It was quite an excursion.  Lots of up hill and even crossing a glacier fed river/stream.  Lots of fun and many photo ops.  MB

And the National Park Mystery Spot Champion for 2011 Is . . .

Dec 28th - 17:24pm | RangerLady

So very true Lee! I was on this trip for one of my college classes and we were way up in the mountains with several inches of snow on the ground and the only bathroom was an outhouse with a metal seat. Heated seats are so very important.

Dec 28th - 16:01pm | Lee Dalton

Heated toilet seats are NOT frivolous.

Dec 28th - 15:42pm | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, RangerLady. Traveler's budget can't accommodate your car payments. Anyway, you'd probably just spend the extra money on frivolous stuff like food, shelter,and heated toilet seats. 

Dec 28th - 11:06am | Eric

Congratulations RangerLady! Watch out I'm gunning for your #1 spot in 2012.

Dec 28th - 10:01am | RangerLady

Wow! I have never won anything before! Can my prize be no more car payments for a year?

National Park Service Reviewing West Virginia Site For Possible National Park and Preserve

Dec 28th - 17:08pm | Anonymous

The NRA promotes carrying loaded weapons in national parks where visitors have the expectation of not being shot by some "avid hunter in disguise supposedly defending himself from any predator": visit:

Dec 28th - 08:06am | Kirby Adams

Having visited this area regularly since I was too young to remember, I'm not sure how I feel about this. For one thing, on a weekday in early June in the morning, you can visit all the iconic sites in Blackwater Falls SP and be alone. Same can be said for some of my favorite spots in Canaan Valley NWR and Bear Rocks in Dolly Sods.

Dec 27th - 18:30pm | ecbuck

" The NRA and other poacher endorsers" Anon - Could you please show us where the NRA has endorsed poaching?

Dec 27th - 16:10pm | Anonymous

  As a former West Virginian, I was devastated to re-learn how many poachers continue to dis-respect wildlife and wildlife laws since there is virtually no wildlife law enforcement.  Any actual national park designation will have the poacher, career-felon residents to cope with

Dec 27th - 10:25am | Graybeard

"We’ve always said 'park and preserve.' Probably the largest part would be in the preserve status," she said, adding, quickly, that "it’s premature to say we could even have a park."

Wish Comes True at Aztec Ruins National Monument After Nearly Ninety Years

Dec 28th - 14:08pm | RangerLady

I know you're being sarcastic Dick, but I really like the idea of heated toilet seats! Being a girl is rough during the winter sometimes

Dec 28th - 11:29am | Dick G.

Pretty funny!! Ok so let's pad every post, overhanging door jam and anything else someone might hit there head on!!! Please heat the toilet seats also in Yellowstone-- they are quite cold this time of year.

Dec 26th - 18:39pm | Jim Burnett

Richard - re: your comment about no mention of the National Park Service on the sign  - the top photo shows the finished product, with a large NPS arrowhead. The bottom photo is a close-up during construction to show more detail; the sign had not been completed when that photo was taken.

Dec 26th - 16:26pm | Anonymous

y_p_w :  I had to read your comment a few times to determine that you weren't actually kidding.  Pad the beams so nobody hits their head on them?  Here's a better idea: let's coat the entire park in a thick layer of nerf foam so nothing bad ever happens to anyone who enters it.

Dec 26th - 14:45pm | Richard Hurst (Dirk)

I'm somewhat amazed (particularly in like of the purposes of the new signage program) that it details "Department of the Interior" without making specific mention of the National Park Service.  I've always thought of the former as optional and the latter as mandatory.  There's not even an arrowhead to make up for the lack of NPS text.

Dec 26th - 10:01am | y_p_w

Looks nice. However, I'm not sure about the placement of the beams. As someone who's leaned into a shelf placed over a washing machine, I'm wondering what happens when the first tall visitor accidentally bumps a head on one of the beams while posing for a picture. The one on the right looks especially low.

Dec 26th - 08:27am | Carol B

Beautiful sign - can't wait to add it to my "Here's Your Sign" traveler album!  Congratulations.

Dec 25th - 18:59pm | Barky

Looks good. :-)

Keep Friends Groups In Your National Park Thoughts

Dec 28th - 12:16pm | Julie Klett

Thank you Kurt for highlighting friends groups! We are often the humble elves working behind the scenes to make our nation's public lands the very best they can be. And we can't do it alone -- our community of friends, members and donors make our important work possible. Thanks again from all of us at the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (partner to Rocky Mountain National Park).

Dec 27th - 10:12am | Holly Scott

Thank you, National Park Traveler and Kurt for emphasizing the importance of partnerships to our national park system!  All of us at Friends of the Smokies hope that 2012 is a great year for NPT.

Summer Special: Five Favorite Summer Hikes At Acadia National Park

Dec 28th - 07:43am | Michel

Perfect timing for this article, as I'm starting to plan my hicking trip to Acadia next summer.  It's always great to get some valuable tips like these ones.

Where in the World is Paul Fugate?

Dec 28th - 00:39am | Anonymous

Everytime I hear the name "Chiricahuas" I can think only of paying a visit to the monument with a cousin one late summer afternoon preceeding Paul Fugate's disappearance. I was about 16 or 17 years old at the time and, as I remember it, my cousin's then-wife and her family were close friends of Mr. Fugate; having grown up in the same area.

A December Rarity: Driving The Tioga Road Through Yosemite National Park

Dec 27th - 19:35pm | dave fleishman

We went up yesterday after reading this post.  Amazing.  Well worth the six-hour round-trip.  Here are a couple pix from the trip. http://justalittlelight.com/Landscapes/Various/#23 http://justalittlelight.com/Landscapes/Various/#24

NPCA Report: America's National Parks Have Troubling Problems With Natural, Cultural, Historic Resources

Dec 27th - 19:29pm | Graybeard

Jim, thanks for catching that. It is 11 not 1. Apparently the beard isn't all that's getting gray around here. ;)

Dec 27th - 16:04pm | Jim Burnett

Graybeard - I believe the above article makes reference to an estimated $11 billion backlog, rather than $1 billion, so although the ARRA funds were a good start, there's still a long way to go. When we're talking about that kind of money, it can be hard to keep track of the "zeros."

Dec 27th - 14:49pm | Graybeard

Forgive me as I am late to the discussion here. You cite a $1 Billion backog in Maintenance and then mention $750 Million from ARRA. Is the $1 Billion after the $750 Million (as in the backlog before ARRA was $1.75 Billion) or before (as in efficient use of the $750 Million should have cut the backlog to $250 Million except for the impact of unquantified backlog existing)?

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Dec 27th - 16:55pm | mauser6863

Politics is force, the exercise of political force is a form of violence. Sure we cloak it as civiliy as possible in the United States, citations, court dates, civil forfeture, but at the end of the day, the government has the power, at gun point to imprison you and take your life if you don't do what they say.

Issue Of Climbing Fees At Denali National Park Raises Questions Of Fee Equity

Dec 27th - 15:11pm | Graybeard

Chip mentioned SPOT devices above. Just FYI, SPOT makes available up to $100K in SAR expense insurance (underwriten by Lloyds of London) for $12.95 per year.

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis Puts Priorities on Workforce, Relevancy, Stewardship and Education

Dec 27th - 13:56pm | Sandra Henderson

You want to talk about Stewardship!??! Get .... down here and pick up the dead horses that are about to be on my property on CINS!~~ IDIOTS!~ I've emails Fred Boyles about turning off the water to the south end and the horses are not being forced to my house, knocking over my pipes to my 800 ft well and holding tank.

Fears Rise That Congress Could Open More Units Of National Park System to Hunting

Dec 27th - 12:51pm | Anonymous

Wow, this is great!  Hunting and fishing is the best conservation program we have going.  I imagine this would help put some fear of people back into the practically tame animals in the NP's; hopefully stopping the petting of elk in Yellowstone followed by trampeled idiot!

Woman Dies in Fall From Angels Landing At Zion National Park

Dec 27th - 00:28am | Anonymous

Ah, but here's the trouble with Wikipedia--anyone can edit an article to say whatever they please. Bottarini fell to her death from the Observation Point trail, not Angels Landing.

Reader Participation Day: Why Are National Parks So Controversial?

Dec 26th - 18:46pm | tom obx

Cape Hatteras park, much of that land was "given" to the NPS ... with an agreement signed by the head of the NPS. They have violated that written agreement totally! While protecting the piping plover they activly shoot, trap and poison other animals in the park, yes some of it is on youtube!  Everyone here is sick and damn tired of thier crap!

Congress Wants National Academy of Sciences To Review Oyster Farm Studies At Point Reyes National Seashore

Dec 26th - 11:41am | anonymous

y_p_w:

Dec 26th - 10:14am | y_p_w

I would counter the argument that there's some worry that the oysters are somehow going to establish themselves outside the oyster racks. They use sterile triploid oyster spat. They also no longer import oyster spat and produce their own seed on site. It was also noted that there isn't enough natural hard substrate, so again what's the issue?

Dec 24th - 10:11am | anonymous

To you, Kurt and all the NPT family, Christmas blessings on into the New Year. Thanks

Dec 24th - 10:04am | anonymous

While you are at it let's bring back the California Brown Bears to Silicon Valley so they can habituate to all those distracted cell phone addicts.  Leave the Oystermen alone.  I'm sure they are working in a more environmentally sound enterprise than the great majority of those casting the biggest stones.  

Dec 24th - 00:39am | Peter

Much of the debate about whether or not Drakes Bay Oyster Company ought to remain in Drakes Estero for another ten years has centered around the two-sided question of whether the commercial operation is helping or hurting the marine ecosystem, whether it's actually ecologically sustainable. If we start with the facts, the

Dec 23rd - 20:10pm | anonymous

YPW: Always with the facts.  I always appreciate your posts!

Dec 23rd - 15:45pm | y_p_w

The situation is actually rather convoluted. None of the oyster farm's shore operations are in any area that is designated as potential wilderness. In fact, none of the land area bordering Drakes Estero is potential or full wilderness. Only the water area (save a small part of Schooner Bay near the oyster farm's shore operations) was given potential wilderness status.

Dec 23rd - 14:35pm | Kurt Repanshek

Michael, can you point to the documents that show the estero currently is official wilderness?

Traveler's Gear Box: KEEN's Erickson PCT, A Hiking Boot For Long-Distance Trekkers

Dec 25th - 11:49am | Fred

I am looking at buying these boots to replace a pair of Danner mid highs I love. I twisted both of my ankles on a recent trip doen and up the Grand Canyon on 1 day and am still recovering. Looking for a really good over the ankle boot. Found these at my REI and am looking for advice.

Reader Participation Day: What's On Your National Park Reading List?

Dec 25th - 11:20am | Rick Smith

I just received for Christmas the Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley, the highly-acclaimed book about Theodore Roosevelt and the crusade for America. I have been wanting to dig into this for sometime and now will. The 817 pages devoted to one of America's most ardent conservatiion Presidents will be a treat to read. Rick

Dec 24th - 14:43pm | JP54 Fuel

I love Case of the Indian Trader!

Longest-Running Film in History Highlighted in New Park Exhibit

Dec 24th - 13:42pm | DJ

I'm glad the Park Service is honoring this pioneer. In the early summer of 1976, I took my "bicentennial tour' of the western parks, and I was so fascinated by the Kolb movie so much I went back to see it again the next day. I think it was introduced in person by Mr Kolb himself. I didn't realize until today that he died a few months later, in Dec 1976.

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

Dec 24th - 11:04am | anonymous

GGO:  I suggest (without asking the Owls) that the Evergreen Lodge hurts the population of Great Horneds about as much as the dinner bells do the the Griz and Black Bears. Unexpected consequences much of the time but strangely enough only one side of the agenda gets public attention.  Why is that?  Just politics, I suppose.

Dec 24th - 07:33am | Anonymous

relocate some to a remote spot for breeding?

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Dec 23rd - 22:54pm | Anonymous

I went to Angel's Landing yesterday with my mom, dad, and older sister, who is 20. (I'm 15) We all made it to scout lookout fine, and we all started up the chains. I got probably 1/4th the way, looked down and realized my mom was having a hard time managing the height and the drop off. It freaked me out a bit too. So, I turned around when my mom said she was.

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