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Will Recent Storms in Death Valley National Park Fuel A Spring Bloom?

Feb 14th - 06:46am | Bob Janiskee

Kurt, your Death Valley article is very timely, given that the park just celebrated its 76th birthday this past Wednesday (February 11). Speaking of timely, it looks like my January 19-21 visit to DEVA was just in the nick of time, since roads have been closed now in many of the areas we visited.

Bush Administration's Haste Could Doom New Gun Rules In National Parks

Feb 14th - 00:53am | Anonymous

a bunch of you guys are idiots. the law abiding, licensed to carry, would be able to carry. the criminals and non-law abiding will still carry, if they want; so who has the advantage here? who's safe? i don't feel safer knowing the fbi, or cop, next to me, can't carry and the criminal who decides to rob the store, while he's there, or take a pot shot, will.

Feb 13th - 22:43pm | MH

How does the world look from your holy perch, B. Amstutz? I don't understand how owning a gun has anything to do with keeping me safe from a terrorist. Terrorist attacks occur in all kinds of countries, both those with very strict gun laws and those with very loose gun laws. I don't see how owning guns has anything to do with this.

Feb 13th - 22:23pm | Kirby Adams

I've never had any problem with people carrying guns, generally dislike the gun-control lobby, am well trained and licensed to carry myself, and would fully support concealed carry in the parks...

Feb 13th - 20:42pm | B. Amstutz

Just stating facts fontinalis. I'm not angry at all. As for protector, do you sleep good at night? If yes then I, and my other brothers in arms, are doing our job. You are welcome. As a friend and author wrote in his book "On Killing" you are just a sheep and we are the sheep dogs.

Feb 13th - 19:48pm | fontinalis

Nothing like an angry rant with a little ad hominem assault thrown in to engender confidence, eh?. I'm sure everyone fells much better knowing our new self-appointed protector, Amstutz, is on watch. Enjoy your next trip to the park, folks. Stay low.

Feb 13th - 18:19pm | B. Amstutz

You do all realize we, (CCDW) permit holders, carry all over the united states right now, right? And there already are thousands who do. What is so different about me carrying it in a NP? As for the training. You lump everyone into a non trained don't know caliber, etc, category. I myself am in the military. Infantry (door kicker/grunt) and have been for 13 years.

Feb 13th - 15:50pm | Eric

MHopper1000, wow, these comments have been pretty calm until now. I'm thinking people like you and your comments are part of the reason some don't want people like yourself to carry a weapon in the National Parks. Sounds to me like you don't like "Hippies", which I believe went out in the 70's anyway. I was on the fence about this subject until I read your comment.

Feb 13th - 15:26pm | Anonymous

"If you think terrorism is not likely to occur in national parks (and for the most part, I agree), ask yourself why the government has spent millions training NPS law enforcement offices in counter terrorism measures. Several NY national park officers responded to 9/11, and don't forget that the Statue of Liberty, a supposed terrorist target, is a NPS site.

Feb 13th - 15:15pm | Anonymous

"I have been sitting here wondering how my carrying a pistol while I am hiking in the boondocks in a national park has any enviromental impact. If I accidentally encounter a grizzly bear and am attacked, I should have the right to protect myself and my family." - LelandG

Feb 13th - 15:01pm | MH

While there are many silly comments here I won't bother responding to, there is one that I frequently that I simply cannot ignore this time: "If I accidentally encounter a grizzly bear and am attacked, I should have the right to protect myself and my family."

Feb 13th - 14:00pm | fontinalis

While I'd argue that there are very few ways in which 2nd Amendment rights can be legally limited, there are some, most especially with regard to "sensitive places such as schools and government buildings." Given that this is accepted by the Supreme Court (those words are from Justice Scalia, no infringer of gun rights, in his majority opinion designating DC's gun ban as unconstitutional), ho

Feb 13th - 13:56pm | MHopper1000

I personally don't care what Obama or the Brady Bunch say. Im gonna carry my gun wherever I want, whenever I want. As an American, I'm guaranteed the right. So all you disgusting hippies can know, try to convince the crackheads you've all let out of prison not to rob me. I've got something for them if they do. And I will carry my gun in a National Park.

Feb 13th - 11:33am | LelandG

I have been sitting here wondering how my carrying a pistol while I am hiking in the boondocks in a national park has any enviromental impact. If I accidentally encounter a grizzly bear and am attacked, I should have the right to protect myself and my family.

Feb 13th - 11:05am | Lee R

Obviously to protect ourselves from the hotbed of terrorism that occurs in national parks! ;) It's ironic that there have been attempts in the past to disarm park rangers in recent history because it was shown that the crime rate in parks was so minimal. Here is an article discussing it (there are other viewpoints out there)

Feb 13th - 10:54am | Lee R

Morons? lets be realistic. Both ends of the spectrum (NRA to the "Brady Bunch") have proven themselves to be hysterical, opportunistic, lying, and they misuse data. All special interest groups do it. That doesn't make it right, but it means that you have to be critical of all data sources.

Feb 13th - 09:41am | Anonymous

Yea, these zealots and their rules....I'm never without a gun, you never know when a crazed druggie or wild boar may corner you. I even shower with it duct-taped to my thigh.

Feb 13th - 09:41am | Anonymous

Why is it that Bush tried to shove this through at the 11th hour and skip all the required steps in the process?? Because it made no sense.

Feb 13th - 07:48am | Anonymous

Haven't seen many "terroists" in National Parks lately. I wonder where Mr. Williamson has been visiting.

Feb 13th - 07:21am | petcat

YES!!!!

Feb 13th - 03:33am | Chris

Sometimes you just have to wonder: Why would anybody want to carry a semiautomatic weapon while visiting a National Park? One can probably only hope that the procedural flaw will make it possible to overturn the rewrite...

Feb 12th - 22:37pm | Anonymous

I don't see any need to bring guns into our National Parks. What is the point?

Feb 12th - 20:46pm | ROBERT WILLIAMSON

What do we do if terriosts have guns and we do not??? Lets think about this before we give up our 2nd ammendment rights!!please use fire arms responcible and remember the life you save may be your own.

Feb 12th - 20:20pm | Anonymous

Morons. And the Brady Bunch has proven themselves to be the biggest bunch of hysterical, opportunistic, lying, misusers of data. Talk about a group that lives by promoting fear. So now, following my training and FBI background check, I have to unload and lock up my legal weapon, just to drive into a National park. That's just stupid.

Upon Further Review: Pocahontas meets Hollywood

Feb 13th - 17:04pm | DJ

I agree with the previous post...Often real history is more interesting and exciting than the Hollywood version...if it's done right.

Feb 13th - 06:38am | Anonymous

It's really sorry that Hollywood cannot get history right. Why is it they always have to put garbage into their films? Why can't they just make a movie with just the real facts? It's really too bad our children have to learn their history through films that don't portray real life as it was.

Super Volcano, The Ticking Time Bomb Beneath Yellowstone National Park

Feb 13th - 16:48pm | Ray Bane

Yellowstone is but one of many potential mega disasters that can and eventually will have global impacts. We live on a restless planet. Indeed, we would not live were it not for the fact that our world continues to be geologically and climatically active. Personally, I worry far more about the uncertainty of our economy and geopolitical issues than the stirrings of Yellowstone.

Feb 13th - 09:30am | Anonymous

where is the volcvano using absolute location?

Heavy Metals Detected in Wildlife of Cape Krusenstern National Monument

Feb 13th - 15:32pm | Anonymous

I'm kinda partial to "continued monitoring" for things like bacteria in peanut butter, mercury in the fish I eat, pretty much anything in the water I drink, particulates & spores in the air I breathe, etc.

Feb 13th - 13:55pm | J. Frankevich

The mine owner themselves have voluntarily spent millions (of their money, not yours) on studies, monitoring, and improved dust control measures. This in itself speaks volumes on the magnitude of this problem and the need to get the fugitive dust problem under control.

Feb 13th - 10:59am | Gerald

Oh crikey...here we go..."continued monitoring"...code for "we need gobs of taxpayer money to pad our wallets over sumthin' that we really know..nudge, nudge, *wink* *wink* doesn't merit attention." I'm gettin SO tired of this crap. Envirowackism is bankrupting us, while destroying the reputation of good science.

The World's Top Ten National Parks

Feb 13th - 10:31am | Ashley

Hi Rick, I didn't! But that would have been pretty serendipitous. If you do get a chance to check out Glaciares you should definitely take advantage. It is unbelievable. And if you can, take a quick flight down to Ushuaia and check out Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, too. Ruggedly beautiful.

Apparent Clumsiness Claims Life Of Famed Bull Elk In Yellowstone National Park

Feb 12th - 22:03pm | Anonymous

I am sure that he had crossed that fence dozens of times in the past. Perhaps he just wasn't as nimble as he used to be? Something I can relate to. In any case, I always thought this onery old guy would go down fighting. I ran into him in the back country a few years ago near Mammoth. He appeared at the top of a hill about a hundred yards away.

Feb 12th - 14:29pm | Betty H

I have enjoyed watching #6 also. He was a beautiful specimen. He will surely be missed especially next fall but he has left a number of offspring of us to enjoy.

Feb 11th - 23:44pm | jsmacdonald

I know I had seen that elk. What a sad end.

Rare Motion Pictures Show Civil War Veterans at the 75th Gettysburg Battle Anniversary Reunion

Feb 12th - 20:14pm | JimB

Bob - A fascinating piece of history that stemmed from an even larger historical event. Thanks for making us aware of this.

Feb 12th - 02:55am | Matthew3222

Thanks for the write-up of Gettysburg and the video footage. I remember visiting the battlefield as a kid and even then it moved me tremendously. Of course playing on Big and Little Roundtop was also a lot of fun. Went back as an adult and the effect was the same.

Feb 11th - 17:12pm | Bob Poore

To bad we don't do the same for our vets today. Very moving

Feb 11th - 16:30pm | Anonymous

Simply awesome! Most touching since this being the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. Thanks for sharing the precious films clips

Logan Pass Improvements Proposed at Glacier National Park

Feb 12th - 20:04pm | JimB

I've just scanned quickly through the EA for the project; it appears that they'll do what they can to minimize impacts on the main visitor season (including pre-assembling part of the structure off-site), but the very short time when this area is snow-free each year is a major limiting factor, and requires some work to go on all summer.

Feb 11th - 17:42pm | Perry

Wow. It's about time! The facilities at Logan Pass are barely better than some of the backcountry pit toilets! (just kidding, of course... well, at least the backcountry toilets have views from their seats)... Just found this site and really love it. Already bookmarked and will be making regular stops back.

Those Dogs Could Hunt! But Not in Glacier National Park

Feb 12th - 17:09pm | Anonymous

Could they not have a fine that is at least the cost of one piece of the high tech arsenal that these "hunters" use in their pursuit to kill an animal such as this.

NPCA, Congressman Issa Battle Over Propriety of Stimulus Funding for National Parks

Feb 12th - 15:04pm | Ray Bane

Well said.

Feb 12th - 09:09am | Rick Smith

I sent this to Rep. Issa yesterday: Dear Rep. Issa--

Feb 12th - 01:23am | Gerald

You go Darrell! Uh-huh. Little bit of conflict of interest, I would say...oh, Obey's a DEMOCRAT...they don't do such things! LOL. How Obey gets re-elected nobody in WI knows.

National Park Quiz 41: Lincolnalia

Feb 12th - 13:18pm | Anonymous

When I was in the NPS we used to joke about the number of Lincoln sites and refer to some of them by these shorthand names: Lincoln Natal, Lincoln Youth, Lincoln Adult, Lincoln Statue, Lincoln Face, Lincoln Speech, Lincoln Shot, and Lincoln Death.

Feb 12th - 09:25am | Bob Janiskee

Barky, as the grading key clearly states, seven correct answers is "pretty darn good." It's great that you're setting the bar high for yourself, but there's no reason to beat yourself up for a less than perfect performance. Anyway, it's time to psyche yourself up for next week's quiz, which just might possibly deal with rocks and minerals.

Feb 11th - 18:29pm | Barky

Bah, 7 out of 12. I should have done better than that. My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Zion National Park Shuttle System To Resume March 21

Feb 12th - 12:38pm | Marcia

When will the shuttle in Zion National Park start operating for 2009?

Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer

Feb 12th - 11:10am | Bob Janiskee

Good job, Jeff. Now that 16,000 Lincoln books have been written, it's getting kind of tough to know whether number 16,001 or 16,002 have anything new to tell us about this complex man. Your review of Kaplan's book encourages me to read it, and I thank you for that.

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.