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Having Suffered Severe Storm Damage, a Witness Tree at Gettysburg National Military Park is Unlikely to Survive

Aug 11th - 09:16am | Donna J Kelly

Regarding this quote: "When a witness tree is lost, its passing is mourned, as when a storm toppled a witness tree at Antietam National Battlefield last June. " When I followed the link, I read that all the witness trees were spared in the June storm at Antietam; while a number of trees were lost, none were witness trees.

How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Faring Under Travel Restrictions?

Aug 11th - 08:58am | Anonymous

Stephen C: Your comment that "trolleys have been tried by the NPS on other seashore parks and didn't work". Can you tell us what seashore parks the trolley's were tried and when. Like to know more of facts why the trolley system failed...was it the lack of money or not a feasible plan due to logistics?

Aug 10th - 22:50pm | Stephen C

Some points that are illuding those that don't know about beach sand, trollys, and mother nature.

Aug 10th - 22:17pm | Anonymous

While political groups and state and federal protection agencies have played games over the last 22 years - the population of piping plovers has declined by half.

Aug 10th - 10:13am | VCHawk

If you look to the Virginian-Pilot for "facts" then you'd do well to look to China for religious freedom...Phil G.,you don't know bird doo-doo about "facts",otherwise you would side with the truth.Piping plovers DO taste like chicken.That's why we like 'em!

Climber Dies In Accident In Grand Teton National Park

Aug 11th - 08:27am | Bob Janiskee

Anon, it's interesting that you should mention drownings. This morning I've been working on an article about drownings and other water accidents at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Aug 11th - 07:52am | Anonymous

I notice you have posted stories on visitor deaths at Tetons and Grand Canyon but no mention of the two recent drawnings at Indiana Dunes. Is this part of your campaing that only national "parks" are worthy of discussion on this site?

Aug 10th - 18:44pm | jsmacdonald

On top of this, climbing guide George Gardner died on the Grand last month.

Collapse of "Wall Arch" Proves Gravity Does Work at Arches National Park

Aug 11th - 07:54am | jr_ranger

SaltSage236, Thanks for correcting me. This is particularly useful information for me to have since I volunteer and sometimes give interpretive programs at BISO.

Aug 11th - 06:41am | nancy1006

I am so glad I got to see this arch this year!! It was magnificent....as well at the others being just as wonderful. On some one could tell that it won't be long before the succumb to gravity....see them while you can.

Aug 10th - 22:18pm | Anonymous

Global warming is what created most of our NP's anyway...Love the warming,,,

Aug 10th - 20:58pm | SaltSage236

Chance:

Aug 10th - 20:52pm | SaltSage236

Check out the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, which names Landscape Arch as the longest natural rock span on earth. Now that's "iconic." http://www.naturalarches.org/big9.htm

Aug 10th - 20:52pm | Anonymous

except for the fact that cinder cone has only been in existance since the mid 1800's! I witnessed the vast changes since I last visited in the 1980's. It had eroded more in the last 20 years than in the previous 130. What has happened to reading comprehension inis younger generation?

Aug 10th - 20:36pm | Mike

This was not a funtion of global warming. Nor were the formation of the Arch itself due to global warming. Time and mother nature took it's normal course of action.

Aug 10th - 19:43pm | jr_ranger

There is one park in the system where you are allowed, and are encouraged to, walk atop some sandstone arches - Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, on the Tennessee/Kentucky line. It is 7/10ths of a mile to Twin Arches in the western side of the park via the aptly named Twin Arches Loop Trail. These magnificent structures stand approx. 100 feet long and 70 feet tall.

Aug 10th - 19:28pm | Gray

This is not at all a sure sign of anything other than the normal erosion that is well known at Arches National Park. If you paid attention during your 2001 trip you would have learned that lots of features of the park have bit the dust literally over the years. There are plenty of before and after photos to show that.

Aug 10th - 19:21pm | SaltSage236

It was interesting how the collapse of Wall Arch was first reported by the Associated Press. The headline on the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel's Web site read that an "iconic" arch fell at Arches NP. Then, as a Google search of "Landscape Arch" will reveal, the story reported that Wall Arch was the first arch in the park to fall since Landscape Arch fell in 1991.

Aug 10th - 18:22pm | Bill from Canbe...

This is the second geologic incident since my recent visit to the SW of Colorado, Utah and Arizona, first was the massive rock slide in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison a short 8 weeks or so ago and now this...! It proves the world is a dynamic place and changes, even ones that normally occur on geologic time scales of millions of years, can and do occur, in an instant.

Aug 10th - 18:13pm | Sedona Red from...

After visiting the red rocks of Arizona and Utah for five summers, I hate to see this happen! Red rocks are unbelieveable. Just a note, I just retuned from Alaska.....the same thing is happening to the glaciers...makes you wonder about Global Warming!

Aug 10th - 14:42pm | Marlene

Saw the Wall Arch and hiked the trail last year which was a little tricky; but worthwhile. It is very fortunate that no one was injured when the Wall Arch collapsed. Glad we got great photos of it.

Aug 10th - 12:53pm | Neal from Penns...

I just was at Arches last week with my wife. It's a great place. We hiked to Landscape arch, but were out of time, so we didn't make it to Wall Arch. Make sure you take the ranger guided Fiery Furnace tour if you go. You get to see perhaps the coolest part of the park with narrow fins in a maze-like formation. It was our favorite part of our stop there

Aug 10th - 11:24am | Anonymous

When I heard of a collapse at Arches, I freaked out! I'm going there soon! I'm sooooo glad it's not the delicate arch. Whew

Aug 10th - 09:23am | Lone Hiker

The forces of wind, water, temperature and time are not to be denied. Erosion giveth, and eventually erosion taketh away. Mother Nature functions both as master sculptor and over time, when she decides she's seen enough and her work has served its purpose, she trades hats and becomes demolition crew. You go Girl!

Aug 10th - 08:42am | Anonymous

My thoughts exactly...I could see some misguided nuts wanting to put re-bar in all the arches so they don't move. This is nature at its finest.

Aug 9th - 21:17pm | David from Downunder

Another culprit would have been Time - many millions of years of it...

Aug 9th - 15:36pm | Julie

And don't forget the collapse of the Old man of the Mountain in New Hampshire

Aug 9th - 12:09pm | Anonymous

I'm glad I visited and walked this trail when I had a chance to back in 2001. This is the second great american landmark to become a mere memory that I have had the privilege to see firsthand. The first was Cinder Cone and its associated lava flow in Lassen Park California, which I visited for the first time in 1980.

Aug 9th - 10:46am | Kurt Repanshek

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any arch in the park you can "walk over." Under and past, yes in many cases, but the NPS frowns on you walking over them.

Aug 9th - 10:30am | Anonymous

Kurt: Are all the arches at Arches National Park open to visitors to walk over? Was the Wall Arch open to visitors before the collapse to hike over? The geology of this special place amazes me with all of its beautiful and unique features carved in eons.

Aug 9th - 08:25am | Anonymous

thank God there are people in charge out there, that know its a natural thing, and not some nut who wants to coat all the arches with super glue so that the park remains the same forever. We are constantly evolving.

Backcountry Volunteer Survives 100 Foot Fall While Canyoneering at Zion National Park

Aug 11th - 04:46am | Anonymous

When you say "lower 48", that is an antiquated phrase and inaccurate. It should be "middle 48" unless you neither consider Hawaii a state or south of the Florida Keys.

Aug 10th - 08:18am | Dave O

What's up with park volunteers and employees going out and getting themselves hurt? I thought that was for us - the dumb park visitors!!!

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Aug 11th - 01:29am | AHumanMind

Half Dome is dangerous. It's like walking on a very steep roof on top of a skyscraper with the aid of cables. I believe it is poor ethics to discourage the use of safety equipment in such a hazardous situation. The hazard should be respected as well as each individual's physical and mental challenges. Many of the young men ascending wont notice the hazard, but it is there.

Is It Time to Overhaul the National Park Service and the National Park System?

Aug 11th - 01:28am | FrankC

"The NGO model raises concerns; look at what The Presidio Trust has become. Formed, in theory, to help the Presidio become self-sufficient, the trust has turned the Presidio into a business commons and threatens to dilute the history of the place."

Aug 10th - 22:56pm | SaltSage236

National parks are considered playgrounds by those who recognize them as lands to be used solely for recreation (snowmobilers in Yellowstone, for example) without regard for the greater purpose of the parks' creation.

Aug 10th - 22:09pm | Ted Clayton

While the National Park Service & System is often treated as a political football (to its detriment) by actors & agents external to the system, officials within the Service are themselves highly politicized agents, acting from within. This part of the reality can seem glossed over, but is really a large element of the politicking.

Aug 10th - 21:12pm | Lone Hiker

Jim-

Aug 10th - 19:33pm | Anonymous

Jim,

Aug 10th - 16:36pm | jsmacdonald

Anonymous, but, why should we be giving more operational funds for a park like Yellowstone, for instance, that makes such horrible management decisions? Whatever we think about budgets for parks, it doesn't do any good if the parks are mismanaged.

Aug 10th - 13:49pm | Anonymous

I like the idea of having everyone pay a simple $10 tax each year. I would rather pay this than $25 each time I visit a park, and it wouldn't be a huge financial burden on anyone to pay it (ie - eat out one less time or skip your Starbucks once a month).

Aug 10th - 10:53am | Lone Hiker

YES. Nothing short of complete separation from the political umbrella is satisfactory. As I've stated in previous discussions, the least painful manner of maintaining the system in its present form is the creation of a NPS business unit, with some painfully strict modifications from most "big business" operations. Some examples are:

Aug 10th - 10:48am | Kurt Repanshek

There's nothing wrong with thinking bold, with truly thinking outside the box. Brainstorming produces dozens of ideas and possibilities, but not all will fit, and you don't enter into such a process expecting all to fit. You simply carry hopes someone will suggest something that does fit.

Aug 9th - 23:32pm | jsmacdonald

So, is the answer to propose a Fed Chairman like position a la what Kurt talks about here, who is relatively independent but ultimately becomes accountable to almost nobody? Or, is the answer to have an NGO, or a corporate oligarchy, who is accountable only to their largest funders?

Second Black Bear Euthanized In Yellowstone National Park

Aug 10th - 20:27pm | Ted Clayton

Kurt, Katmai & its bears! An example to tempt any advocate!

Is the National Park Service Obligated to Better Promote Proposed Change in Gun Regulations?

Aug 10th - 19:15pm | Riggy

I am a pilot/bear guide in Alaska and am not required to have a permit to carry a gun. A gun doesnt replace knowledge planning and common sense. Which is a good reason to not allow just anyone capable of obtaining a permit the privelage to do so.

Did the NRA Infiltrate Groups Opposed to Overhauling Gun Regulations for the National Parks?

Aug 9th - 14:14pm | Anonymous

Political Observer: I see that the letter was written on December 14, 2007 (sometime ago) and after counting the votes: it was 37 Republican Senators to 7 Democratic Senators. It looks like a party line vote to me. I'm sure it's political pull since it's an election year. I thank you for the information.

Aug 9th - 11:28am | Political Observer

There was a request for information on the 51 Senators who sent the letter. The link below will take to you the U.S. Department of the Interior website where a copy of the letter is posted. You will probably need to paste the link into your browser--not sure if the link will be active on the page.

Aug 9th - 10:16am | Anonymous

Political Observer: Out of the 51 Senators that signed the rule change (to carry concealed handguns) were they Republicans...and who were these Senators? Was this a strict party line vote and "not bipartisan"?

Aug 9th - 00:07am | Political Observer

While this discussion is entertaining I believe the matter of carrying concealed weapons in the National Parks has been settled in favor of those who want this right. Although there were 35,000+ public comments submitted (with about 95% of them in favor of adopting the new rule allowing concealed carry) I think the matter was really settled when a letter with the signatures of 51 U.S.

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