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Deal to Close Sugar Plant and Preserve 187,000 Acres Should Benefit Everglades National Park

Jun 24th - 20:26pm | Barky

This is absolute wonderful news, probably the most significant environment preservation action of the year, if not the last ten years. It's not without economic impact: between the loss of jobs at U.S. Sugar, the debt load on the State of Florida, and the possible increase in the price of sugar due to reduced production, this is not an easy, cheap fix.

Oglala Sioux Just Might Reclaim Southern Half of Badlands National Park

Jun 24th - 18:34pm | Philip W Blais

I do not support giving any portion of our National Parks back to any group. From my view the protection and management of our National Parks have been in capable hands of the National Park Service.

Jun 24th - 11:03am | Anonymous

Don't forget Mo, they probably owned your land at one time also.

Jun 24th - 09:08am | Anonymous

Yeah, Mo...you support returning it, until they start building casinos and other commercial enterprises there!

Jun 24th - 08:45am | mo

Thank you for the detailed and thorough article about this subject. I will be very interested to see what happens with the Badlands. I support returning this land to the rightful owners. The Lakota, the Navajo, the Paiute, and other tribes deserve their land returned to them, and can manage it in accordance with their values and culture.

Mount Rainier National Park Officials Mulling Future of Carbon River Road

Jun 24th - 16:18pm | Betty Howell

In my opinion, this road was never meant to be. Being located in a floodplan doomed it from the start. All places do not have to be accessible by wheeled vehicles ! Some places are too critical to their environment to have stabilized, modern roads built in them. I understand that all people can not get out and hike but all things cannot be for all people.

Olmsted Island, Great Falls Park

Jun 24th - 07:48am | Rangertoo

I stand corrected. Sabattis is correct. Great Falls Park was a separate park when it was part of the Northern Virginia Parks, but became a part of GW Parkway when it was transferred to the NPS in the 1960s.

Jun 23rd - 22:20pm | Sabattis

P.S. What is the story behind this "photo"? Its definitely an odd one...

Jun 23rd - 22:18pm | Sabattis

Actually, Kurt, you had it right the first time. Olmsted Island *is* part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, it is located on the Maryland side of the main portion of the Potomac River. The following map from the National Park Service makes that clear: http://www.nps.gov/archive/gwmp/grfa/trails/

Jun 23rd - 16:00pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thanks for the pointer, Rangertoo. That means my search for shots of some of the more obscure units has gone even farther than I imagined when I loaded this shot!

Jun 20th - 11:12am | Rangertoo

Great Falls Park is a unit of the National Park System seperate from C&O Canal. www.nps.gov/grfa

A Sad Sign of the Times: NPS Promotes Body Armor Options To Rangers

Jun 24th - 00:32am | scott

I agree....you must comply with the law. However, sometimes you must choose the safety of your family or friends at any cost. There are many "laws" that need to be changed. For example, there are many very liberal, gun hating Cities, that have strict firearm restrictions.

National Park Quiz 7: Islands

Jun 23rd - 22:27pm | Bob Krumenaker

Bob -- I haven't seen the original article myself, and it doesn't appear to be on line. But here are two links which have the story: http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-u-s/357328-top-ten-national-parks...

Jun 23rd - 05:30am | Bob Janiskee

That's great to hear. Looks like Apostle Islands National Lakeshore may be due for an onslaught of visitors. (That should make Bayfield C/C happy.) Got room for 'em all? BTW, do I have to buy Outdoor Life to read the article that rates APIS the number one park?

Jun 22nd - 22:08pm | Bob Krumenaker

Bob -- Did you see that Outdoor Life just named Apostle Islands the #1 national park? They didn't say what their criteria were but it's always nice to get the recognition. I'll be glad to see you when you visit.

Jun 21st - 10:05am | Sabattis

Good catch Anonymous - that one slipped right past me!

Jun 21st - 04:21am | Bob Janiskee

Eleven out of eleven? You've got to be kidding. I don't do that well myself on these things. Thanks for the link, Bob. Great photo! Gotta say, though; if your average South Carolinian sees that many rocks on a beach he's going to demand a refund. I'd love to take credit for the quiz photo gambit, Bob, but it was actually that evil genius Kurt who came up with the photo.

Jun 20th - 22:55pm | Bob Krumenaker

Bob, You've pulled a fast one. The Cat Island in your photo is from Gulf Islands National Seashore, not Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as noted in question 5. Very clever! Here's a link to our Cat Island... http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/photos/printfriendly/Cat_I_Dune_AINL1.JPG

Jun 20th - 16:36pm | Bob Janiskee

It was Kurt, Kurt, Kurt that done the deed, not me. I do thank you very kindly, MRC, for extending me this opportunity to score a rare weaselspeak double today.

Jun 20th - 16:28pm | MRC

First of all a big thank you for your quizzes. They are great, even if they show a certain bias to National Seashores. But I'd like to repeat my comment from the second quiz: Please use other filenames for the pictures that accompany the quizzes, as your normal naming scheme gives away one answer each time.

Jun 20th - 15:18pm | Bob Janiskee

Being the Hauptquizmeister, I make the rules. My new rule is this: the Hauptquizmeister can go back and change the question to match the answer. I have already done this with the item in question. I trust you will note that I have achieved a level of weaselness formerly thought to be unattainable.

Jun 20th - 14:59pm | Anonymous

Bob, I guessed Ellis Island for question #6 and wanted to let you know that I'm taking full credit for it. :) I thought you were trying to trick people who knew the statue itself wasn't on Ellis Island. I picked Ellis Island because it was partially correct.

Yellowstone National Park Relocates the 45th Parallel

Jun 23rd - 17:44pm | Steve

I passed this sign on June 5, 2008 and noticed it had moved from where I had seen it in previous years. I then stopped at the Visitor Center at Mammoth and asked why. The first ranger did not know and I don't even think he knew the sign existed at all. The second ranger sort of knew why the sign had moved.

Jun 21st - 20:50pm | Bob Janiskee

I smile every time I see that sign near Gaylord while heading north on I-75. Growing up in Bay City, I used to think that Gaylord was way "up north." I was really shocked when I finally realized that, as far as northern treks are concerned, Gaylord is just halfway to the North Pole.

Jun 21st - 17:48pm | Anonymous

The same sign is near Gaylord Michigan (45th parallel)

Director Bomar Suggests Special "Parks Edition" Mountain Bike

Jun 23rd - 15:34pm | Rangertoo

I am perplexed by Roger's comment. Are you suggesting that the National Environmental Policy Act be repealed or that just the parts requiring public comment on government action be repealed? My thinking is that NEPA's requirements that the public get a chance to comment on government actions is the very opposite of socialism. It is democracy in action.

Jun 23rd - 10:30am | Roger

"Rangertoo" said "compliance" and "regulation"...code for socialism...equals also reams of paper, which certainly is not very enviro-friendly!!

Jun 22nd - 18:04pm | Anonymous

What a hoot ! Even better would be to watch Director Bomar be the first one to try riding the "Special" bike on a backcountry trail! I can see it. Can you?

Jun 22nd - 09:28am | Rangertoo

Oh good grief. Some people see the whole world as a political divide. What does "liberal" have to do with mountain bikes?

Jun 21st - 23:52pm | Anonymous

It would probably have to be the color green to make the liberals happy.

Judge Orders Cross Removed from Mojave National Preserve

Jun 23rd - 00:09am | Rationalpsychic

How many of the soldiers of WWI (I'm thinking primarily of Jews, though atheists and Muslims would also have been among the dead) had a faith that was not commemorated by this cross? I tire of having the phrase "politically correct" thrown up in our faces when we disagree with government-funded, -sponsored or -approved displays of religious observance.

A Winter Visit to Grand Canyon National Park's Phantom Ranch

Jun 22nd - 16:03pm | Diane

After getting such wonderful encouragement from my post way back on Feb 24th I thought I should let you know how it went - it was AMAZING!!

Statue of Liberty May Once Again Open to Top

Jun 22nd - 09:36am | Rangertoo

John - I sympathize with your perspective. There is, however, a basic difference from the safety of walking along the rim of a canyon and that of the stairs in the Statue of Liberty: one is a natural condition, the other is human made. There is a far great liability when allowing the public to use an unsafe constructed structure than to simply allow them to venture into a natural area.

Jun 21st - 20:31pm | John Riley

My wife and I took our 6 year old grand daughter (at her request) to "Lady liberty" on June 12, 2008. We had a wonderful time, however, our grand daughter was disappointed that we could not go into "Lady Liberty" and look out her crown.

Traveler's View: Concealed Weapons Have No Place In Our National Park System

Jun 22nd - 08:27am | S.I.R.

In answer to Lone Honker's reply on On June 18th, 2008 to S.I.R. June 17th,

Jun 20th - 23:07pm | Stan

I doubt serious if any of these people had a concealed carry permit and I don't know of any one that has a concealed carry permit, including myself, that engages in such stupidity. That's one big problem, everyone seams to think that any one who has a concealed carry permit is like these guys, and that's simply not true.

National Park Service Open to Cutting Single-Track Bike Trails in the Parks

Jun 21st - 14:38pm | Olallie

I'd like to thank the Traveler for bringing this issue into the light--I get very mistrustful any time an interest group (such as IMBA) pursues its aims out of view of the general public by proposing to streamline approvals for biking trails in the national parks. It's clear that the mountain bike community wants to have more access to hiking trails, not just two-lane dirt tracks.

Jun 20th - 10:51am | Ron Tipton

Like any proposed use of the national parks, mountain bike access by trail to a park's back country, or on single tracks, should be examined via a standard public process before given the green light.

Lost Backpackers Reunited with Families at Denali National Park

Jun 21st - 11:11am | Anonymous

Another example of unprepared (no GPS, etc) hikers costing all of us huge sums of money for SARs. This needs to be addressed as the humans on this world become less responsible for their actions !

Jun 21st - 02:59am | Fred Miller

I repeat myself when I say that I'm truly thankful that these two women were found alive and well. But I can't help but wonder why they would venture out without a GPS unit considering that they cost less than $100 and only weigh five ounces.

Jun 20th - 05:27am | Bob Janiskee

Yes, Traveler characterized Nelson and Flantz as experienced hikers with very limited Alaskan wilderness experience. And yes, Nelson took her cell phone with her. Why would she do that if she didn't entertain the notion that she might want to use it? Experienced backpackers don't haul extraneous weight around, not even on an overnight jaunt.

Congressman Calls for Emergency Declaration to Protect Grand Canyon National Park from Mining

Jun 21st - 10:35am | Sabattis

I think this post raises an interesting issue that Park Advocates have been slow to address. In particular - would should be the role of boundaries in the National Park System? The opening paragraph of this post suggests protecting *1 Million Acres* from mining.

Jun 20th - 12:15pm | Anonymous

This is great news. Kudos to Congressman Grijalva for standing up to protect our monuments. It's nice to know that some folks in DC still view our national parks as something more than shooting galleries and oil fields.

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Jun 21st - 10:09am | Sabattis

That's an interesting question, Bob. Let me rephrase your question: if the National Park Service estimates that a given safety improvement reduces, on average, one fatality per year, but causes a reduction in the aesthetics of a place - should it be opposed or supported?

Jun 20th - 09:39am | Lone Hiker

It isn't the responsibility of the Park Service to ensure your safety. Sanitizing the trails is a poor alternative.

Jun 20th - 05:45am | Bob Janiskee

Sabattis, you've said that the National Park Service has the responsibility to minimize the loss of human life in any cost-effective way possible. To "cost-effective" I would add, at a minimum, "ecologically responsible" and perhaps "esthetically acceptable."

Backpackers Rescued at Denali National Park Didn’t Know How Lost They Really Were

Jun 20th - 15:45pm | Hobblefoot

did something like this in my youth while hiking in Pennsylvania. The difference being, in Pennsylvania, you eventually end up in someone's backyard! Glad they're safe.

Commentary: Who Runs the National Park System?

Jun 20th - 15:02pm | pjtyler1928

Hello Betty,

Park History: Director Hartzog and the Automobile

Jun 20th - 08:56am | Rangertoo

I would submit that Yellowstone is also a national park devoted to the automobile as a recreational experience. The road system was specifically designed to get cars to each of the primary park resources (the falls, Old Faithful, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth, etc.).

Jun 20th - 05:46am | Sabattis

Oh no - not at all! Sorry for the misleading post. The two National Parks "devoted to the automobile as a recreational experience" are of course the Blue Ridge and Natchez Trace Parkways*.

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.

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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.