| Page 1138 | National Parks Traveler

Kurt, I'm asking if you would allow me to post the following letter I received describing how their Canyon (Mule) adventure produced significant "breakthroughs." Could this be what the tone of the article is searching to achieve? I apologize for the length but not for it's content:). I asked and received permission to submit it.

Feb 21st - 09:50am | Arthur

How can afford to not invest in our National Parks? The $8 billion maintenance backlog is a result poor decision-making in years past!

Traveler's View: No Professional Bike Racing At Colorado National Monument

Feb 21st - 10:31am | Jan C.

I agree 100% with Kurt. No commercial uses for our National Monuments or National Parks should ever be on the agenda. These beautiful, fragile National Monuments and Parks belong to all the people, all the time. Naming a bike race after a sub sandwich shop is a bit much in any case. I live in Colorado and you can be sure that Udall and Hickenlooper are hearing from me.

Feb 21st - 10:02am | Chris E

This (the unexpected closure of a park I was visiting) has actually happened to me. I was visiting Salem Maritime NHS in Massachusetts on July 4th but couldn't access most facilities because a private company was setting up for the town's fireworks display.

Feb 21st - 09:05am | Kurt Repanshek

Ecbuck, I think there are a number of inherent conflicts with this proposal, beginning with the need to close the monument for at least 12 hours to the general public to stage a bike race.

Feb 21st - 08:48am | ecbuck

Kurt, I get from the article that you are against the race going through the Monument but I can't really tell why. Is it solely the conceptual conflict of a commercial activity in that area? The 12 hour closure? How many people would that actually affect? Or is there some fear of permanent damage. If the latter, what damage caused how?

Feb 21st - 08:30am | L Scott G

Sounds like a great way to bring attention to the awesome parks we have in the US. Trade-off.

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

Feb 21st - 09:14am | Anonymous

Drive safely in Yellowstone this summer folks. Your chances of being injured are much greater in an auto accident than having a bear encounter. To the 30 hour of training guy....just bring the bear spray and you will be fine.

Feb 21st - 08:54am | Anonymous

people thinking about going into the woods there are wild animals in there that is their home not yours be respectfull i have enconterd many bears in the woods on many ocasions the young males are always going to want to find out what you are if a bear has ever been harmed by a person it may hurt you that is commin sence if some one hurts your dog it won't fogett it and may bite that person or

Feb 21st - 08:11am | Anonymous

I think this is a joke i lived where bear a all around my home and not once did they atempted to harm me or my family i did not feed them and did not alow others on my property just to look at them man create the problem man have alway created the problem with animal that park is for the animals you are a guest in their home not vise versa when some one strange comes into our home we watch them

Arches National Park Taking Input on Proposed Climbing Management Plan

Feb 21st - 08:38am | Kurt Repanshek

Adam, As I noted above, I seem to recall photos showing that ropes he used to climb/descend Delicate Arch left grooves in the sandstone. Imagine that multiplied by 10, or 1000.

Feb 20th - 21:01pm | Adam Baxter

I am a climber and therefore biased to some degree. I also work for the NPS (not arches) and am all about resource protection. Ive also been an outward bound instructor and climbing guide. Could someone explain to me what was wrong with Deans actions in regards to the Resource? He climbed the Arch without use of a rope (i.e. he free soloed it). He didnt drill any bolts.

Feb 20th - 20:31pm | CandiceH

Just leave it alone. I have a real problem with this sentence: "Anyone who has visited Arches and walked any of its trails can see the enticing opportunities for climbing, bouldering, and canyoneering that abound. And that's the problem." That is NOT a problem. The area has been used for climbing, bouldering, canyoneering and hiking for ages.

Feb 19th - 09:28am | Kurt Repanshek

Chris, I think one of the main problems with your approach is the damage that unrestricted climbing can do to some areas of the park. If I recall correctly, Mr. Potter's foray with Delicate Arch left some grooves in the top of the arch from his ropes.

Feb 18th - 21:18pm | Tory Davis

I feel like this is a pretty simple issue, and my two cents essentially amount to leaving things as they are. You don't blame every hiker for the idiot that throws a beer can on the ground, you educate hikers about the leave no trace principles which probably 80-90% of us already live by. I feel like climbing should be treated just like hiking.

Feb 18th - 20:59pm | Chris Hunter

I personally think that once you pave roads, build campgrounds, dig pit toilets and dynamite paths on easy hikes to get to certain places (ie: Delicate Arch) you can't restrict only certain user groups.

Forest Fire Closes Portion of Skyline Drive, Hiking Trails in Shenandoah National Park

Feb 21st - 06:40am | Matt Stubbs

Had a friend who was in a group Saturday that was told to evacuate. He told me they awoke to an increasing fog of smoke and by the time they were leaving you could barely see or breathe.

Feb 20th - 16:05pm | Linda

I saw this fire today and thought it was too high on the mountain to be a "controlled burn". Have seen 2 other road side brush fires this weekend between Charlottesville and Winchester VA. Have also been noticing how many old dead trees are out here. We also had high winds this weekend. Good luck to those out there trying to control this fire.

Ranger Confidential, Living, Working, and Dying In the National Parks

Feb 21st - 00:24am | Brett Holt

"* Highly placed rangers who, when angered, throw tantrums, throw safety helmets, kick medical kits, smack fellow rangers in the head with paddles, and yet .. "if you found yourself severely injured in an impossible place during impossible conditions, Keith Lober was the kind of asshole ranger you wanted dropping down a rope to see you."

Public Comment Opens On Whether to Allow Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park

Feb 20th - 17:48pm | Green

Your right, Mr. Valarde about the clean energy. The Chinese would likewise the business. All that stymulous "investment", US manufacturing can't compete so they're laying people off and the Chinese are taking over. Look a little closer at what you read and what you hear. Respectfully

Feb 20th - 14:16pm | david velarde jr

I can't believe companies want to mine uranium around the Grand Canyon. I have ask those that support uranium mining around the Grand Canyon, what if a tailings spill happened similar to the spill that occurred near Gallup on the Rio Puerco river in the late eighties or nineties? Whom would be most affected?

Feb 20th - 11:36am | Reality Checker

Members If only you knew:).

Feb 20th - 11:19am | Me

It's funny how some folks see only that gash called Granite Gorge in the earth, there is so much more to Grand Canyon National Park...

Feb 20th - 09:00am | Reality Checker

Many of these groups including NPS im many cases have destroyed their credibility. The public comment process is just a legal formality and highly deceptive. Present mining restrictions on public land are highly restrictive at present.

America's Great Outdoors Report Touches On Possible Additions To Roster of National Monuments

Feb 20th - 17:40pm | Cornell

The President will need Congressional approval for designation of any National Monuments in Wyoming and Alaska. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiquities_Act

Feb 20th - 12:48pm | Anonymous

No matter how worthy of such designations these sites may have, the telling fact is that the NPS doesn't receive nearly enough funds to manage what's already on their plate. And the current scarcity of funds available to the government makes it likely that these funds will be cut. The Clinton administration went willy-nilly designating site after site, some with questionable motives.

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Feb 20th - 14:40pm | Rick

Wow what a thread! I have to say I agree with you, if bear spray is so effective why do Fish and Game carry Remington 870's with Bear slugs. Hey I live up hear in Alaska where there are big animals that can kill you. Bear spray is a good tool but for me I carry either a 870 Remington or a 45-70 with a 44 mag. My shotgun is loaded and I can release 3 rounds very fast.

Updated: Budgeting At Grand Canyon National Park Is Not Always As Simple As You Might Think

Feb 20th - 14:03pm | Anonymous

Xanterra should just stay with Hotels where they might belong, not with Mule rides, they should just find a way to hand over the rides to some very experiences hands and let them take over that part of there concession, and stay out of it, and keeping NPS pollatics out of the issue, and I think there should be some very strong over site to keep the NPS from getting to head strong and to restric

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

Feb 20th - 07:28am | Aggnonymous

Ron, I've witnessed the change myself with the infiltration of NPS, BLM, NFS, NWS and in many cases co-conspiring with the major environmental groups ie, Sierra Club, Nature Conservatory and the like.

Feb 19th - 21:09pm | ron mackie

Interesting article, I support the new NPS Director in his efforts. Must agree, however, with anonymous, more priority must be given to the park visitor. When I attended the NPS Ranger Academy in Grand Canyon in 1966, we were taught that the park resource, the park employee and the park visitor were equal and inseperable.

Feb 19th - 19:31pm | Anonymous

Just going down the list I see the visitors are on the end of the line. How significant is that. Seems like there is a rash of altered science, misleading and false presentation of public comments submitted during the EA process's to present a false image and to guide the pre-determined outcomes.

Feb 19th - 17:01pm | Anonymous

Mr. Jarvis,

Doug Hubbard, Former Chief Naturalist at Yosemite National Park, Passes at 92

Feb 20th - 03:35am | R Stefancik

I can't help but wonder if he played a role in the recent expansion and remodeling of the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Nimitz's home town. BTW, that is an outstanding museum of the Pacific War with a Japanese Peace Garden that is not to be missed. For the record, my parents have old 12 mm? film of one of those firefalls off Galcier Point.

Feb 19th - 12:58pm | Anonymous

I'm sure Chief Hubbard is now conversing and comparing notes with the old naturalist ranger Carl Sharsmith. Both leave a great legacy to the National Parks and will be greatly missed.

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

Feb 19th - 19:47pm | Anonymous

YPW

Feb 19th - 17:17pm | y_p_w

I certainly understand some of the frustration. It's difficult to own a large dog in San Francisco. If I were to adopt another dog, I feel fortunate that I would find many open spaces available in the East Bay Regional Park District, including the best off-leash area in the Bay Area in Point Isabel.

Traveler's View: The National Park Service Failed Its Mission With Plan For Addition Lands at Big Cypress National Preserve

Feb 19th - 18:38pm | Chief Bushyhead

Glad to see this site take the side of the Great Spirit over the side of the Great Father.

Updated: National Park Service Budget Would Grow by $138 Million Under President's FY12 Proposal

Feb 19th - 13:25pm | R Harris

I and my wife have visited over 70% of our National Parks (NP) over the last 50 years or so. First, just sleeping on cots in the open air, then in tents. Later, as our income improved, we began using travel trailers and currently are planning a month long visit to Theordore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota, taking in all the adjacent parks on the way.

Feb 19th - 13:09pm | Anonymous

Hey Michael, I wish we were in proximity. A beer summit would be especially interesting...and fun. The best part of this, while there're diverse opinions, reality eventually raises it's head above the scholarly debates.

Feb 19th - 10:58am | Michael Kellett

Hi Anonymous (not verified),

Feb 18th - 22:10pm | Anonymous

Sorry, I didn't look any farther that finding out who was on the committee. I knew what the outcome would be:). Respectfully

Arizona Officials Planning Shooting Range Near Walnut Canyon National Monument

Feb 19th - 13:25pm | Anonymous

A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED NORTHERN ARIZONA SHOOTING RANGE February 2011 • The search for a Northern AZ Shooting Range site has been ongoing for 15+ years. • Previous potential sites have been resisted by NIMBYs and/or rejected for valid reasons by the AZ Game & Fish Department (AZGFD).

Natchez Trace Parkway is Rehabbing the Meriwether Lewis Site

Feb 19th - 11:44am | Anonymous

I am sorry to see the old style restrooms at Meriwether Lewis be torn down. The new "improved" restrooms have inadequate ventilation and are always damp inside. The high ceiling make them impossible to heat in winter. There was no consideration of the historical value of the old style "National Park / CCC" era rest rooms.

Trickle of Documents Highlights National Park Service's Mistakes In Hubbell Trading Post Investigation

Feb 19th - 08:27am | Anonymous

RE: Liz Maybe to the bottom of why this sort of thing happens and a correction of the problem, in the best sense, occurs.

Feb 18th - 20:25pm | Liz Ross

This network may lead to some interesting places.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument Turns 100 on Sunday

Feb 19th - 05:15am | Bob Janiskee

Barry: According to a reference library source, the Rainbow Bridge register books were initially "housed in the archives at Lake Powell [sic] National Recreation Area headquarters at Wahweap." Where they are

Feb 19th - 00:06am | Barry Herlihy

In 1957 when I was 18 I was privileged to visit Rainbow Bridge with my parents and John Aubouchon, then the superintendent of the Monument. He had come to Rainbow Lodge with an Indian crew to help the owners sift through the ruins of the Lodge which had burned to the ground several days earlier.

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