| Page 1489 | National Parks Traveler

Quite the dilemma. As a nature-lover and ecologist, my NPS traveling is largely limited to the nature-centric parks. Those parks preserve the nature of a place, unsullied by human hands. On the other hand, it seems to me a battlefield park is in place to preserve a landscape that was quite heavily sullied by human actors acting out one of our nation's darkest plays.

Jul 21st - 09:42am | Anonymous

And? I'm afraid I don't see your point.

Jul 21st - 09:14am | Richard H. Flint II

Developers cut down more trees in a month in Prince William County than there are in all of the Park.

Why Stop At Golden Gate National Recreation Area? What Other NRAs, Monuments, Etc., Should Be Renamed?

Jul 21st - 21:43pm | Rangertoo

The last few comments have made my point for me. No one knows what the designations mean. There is not hierarchy of parks and a national "park" is not an elevation of any kind. It is a name change and nothing more unless the legislation specific to the park also changes. As noted, Congress, courts, and the 1978 Redwood Act as amended specify that all units are managed the same.

Jul 21st - 21:00pm | Kirby Adams

This is quite the education.

Jul 21st - 17:02pm | SaltSage236

Absolutely. This is the ideal time to have this conversation. The watering-down issue is interesting because this often occurs in wilderness designation.

Jul 21st - 15:08pm | Kurt Repanshek

Some good points, SaltSage236.

Jul 21st - 14:54pm | SaltSage236

The "national park" designation for a piece of the public estate should (and often does) carry with it the distinction of truly being one of the nation's natural or historic crown jewels -- an often broad range of protected natural resources and unspeakable beauty, or a place, such as Mesa Verde, that protects an area that speaks deeply about a region's and culture's history.

Jul 21st - 12:33pm | Rangertoo

Here, here. There should be only two kinds of units: National Parks, National Historical Parks. No right-minded organization would allow its brand to be as diluted as the NPS has with 19 different kinds of units. These "holier than thou" esoteric discussions of what is, and is not. a "national park" are ridiculous. THE PUBLIC DOES NOT CARE!

Jul 21st - 09:43am | Random Walker

The President can declare an area as a National Monument without approval from Congress.

Jul 21st - 08:13am | Mookie

Does the Department of the Interior, or Congress, or any government agency, have any sort of guidelines to differentiate what should be "labeled" a National Park vs. National Monument?

Jul 21st - 08:11am | Marylander

Changing a name means absolutely nothing if you do not fund the change!! I agree that changes should be made in some areas (not all areas!) but let's be honest, with the economy zooming downwards, the war sucking up every resource we have... there isn't going to be any positive change in funding for our parks even though they deserve it.

Jul 21st - 07:31am | Anonymous

Speaker Pelosi should be ashamed for promoting this idea. [edited]

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

Jul 21st - 16:18pm | Anonymous

The problem stems from mis-use of a great resource. I have been going to the CHNS since 1978 and have seen alot of changes. Many of those have been for the worse. Topping that list is the over crowding in many areas. This leads to abuse of the areas. Im all for restrictions in these areas durring the peak season months.

Dying in the Parks: Park Service Concerned About Suicides

Jul 21st - 15:44pm | SaltSage236

A friend of mine and I, cycling Colorado National Monument last November, were the ones who found the 63-year-old man with the gunshot wound to his head at Cold Shivers Point. As an Associated Press story elucidated recently, Colorado National Monument is becoming quite the popular suicide spot.

NPCA, TWS Presidents Meet With Canadian Ambassador To Seek Solution to Development in Flathead Valley

Jul 21st - 14:04pm | Betty H

This is a very wonderous part of North America where wildlife actually have large areas of mostly undeveloped habitat for migration and genetic diversity ! It must be saved as it truly is the crown jewel area of the lower 48.

Superintendents' Summit Raises Both Issues and Questions

Jul 20th - 21:01pm | Rick Smith

Beamis-- The idea that the states or municipalities are going to take over the adminstration of national park areas runs counter to the prevailing trend: the assumption of areas like Gateway and Golden Gate by the NPS when local and state management entities can no longer afford them. Which level of government has the deepest pockets?

Jul 19th - 08:50am | Betty H

Beamis, I am all ears. What do you suggest ?

Jul 18th - 13:40pm | Betty H

Such a farce and waste of money. We need new administration from the top down....new President, new Secretary of Interior, new National Park Director. Wasting time and money on a political PR event is a crying shame and pure BS when we have so many dire needs !

Jul 18th - 10:17am | Tilsit

Kurt, you always do try to give the benefit of the doubt, something that makes this such an up-beat site.

Jul 17th - 16:19pm | Anonymous

Q. How many days until a new administration? A. Too many!

Judge Restores ESA Protection for Wolves in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem-Updated

Jul 19th - 20:53pm | Anonymous

Let's just hope the irate ranchers that despise Judge Molloy's ruling (and would be poachers) keep their long guns at bay. Empty the bullet chambers and let the wolves help balance nature once again...as it's intended to do!

Jul 19th - 15:55pm | Shawn

Now that is one step in the right direction! If the government would keep their "grubby" little hands out of everything, then maybe, just maybe, we could take more steps in the right direction. God put the animals on the earth, who are we to remove them???

Jul 19th - 12:39pm | Fred Miller

Thanks for following this Kurt. This is an emotional issue. I do not want to see any species overrun, nor do I want to see one wiped out.

Glacier National Park Officials Again Voice Opposition to Railroad's Avalanche Blasting Proposal

Jul 19th - 16:32pm | Shawn

Build the sheds!, don't bomb the park!!! After all, Mother Nature was already here, the railroad came along and built the tracks through this section, they should build the sheds to protect them, not destroy the animal life or the enviroment!!!!

Summertime: What National Parks Are On Your "Must Visit" List?

Jul 19th - 11:51am | Child's Play

We got a jump on our summer travel early this year, and so far our family has been to Devil's Tower, Mt. Rushmore, Mesa Verde, Arches, Canyonlands, and Rocky Mtn. National Park, and my daughter visited Pearl Harbor. Our favorite, though, was spending an old fashioned 4th of July at Ft. Laramie National Historic Site.

Jul 19th - 07:41am | Kirby Adams

Well, Bob, it would be nice if you could see your last wish to fruition through the same tenacity that got the park established. Unfortunately, I think only prayers and sacrifices to the Avian gods are going to help at this point. The realist in me knows it can't happen, but the romantic still wants to believe they're out there - a couple dozen pairs waiting for a comeback.

Jul 19th - 05:42am | Bob Janiskee

Kirby, I'm not surprised that you enjoyed Congaree National Park. It's one of the best kept secrets east of the Mississippi. I'm a bit biased, I must admit. It's my home park, and I was part of the small (but tenacious) grassroots campaign that saved that magnificent river bottom hardwood forest from being turned into coffee tables and pallets.

Jul 18th - 23:05pm | Kirby Adams

Ticking a few off my lifelist during a colossal car-camping trip this August. We're hitting Theodore Roosevelt, North Cascades, Olympic, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, and Badlands. (I notice everyone here uses codes, so I suppose I should say "THRO, NOCA, OLYM, MORA, YELL, and BADL") Being the odd chap I am, I think I'm looking forward to Roosevelt the most.

Jul 18th - 12:29pm | Random Walker

All of them are on my "Must Visit" list, well those from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean anyway. Will be in ONP for a week to ten days here soon, then it will be MRNP the following week then NCNP for a while. That is about as far into the future I dare go :-]

Jul 17th - 11:47am | Kurt Repanshek

Not to worry, Dapster. Here at the Traveler we allow each commenter one mulligan....

Jul 17th - 11:27am | Dapster

Kurt, You are correct. My bad. One of those "saw it a soon as I clicked send" kinda things. My apologies. It's a very passionate topic for me, as you can probably tell, and I was apparently temporarily blinded by said passion. Happens to all of us at some time, I guess. dapster

Zion National Park is a Magnet for Canyoneers

Jul 19th - 08:42am | Marylander

I love exploring the canyons in Zion, but having witnessed a flash flood in Zion I could never be a true canyoneer. To say the flash flood left a vivid impression on me would be an understatement. I could not believe the force of the flash flood, how fast it came out of no where, how long it lasted, the roar of noise it created, and the debries that it left behind.

Where Are the Best Sunrises in the National Park System?

Jul 18th - 22:08pm | Kirby Adams

Yes, Bob, you've been fooled! The dunetop vantages you speak of are generally between SSW and SSE of a typical camp on the east shore of North Manitou. (Everyone else camps on the west side, so this is only relevant to me, I suppose.) So in the first shot linked below from Pyramid Point, you're seeing North Manitou's south shore about 7 or 8 miles almost due north of you.

Jul 18th - 11:40am | Anonymous

Gates of the Arctic National Park, on the banks of the Noatak River in summer. The sun never really rises or sets. It swings around you at night to the north, skimming the horizon around this beautiful, wide glacier-carved valley. Everywhere else you get this magical 15-minute twilight.

Jul 17th - 18:45pm | Rick Smith

There are no mountains here, no canyons, no awe-inspiring arches, but I will put the sunrises in Everglades reflecting off the towering clouds right up there with any of the others mentioned. Rick Smith

Brown Bears Fishing at Katmai National Park and Preserve

Jul 18th - 19:58pm | Dagny

That is an incredible image. The beauty reminds me of the Great Bear Rainforest which I visited last year. Nice to see nature at play in a safe place! Dagny www.onnotextiles.com bamboo and organic clothing

Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Try Not To Breath the Air

Jul 18th - 16:40pm | Anonymous

Hey folks, take a good hard look from Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, the pollution is even worse. With all the fires in California and the daily auto emissions, you can kiss this once majestic view good bye. Sad but true and getting worse!

Jul 18th - 16:01pm | Betty H

Marylander, I live near GSMNP and you are so right except that the air is getting worse in the fall too ! What a crying shame !

Jul 18th - 15:46pm | Marylander

I have pictures of the Smokies from 25 years ago that clearly show how the air is getting progressively worse... it makes me very sad. My family and I have a strict policy, however, of only visiting GSMNP during the spring time or the late fall when the crowds are much more managable. Now we can tack better air quaility to our list of reasons to avoid the summer there.

National Park Quiz 11: Blue and Gray

Jul 17th - 21:56pm | Bob Janiskee

Anon: The decisive Union victory occurred in New Mexico, and that is what the quiz item states. There isn't room in a quiz item to deal with every nuance. I don't dispute your facts.

Jul 17th - 19:47pm | Anonymous

Thanks for the quiz, didn't do too bad, however question # 7 about Pecos National Historical Park is very misleading.

Proposed Redesignation of Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Golden Gate National Parks Worries Dog Walkers

Jul 17th - 19:07pm | Anonymous

That's true Rick...but under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Interior with Mr. Udall at the helm. I think that's more in line with Udall's command. Thanks for the insight!

Jul 17th - 18:49pm | Rick Smith

Anon-- Remember that Udall wasn't at the helm of the NPS. He was the Secretary of Interior. Rick Smith

National Park Search and Rescue: Should the Rescued Help Pay the Bills?

Jul 17th - 10:58am | stacy

great point. it would probably cost that much to print warning signs that have been proofread by a lawyer.** (**no offense to lawyers. please see disclaimer for details and exceptions)

Jul 17th - 10:55am | stacy

i do not think people should have to pay for search and rescue, unless it is obviously grossly negligent. first of all, i think it would discourage use of the parks, which would reduce their income from permits etc. secondly, it would most likely tend to make people put off calling help when they really do need it, which could actually make the situation worse.

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Jul 17th - 10:35am | Frank N

Can you carry a gun in the Supreme Court building? No! Can you carry a gun in other government buildings? No! Can you carry a gun in airports? No. Can you carry a gun on board airplanes? No. Can you carry a gun on school campuses? No. Can you carry a gun in police stations? No. Can you carry a gun in bars? Not in many states. Not loaded, not unloaded.

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