| Page 1114 | National Parks Traveler

About Iraq, Kurt, when you look into who benefits by "Bush lied about Iraq" it was those politicians and their party that switched their positions afterwards. Almost everyone thought there WERE weapons of mass destruction, including the present Secretary of State. I don't think Bush is that good at lying, to his credit, lol! He'd look as guilty as Nixon did when he actually DID lie.

Apr 25th - 09:08am | Kurt Repanshek

Deceptive agenda? Doesn't that define the Iraq War? That aside, many politicians in recent history seem to bend events to suit their purposes.

Apr 25th - 08:54am | Reality Check

RE: Rick B

Apr 25th - 00:42am | Rick B.

Well, let's see. Ranger Eggle was killed in 2002. That would be under the Bush DOJ.

Apr 25th - 00:15am | Reality Check

Correction, it should be"OK, what is the administration/DOJ's foremost concern by suing the State of Arizona and siding with MEXICO (NOT ARIZONA) because they try and enforce the illegal immigration laws?

Apr 24th - 23:39pm | Reality Check

Sorry, correction. That's,"siding with MEXICO" against it's own citizens (Arizona). Thanks

Apr 24th - 18:25pm | Reality Check

OK, what is the administration/DOJ's foremost concern by suing Arizona and siding with Arizona against it's own citizens because they try and enforce the ILLEGAL immigration laws? Could it be they're fishing for Democratic voters to replace the voters disenchanted or more the case, horrified by the path we're on.

Apr 24th - 09:51am | Rick Smith

Kurt writes, "Whether Congressman Bishop is foremost concerned with border security, or sees the issue as a tool to undo some of the country's key environmental laws, is debateable." I personally don't think it is debatable. He is using the border issues as a way to get at the environmental laws he has long opposed. If that were not true, he would not be saying that "“It is exceptionally cle

Apr 24th - 08:28am | No border wall

Great post. Bishop is not concerned with border security. If he were, he would have listened to witnesses such as Ron Vitiello of the Border Patrol, who you quote. Instead, he berated and mocked the Border Patrol and listened to witnesses who had retired from the Border Patrol years ago, and who do not possess current knowledge about the situation.

Apr 24th - 07:07am | Leland22

Border security should be the Number One concern in this area. The ASA, WA, and NEPA should always be a concern but a minor issue that is overriden by National and Border security. I abhore the fact that 55% of Organ Tree National Monument is closed due to safety concerns. If any part the the US is not available to its citizens, then we have a real

War And Consequences: The American Indian Movement Vs. The National Park Service At Fort Laramie

Apr 25th - 16:50pm | Anonymous

As an avid visitor to NPS-managed forts and related historical sites, I am often miffed by what I perceive as narrowly-construed interpretation at most of the western forts. Fort Larned (in west-central Kansas, founded in 1859) comes to mind, where an inordinate focus seems to be on the day-to-day details of military life, uniforms, cannon types, building construction details, and so forth - w

Apr 25th - 15:55pm | Mellody

We should not be little what the park service or the park managers have done in the past with regards to Ft. Laramie. They gave a history of the west that was prevalent at the time, and what people wanted to see. Growing up I knew little of the Sioux Wars, not till I came west did I understand the importance of these wars.

Apr 25th - 15:34pm | S. Kane

First thing; this piece strikes me as nit picking. The facilities at the fort are great and go along way to bringing history alive for the lay public and inspiring the western military enthusiast.

Apr 25th - 15:17pm | S. Kane

A thought provoking article in the sense that history can't be all things to all people, all the time. I applaud the park for doing the work that they have--- and to diminish the current level of preservation is as short sighted as it gets.

Apr 25th - 12:18pm | Anonymous

It's sad and true what happened to the Native -American cultures. The story should be told. It is however the story of human civilization-- since the beginning one culture has taken over another-- either by force or assimulation. The Indian cultures did it to each other and some day it will happen to us. It's the human story-- just different cultures and different times.

Apr 25th - 12:02pm | Bob

I am very glad to see this article, and to see this issue being raised on NPT. As it turns out, I have a forthcoming article that raises similar concerns about Fort Davis NHS, and I'm in the middle of a project looking at other national park units in the West.

Apr 25th - 09:29am | Jill

When I visited Fort Laramie one very chilly and foggy day a few years ago, I came away with a completely different interpretation than this article would suggest. Very likely because I was the only visitor roaming the grounds? I started my day by watching a video at the visitor center, which emphasized the Native Americans and the results of the broken treaties. The displays at the visitor

Apr 25th - 08:25am | Reality Check

Wonderful piece Mr. Sellars. For me it depicts reality while attempting to not demonize those that came before us but to humanize the often dark side that every person (and nation) struggles with. I'll take reality :) Very good!

Latest Studies On Yellowstone National Park's Wolf Packs Shows Stable Population

Apr 25th - 15:16pm | Anonymous

Global warming is one component affecting elk survival. Constant movement to avoid predators decrease the amount of energy elk have for survival and reproduction. If you think about it as a budget, global warming decreases the energy income during spring and summer at the same time wolves increase energy costs during winter. One or the other does not break the energy bank, but both together

Apr 24th - 13:47pm | Jacqueline

Wolves were in yellowstone at one time until they were hunted to extinction within the park. Now after 70 years they are finally being brought back in to the park. I think its about time that they brought them back.

Scrimshaw Artworks Stolen From Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center

Apr 25th - 13:33pm | Anonymous

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion but what's the difference of harvesting an animal for it's bone or ivory as opposed to its meat other then a "philosophical" one?

Apr 25th - 09:06am | Anonymous

I agree with Bruce's comments on walrus, but much modern day scrimshaw is done on fossilized mammoth ivory which is dug out of the ground and is easily recognizable. Much contemporary scrimshaw is benign and the art form can continue without damage to present wildlife.

Apr 25th - 08:19am | Andrew Perkins

re: "New scrimshaw should be universally outlawed and shunned." While I agree that hunting any animal just for their tusks or "for old time's sake" is ridiculous, the art of scrimshaw can be and is practiced not only on or even "pre-embargo" ivory - ivory that was aquired before the CITEs treaty, but more and more on mammoth ivory - ivory from animals that died out 10,000+ years ago.

Apr 24th - 08:14am | Bruce

Actually, "These wonderful pieces of maritime art belong to" the long-dead walruses whose bones were used for carving and engraving. While I recognize the aesthetic and historic value of these artworks, I am also pleased that this barbarous practice has been "diminished." Unfortunately, the killing of walruses just for their tusks has not been entirely suppressed, however:

Can We Afford The America's Great Outdoors Initiative?

Apr 25th - 13:10pm | Bill

This initiative, and the "partnerships" division of the park service does nothing but suck money away from the maintenance backlog of the parks themselves. I volunteered with NPS staff on a few of these events, and saw what the "AGO initiative" really was - just a series of extremely expensive meetings and conferences in order to produce another long document that really just spells out what t

Former Seasonal Employee At Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sentenced For Killing Wildlife In Park

Apr 25th - 12:21pm | Anonymous

Seems like a light sentence to me

Construction Making It Tough To Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway This Summer

Apr 25th - 09:28am | Anonymous

The Parkway motor road is open except for that section mentioned above where the hisotric stonework is being rehabilitated, milepost 232.5-244.7. Seasonal openings of visitor centers, picnic areas and campgrounds can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Apr 25th - 04:31am | Anonymous

so when is the parkway going to open. thanks

Murder Suspect Rescued, Then Arrested, by Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park

Apr 25th - 04:03am | James Jacoby

Good job park rangers and rescue team, apprehending a violent murder suspect. You do not receive enough praise for the dangerous jobs you perform daily.

Legislation Would Add Official Wilderness To Olympic National Park, Transfer Acreage to Quileute Tribe

Apr 24th - 18:29pm | RodF

1) La Push does not flood during Quillayute River flood events. However, if a major subduction zone earthquake occurs (and it will, someday), a tsunami may arrive within 10 to 15 minutes, too short a time for complete evacuation.

Fort Sumter and Bull Run Stamps Will Lead Off Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemorative Series

Apr 24th - 08:23am | Marjorie

From "five myths about why the south seceded: http://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths-about-why-the-south-sec... 5. The South couldn’t have made it long as a slave society.

Apr 23rd - 11:02am | Keith

It is clear from the Declaration that South Carolina seceded because the Federal government and many Northern states were overreaching their bounds and were not following the US constitution. Yes, the primary identified concern was slavery; however, it called into question just how far the Federal government was willing to go on *any* issue (a question that remains to this day). The fact is t

How Stable Is The Future Of Isle Royale National Park's Wolf Population?

Apr 24th - 07:41am | george desort

Check out the film Fortunate WIlderness, the wolf and moose study of Isle Royale www.fortunatewilderness.com

Voices From a Drowned Treasure: The Music Temple Register

Apr 23rd - 20:22pm | Monkeywench

Another great book that touches on the dam era is Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. By the time I discovered this book as a teenager, Glen Canyon was already lost. It opened my eyes to the fact that our natural wonders mean nothing to the powers that be.

Apr 23rd - 11:12am | Mike Painter

Brower and Dominy went on their rafting trip together, the subject of McPhee's chapter in Archdruid, through the Grand Canyon, not Glen, after the dam was built.

Protecting the Sounds of Nature - Denali Aircraft Overflights Council is Making Progress

Apr 23rd - 19:35pm | jack kindt

The worse noise anyone could ever here in the BC, an airplane.. working in denali and hiking every weekend i started going to units north of the road instead because of all the noise pollution surrounding the alaska range. You would always know when it was 9 in the morning because if its a bit sunny a parade of air traffic would begin.

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

Apr 23rd - 12:09pm | y_p_w

Anonymous:

Apr 23rd - 02:40am | Anonymous

From a dog-lover point of view, I understand the frustration dog owners feel. However, I am from Europe and I am rather used to see dog dudu/cacca all over the place...I thought San Francisco would have been different.

Kicking Off National Park Week By Getting Dirty At Joshua Tree National Park

Apr 23rd - 10:45am | Clark

We've had a few posts on our family travel blog www.FamilyTrek.org this week about National Parks week. One of our followers shared your post with us on getting dirty in Joshua Tree and we included the link in a post wrapping up the week. We're just a few hours from Joshua Tree! We're going to have to take your story as a guide!

Showdown at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Apr 23rd - 10:36am | Legit

Rangers, Ranger. A Chief Ranger who fell on his sword for the resource, and was persecuted for it. There's hope for the NPS ranger afterall.

160 Acres Added To Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Apr 23rd - 10:08am | Jim O

Does anyone know if this was the land where the owner had put up a fence to keep you from completeing the Backbone Trail. I seam to remember that he wanted to develope the land, but the conservancy/county had stoped him and he was threatening all kinds of retribution. There was a mountain lion in the area that he was threating to kill if it was on his land.

Grizzly Bear Shot and Killed By Hikers In Denali National Park and Preserve

Apr 22nd - 23:56pm | Skip

This forum was awesome. I've read the extreme positions of both sides, and everywhere in between. I have been a hunter for 40 years, and will be in Alaska in month visiting Denali NP and other areas of Alaska probably including heavy bear populations. The question I have been waivering back and forth on, is should I or should I not bring my handgun.

Isle Royale National Park's Wolf Population Loses Two Packs, Moose Population Steady

Apr 22nd - 22:37pm | Jack Carter

Hello,,, What do you feel is the nunber of moose between Daisy Farm and Rock Harbor. I hope to visit the island 2 0r 3 times this year,,and bring some friends with me each time. Its truly a wonderfull place. I;m going to try to come up with some ideas to raise money for the park. I know you;ll put it to good use. Keep up the good work,,and take care of my moose.

Biscayne National Park Ready to Launch Maritime Heritage Trail Snorkeling Adventures

Apr 22nd - 21:29pm | MT Troy

This seems like a great addition to all of the history this park has to offer. I was recently at Biscayne National Park and this tour would have been a great addition to the experience. Another reason to go back. Snorkelers seem to like shipwrecks and to have one they can get to is great.

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