| Page 1420 | National Parks Traveler

Beamis, Is it after 5 p.m. where you are? I think you're reaching with your latest comments. More isn't necessarily the merrier. Indeed, from where the Traveler is sitting, the NPS has more than enough on its plate right now. That's been our view for quite some time, and I reiterated it in the post above.

Mar 16th - 15:58pm | MRC

According to the Earth Lodge Historic Structure Report from 2005 http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/ocmu/ocmu_earthlodge_hsr... its reconstruction in the 1930s and the subsequent activities were faulty and while the lodge is spectacular for the visitors it is not historically accurate.

Mar 16th - 11:58am | Jude

I hate this movement to change monuments to parks. We now have Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park. The monument designation made sense for those two parks, but the names were changed for political reasons. If we're going to negate the monument designation, then we'd might as well rename them all.

National Park Quiz 45: Green

Mar 16th - 16:27pm | Rick Smith

It does count for something. It is, in fact, one of the most amazing wildlife displays in the whole National Park System. What is equally amazing is that there are often more than 500 visitors who attend this nightly show.

Mar 16th - 15:48pm | Bob Janiskee

Well, Rick, I did sit in that little amphitheater at the natural entrance and watch about a gazillion Mexican free-tail bats fly out at dusk to forage for mosquitoes and such. That should count for something, right?

Mar 16th - 15:44pm | Rick Smith

Bob-- If you only saw the Big Room via the elevator, it's time for you to go back to the park. You must walk down to the Big Room via the main entrance. It's stunning! Rick Smith

Mar 16th - 14:29pm | Bob Janiskee

John: I forgot to mention to mention that I've already seen your fine park. I was with that University of South Carolina tour group that came through in July 1985 -- the ones who arrived almost too late to catch the last elevator of the day down to the Big Room.

Mar 15th - 22:08pm | JimB

John - Thanks for the suggestion! Wish I'd thought of the Green Lake Room myself. Based on the number Bob assigned to your comment, it looks like he's a bit backlogged, but maybe we can encourage him to get out to Carlsbad :-)

Mar 15th - 19:33pm | Bob Janiskee

John, we have referred your remark to our Complaint Department, where I'm confident it will get all the attention that it deserves. Be sure to let us know if you don't get a reply within six weeks. Refer to complaint #031509-10363.

Mar 15th - 13:57pm | John Benjamin

A major bungle on your part: you missed the Green Lake Room in Carlsbad Caverns National Park! Shame on you! You need to get down here and see this fabulous park! John

Congressman Seeks Stimulus Funds For Restoration Work at Gateway National Recreation Area

Mar 16th - 15:25pm | Anonymous

.... last September a federal appellate court in New Jersey upheld a lower court's opinion that the Park Service was within its rights to lease the buildings.

Believe it or Not, Yosemite National Park Once had a Zoo

Mar 16th - 06:00am | Bob Janiskee

Grinnel wasn't wrong, and neither are the stewards of today's National Park System. National parks preserve habitat, enabling visitors to encounter animals and birds in their "natural" surroundings and watch them interact with each other. Holding wild animals in captivity for the entertainment of visitors is a practice that falls far, far outside the national park mission.

Mar 16th - 02:08am | David Sharpness

Grinnel was wrong. The Zoo was a good idea, but likely failed because of a circus like atmosphere...there's a small Zoo in Merced...see blog page....the mandate of the Parks is to provide education about wilderness...and they haven't much nowadays to display wildlife...except the stuffed dusty critters over in the Wilderness Center...small Zoos fill a niche that needs filling. David

Glen Canyon NRA Releases EA on Castle Rock Cut Deepening

Mar 15th - 22:28pm | Phil Hurst

I am a firm believer in leaving as much of the earth in a natural state as possible(without a viable biosphere we are all toast). If the dam were not there I would be lobbying to stop it. But the dam is there. The lake is unnatural, but it is also one of the wonders of the world! The damage is done! Enjoy what we have, the lake is amazing.

The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers

Mar 15th - 18:08pm | Marylander

My husband likes to buy these books and give them to my parents, just to see their reactions and hear the debate. The very word "families" is where the 1st problem of this book began, because the needs of a family with a 6th month old baby are dramatically different than those with teenagers. This book has big problems before even opening the cover.

National Park Service Ban on Lead Ammo, Fishing Gear Draws Ire of Shooting Sports Foundation

Mar 15th - 12:50pm | HightechParks

I don't see the public or the system fightin' all that hard "to protect the long-term viability of our parks".

Mar 15th - 10:25am | RAH

The anti lead ammo agenda has been growing. It started from some legitimate concerns, like lead concentration in water from waterfowl hunting. The condor study was another legitimate concern.

Mar 14th - 13:42pm | Mark W

My problem with this one size fits all approach. If we have a problem with condors, address it. Most people are sensable on these issues. If there is PROVEN problem, most people will agree something needs to be done. I read the study and I believe there are holes in it. It was worded to make you think that the data was conclusive, it is not.

Mar 14th - 11:23am | HightechParks

The parks should be in control of activities within their boarders that contribute to the deterioration of the park setting. However, all the while, they must balance that need with the need to attract, educate, and fulfill visitor needs.

Mar 14th - 05:19am | volpe

It seems to me whenever non gun-owners get into bed with the bureaucracy the rules will change and we can expect a ban on chewing gum in the near future. Why are some people so narrow minded. And no wonder when some people stray in an effort to do good they go off the chart and are preceived as nuts.

Mar 13th - 20:23pm | Anonymous2

Yeah, that one makes sense, let's ban autos.... Right. Now how's that for making the parks a)figure out how to move people are using shuttles (aka spend money that NPS doesn't have) and/or b)essentially banning most people from the parks/making them inaccessible for a large percentage of the population.

Mar 13th - 14:13pm | Anonymous

I'll jump on the no automobiles bandwagon. they're noisy, they smell, they pollute the air. Ban them from all parks. It would only make the parks a better place.

Mar 13th - 13:16pm | MRC

@Frank C. - But the detrimental effect of cars is well accepted and therefore each and every change in the existing road systems needs a full blown EIS (environmental impact study).

Mar 13th - 09:46am | Bob Janiskee

I like levity as much as the next guy, Mark, but when you equate a very toxic substance like lead to chewing gum, well, that's just not the least bit funny.

Mar 13th - 09:27am | MARK W

"I'd say the agency is correct to err on the side of caution." That is the problem right there. If we are going to do that, than all vehicle's should be banned from National parks. We don't know how much oil and anti freeze is leaking from vehicle's as they drive through or sit in a parking spot or camp ground, but we do know it happens. So let's error on the side of caution.

Mar 12th - 18:28pm | Anonymous

It seems to me that whenever natural resource science "threatens" the gun-owners they start talking about hidden agendas. Why are they all such spoiled brats about everything? And they wonder why non gun-owners seem to perceive them as seperationist gun nuts....

Mar 12th - 18:07pm | Rick Smith

People, remember here that the NPS said that IT was going lead-free. It did not say that in areas where hunting is legal that visitors would have to go lead-free. Let's not over read this thing. Rick Smith

Mar 12th - 16:54pm | Kurt Repanshek

That's certainly an obvious and tempting question, Eric....which is why I didn't bring it up in the original post;-) Maybe it's a backdoor way to conduct weapons checks in the parks and ban those with lead, or at least remove the bullets!

Mar 12th - 16:50pm | Eric

I may be opening a can of worms here, but, how will this translate to the carrying a concealed weapon in Nat. Parks? Will everyone who carries have to switch to ammo other than lead? What would happen if they were caught with lead ammo in a concealed weapon in a Nat. Park? Just feul for thought, have at it.

Mar 12th - 15:32pm | JimB

There is some good research to support this action. Here are a few highlights:

Mar 12th - 15:14pm | Bill R

The buzzards at the Pinnacles National Momument have to be trapped every two years (at taxpayers expense) and have their stomachs pumped becauce they eat anything and everything. and that's why they are nearly extinct. I live in Hollister, don't hunt anymore, would like to, copper bullets are a joke, game run off to die. Lead is a poison .... agreeded.

Mar 12th - 14:27pm | volpe

In many states it is a law that you have to wear a seat belt while driving. If I don't who am I harming other than myself? I'm not a public safty hazard, and I don't think it's anyone's business if I wear one. How do laws like that get started?

Mar 12th - 12:40pm | MRC

The vast majority of losses to the Californian Condors in Pinnacles National Monument, California is due to lead poisoning. Hunters in the vicinity of the park shoot game but don't recover it or leave parts of the carcasses in the wild. It is not enough to ban lead ammo from the parks, it should be phased out everywhere.

Mar 12th - 08:07am | My Oh My

If we spent one dime on researching the environmental impact bullets or sinkers cause in our National Parks then we have too much money!!!...and as we all know, the country does not have money for stuff like this. This is the most ridiculous policy a bureaucrat could think of. Eliminating lead caused by bullets or sinkers in NP's will not enhance or clean the environment.

Campgrounds Opening This Weekend In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mar 15th - 10:31am | RAH

Since these are the popular parks and they will have the most interest. Since there is no staff to visit all the parks and post stories I think we are lucky to have the informative articles. I like know about the new amenities and lunches and horseback riding and the camps. Thanks for the article.

Mar 14th - 13:18pm | J. Paul

I think it is great that hikers and backpackers will be able to get food and drink at LeConte. This will be most welcome to folks that do LeConte in a day. I am sure that backpackers that are passing through will appreciate it too.

Mar 13th - 13:29pm | Craig W.

Kurt, Thanks for the reminder! I camped at Cosby last year. Absolutely loved it there!

Mar 13th - 10:16am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, I suppose you could look at it that way, Rangertoo, but I don't think it's as one- or two-sided as you make it out to be.

Mar 13th - 07:50am | Rangertoo

Good grief. Another Great Smoky Mountains Story? Are you their PR person or something. 15 stories on the front page and 4 on the Smokies. In fact, it seems most stories are Smokies, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, or Olympic with a few smatterings of other sites thrown in from time to time. How many of the 391 areas have never had a top story?

Why, sea horses, of course!

Mar 15th - 10:09am | RAH

Been to Assateague many times and camped there. The mosquitoes are very bad. The horses are very friendly they check out campgrounds and steal food regularly. The come up to be petted and do not bite and kick, unlike thouroughbreds. These horse are extremely good natured. They have patterns like at 5 pm they go to the beaches and if they find food.

Philatelists Rejoice: New Stamps Honoring Zion and Grand Teton National Parks On The Way

Mar 13th - 22:59pm | Anonymous

I was a National Park ranger at Grand Teton National Park and that picture is a popular one and will make a beautiful stamp!

Book Review: Let's Go See:All 50! -- Visiting the 50 States Journal

Mar 13th - 00:29am | Steve's son Zack

Way to go dad, keep on trucking

Echoes of the Cold War in the Tropical Warmth of Everglades National Park

Mar 12th - 18:20pm | Charles D. Cart...

Kurt, The Nike Hercules missile site in Everglades National Park (A Battery 2nd Missile Battalion 52nd Air Defense Artillery) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places July 2006. The complex of 22 exisiting buildings were evaluated and considered worthy due to the historical military significance and cultural impact on America.

The Monkey Wrench Gang: Coming to a Theater Near You?

Mar 12th - 17:59pm | Clawman

Robert Duvall as Doc and Dennehy as the Bishop seems more apt to me. Woody Harrelson IS Hayduke; we will accept no other and will Crazy Glue your car doors and cut yer fences if you don't agree. No compromise in defence of MWG!

Interior Secretary Salazar Upholds Delisting of Gray Wolves in Part of Yellowstone Ecosystem

Mar 12th - 12:32pm | MRC

It is perfectly fine to delist a specie when the protective measures had the effect that it isn't endangered anymore. This is what happened with the wolf in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. There are now way over 1000 individuals, more than 100 reproducing females. It is a huge success story. Of reintroduction into the wild and of the Endangered Species Act.

House Fails to Pass Massive Lands Bill That Would Have Aided National Park System

Mar 12th - 10:20am | Bugsyshallfall

On a lighter note, parts of the massive land omibus bill were just passed as parts of the budget omibus bill

This Hike at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Took a Nasty Turn

Mar 12th - 08:06am | Anonymous

Hummm... if the parkees followed their tracks through the snow into the thicket wonder why the hikers didn't just back track their way out? Locals call these thickets "laural hells" for a reason. Still must have been a huge tree these "experienced" day hikers had to go around.

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