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Interior Officials Planning To Make It Easier for Mountain Bikers to Gain Backcountry Access in Parks

Dec 26th - 18:50pm | NC rider

This is not complicated.... Hikers, horses and bikers can get along IF, ... 1) The trails are designed properly on proper soils. 2) The overall density of visitors is meets visitor's expectations. 3) All visitors respect one another.

The AARP Seven-Tip List for Economical National Park Visiting is One Tip Short

Dec 26th - 14:47pm | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, Claire. I didn't address the seasonality issue because I assumed that seniors would be using these tips for travel throughout 2009. I think that's what the author had in mind.

Dec 26th - 14:42pm | ClaireWalter

Some of these "tips" are unhelpful in light of many parks' intense seasonality. Re. Stay in the park; in-park rooms are often cheaper: "Often" does not mean "always." Not having to drive in and out of a park DOES save gas and wear-and-tear on the vehicle. AARP didn't mention that.

Dec 23rd - 17:44pm | Bob Janiskee

Darn it, Ken. Now you've gone and ruined my dinner. All I can think about is that trout! :(

Dec 23rd - 17:00pm | Ken

The cafeteria at Yosemite Lodge has a great Trout dinner with veggies for about $7. HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT!

Dec 23rd - 13:54pm | Random Walker

Blessed are the senior retirees! So many times within and around many of Our National Parks have they given this scruffy backpacking scrambler a ride, a beer, fed me, shared the warmth of their fire, let me use the shower in their room etc. Thank You!

Going to Denali Next Summer? It's Not Too Soon to Make Some Essential Reservations

Dec 26th - 11:00am | JimB

MRC - A good question, and one which may be a bit hard to answer, given uncertainty about how much the economy may impact travel to distant locations such as Denali next year. Perhaps some of our readers are Denali veterans, and will offer some suggestions. If I'm able to get some opinions from the park on your question, I'll post them here.

Dec 26th - 07:12am | MRC

Happy holidays to the team and all the readers of the Traveler!

Video: Wal-Mart's Super Center Plans Draw Opposition From Generals Lee and Grant

Dec 26th - 10:26am | Omar Quadivich

My good freind Delegate Mark Cole of Spotsylvania does a fine job portraying Ulysses S. Grant and protecting his district. Semper Fi Omar

The Interior Building in Washington, D.C. Gets a "Green Roof"

Dec 26th - 08:55am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, Kirby, for pointing out that the people designing, building, and maintaining green roofs are not idiots, and should not be expected to ignore the obvious. Criticism of green roofs is typically rooted in a very shallow appreciation for human ingenuity and ability to learn from experience. Green roofs are here to stay, and thank goodness for that.

Dec 26th - 08:36am | Kirby Adams

Speaking of fads, I realize it's en vogue to ridicule any attempt to steer the status quo toward more environmentally friendly practices, but the unfortunate facts are that green roof technology is constantly improving, learning from its mistakes, and showing some real benefits.

Dec 25th - 19:47pm | Roger

LOL. You expounded upon this nonsense much better than I did, Ted! Another example of "green" idiocy! When are many enviros gonna realize there is no free lunch?

Who's Being Mentioned For Director of the National Park Service?

Dec 25th - 19:38pm | Roger

I like Michael Finley. But your rumor about the reason he retired is bunk. He's not that weak.

Dec 25th - 13:39pm | Anonymous

Are nominations being accepted? I nominate Gayle Hazelwood. Editor's note: Who is Gayle? Read this article for some insights.

Black Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Dec 25th - 18:07pm | Anonymous

They did the right thing in killing the bear if he harmed a child and showed aggression toward the Rangers. Anywhere you the put the bear, he could have easily been in contact with people again. I'm glad they didn't give the bear another chance to harm or kill someone.

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Dec 25th - 14:40pm | Roman

This is a ridiculous discussion. Close down dangerous trails? Yes if there are too many crazy people killing themselves by mere oversized self-overestimation. That is a phenomenon I found so often in the US. People who do not know what they do think they can do everything. I found this also in US citizens in areas like Nepal. They think they just can challenge and press the good fortune.

Dec 25th - 14:39pm | Roman

This is a ridiculous discussion. Close down dangerous trails? Yes if there are too many crazy people killing themselves by mere oversized self-overestimation. That is a phenomenon I found so often in the US. People who do not know what they do think they can do everything. I found this also in US citizens in areas like Nepal. They think they just can challenge and press the good fortune.

Comment Period Reopens on Whether National Park Visitors Can Arm Themselves

Dec 25th - 12:57pm | Rey Nunez Miami, FL.

i have been a gun owner for over 4 years now and have had my permit for close to one. i thankfully have never had to pull or discharge my firearm for any reason except in the range. thank god. i carry my gun with me everywhere i go except work, i'm not allowed to by law i'm a teacher, therefore, i cant have it on school grounds nor in my car.

When You Really Want A Park To Yourself, Consider Capitol Reef National Park

Dec 24th - 21:18pm | Bogator

My wife and I discovered this beautiful park last year in October. We had been in Moab visiting Arches and Canyonlands and we wanted to go next to Bryce Canyon. When I researched ways between the two areas, I found Utah 12, A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.

Elk Population Growing at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Dec 24th - 21:06pm | Zebulon

I don't know for sure, but basically mountain lions are all over the bay area. I also saw this: http://www.bahiker.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=4&topic=47 The good news is that the big cats don't see us as prey... usually. :)

Dec 24th - 14:53pm | Bob Janiskee

Zebulon: I want to emphasize that the "$3,000 per animal" I mentioned is a recollection. I am virtually certain I read that in a report, but I didn't go back and check. BTW, Almost every time I visit the the Bay Area, my hosts take me to Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County for a long hike up and down those rolling hills.

Dec 24th - 13:30pm | Zebulon

$3,000 per animal x 150 animals = $450,000!! Sounds pricey to me, especially since the NPS could probably auction off the right to hunt those deers and actually make money off of it. Then again, I'm more of a numbers guy by trade, and I remember going hunting with my dad when I was a teenager.

Dec 24th - 10:08am | JimB

Here's another successful elk reintroduction program that started adjacent to a park; it's now established a herd at the Buffalo National River:

Dec 24th - 08:59am | Bob Janiskee

Ted: Archery (and crossbow?) hunts are least objectionable in terms of noise control and hazard reduction, but animal rights activists and many others insist that using arrows or crossbow bolts to dispatch large animals is inhumane.

Dec 24th - 08:52am | Rick Smith

Ted--- Check the history of Channel Islands. There have been various campaigns to eliminate exotic species on the islands. Don't forget the burros of Grand Canyon. The granddaddy of all such programs goes on at the Galapagos. Rick Smith

Dec 24th - 08:27am | Ted Clayton

MRC,

Dec 24th - 08:04am | Bob Janiskee

Zebulon, the figure I saw quoted for contraceptive control was $3,000 per animal. That strikes me as being on the very low side, since it (conveniently) doesn't take into account the federal subsidies over the years for research and development. It also doesn't take into account a number of risk factors under the general title of "unintended consequences."

Dec 24th - 07:56am | Bob Janiskee

There is plenty of precedent for sport hunting in National Seashores (not to mention National Lakeshores). For example, Cumberland Island National Seashore annually schedules six archery and primitive weapons (black powder rifle) hunts for white-tailed deer and feral hogs, and waterfowl hunting has been a popular activity at Cape Lookout National seashore for many years.

Dec 24th - 03:44am | MRC

Hunting to control and exterminate the population of non-native species has been done a number of times in national parks and even in wilderness areas. Not too far from Point Reyes National Seashore, in Pinnacles National Monument and the Pinnacles Wilderness all feral pigs were killed after the completion of a fence around the whole monument in 2003.

Dec 23rd - 21:18pm | Ted Clayton

Hunting in Parks? It is being ... I think the word is, "agonized" over by various Park administrations.

Dec 23rd - 20:13pm | Kurt Repanshek

What?!? Kill deer in a national park?!?!?! Ahem.

Dec 23rd - 19:22pm | Zebulon

Regarding the Fallow/Axis deer in Point Reyes. They were given by the San Francisco zoo to the local landowner in the 40s to add variety to the hunting. Once the place became wilderness, hunting was stopped and the non native specie started displacing the native deers.

Dec 23rd - 15:55pm | Bob Janiskee

Roger, I don't doubt you've got plenty of coyotes, but I seriously doubt they were legally introduced. Coyotes are considered vermin in the southeast, with many people ranking them right up there with kudzu and fire ants. Here in South Carolina, coyotes were illegally introduced in some counties by hunters who enjoyed running them with hounds.

Dec 23rd - 15:16pm | Roger Leslie

I have heard that elk and coyote were also introduced into Mt Rogers National Receartion Area. Can any confirm this? We live 6 miles from the park and coyote sighting in the last few years have skyrocketed.

Dec 23rd - 11:50am | Ted Clayton

The CBS News affiliate in San Fransisco reported on Jan. 28, 2008: Controversial Deer Slaughter Resumes At Pt. Reyes

Dec 23rd - 10:10am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I must have heard the term "white deer" used in reference to the Point Reyes' axis deer and fallow deer at some point or other; I just don't remember it. (Is there some vernacular word term for the park's Tule elk, too?) The info Kurt furnished about the use of contraceptive technology for this wildlife population control need is absolutely fascinating.

Dec 23rd - 09:57am | Ted Clayton

See Friends of the White Deer The Park has a contractor slaughtering the Fallow or Axis deer introduced to the Point Reyes area in 1948. The former Channel Islands unit superintendent is speaking out.

Dec 23rd - 09:50am | Kurt Repanshek

Actually, they're not "white deer" at all, but rather non-native Axis and Fallow deer (and the Fallow deer can appear white in color). Axis deer are native to India and Sri Lanka, while Fallow deer are more commonly at home in the Mediterranean and Asia Minor.

Dec 23rd - 06:14am | Bob Janiskee

What "white deer" experiment at Point Reyes?

Dec 22nd - 22:27pm | Zebulon

That's great news. Hopefully, it'll work out better than the white deer experiment in Point Reyes.

What Were the Top Stories Across the National Park System in 2008?

Dec 24th - 11:38am | Bugsyshallfall

* Death of a Land Bill. When the Omnibus Land Management Act of 2008 died earlier this month, it took with it many valuable legislative tidbits that would have benefited the National Park System in many ways.

Dec 24th - 10:29am | Lepanto

Look again, Frank C. Apples and oranges. SALARY increases are partially covered by budget increases, but through the Bush years more than half of the required outlays were not completely funded. This means they are paying the highest-paid people more, but have less money to pay new employees. This is what started this: why do region offices appear bloated?

Dec 23rd - 15:52pm | haunted hiker

I'm with Ted and Beamis. This webzine deserves some props!

Dec 23rd - 13:58pm | Ted Clayton

Lepanto, I agree that a "starve the beast" tactic is being used, and that it is underhanded and unattractive ... but. "Starve the beast" is very similar to "demand destruction", which we are currently watching cut the price (and use!) of crude oil several fold.

Dec 23rd - 11:44am | Lepanto

Tahoma, most regional offices HAVE been cut. Key functions, like contracting and project management, that small parks cannot handle, are becoming disfunctional, because of lack of staff.

Dec 22nd - 18:22pm | tahoma

I'd agree with Ted's point that all government budgets are political, but not that the NPS is a "trim if not lean organization". Trim and lean are relative terms; perhaps he meant compared to other bureaucratic agencies. I worked at four NPS units in my career and every one was bloated and top-heavy at the management level: way too many chiefs and damn few indians.

Alexander Hamilton's "Country Home" on the Move in New York City

Dec 24th - 10:14am | JimInNewYork

AN UPDATE, inspired by the photo found by RogerB34, of Hamilton Grange. I pursued the question to the National Park Service guy who is leading the restoration of Alexander Hamilton's house in Harlem, New York City. Here is a portion of this message to me on RogerB34's discovery:

Snow Falls in Death Valley National Park

Dec 23rd - 20:18pm | Alice Hawkins

The picture by Jimmie Affholder showing the Funeral Mountains following a recent snowfall is fantastic. Jimmie has a great eye for taking pictures.

At Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Old History Made Way for New History

Dec 23rd - 08:31am | Bob Janiskee

Ted, it's interesting that you mention the Soviet approach to public architecture (huge-heroic-stylized). The arch was a product of its time, so some people are naturally going to try to make something of the fact that the arch was designed and built during the heyday of Soviet public architecture. Though the design of the arch may not have been propaganda-inspired, the result was the same.

Dec 22nd - 20:32pm | Ted Clayton

Bob & Ann, It's too bad that the National Parks System gets saddled with things like the Arch, and Mt Rushmore. They make me queasy. We sure made fun of the Soviets for doing this sort of stuff. I was reminded of our ridicule of Russian pompousness, in the early days of the Iraq war as the populace made sport pulling down Hussein's idolatry, (looting) his palaces.

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