| Page 1472 | National Parks Traveler

Stella Maris, Spoken like someone who has never actually visited CHNSRA. Some folks seem to think this area is something akin to Daytona Beach, where the beach is just an extension of the highway. That is simply not the case. I submit below photo to give you some perspective on just what this area is like with vehicles on it:

Sep 11th - 09:19am | Ginny

ORV Impacts "Preliminary analysis indicates that major storm events may have the ability to �wipe the slate clean� as they move sediment off shore. In terms of the compaction, sediment grain sizes, and beach faunal communities, storms may remove all damage that is caused by ORVs, allowing new populations of animals to inhabit the area."

Sep 11th - 08:23am | Bob Janiskee

This controversy is much more complicated than it may seem at first glance. The scientific evidence doesn't imply that ORV beach driving should be totally banned at this seashore, only that it should be subject to reasonable rules benefiting protected wildlife species. Right now the interested parties are arguing about what those rules should be.

Sep 11th - 07:42am | Stella Maris

There is absolutely no reason for ANY vehicles other than emergency rescue vehicles to be driven on the beaches....Many species of animals are adversely impacted by this intrusion. Also what good can come of gasoline and motor oil leaching into the sand and the water? If people want to surf fish,let them carry their gear themselves!

A Historian's Take on the National Park Service

Sep 11th - 10:44am | d-2

Thank you for the useful interview with Dr. Pitcaithley. Just a few quibbles: On his point on Women’s Rights: Dr. Pitcaithley states that one exhibit panel that provided historical context for the site contained a paragraph or so that represented President Reagan's environmental policies in rather harsh terms .

Sep 10th - 19:48pm | Barky

What a great article, he touches on a lot of great NPS topics. Hats off to Dr. Pitchaithley. ==================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

At Big Thicket National Preserve, a Combative Drug Dealer Changes His Mind When Ranger Stafford Shows Him His Taser

Sep 11th - 09:08am | Bob Janiskee

Beamis, I agree with the general thrust of your argument, but I take issue with two specifics. First, Johnny Walker Red is cheap and popular (the world's best selling whiskey), but you really should expand your horizons and develop your sophisticated side. Try a couple of bottles of JW Black Label (but not on the same day). Secondly, dealing in illicit drugs is not a victimless crime.

Sep 10th - 18:22pm | Rick Smith

Frank--

National Park History: “The Spirit of the Civilian Conservation Corps”

Sep 11th - 07:39am | Lorna Jones

My mother used to talk about how the CCC brought money back to her hometown during the depression. She grew up in Stuart, VA. The CCC was "up on the mountain" building what we now call the Blue Ridge Parkway. On weekends the men would walk down the mountain to spend the weekend in "town" - no meals were provided over the weekends, so the men literally had to walk out to find food.

The Denali Road Lottery Offers Regulated Leaf Peeping at Alaska’s Denali National Park

Sep 11th - 01:52am | Anonymous

After a season of protecting the park and wildlife and protecting the safety of the visitor by having experienced bus drivers why open the road to hordes of inexperienced folks? It is not an easy road to drive and the lottery seems to negate what the park has been practicing and preaching all summer long. Why????????

Sep 8th - 14:29pm | Bob Janiskee

That seemed like a pretty logical question to me, MRC, so I posed it to the PIO at Denali. She told me that arrangements are being made to allow applicants to pay the application fee electronically.

Sep 8th - 14:03pm | MRC

Can anyone think why they don't accept electronic applications with payment via Paypal (or similar)? Set up a decent web application once and spare a few people to wade through paper and enter the names and dates and stuff into databases by hand.

Fall Colors: What Can We Expect Across the National Park System?

Sep 11th - 01:13am | Anonymous

The past two weeks have been absolutely beautiful in Denali Park. The colors are as crisp as I have seen in 30 years here. Snow is falling below 4000 feet tonight. When summer ends we will be in winter.

Sep 9th - 10:46am | Nick Mojave

Don't forget about Zion. The high country / Kolob Terrace area has some of the most spectacular fall color in the West in late September, and the canyon itself can have some great color in November.

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Sep 10th - 21:15pm | Jeff

We were fortunate to see three young martens playing about 15-20 feet from us as were traveled down the Cleetwood trail at Crater Lake on September 8th, 2008 at about 9:30 AM. Unfortunately, I spent more time struggling to get my camera out of my backpack (DOH!) than watching them, but my 2 companions enjoyed a nice view.

Visitation Decline at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Has Area Businesses, Residents, and Governments Worried

Sep 10th - 20:53pm | Bob Janiskee

Yes, Barky, there's a very distinct attendance spike in October. The GRSM attendance data for the most recent five-year period (2003 through 2007) show that average visitation in October is 1.13 million, while September visitation averages 883,000. October visitation actually exceeded both September and August visitation in all five of those years.

Sep 10th - 19:56pm | Barky

Question: is there an increase of GSM visitors during leaf season? That's when I managed to visit the park, and it was absolutely spectacular! I remember hiking up some mountain under the canopy, and hitting the top, and seeing acres and acres of brilliant color. Took my breath away, it did. ==================================

Sep 9th - 15:33pm | Leo Benson

My observation is in direct opposition to Mr. Cureton. My family moved to Gatlinburg in 1942. I grew up there, leaving in 1960 after college. The visibility in the 50's and 60's was good in October but not so good in other months. Now, having moved back in 1996, the days of outstanding visibility in mid-summer, Spring and December/January are much more prevalent. than during my youth.

Sep 9th - 10:39am | Smoky Mtn Hiker

Bob - if there's a silver lining in this story it's that experts are predicting (as Kurt mentioned in his Fall Colors post) above-average leaf color this fall for the Southern Appalachians. Last year, the fall color season in the Smoky Mountains region was muted due to the extreme drought and the above average temperatures during the summer and fall.

Sep 9th - 10:02am | Bob Janiskee

Good point, SMH. I went back and tweaked the article.

Sep 9th - 08:31am | Jim Cureton

While I may agree that gas prices have created a downturn, I believe that climate change is another great contributor. The Smokies are just not what they used to be.

National Park Quiz 19: Trails

Sep 10th - 19:54pm | Barky

50% are too infirm for trails? Wow! Must be our great American diet ... =================================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Hosts 150,000 Weekenders and a Hells Angels Poker Run

Sep 10th - 09:54am | Bob Janiskee

Lots of people have had very positive interactions with Hells Angels, Marylander. And many others have been bullied, assaulted, and even physically harmed. These are Hells Angels, not Hells Pussycats. (If you know who the Hells Angels "One-Percenters" are, you know that they are some of the baddest dudes on this planet.)

Sep 10th - 08:52am | Marylander

A lot of people are scared of the Hells Angels, but I have to say that the 2 times my family and I have stumbled into one of their rallys they have been very well behaved. Better behaved then the regular tourists around them. In 2006 we arrived in Cody, Wyoming for the July 4th weekend, only to discover to our surprise that there was a Hells Angels rally.

National Parks Will Waive Entrance Fees on September 27, National Public Lands Day

Sep 10th - 08:26am | Bob Janiskee

Good points.

Sep 10th - 08:10am | Rangertoo

Two-thirds of the parks don't charge any entrance fees. By my count, only 16 of the top 50 most visited parks charge entrance fees and some of those (like Lake Mead and Acadia) are only seasonal or for parts of the parks. Thus, the overwhelming majority of visitors to the national parks never pay an entrance fee.

Federal Judge Refuses to Let County Cut Highways in Roadless Section of Death Valley National Park

Sep 9th - 19:23pm | chip westbrook

Rs 2477 is a restriction on an 1851 law setting apart all roads and trails as public and 60 feet wide that the title to the those set asides were removed from federal control leaving the underlying title in we the people of the united states these roads and trails were to be recorded and protect by the counties

How To Buy National Park-Related Gifts Without Leaving Home

Sep 9th - 11:12am | Anonymous

The long awaited Mt. Rushmore pewter ornament is now available at www.innerpeacedesigns.net. It is under the ornaments tab. I've been looking on their website for a month or two and today it's there. I ordered one. The detail is beautiful on it. I may purchase more for Christmas gifts.

Is Climate Change Driving A New Forest Regimen in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem?

Sep 9th - 08:27am | Kelly

Kurt, thank you for a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece. I hope you will write more about the effects of global climate change on our national parks. Are you planning on writing more regarding actions the national parks are doing to prepare for climate change or to adapt to it? I understand that response to the issue varies quite a bit among the parks.

Sep 7th - 12:40pm | Ted Clayton

Normal Plants May Emit Methane - in the open air This is a story that hit the natural-sciences world like a ton of bricks, in the last couple years. Environmental scientists - not to mention activists & enthusiasts - often reacted with disbelief. Methane is a greenhouse gas, like CO[sup]2[/sup], only much stronger.

Sep 7th - 10:36am | Ted Clayton

Is climate change the simple & direct cause of the current outbreak of Mountain Pine Beetle? It might be, but commonly events like this beetle-infestation reflect a set of often complexly-interacting factors, and the precise cause-and-effect train entails a lot of uncertainty ... 'mystery', even.

Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest

Sep 8th - 22:34pm | Anonymous

I Loved The Grand Canynon & would like to visit the Southwest again this fall!

It’s Good to be the President When You Visit Gettysburg National Military Park

Sep 8th - 15:38pm | jsmacdonald

Or ... admit it was political and snipe on. I'm all for sniping. Happy hunting,

Sep 8th - 15:08pm | SaltSage236

A president OF the people has no right to be treated like a king, even in a national park. Such treatment is un-American. Three cheers, Bob!

Sep 8th - 12:57pm | Anonymous

Bob, your practiced "reasonable reply" isn't fooling anyone. This WAS a rant, evinced by use of the vernacular "nuther" and your lines: The prez was invited to return later this month to attend the grand opening of the Museum and Visitor Center. He declined, of course. ‘Been there, done that.' The first poster had it right...for Pete's sake, quit the political sniping.

Sep 8th - 10:27am | Bob Janiskee

Good grief, Tourist. Now I have to be envious of you too! Anyway, I'm glad you can see -- though some other Traveler readers obviously cannot! -- that EWS whining is basically driven by wishful thinking, not political persuasion per se. I would have loved the opportunity to shake hands with the President and First Lady.

Sep 8th - 09:58am | Tourist

I happened to be at the Virginiia Memorial when the President and First Lady showed up. It was an incredible experience to be touring Gettysburg for the first time and then shake hands with the President of the United States. Reagrdless of ones political persuassion, an unforgetable moment.

Yellowstone National Park Reporting Bullish Visitation

Sep 8th - 15:35pm | jsmacdonald

It's also been the case when I've been in backcountry that I've seen more American and fewer non-English-speaking hikers - by probably about 10 to 1 (though on a heavily traveled area like Cascade Canyon in the Tetons, that proportion didn't hold true unless I went away from Inspiration Point - and it was striking how much it changed).

Sep 8th - 14:52pm | SaltSage236

I drove through Yellowstone on the way back to Colorado from a week in Glacier this last weekend. Despite claims of vast numbers of Europeans visiting Yellowstone in large vehicles, what was most striking was the vast number of Hummers and other belching SUVs from Texas and other Western states.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Sep 8th - 15:33pm | Anonymous

I climbed Half Dome for the first time on Aug 5, 2008. I'm 63 years old but in good shape and have done this sort of thing before.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel

Sep 8th - 10:17am | Anonymous

The above comments are absolutely spot on the truth. I am very concerned that our natural resources be protected, but what the Audubon Society has done through this law suit is a miscarriage of justice, and in reality serves no one, no even the precious wild life they seek to protect.

Mountain Pine Beetles Chewing into Grand Teton National Park Forests

Sep 8th - 09:49am | Anonymous

What is different about this pest and the one destroying the lodge pole pines in the Rockies of Colorado? There we were told the destruction came as a result of the lack of normal thinning that occurs as a result of wildfires and only trees 8" and above were being attacked. It appears the "experts" in each area have different stories all covering the same outbreaks.

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 7th - 15:35pm | Ted Clayton

I was surprised just a few years ago to discover Extension Agent literature & programs, to encourage Pacific Northwest landowners to consider the ginseng industry. This area differs from the usual range of the species, but evidently trials & trail-blazers have shown it practical. We have a standardized buyer-network, and a number of large-scale ginseng-farm operations.

Hawaii’s National Parks Are Attracting Fewer Visitors

Sep 7th - 14:34pm | Bob Janiskee

Interesting observations about Native Hawaiians, Ted. But while it's true that many Native Hawaiians dislike "haoles" (whites) and have profoundly anti-development views, that's not been a significant problem in their direct relations with tourists. Take the Big Island, for example. Native Hawaiians who don't like haoles don't interact all that much with Big Island tourists.

Sep 7th - 13:44pm | Ted Clayton

The security-driven 'airport experience' is an increasing deterrent to air-travel. Many complain about it. The chronic economic crisis for the airline industry, wage-reductions for pilots, and recurring stories of lax maintainance, all could understandably serve to reduce the willingness of a sensible person to entrust themselves to a 600 mph vehicle of dubious reliability.

Black Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 7th - 14:28pm | Ted Clayton

Anonymous, You provide an interesting & instructive account. Thank you. When I was a kid on the Olympic Peninsula in '50s & '60s, everyone liked to have a 'bear-story'. Most of them began by the teller holding up the thumb & index-finger with a gap of 1 or 2 tenths of inch between them.

Sep 7th - 12:49pm | Anonymous

They have tried relocating bears in Great Smoky several times, and the bears always return to the place from which they were taken. This bear was aggressive. I hate killing animals too, but the bears are overpopulating the park. It's time allow very limited and cautious bear hunting.

Sep 7th - 12:45pm | Anonymous

You're lucky if you've had only one encounter with a black bear. Unfortunately, you do not live near the Smoky Mountains where there are WAY TOO MANY bears!!! The density of the black bear population in the park is approximately 2 per square mile now. That can not be healthy for bears and is certainly not safe for hikers.

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