| Page 1165 | National Parks Traveler

I still can't believe what happened to Marissa. I wasn't a close friend but I had been in classes with her for 3 years and talked to her often in class. She was a very sweet person and would befriend just about anyone. It still makes me very sad when I think about her. It was really devastating because of who she was and the fact that she was the first person I had ever known to pass away.

Reader Participation Day: How Would You Cut the National Park Service's Budget?

Dec 15th - 23:51pm | RoadRanger

Where to cut the NPS budget? My spouse and I have almost 60 years of service in parks and central offices, so we have some basis for an opinion. Start with the Washington Office, then consider reducing the number of regional offices from seven to five. Some positions will need to go to the field in larger parks where they can support operations in smaller nearby parks.

Dec 15th - 22:10pm | Adam

The Senior Pass is a giveaway, particularly with the Baby Boom generation retiring. Individuals in this group may retire earlier and live longer than any previous group of seniors. Senior discounts may have seemed like a good idea back when seniors were poorer than the rest of population, but I don't think that's the case now.

Dec 15th - 20:44pm | Mike Painter

It's interesting that no one has come up with any suggestions for how to cut the budget, which is what the question asked.

Dec 15th - 19:28pm | Megaera

Find a loophole in the law or regulation or whatever it is that keeps the park service from charging entrance fees to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That alone would raise some significant money, and right a serious wrong, IMHO.

Dec 15th - 18:04pm | Anonymous

Hate to say it but i little better marketing wouldnt hurt.. cant rely on pbs to do it all.

Dec 15th - 15:38pm | Anonymous

I would start with charge backs for search and rescues.

Dec 15th - 12:29pm | pkrnger

In many respects, the NPS' budget has already hit rock bottom. Perhaps a better question is not how to cut more, but at what point will further cuts warrant closing a park because reduced staff cannot provide the needed services to protect and preserve park resources? I look forward to a time of peace and a recovered economy.

Dec 15th - 10:32am | Gaelyn

JLA is right. Currently NPS has to rely on donations and partners for "extra" revenue. Staff can help educate the public about the difference and encourage participation. But only if there is staff.

Dec 15th - 08:59am | JLA

For raising fees to have any significant impact, the law regarding fee revenue utilization would need to be changed. Currently fee revenues can only be used to cover the costs related to collecting the fees and specific types of maintenance and resource projects.

Dec 15th - 07:57am | Bob Janiskee

Saying that it's inappropriate to reduce park entrance fees for seniors because seniors are "the wealthiest segment of American society" is a troublesome statement on several counts. For one thing, the incidence of poverty among the elderly is only slightly lower than in younger age groups.

Dec 15th - 07:03am | Bob

Agreed, I don't mind the fees. People pay $70/day per person for Disney World, a few bucks for a park shouldn't hurt most of us. If the parks had weekly free days, as many museums do, they'd remain open to those people for whom money is tight.

Dec 15th - 06:12am | Barky

Take a look at the fees. It costs money to run these parks, to keep the visitors safe, to protect & preserve (or even restore) the environment and historical buildings & artifacts, and to provide interpretation & guides. Nothing is free. We need to acknowledge that fact and act responsibly by paying equitable fees to access these national treasures.

Miserable Weather Makes for Tough Climbing Rescue in Yosemite National Park

Dec 15th - 22:47pm | Marty Koch

I may agree with you Destroyerman if the climbers in question had done something stupid. A falling 200 pound rock had decided, after millions of years of clinging to the wall, to fall. This is an unavoidable incident. The weather turned bad, as I read it, long after the climb would have concluded were it not for a once in a million years rock fall.

Dec 15th - 20:22pm | G. Gacia

What a great job these people do during these kinds of rescues. I don't climb or anything like that, however, I enjoy the parks as a visitor and appreciate having them available to those who may get into a difficult situation.

Dec 15th - 18:34pm | destroyerman

maybe the climers should have to pay the rescusers,i cannot understand why people put theirselfs in such positions..and put rescue in a bad situations,there should be some kind of plan in place to not allow climing in certain months,;and the rescued should have to pay for their rescue.thank you.

Dec 15th - 12:43pm | Keeper

As a person that has benefited from the expertise and professionalism by both Helicopter Pilots with night vision and Ranger Todd Seliga at GCNP/Phantom Ranch in the early morning darkness, I have nothing but gratitude and respect for what they do. They do a great job but have to say this wouldn't have happened if they had been riding mules, LOLOL! Rock On

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agrees Wolverines Need ESA Protection, But They'll Have to Wait

Dec 15th - 21:29pm | Keeper

Did Salazar give any reasons? It's puzzling to me!

Dec 15th - 17:30pm | Anonymous

Days after endorsing the killing of more wolves, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has added the wolverine to his hit list in the war on endangered species.

Dec 14th - 20:37pm | Teri Travis

Wolverines need protect Now! Furthermore, Alaskan wolverines also need Protection!

Dec 14th - 17:29pm | Ranger

Please clarify that this decision applies to wolverines in the contiguous 48 states, not in Alaska, and that there are wolverine populations further to the north, not just in the areas listed in paragraph 4. Also, thanks for providing a link to the press release.

Dec 14th - 17:26pm | Critter supporter

You want to see how hard it would be to remove all the people on the John Muir Trail in the Sierras? The way it is now Wolverines can't live there. An analogy:

Dec 14th - 16:54pm | Nem

That is so wrong. They know the wolverines are in danger, why the hell can't they take action now??

Dec 14th - 15:17pm | Joan M

No wildlife should have to wait to be protected/saved or helped. They deserve more than the illegals get in this country. When are the people that run this country going to wake up and smell the trees.

Dec 14th - 12:27pm | Critter supporter

Just wondering if there might be something to investigate why Wolverines have disappeared from the Sierra Nevadas that might conflict with the idea that climate change is the culprit.

Study Says Half Dome Permit System In Yosemite National Park Apparently Does Not Enhance Overall Hiker Safety

Dec 15th - 20:26pm | Anonymous

I'm not sure that a permit system is the best solution. However, if a permit system is going to be used then some sort of fee structure makes a lot of sense.

Dec 15th - 20:20pm | Anonymous

Did you talk to any of the people who were denied the experience because they could not get a permit? Did you talk to the people who planned appropriately on non permit days and were able to have a perfectly wonderful experience?

Piping Plover Production Up At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Dec 15th - 16:45pm | Ryan

I would like to know more about the NPS killing all other animals to protect the plovers, is this documented anywhere? Does the park have a written policy to destroy predators, or is this one incident that we do not know all the details about? Thank you.

Dec 15th - 12:33pm | Dr. West

Wonder why the piping plovers and turtles had such a great 2010 in Hatteras? The Atlantic Ocean around the Outer Banks region was about as quiet as it could be this year. Ask any kite boarder or longtime OBX surfer. No wave action equals zero over wash.....period! Don't believe them. Check out the REAL SCIENCE at the Duck Research Pier in Duck, N.C. Once your on the site, click on wave height.

Mission

Dec 15th - 13:19pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thanks so much for your kind words, Lana. We try, and some days it's a bigger struggle than others.

Dec 15th - 13:09pm | Lana

I just want to say thank you so much for such a wonderful site. I've been following this blog for at least a few years and am always so impressed with the depth of the content. Accurate information and stunning images make for a great resource on our national treasures.

Scuba Diver Dies at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Dec 15th - 13:02pm | Lana

This is tragic. My heartfelt condolences to the family and all of those who were involved in this incident.

National Park Mystery Spot 19: Up and Down They Go

Dec 15th - 11:27am | Bob Janiskee

The answer is the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Eric was the first to identify the park (and he later came up with the exact spot), but Sue Ross was the first to supply the correct answer in its entirety. Several others, as you can see, correctly identified the park without nailing the spot within the park. Good job, ya'll.

Dec 15th - 09:59am | Eric

While I may be too late to be the first, I will amend my previous answer to add "Dune Climb" at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Dec 15th - 09:25am | Arthur

Just a guess--Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Dec 15th - 09:11am | Sue Ross

Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan - Spot is The Dune Climb. http://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm

Dec 15th - 08:42am | o2bkayakin

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Dec 15th - 06:30am | Bob Janiskee

If you want to claim a victory here, you need to provide the entire answer, not just part of it. As is our custom, we'll embargo the answer for a while.

Dec 15th - 06:21am | Eric

Sleeping Bear dunes National Lakeshore

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin Hanging Up His Hat

Dec 15th - 08:52am | Core Opserator

In confirmation of the last paragraph of Casey's response (it's spot on in it's entirety), in conversations with NPS project lead, I said that she and Martin MUST know what their proposals lead to. In letter after letter to NPS during the public input "process', LOL, some of their proposals aren't possible due to safety issues. How much they've listened is predictable, particularly Martin.

Dec 14th - 20:19pm | Casey Murph

In response to the earlier comment, that individual who is so full of praise for Steve Martin for kicking the mules off the Kaibab, ill say this.

Shelton Johnson Honored As National Park Service's Top Interpreter

Dec 14th - 21:50pm | Jane S

What an eloquent spokesperson for the parks. I love people who are passionate about their work. Bravo, Mr. Johnson, let you light shine.

Mike Snyder, Intermountain Regional Director for the National Park Service, Opts for Retirement

Dec 14th - 21:38pm | Core Opserator

For a minute there I thought you were talking about Xanterra. All to familiar but then with Xanterra they've penciled out short timers are better for the bottom line while I was told by NPS Manager they don't care how much it costs.

Dec 14th - 20:34pm | Curious Mind

So who is in charge of oversight concerning NPS and does simply retiring avoid any possible criminal action?

Big Cypress National Preserve Gains 29,000 Acres From State of Florida

Dec 14th - 12:48pm | Matt Schwartz

Actually, this deal was supposed to happen last September. The State of Florida delayed the decision until they were sure that state lands would not later become designated federal wilderness. The National Park Service's decision (released the day before Thanksgiving) to open up the Big Cypress Addition Lands to 130 miles of off-road vehicle trails seems to have satisfied their concerns.

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