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National Park Quiz 2: Straddlers

May 16th - 01:11am | MRC

Bob, I never understood that. Would it be helpful to call only the "real" National Parks by that name and use "unit of the National Park System" for everything else?

May 15th - 21:47pm | Bob Janiskee

Those three trails are indeed counted in the inventory; I see that’s correct. But the Continental Divide Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Ice Age Trail, and the North Country Trail are not? And none of the National Historic Trails either?

May 15th - 21:01pm | Sabattis

Hi Bob - actually when the National Park Service refers to the "391 Units of the National Park System", it counts the Appalachian, Natchez Trace, and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trails towards that total. Its never been totally clear to me why other National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails have not similarly "counted" in the National Park Service's methodology.

May 15th - 13:19pm | Anonymous

Ouch. Who knew a quiz would bring controversy to NPT?

May 15th - 06:23am | Bob Janiskee

Nice catch on Harpers Ferry NHP and Natchez Trace Parkway, Sabattis. I've revised the relevant item, since these two national parks are indeed located in three different states. This necessitated a slight edit of your original comment so as not to confuse people yet to take the quiz. None of the (eight?) National Scenic Trails is a national park, so we can't accept that one.

May 14th - 21:34pm | Sabattis

I only got 8 out 11 on this one - but in fairness, there [was a problem with] #3. There are a number of National Parks that are located in three or more States, not least of which are the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail - which provide the answer to question #10.

Park History: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

May 15th - 22:02pm | Bob Janiskee

When the first National Preserve was created -- I think it was Big Cypress in 1974 -- it was certain that the provision to make sport hunting legal in a National Preserve would create problems. Is that what you are talking about?

May 15th - 21:39pm | Sabattis

It may be worth noting that there is one variation in designation types in the National Park System that does produce differing levels of protection - there are slight differences between the protection levels of a "National Preserve" and other types of Units in the National Park System - particularly National Park and National Monument.

May 15th - 15:56pm | Bob Janiskee

Rangeroo is quite correct that all national parks are to be managed according to the same criteria, regardless of title. The Redwoods Act of 1978 made that crystal clear. Traveler understands this principle very well.

May 15th - 13:44pm | Kurt Repanshek

Rangertoo, I worded it that way to reflect that Carlsbad initially was a national monument. The "hook" for the post was the fact that May 14 is its anniversary as a "national park" as legislated by Congress.

May 15th - 13:30pm | Rangertoo

How do you "gain national park status?" There are no criteria that determines a "national park" from any of the other designations in the National Park System. How else could you find Cuyahoga Valle, Hot Springs, Congaree, Death Valley, and Grand Canyon all beings titled national parks?

Master Craftsmen Restoring 18th Century House That Survived the Civil War

May 15th - 21:27pm | Anonymous

My last name is Ellwood and I was wondering if I have any connection to this guy... was the guy who built this house invovlved in the civil war?

Blue Ridge Parkway Revising General Management Plan, Might Close Campground

May 15th - 13:15pm | Anonymous

I need a paved trail, thank you very much! My goal is life is NOT to be run over by someone speeding/drunk/texting/jabbering on the phone, etc on the Parkway when I bike on it!

May 15th - 12:39pm | Tom Kerr

The drop in the number of people wanting to camp inside the parkway is likely due to other campgrounds near the parkway with full facilities, i.e. hot showers, camp stores, laundry, even gas stations. While it may not be feasible to provide all of these services, hot showers should be a possibility.

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

May 15th - 11:32am | Lone Hiker

I've seen the sign at the Bright Angel Trailhead.

May 13th - 14:24pm | Anonymous

Calculate the risk factors involved in the outdoor exploits and gage the insurance fees for such activities...foolish or not. Bill accordingly to the outdoor mishap and factor in the cost of the SAR. No checks please! COD ONLY! Another words, some sort of insurance premium to cover any prudent outdoor adventure...the higher the risk, the higher the fee! Sounds fair to me.

May 13th - 13:31pm | Stephen L Martin

Insurance really doesn't have to be "cost effective" if the goal is to offset costs. In this way I don't think it would be that expensive to set up or maintain.

May 13th - 13:05pm | MCR

Please, get a feeling for scales. We are talking about $4,735,424.12 a year. Does anyone here believe, that the NPS is capable of building a bureaucracy to bill visitors with reimbursement or any kind of insurance, that would be cost effective? Frankly, 4.7 Mio is a small price for the knowledge that every visitor will get help, when he or she needs it.

May 13th - 10:56am | Kath

I agree with the comments that say that all National Park visitors should not be charged an extra fee so that a few can engage in certain inherently dangerous activity and then be rescued free of charge. The most sensible solution would be to charge all those who climb Mt. Rainier or who climb El Cap or Half Dome an extra fee that would be used to pay for all Search and Rescues.

May 13th - 10:15am | Betty

I totally agree that the person(s) involved should pay the costs. It is way past time when people need to take responsibility for their actions !!! If people want to be a part a natural experience, they should take responsibility for themselves and know what they are doing. They should be prepared physically,mentally and geared for the experience.

May 13th - 10:09am | Lone Hiker

A fee charged to all who enter the parks for the convenience of a small percentage who require the service is simply not acceptable. Why should the general public assist in paying your personal auto insurance deductible if you get into a wreck? Granted we all pay the price in higher premiums, but that's a debate for another time.

May 13th - 10:02am | Kath

I just read that the state of Nevada is asking Steve Fossett's widow to reimburse them the nearly one million dollar cost of searching for his lost plane. Hopefully, out of the multi-million dollar estate she will do so voluntarily. Search and rescue, even for wealthy private pilots, is not usually charged. But...

May 13th - 07:31am | Stephen L Martin

Some sort of insurance program would seem to alleviate the concerns for all involved. It seems like an easy and all encompasing solution to the problems. What am I missing here?

May 13th - 07:04am | Mike

I would suspect that somewhere between not charging at all, and charging everyone the full cost for SAR, is a viable solution. Anyone who thinks either extreme is the only answer is a fool. Some states have imposed an additional fee on recreational lisences and are also selling hiker certificates to help offset the cost.

May 13th - 06:18am | Marylander

The problem lies when an idiot Father (Or I guess a Mother could do it too) takes his kids out to the wilderness, totally unprepared, and gets horribly lost. If he KNOWS that he is going to have to blow his childrens college fund on a rescue, he may try to find his way out on his own and thus kill his entire family.

May 13th - 01:33am | SAR volunteer

Rescues should not come with a price. If they do, and people are aware of this; they will often try to rescue themselves and end up making the situation far, far worse (by getting more lost or injured) than it would have been. I'm not making this up, this has happened before.

May 13th - 00:37am | Anonymous

There are documented cases of persons delaying the call for help because they feared being charged for the cost of the rescue mission. The value of a human life far outweighs the monetary cost of the rescue, and the rescuers put their lives at risk with full knowledge of the potential consequences.

May 13th - 00:06am | The Adventurist

I actually cover some of these big adventure "high risk" expeditions on my blog. I have also covered quite a few SAR events as well. I understand the need for SAR, I also understand that there will be those less experienced attempting to do what they never should.

May 12th - 22:09pm | Peter Dunn

It is great to see people want to explore and if they get into trouble then maybe there should be a fee, but then why should we pay for someone who smokes that gets cancer or some overweight person who has heart trouble etc. Get the drift.

May 12th - 18:14pm | Random Walker

No. What a great way to use my taxes, military etc. I deeply thank all the SAR volunteers and urge all to donate their time and or money in support for their selfless service. Americans have become so fixated on the $ it makes me hurl.

May 12th - 16:50pm | Scott White

I agree with Montana Jim. 5$ or whatever seems reasonable per entrance fee. Although in the case of foolishness or negligence, The park should definitely go after the beneficiaries of any S&R's to recoup the costs.

May 12th - 16:35pm | VaHiker1

Why not require insurance? When I was in Colorado, the local rescue squad in Pagosa Springs sold hiking insurance recognized state wide for $5 for two years. It covered the costs of all ground based SAR and the first $3000 of a helicopter extraction. I gladly paid the fee (heck, I would have thrown $5 in the pot as a donation), thankfully never needed the policy and went home.

May 12th - 16:00pm | Montana_Jim

I think that there should be a $5 fee charged to all users or carload to cover search rescues. Any money left over would go towards next's years budget for the park.

May 12th - 15:37pm | Anonymous

Why shouldn't each participant who uses a rescue service pay? Why should taxpayers around the country pay for someone else's self-inflicted recreational problems?

May 12th - 15:33pm | anon

The answer to this question is obvious. If I get injured or sick in my home, is the ambulance ride to the hospital free?

May 12th - 14:05pm | Anonymous

It depends on the circumstance, but there are irresponsible people who will do stupid things because they know that someone will rescue them. Those people should pay.

May 12th - 12:48pm | steve

Yes, the idiots that climb mountains and go wilderness trail walking unprepared for emergencies should have to pay for S&R!! The year I climbed Mt.s St. Helens, I had to apply for a permit. Log in when I started the climb and log out when I returned (i believe they also wanted some contact information also). I thing that was good requirements.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

May 15th - 01:10am | FrankW

We took several days of vacation in Yosemite in the early 1990s and I made the round trip from Camp Curry to the top of Half Dome one day. I was in 33 minute 10K shape at the time. I ran every part of the distance that it was possible to run. The first problem I encountered was a guided mule or horse tour on the way up to Nevada Falls.

How To Buy National Park-Related Gifts Without Leaving Home

May 14th - 18:38pm | Anonymous

I found a company that makes and sells pewter ornaments for some of the National Parks. The company's website is www.innerpeacedesigns.net

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

May 14th - 09:08am | Anonymous

Kurt, Your article is very misleading in suggesting that the impact is minimal and ORV's will co-exist. You should write an article that captures the essence of why ORV access was originally granted and was maintained for several generations.

Where Are the Best Sunrises in the National Park System?

May 14th - 06:39am | Linda Hanney

The Kansas Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is beautiful at sunrise.

Bison Slaughter In Yellowstone National Park Draws Protest Against Park Service

May 13th - 21:37pm | jsmacdonald

Yes, very sad. I'm still hearing reports of winter kill in the Lamar Valley. NPS announced today that the bison haze in West Yellowstone will be starting tomorrow (interestingly coinciding with a Buffalo Field Campaign rally at the state capitol in Helena). According to a resident near the buffalo at Horse Butte, there are about 250 there that will be forced back into Yellowstone.

May 13th - 20:44pm | paula day

Sad! my husband and I have been coming to Y.N.P for yrs, we come each spring and Fall.

Grand Teton Bears, Update

May 13th - 08:17am | Anonymous

Bears ROCK!!!!!!!

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Spawns Vandalism

May 12th - 13:59pm | Anonymous

Vandalism is the dumbest way to make your point - no matter if you're an ultra-liberal environmentalist blowing up logging camps and living in trees in Berkley, or someone who just wants to fish. There are better ways of doing things and I hope NPS nabs the perps and puts them in jail.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

May 12th - 13:25pm | ErikF

I would rather need a gun in a park, than have to need a crime scene investigator. So for prevention of murder, yes guns are needed in parks.

May 12th - 13:21pm | ErikF

I support the right to carry a firearm. Criminals have guns wether legal or not. If there was to be an assault on me, I would want the best tool available to protect my life. Wether the assailant has a gun, knife or just a big club, if my life is in danger, I have the right to keep and bear a firearm as granted by the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution, if my life is in danger.

Creature Feature: The Red-Throated Loon

May 12th - 11:47am | Linda Cronin

Chance - thank you for sharing this information on the Red Throated Loon. Approximately 20 years ago - can't quite remember anymore I found a dead water bird on our farm after a severe storm. I searched my guidebooks trying to identify the bird, settled on a Red-necked Phalarope , but never felt confident in the accuracy of my choice.

Bigger Boat Tours Coming to Voyageurs National Park

May 12th - 07:40am | Stephen L Martin

This all reminds me of one of the basic, paradoxical, axioms of economics, i.e. the world is full of limited resources.

May 12th - 07:10am | Sabattis

The difference between funding campground and boat ramps vs. paleontological positions is that the former are capital expenses and the latter are operating expenses. I would expect that funding for capital and operating comes out of two different pots of money for the Park Service, and so aren't really in competition with each other.

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