| Page 1107 | National Parks Traveler

Arvicru, Mesa Verde's a great park for families and kids. To get some ideas of what to do, check out the Traveler's Checklist contributing writer Bob Janiskee wrote: /2010/05/travelers-checklist-mesa-verde-national-park5845 It contains some excellent ideas. You might find these additional stories helpful as well:

May 12th - 22:56pm | arvicru

We will be traveling through Southwest Co. to AZ next week and have been referred to Mesa Verde. We have 3 kiddos, plan on spending at least one full day and would love to hear your experience/recommendations on the park and the best sites to visit.

May 12th - 18:11pm | MT Troy

Your article reminds me of my trip a year ago with my wife and 2 children when we basically drove this exact itenerary. We visited Mesa Verde in March last year. Being that early in the year Far View Lodge was closed but we did pull into the parking lot to catch the views as the snow was being removed.

May 12th - 08:09am | Donna Hull

I enjoyed your review of Far View Lodge. Mesa Verde is one national park that I haven't visited. It's good to know that you give the lodge and the dining experience a good rating.

State of Wyoming And One of Its Counties Again Seeking Permission To Sue Over Yellowstone National Park Snowmobile Limits

May 14th - 11:07am | Anonymous

It would be crime to stop the public from entering the park on snowmobiles in the winter. The chaos that ensues every summer from the enourmous amount of visitors doesnt compare to the amount of visiters on snowmobile in winter. If you are going to lessen impacts on the park, you would need to start with limiting the amount of car traffic in the summer and that would be totally against the "f

Mt. McKinley Climbing Accident In Denali National Park Leaves One Dead, Another Rescued At 19,500 Feet

May 14th - 07:30am | Anonymous

why are they there in the first place..putting a whole bunch of people at risk.sorry for the loss,could of been worse. if the park service grants these climers permission to climb,then they should consider the weather and other peoples risk of rescueing them..

May 14th - 06:33am | Anonymous

None of the climbers were US - dont know about the guide

May 13th - 22:31pm | Rick B.

A link was listed in a comment in the Anchorage Daily News, for a Mountain Trip release.

May 13th - 19:35pm | Anonymous

I read it was a Mountain Trip trip on another site, but I cannot confirm the veracity of this statement.

May 13th - 18:23pm | Anonymous

Best to call the company your sister was climbing with. I can tell you that it was not an RMI group, as I called them because my boyfriend is currently climbing with them. Best of luck to you.

May 13th - 09:20am | Kurt Repanshek

Park officials have not yet released the names of those involved.

May 13th - 08:54am | Bryan Reid

Looking to see if my sister is involved, she was part of the AMS 4/25 team

May 13th - 08:44am | Anonymous

Who is the guide and whom does he work for?

At New River Gorge National River, an Iconic Bridge Attracts Suicide Jumpers

May 14th - 04:37am | Kim

I'm imagining he chose to jump from this particular bridge because the jump is a long clear passageway, without injury on the way down. The parks don't always provide that advantage. (trees, etc.)

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

May 13th - 22:38pm | SaraP

addressing the comment, "Man, how can this state not have a national park?" The state has Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the New River Gorge National River (which also oversees the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River- although not technically a "park" designation)

Whale Carcass Leads To Closures at Glacier Bay National Park

May 13th - 19:17pm | Marvin Gardens

Wow! It's already 40 years since a dead whale made history in Oregon: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3452956983704611273#

May 13th - 18:30pm | Kurt Repanshek

Had me there for a minute, Barky. Thought my fingers might not have finished the command from the brain....;-)

May 13th - 16:59pm | Barky

Ha! I had to read this three times. I couldn't figure out how a whale carcass got to Glacier National Park. :-)

Reader Participation Day: Has The National Park Service Been Led Astray By Congress and Become A Catchall Agency?

May 13th - 13:47pm | RoadRanger

Travis, thank you for making my point.

May 13th - 13:12pm | tomp2

I work almost entirely on the natural resources side, but I think that cultural resources and cultural units are equally important in preserving our heritage for the enjoyment of this and future generations. However, what is valuable culturally and historically is much more contentious than what is valuable in terms of natural resources (CAHA notwithstanding).

May 13th - 02:22am | Travis

"Victim resources that separate Americans?" Perhaps the most ridiculous statement I've ever read. Does Manzanar NHS "separate Americans" by memorializing the astounding racial injustice perpetrated upon Japanese-Americans? Does Women's Rights NHP "separate Americans" by preserving the groundbreaking struggle of women to secure equal and full citizenship?

May 12th - 18:37pm | RoadRanger

Issues associated with the National Park Service are really no different than those found in the evolution of any idea or organization over time. There's no question the NPS began with a superb idea of the preservation and use of the nation's best natural and cultural gems.

May 11th - 21:50pm | Bill

Yes. Many of those in power positions in the NPS didn’t come from ranks of the service – they came directly from congressional internships, fellowships and policy ranks. The Washington and regional initiatives and external programs are where the power and money goes, because of these

May 11th - 20:45pm | Gaelyn

Have to agree with y_p_w. It's really about funding. The NPS mission will work to protect many places if it has the money to maintain the sites. Can't make a profit so have to rely on partnerships which perpetuates the development. I'd rather see local businesses profit around any NPS site than go to Vegas. But maybe someday Vegas will be a NP.

Pruning the Parks: Mackinac National Park (1875-1895)

May 13th - 12:30pm | y_p_w

The Yosemite Grant was in 1864, although that was where the Congress set aside the land and then handed it over to California. Many think of that as the inspiration for turning Yellowstone into a national park. Yellowstone was a bit easier to keep under federal control.

May 13th - 11:25am | Rob

But was even Yellowstone the first National Park. In the middle of the Mississippi between Illinois and Missouri sits Tower Rock.http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places-go/natural-areas/tower-rock

Florida Officials To Install Panther Detection System With Hopes of Slowing Road Kills

May 13th - 11:18am | Anonymous

i think it is so wrong, i think people should watch out for where they are going. there are not that many of these animals left as it is. I think that people should get fined if they kill one of these animals!

Update: Judge Rules Against Environmental Upgrades for Bridge Project in Congaree National Park

May 12th - 22:57pm | Ron Saunders

Kurt, Response well taken. However, Is this a situation of what we would like to doioh as opposed to what we can afford. The article paints a picture. Is there another side to this story. There often is. I still stand by my statement concerning environmental groups and EAs. I do not include NPS in this group. Their politics are completely different. I'll not go there.

May 12th - 13:25pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ron, the Park Service always listed an "environmentally preferrable alternative." It's required to under the National Environmental Policy Act.

May 12th - 13:07pm | Ron Saunders

Questions: Was the bridge and road before or after the park? Is there ever an adequate EA that does not state exactly what the Enviromental groups want it to? What does the SCDOT have to say as to why yhey want to just make repairs to the causeway? Was there a public comment and response period concerning this action and was the NPS satisfied with the results?

May 12th - 10:40am | justinh

That is disappointing. Last week I visited Congaree NP for the first time, and had an amazing time. Paddled Cedar Creek from Bannister's Bridge to the second oxbow lake past Cedar Creek landing. Then, hiked the King Snake Trail. Great trees and wildlife. And great rangers and volunteers--one of my favorite parks. (Okay, so I'm a pretty off-topic here.)

May 12th - 08:28am | Brad

Not sure how I feel about this. On the surface it sounds bad, but it may be more damaging to build new bridges than to just repair the current causeways. Can't they put culverts for water flow? I'm betting something is already there for that.

Walking Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Part 2

May 12th - 16:39pm | Danny Bernstein

Hi Ron: Thanks for your good words. No, we never saw a piping plover. They are rare. Danny

May 12th - 09:03am | Ron Saunders

Well Done. Would be curious to know if you ever got to see your Piping Plover? As many of us understand it, only a Biologist or NPS folks get to see them. Good Luck on your future endevours, Ron (obxguys)

Does Today's Technology Offer A Better Connection, Or A Disconnect, To Enjoying National Parks?

May 12th - 16:14pm | Reality Check

Interesting that there is now a new cell tower 400 yards from the South Rim to enable the cell phone tours and now cell phones can get a signal deep into the Canyon at many spots. Where is the Sierra Club on this? There is just so much BS involved in todays discussions on the environment and such. Eventually most all will have to realize what all this is doing and it's not good.

Walking Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Part 1

May 12th - 11:16am | Bodie Island Resort

Danny-Having grown up on the Banks and then moving back recently from the mountains (wife is from Brevard,NC-land of the waterfalls), I can really relate to your article as a fellow hiker of both mountains and sea. Walking for long periods on soft sand is appealing in thought, especially with the beach scenary, but it gets taxing on the legs after about 5 miles.

May 11th - 22:12pm | Jan

These photos look amazing! The coast looks beautiful!

May 11th - 21:52pm | Lee Dalton

Great article, Danny. Thanks.

May 11th - 20:39pm | Ron Saunders

Hats off to you. You are undoubtedly a real trooper. Hatteras can be very demanding. Perhaps that is part of what makes it continually draw one to it. It's one of those places that becomes somewhat mystical if you let it. I believe you understand that. And it means many different things to so many different people.

Yellowstone National Park Officials Slowly Setting Corralled Bison Free

May 12th - 09:48am | Aaron Lund

"Good news! At least it appears that way.....can never tell with the agencies making decisions about the bison."

Is There Good News, Or Bad News, To Relate Concerning the Florida Panther?

May 12th - 09:48am | Clearwater Real...

The Florida panther are a great resource and asset to the state of Floridas natural resources. Unfortunately the population has been so decimated that we who have lived in Florida our entire lives have, for the most part, never seen one. I hope one day to see one of the tremendous creatures in the wild but I fear that that dream will go unfulfilled.

Discounted Campsites On the Way in June to Mark 'National Great Outdoors Month'

May 11th - 21:29pm | Lee Dalton

Sorry, Stormy. I didn't mean to offend. (I actually switched from a tent to a small trailer last year. Old achy bones.) I was just trying to point out the disconnect between what seems like a growing number of affluent Americans and the outdoors. Those poor folks just don't know how much they are missing.

May 11th - 20:00pm | Lone Hiker

Easy Stormy, nobody is picking on you simply because you RV. But I've spent way too much time camping across the nation to fall for that "most campers spend a great deal of time outdoors" line.

May 11th - 17:10pm | stormy

my goodness, such vitriol against those of us who RV. Many of us with medical conditions travel in RVs as the easiest way to travel and, yes, our windows DO open. Most RVers spend a great deal of time outdoors sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying the parks that belong to ALL of us, no matter how we get there or how we camp.

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