You are here

Home

All Recent Comments

National Park Quiz 38: African Americans

Feb 23rd - 12:27pm | Denny in Dayton

12. The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park does not just consist of the Wright Cycle Company complex and other sites associated with the Wright Brothers. It also includes the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial. This memorial, which is operated by the Ohio Historical Society, preserves the home of a renowned African American a. aviator b. musician and painter

National Park Mystery Plant 1: Will This “Lime-Green Cancer” Derail Everglades Restoration?

Feb 23rd - 12:11pm | RAH

As I try to clear vines and honeysuckle from overgrown gardens and cut down treees that have grown up I recall that Leif Erickson wanted to call this land " Vineland" I think that is very appropiate. It is an exhausting struggle to clear vines and this seems to a similar situation.

Why is Clear-cutting Allowed in Japan's Iconic Park, Daisetsuzan?

Feb 23rd - 11:53am | HightechParks

I was able to find an official website that seems to show a protection plan and a use plan.

Feb 23rd - 11:32am | HightechParks

I surely wouldn't stand for seeing this in any US park. But, there are other models of parks where logging may be an appropriate. One example is based off of the Biosphere Reserve .

What Would Wildlife Say About Concealed Carry in National Parks?

Feb 23rd - 11:30am | RAH

I do also Bryan. the past evidence in NF and the states have been so far good. No one wants what you fear. The primary difference is that most people equate guns and criminals and since criminals do bad things with guns that bleeds over into fear what decent people will do. But guns are just a tool used for ill or good.

Feb 23rd - 10:39am | Bryan

I truly hope that you are right RAH.

Feb 23rd - 10:16am | RAH

Good for you Red Mountain Rob. May you never have to use the weapon against any predator human or animal. Remember bears may be armed and cougars get hungry. With your fire they can get a lot more than a quarter pounder. Many days of nicly cooked meat.

Feb 23rd - 09:29am | Red Mountain Rob

Red Mountain Rob I've just recently had to come to face this issue in my own life. I have hiked many a mile, climbed most of the 14'ers in Colorado and not once carried gun while hiking. But things in my life have changed, I'm older, retired, my health is not what it once was, moved to a new area and no longer think I can get myself out of most any jam by my wits.

Feb 23rd - 08:56am | RAH

First of all, the premise that the public is irresponsible is not one I accept. If that was true then we should not rule ourselves but rather have rulers imposed on us like divine kings.

Feb 23rd - 07:11am | Bryan

Folks, I think the bottom line here is that in general, the public is irresponsible. Adding guns to our peaceful National Parks will just add violence. Anyone can argue about the few "drug dealers" or anyone who disobeys laws that will ultimately carry weapons in the NPS may/will rob and/or murder others.

Feb 23rd - 06:29am | DD-393

Bears shoot in the woods? You mean I had it wrong all these years?

Feb 23rd - 03:24am | Vince G

Actually, if more people were armed, then animals would be afraid of people and stay away from them like they used to rather than thinking that they are unarmed prey like the Mt. Tamalpais lady. Oh, that's right! People were more worried about the orphaned cats than the orphaned kids.

Feb 23rd - 00:06am | Lee

Nobody can predict bear behavior (especially over a long period of time). However, it is possible to read their behavior in a way that will help a person predict their next move. I am not talking "horse whisperer" reading, but bear experts can tell you if a bear is acting aggressive or is unconcerned.

Feb 22nd - 21:27pm | Bill R.

A very thoughtful response. Common sense sholud rule. CCW permit holders are not just gun owners or registered gun owners. They have gone the extra mile for some training (though minor) and a back ground check to make sure they are not convicted felons.

Feb 22nd - 20:59pm | Amstutz

Kurt,

Feb 22nd - 19:49pm | Anonymous

Well Lee, we will see if your belief is correct or mine. Time will tell. I do not beleive that more deaths of wildlife will occur from CCW holders than happened before without considering many were carrying without the legal sanction.

Feb 22nd - 18:33pm | Bill Wade

As an old friend of mine used to say: "Wolves don't vote, piping plovers don't lobby, and ginseng doesn't contribute to political candidates...unfortunately!! Bill Wade Chair, Executive Council Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

Feb 22nd - 16:50pm | Anonymous

"What about "controlled" burns? Doesn't this activity kill lots of animals in the name of "ecosystem management" ? What about the seemingly arbitrary decision to let a forest fire "burn itself out" ? Depending on the time of year these ghastly infernos can burn through a lot of wildlife."- Beamis Controlled burns don't often kill wildlife. See:

Feb 22nd - 16:49pm | Rick Smith

I vote we give gun topics a rest on NPT. We aren't ever going to agree, and it is getting a bit tedious to read the same old points over and over. Rick Smith

Feb 22nd - 16:14pm | Lee

The majority of people who visit national parks cannot read a bear. That is why Grand Teton and other parks do things like the Wildlife Brigade.

Feb 22nd - 15:33pm | RAH

Kurt your humorous post has more comments than most so I think it was sucess. Of course those who are opposed and those for CCW in parks have passionate feelings about the issue, that is why posts on these subjects gather so many comments. I think most of us enjoyed the humor. It was a nice light touch.

Feb 22nd - 12:20pm | JimB

A nice touch of levity on this topic, Kurt - it was worth a try:-)

Feb 22nd - 12:01pm | Fred Miller

Thanks for trying Kurt :) This worn-out argument could use a little smile now and then.

Feb 22nd - 11:46am | RAH

I do not claim original credit for my "Right to Arm Bears" That is a title to a book published by Baen books. It was just appropiate to the picture.

Feb 22nd - 11:40am | Kurt Repanshek

Sigh, so much for trying to bring a little levity to this worn-out topic. Perhaps it is time to take on the roads and all those killer cars, trucks and buses. At least then we'd know for sure what was driving the decline in national park visitation!

Feb 22nd - 11:24am | Bill R.

Great topic and I'm glad it's come up again. First of all anti-gun people refuse to accept the fact that not just anyone can carry a handgun into a National Park and when they do, it cannot be into a concession area or park office.

Feb 22nd - 08:37am | Anonymous

Camper shot by bear who found drug dealer's hand gun left on ground in the National Park... oh this is good, what a storiy for the media.

Tredegar Ironworks: A Civil War Icon Preserved at Richmond National Battlefield Park

Feb 23rd - 11:05am | Bob Janiskee

Nice article, dapster. Makes me want to go back to Richmond and take a closer look. I'm very interested in the American Civil War Center Museum. You only mentioned it in passing, so I have to ask; is it worth a special trip?

Secretary Salazar Calls for Review Of Gun Rules in National Parks

Feb 23rd - 10:08am | RAH

I may be a wildlife biologist or ethnologist. You do not know. I asked questions and thanked you for the links. As I said east coast NPS park info does not warn about charges and we only have black bears. I have traveled the back country for 40 years and have never met a bear in a hostile encounter. I have seen their scat and heard them at night while backpacking.

Feb 23rd - 08:52am | MRC

So you have become a wildlife biologist or an ethologist by now? Please don't interpret the facts, just accept them in the first place. Bluff charges are real, they happen much more often than real charges and not only bears use them.

How Will Stimulus Help the Parks? At Great Sand Dunes National Park It Could Mean Reclamation and Restoration

Feb 23rd - 08:47am | Red Mountain Rob

Red Mountain Rob

Freeze On New Regs Could Impact Efforts to Expand Mountain Biking in National Parks

Feb 23rd - 07:34am | toothdoctor

Dubbya, I mean Zebulon,

Feb 22nd - 23:52pm | Zebulon

Toothdoctor, what a lame argument. Bikers need to get over it because they impact the trail! 1) the science does not back your claim, and 2) why are horses allowed since they destroy the trails more than any other user? Another poorly thought out contrived argument to justify the unjustifiable. Funny.

Feb 22nd - 20:41pm | imtnbke

Tooth Doctor, I appreciate your reply and understand your points. I know that many will regard comparing basic civil rights for racial minorities to mountain bike access in the national parks as a poor or even insulting comparison. (I'm not saying that you're reacting that strongly, but others no doubt would.)

Feb 22nd - 19:35pm | toothdoctor

imtnbke,

Feb 22nd - 18:27pm | imtnbke

Ah, Tooth Doctor . . . know ye not our country's social history? For your sniping at Zebulon has a long and unfortunate pedigree in the context of excluding social groups. Many were the people who told Rosa Parks to accept her place at the back of the bus. A few of them even were black.

Feb 22nd - 16:37pm | Zebulon

Toothdoctor: you must be a one of a kind. ;) Frankly, I'll summarize your arguments: it's the law, deal with it... I'm sure you can do better. Just because the law discriminates against a category of users does not make the law right. I have yet to see anybody come up with a logical argument as to why bikes should be banned.

Feb 22nd - 10:00am | toothdoctor

Is it just me or is anyone else getting tired of all these special interests raising a ruckus crying out, "What about me!?!” Whether it be natural resource extraction (oil & gas, coal, etc.), snowmobiling, or in this case mountain biking, in and around our National Parks, it appears that no one will be happy until they all have their short-sighted wants & needs met.

NPCA, PEER Voice Concerns Over Proposed Mountain Bike Rule Change In National Parks

Feb 22nd - 22:45pm | Anonymous

odd-even? are you kidding me? that's something that heavily used urban interface trails under take for things like dogs on leash or mountain bikes/no mountain bikes... how would this play out in the short visitation season in yellowstone?

Feb 22nd - 21:32pm | Zebulon

So, if I understand well, national parks are special and therefore bikes should be kept out (same argument for wilderness). There is obviously no logical link whatsoever. Lee, I admire your wishful thinking, but one has to be realistic. If we want the future generation to come back to the parks, we are going to have to adapt to them. Young kids aren't hiking, but they sure are biking.

Feb 22nd - 21:11pm | Kurt Repanshek

IMTN, I'm certainly willing to keep an open mind, and have readily pointed to many parks where there already are mountain bike opportunities, and even shared trail efforts (Mammoth Cave). But I've yet to be convinced that we should just lump national parks along with other public lands and treat them as such.

Feb 22nd - 20:47pm | imtnbke

I think this is an excellent dialogue. I wish we could all meet sometime and hash these issues out in a way that might bring about change in trail management in the national parks. There's a lot of wisdom in these posts.

Feb 22nd - 18:49pm | HightechParks

The truth is that a growing number of people can't seem to escape their couch. Zebulon

Feb 22nd - 16:46pm | Zebulon

I've seen my share of trails destroyed by hiker bad behavior. Kurt, your basic argument is that preserving national parks for future generations and allowing mountain biking is somehow mutually exclusive but offer no good explanation for it, other than bringing the fact that some bikers don't know how to behave. BFD.

Feb 22nd - 13:53pm | Mark E

Here in Colorado, we have many real-world scenarios for observing the relative impacts of hiking and biking. Many trails that are popular with both groups have sections that are close to bikes because of Wilderness designations -- the Colorado trail is the best-known example.

Feb 22nd - 11:33am | Kurt Repanshek

IMTN, re: "No one I know of has offered, with similar convincing detail, a kindred personal account about being displaced or forced to hike radically damaged trails because of bicycles. Moreover, the available science runs counter to Anonymous's assertion that mountain biking damages trails more than hiking."

Spammers Are Targeting National Parks Traveler

Feb 22nd - 20:07pm | Fred Miller

Kurt, once again I thank you for running this blog. I hate to hear that the NPT has been spammed. Regular followers will always know that any "trash talk" did NOT come from this enjoyable and informative website. Hopefully we can keep any future attacks to a bare minimum.

Coal-Fired Plants Obscuring National Park Vistas

Feb 22nd - 19:57pm | Pompey Road

We get some of the blue haze in the distance when we look several ridges over up here in East Kentucky. Visibility is not our problem, what you see sometimes is disturbing to view. Mountain Top Removal is destroying our beautiful portion of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Singer Dolly Parton Named Ambassador for Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Anniversary

Feb 22nd - 17:03pm | Anonymous

Yes! She is fantastic and can talk with anybody in any situation. Extremely intelligent but has some fun with the county blonde routine! She has many jewels in her crown of achievments. I especially love the way she provides employment for the people in her area and apologize for mis-spelling Sevierville. We all up here in E.Ky make the pilgrimage down to Gatlinburg and of course DollyWood.

Feb 22nd - 09:52am | Bob Janiskee

Larry, did you see Dolly on "Larry King Live" a few days ago? She was great.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.