| Page 1100 | National Parks Traveler

And, the backcountry wilderness in Carlsbad is incredibly beautiful and rugged. I am sure that somewhere out there, there are more caves to be discovered. This is not, however, a wilderness to underestimate. There are few water sources. The hiker needs to be self-reliant and careful as the rescue resources there are not as easily-accessed as they are in some parks. Rick

Jun 7th - 08:31am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, Toothdoctor, perhaps we should pitch Backpacker a story on the 85 miles of backcountry trails in Carlsbad's 33,000+ acres (roughly 52 square miles) of officially designated wilderness, eh? That would seem pretty appreciable to many folks, I'd think;-)

Jun 6th - 22:32pm | toothdoctor

I'm a subscriber to Backpacker, and I have read the full Editor's Note. While I can understand Kurt's truncation in his summary to provoke discussion, I wanted to point out the true meaning behind the magazine's ill begotten idea.

Jun 6th - 16:23pm | Davey J

I am vehemently against dropping ANY of the current parks in the NPS. They are all valuable in their on right. Also, the parks suggested aren't big budget drains as they already have all the infrastructure and some charge for tours and admittance (wind cave, and Carlsbad Caverns).

Jun 6th - 14:42pm | Rick Smith

The National Park System would be much poorer without DryTortugas NP. Not only does it contain some of the most pristine coral reefs in the nation, breeeding grounds for sea sea turtles and terns, and quantities of marine life, it also is home to a historic resource of considerable significance, Ft Jefferson, garrisoned during the Civil War by Union troops, and the prison cell of Dr.

Jun 6th - 11:32am | Rick B.

Anyone wanting to get rid of NPSA has never been there, and must operate on the "if I can't see it myself it must not be important". The National Park of American Samoa is incredibly beautiful and helps preserve not only the natural splendor, but also helps to respect and preserve the cultural fa'a Samoa of the islands. "Trading off" people, landscape, artifacts...

Jun 6th - 09:57am | Brad

I am torn but generally in favor of a Maine Woods park. I do not favor adding ANWR as a park. It is already protected as a refuge and so isolated, most people will never see it anyway. Plus, let's be realistic, we do need the resources there and to stop depending on other countries for our energy. No, solar & wind are not going to cut it. I am not going to stop driving to beautiful pla

Jun 6th - 09:39am | ecbuck

I would hate to see the 100 Mile Wilderness become a National Park. The current corridor is well protected by its Wilderness status and putting it in the park system would likely deteriorate rather than enhance this fabulous hiking experience. Similar thoughts on the Whites - which already have become overly commercial and controlled with their hut system.

Jun 6th - 08:58am | George

Glen Canyon will make a great national park, with boundaries expanded to include adjoining roadless areas now managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Some day Glen will be better known for its extraordinary wild lands than for the reservoir.

Jun 6th - 08:35am | Jan

Any new lands that can become protected are good! I especially would love to see ANWR protected from any type of interfernece with life there. I do not think it is neccesary to remove land from the NP lists, just keeping adding. "...oh give me land,land, lots of land..." something like that!

Jun 6th - 07:34am | Anonymous

What a dumb argument. They are only looking at the national "parks"? Why? Those 58 places are less than 15% of the areas in the National Park System. Are they suggesting they be maintained, but under a different title? Equally dumb since the Redwood Act and General Authorities Act make it clear that all areas in the National Park System are equal, regardless of title.

National Park Service Responds To Dancing In The Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Jun 7th - 13:17pm | Darris

/Dottie/ "Well, maybe the guy "didn't seem to be threatening any of the officers", but he sure as heck wasn't doing what the Ranger was telling him to do. There's gazillions of miles to go dance; they were there for the publicity and to behave as spoiled brats the way their parents taught them. "

Jun 7th - 12:32pm | Darris

"Those dancers are true activists. Media Benjamin, one of the arrestees, is one of the creators of Global Exchange and Code Pink. These are extremely leftist leaning organizations working for the overthrow of this country. She lived in Castro's Cuba for a while and described living under that regime as "Dying and Going to Heaven".

Jun 5th - 18:27pm | TyL

@Jeanne Barnett ... It was a link from one of the posters through the facebook page "Dance Party @ TJ's" http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150453268357946

Jun 5th - 17:21pm | Lee Dalton

Who are these people? What are they protesting and why? Help us understand what is behind all this.

Jun 5th - 15:41pm | Jeanne Barnett

Thank you! I did actually manage to find comp. coverage at http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/06/04/video-police-body-slam-and-arrest-dancers-at-lincoln-memorial/

Jun 5th - 15:05pm | TyL

@ Jeanne Barnett

Jun 5th - 09:51am | Jeanne Barnett

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others..." this quote from Thomas Jefferson himself says it all. The equal rights of all the people in the memorial at the time of this video were not being infringed upon in any way by the people who were "dancing". Even if the "dancers" did show up to make a statement, the PP

Jun 5th - 07:41am | Anonymous

I have never attended a protest and I'm no sort of extremist. I am a long-time, huge admirer of Thomas Jefferson. I attended the university he founded. I have read about his life over many years. Jefferson would not have approved of these arrests. The Jefferson Memorial is a tribute to the LIFE and WORKS of Jefferson, which embodied freedom of expression.

Jun 5th - 00:14am | Anonymous

Standard Police Doctrine, the use of force continuem. The officer is required to stay 1 level of force ahead of the people the are dealing with. You can hate it, but it best protects the officer and the bystanders from danger. If someone is refusing a command then you try to out talk them. If that fails then you use physical force (wrestling). If the suspect meets the wresting with their o

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Jun 7th - 12:06pm | Flex Barn

I have been on every mile on the NC Blue Ridge Parkway and am so luck to also live near it. The Asheville part is great but I am partial to the part of the Parkway near Boone and Blowing Rock. It goes next to Price Park, Grandfather Mountain, and the famous Linn Cove Viaduct.

Trail Ridge Road In Rocky Mountain National Park Finally Open

Jun 7th - 11:29am | Mellody

Kurt, Also there is a flood advisory in the area for Estes Park, Big Thompson Canyon and for the Poudre River. So, even though you say watch for fast moving waters, be prepared for flash flooding, and climb to safety.

Jun 7th - 11:09am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

Nevertheless, TRR's predecessor, Old Fall River Road, is likely still closed and snow-covered for quite some time. It's a trip not to be missed.

Calling All Pee Wee Rangers To the National Parks

Jun 7th - 10:54am | Anonymous

North Cascades National Park has excellent booklets for age 3-5 and 5-8, all very age appropriate!

Jun 6th - 21:01pm | Anonymous

We'll look for this program this summer, but our 3-yo has 6 Jr. Ranger badges (she has an older sister who participated also) - Park Rangers were always very supportive of both kids. The best benefit is that she is disgusted by litter and always wants to pick it up because she is a "Junion Ranger."

Jun 5th - 08:25am | Gaelyn

At Grand Canyon's North Rim we have a program for pre-Jr Rangers called "Brighty Kids" where we talk about predator/prey relationships and the kids use stamps to match the animal to a description. They earn a button.

Acadia National To Receive $1.7 Million From LWCF to Seal Deal On 39 Acres

Jun 7th - 08:57am | Kurt Repanshek

Sounds to me like a system that works to the benefit of all, Matt.

Jun 7th - 08:40am | samsdad1

Sounds like another example of a special interest group making money off the already poorly funded NPS!!!! This land should have been donated.

National Park Road Trip 2011: Zion Lodge

Jun 6th - 21:59pm | Anonymous

Finally took out the irregated yard. Finally.

When Did Dancing In The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Become A Crime?

Jun 6th - 20:35pm | Ron Saunders

What a great Country we live in. Our Founding Fathers would be proud. It provides everyone the right of Free Speech and Freedom to Peaceably Assemble. It also provides everyone the right to Express Stupidity. Nough Said.

Jun 6th - 10:41am | Anonymous

The rest of it is a court ruling that said that dancing is prohibited in the memorial even if done silently. Since the location is public property, not private property, it is imperitive that free speach and expression be upheld. The constitution could not be more clear on this and leaves NO grey area.

Jun 6th - 07:49am | Lee Dalton

That's only a very partial explanation. What's the rest of it?

Jun 5th - 20:04pm | Fatman

To Lee Dalton, Lee, it's about non violent freedom of expression! i.e. the First Amendment?

Jun 5th - 19:36pm | Fatman

I worked at GWU the year that MLK did his "Tent City" gig on the natioonal mall. I was there. There were a lot of people dancing. Now we have a national holiday to commemorate Martin. Chief C. and your minions, wake up, this is America!

Jun 5th - 17:20pm | Lee Dalton

Bridget or someone -- will someone please explain who these people are and what they are protesting? And why? What is behind all this?

Jun 5th - 12:26pm | Bridget Ulrich

KEEP ON DANCING! Next time I am in DC, which is regularly, I will be making a trip to dance my heart away, in silence of course! They oppress all of us- well I guess they could send us all to FEMA camps.

National Parks' Closure Being Highlighted In Congressional Budget Impasse

Jun 6th - 13:29pm | Anonymous

It sounds like the republocats need to stop funding the war and fund our national park service! Everyone is protesting in Wisconsin and we need to be standing tall outside of Exxon. Too much waste and abuse! We are all victims!

North Carolina Man Reportedly Thought it Would Be "Cool" To Carve His Name On Rock Art Panel At Glen Canyon NRA

Jun 6th - 09:02am | Anonymously-Yours

wow, now it's starting to sounds like a real witch hunt! Let's fine his relatives too for not teaching him properly... oh, and on that note, his school too! Aw, what the heck, fine the state of North Carolina too, for harboring this criminal!

Jun 6th - 07:47am | Anonymous

Do you think in 3000 years people will be trying to figure out the importance and meaning of "Trent" on the panel? I wonder if the hunters 3000 years ago were fined? Interesting.

By the Numbers: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Jun 5th - 18:54pm | Bob Janiskee

You're right about that road connection to Gustavus, toothdoctor, but it's not clear to me that visitors can use it to access the park. Here is what the park's website has to say about this (italics are mine):

Jun 5th - 18:22pm | toothdoctor

Bob, Your last "number" is zero for the number of roads in the Park. I thought that there was a road that connected from the Alaskan town of Gustavus; you'd fly in there and then reach the Park by taxi or bus, or at least that was what was once listed on their NPS website. Has this road been closed for some reason, and if so, why? Thanks.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, America's First Colony

Jun 5th - 18:43pm | Danny Bernstein

Dr. Bob J. reminded me that I should have said that Virginia Dare was the first English child to be born in the American colonies. He's right. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

National Park Road Trip 2011: Wawona Hotel In Yosemite National Park

Jun 5th - 15:36pm | Anonymous

In the summer, the Wawona has an great BBQ on its front lawn. Well worth enjoying whether you stay there or not.

Plowing Of Sun Road in Glacier National Park: One Step Forward, Two Back At Times

Jun 5th - 11:17am | Lee Dalton

All of us who enjoy our parks need to be sure that on every visit we thank those hardy folks who wear maintenance division uniforms. Thank them for keeping the parks safe and healthy for all of us.

National Park Road Trip 2011: Yosemite Valley

Jun 5th - 08:29am | Brad G.

Thanks for posting about your trip. I have been following the entire series and really do look forward to the next installment each day. Have a safe remainder of your journey and trip home to GA. We live in north GA so we're kind of neighbors.

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Jun 4th - 22:55pm | ronsgto

Im so sorry about your loss. There is no doubt there is danger in this hike and you have to be very cautious. My wife her sister husband and I hiked to Scouts landind and only my sister inlaw and myself went the rest of the way to the top. Yes it scarry and dangerous.You have to be so careful and for sure some are not. Saw one walk inches from the edge just to get by.

Pick Your Park At National Parks Traveler

Jun 4th - 16:26pm | Brad G.

Thank you for this! I look forward to checking them out now.

Should the Giant Sequoia National Monument be Transferred to the National Park Service?

Jun 4th - 15:19pm | y_p_w

Joel:

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