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Memo to Mary: Call Julie Elmore

Feb 17th - 23:03pm | barbara elmore

Don't put down this study just because you have not read it. It is articulate and right on point. The Washington insiders asked her to come to a meeting, on a specific day, and at a specific time, She appeared, and they were gone. Maybe they were afraid their names were in it?

University Shooting Doesn't Bring A Halt to Interior Department's Review of Weapons Ban in Parks

Feb 17th - 22:17pm | Joel

Kurt, sorry for butchering your name. Just to set the record straight as a CCP holder of the state of UT and having taken a course in Springville, UT at Rangemasters. I can tell you that they expressly make aware the gun laws and choice of private business owners to post their own gun rules. This has been enforced by all LDS church buildings and properties.

Feb 17th - 17:42pm | Art

Kurt, I agree that emotion can play a part in any debate around matters of individual freedom, death, etc. That is why it is always best to avoid grappling with these issues in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. I guess the impulse to wag a finger in someone's face, rightly or wrongly, is just too much for some people.

Feb 17th - 16:40pm | repanshek

Art, I spent 14 years with The Associated Press. From my experience mainstream media does not have an agenda, hidden or otherwise, to minimize the facts. JoeSF,

Feb 17th - 13:26pm | JoeSF

Frank and Kurt get the cheap shot award for using this tragedy to support their absurd claims of constitution change. Steven Kazmierczak had a history of mental illness. He wore tattoos of violent images from movies. By the reasoning of people like Frank and Kurt the amendments that allowed the movies and video games that influenced Steven should also be brought into question.

Feb 17th - 13:15pm | Art

Kurt, You write, "... when was the last time you heard of someone with a concealed weapon, someone who wasn't a security guard or off-duty police officer, step forward in such a situation?"

Feb 16th - 19:12pm | Frank N

Well, I see that, just as is the case of most mass shootings, all of the weapons used at NIU were legally obtained. Guns are just tools, gun advocates tell us. They sure are, I say. Tools of death. Guns don't kill people, they say, people kill people. Wonder how many folks would have died if that fellow had stepped out onto that stage with a couple of baseball bats?

Feb 16th - 18:07pm | cf

I am not sure what prompted this desire to permit folks to bring in concealed guns. The parks have allowed firearms ,broken down,. There are plenty of folks who will be reminded to bring their guns if this law passes. The seasonal staff at most parks has been cut back .

Feb 16th - 14:26pm | repanshek

Dave, as I read Utah law, while the mall could post a sign saying it was a "gun-free zone," that by itself does not prevent those with concealed carry permits from entering:

Feb 16th - 13:36pm | Dave O

Kurt, you fail to mention the Trolley Square Mall is a gun-free zone. No law-abiding citizen would have been carrying a gun in the mall. The off-duty officer was from Ogden, not Salt Lake City, and unless specifically allowed by local law, was violating the gun-free zone.

Feb 16th - 12:00pm | repanshek

Joel, For starters, it's "Kurt." Biased view? I think I've mellowed over the years;-) I quite correctly pointed out that this is an emotionally charged issue, one that folks can't agree on, and lamented the fact that the national parks have been dragged into the fray.

Feb 16th - 10:22am | Joel

At least you don't have a biased view right Kirk? LOL, why is it that the difficulty of carrying a concealed weapon or the stigma associated and created by media types isn’t to blame for their only being an "off-duty cop" who was carrying a weapon.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Feb 17th - 20:54pm | Gaby

The cables as they are now, look dangerous to me. It looks like an adult could slip under them if they lose the grip. If I were to go up there I would use my VIA FERRATA harness I bought in Italy a few years back when we went climbing in the Dolomites on the via ferratas (exposed climbs with cables to hold on). A via ferrata harness has 2 ropes with carabiners that clip and unclip easily.

Feb 17th - 08:49am | Anonymous

The risks people are taking aren't just risks to themselves. I've seen people panic on steep trails before, grabbing at the hands of passing strangers. If you want to conquer your fear of heights, do it somewhere that you won't put others' lives at risk in the process. They should definitely limit it to a certain number of climb permits issued for each day, but how do you certify people?

Bison Slaughter In Yellowstone National Park Draws Protest Against Park Service

Feb 17th - 20:25pm | Anonymous

Excerpt From: http://www.yellowstoneparknet.com/articles/bison_2.php Montana will kill bison despite disease report Tests show that 82 percent of slaughtered buffalo not infected by brucellosis. By Rachel Odell, Jackson Hole News 12-23-99

Feb 17th - 13:35pm | Random Walker

From what I have read the bacterium Brucella abortus came to Yellowstone NP around 1917 and now infects a significant fraction of the Yellowstone bison. For the bison it seems to produce little illness or disability. In fact the symptoms in cattle are pretty mild but does cause some infected cows to abort and therefore slow down their milk production.

Cycling at Haleakala National Park Given "High Risk" Rating

Feb 17th - 10:24am | Claire Walter

Richard, it's not always about safety concerns. The issues might be physical ability (how many visitors are able to ride up Haleakala in order to ride down?) and even logistics (for the majority who can't ride up, how do they get bikes up to the top, and for that matter, where do they rent bikes with good, well-maintained brakes?).

Feb 14th - 12:11pm | Richard

People don't need commecial tours. Just rent a good bike and do it yourself. If you question the safety, don't go. Too many things are commecialized, it takes the individuality of the experience and creates an amusement style ride that is best left out of a National Park.

Feb 13th - 19:02pm | Claire Walter

One fatality out of how many clients who have done this commercial ride over how many years = one of the highest risks?!?!?!?! Compared with what? Surely not with, say, the climbers who die annually on Mt. Rainier, Mt. McKinley and other wild places in the National Park system. Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Feb 17th - 07:30am | Anonymous

I believe the "fools" are already carrying loaded weapons in the National Parks. Laws such as this one don't keep lawbreakers from breaking laws (see the "war on drugs" for an example). This law will affect the law biding citizens who don't carry because it's illegal; these are the same folks who don't rob a liquor store because it's wrong and illegal.

Where Do the Presidential Candidates Stand on America's National Parks?

Feb 16th - 06:23am | Wayne K

Can we bring back Teddy Roosevelt ?

Feb 15th - 10:14am | Anonymous

The question that I would ask each candidate is: Interpret what the philosophy and the concept of the National Parks stands for and what it personally means to you. Also, what does conservation of our natural resources personally mean to you as well as our natural heritage?

Feb 15th - 09:07am | amwdew

Yes, I agree with Mookie and would take it a step further to ask the candidate where they stand, more generally, on the matter of encouraging/fostering more private funding for the parks (as was proposed in the "matching funds" part of the Centennial Initiative).

Feb 15th - 08:20am | Mookie

One other question I would love to hear answered by the candidates is where they stand on corporate sponsorship for the parks. Most politicians, the higher they rise the more indebted they are to big business and the corporations that line their pockets.

Feb 15th - 08:13am | dkcase

I wondered throughout the debates where Congressman Ron Paul stood on this. Of course, he's not one of the finalists, but I wondered whether his strict constitutionalist consistency allows for supporting national parks.

Feb 14th - 23:28pm | Anonymous

McCain also has a very shady history actually following through on his promises to restore natural quiet in Grand Canyon National Park. It's still a mess, and it only seems to be getting worse.

Feb 14th - 23:02pm | Kath

McCain hiked with his son from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim. Just a family hike. Not a press photo op. Not only pretty good for a 71 year old, but it shows his love of the parks.

National Park Visitation Debate -- Here We Go Again

Feb 15th - 16:14pm | Anonymous

Frank N, your quote "ALL THAT MATTERS IS ME" is slightly bent on the egotistical me-me generation, if not hell bent on pure selfishness. Maybe you can re-clarify your statement for me. What matters to me now, is the holistic sharing and caring about the parks and the general environment by us all...young and old!

Feb 15th - 13:35pm | Jen

Steve, I'd be interested in reading the whole report, too, if you can find it (or a link). "To defrauded town toilers, parks in magazine articles are like pictures of bread to the hungry. I can write only hints to incite good wanderers to come to the feast.... A day in the mountains is worth a mountain of books." -- John Muir

Feb 15th - 11:19am | Steve Sergeant

Erik wrote: wonder if they attempted taking the demographic changes the US has experienced into account in their models. By demographic changes, do you mean the decline of caucasians as majority, or something else?

Feb 14th - 22:44pm | Erik

I've read the original paper by Pergams and Zaradic. I'd have to dig it out but I remember thinking they had a causality/correlation conflation. I'd be interested in reading their whole report. I wonder if they attempted taking the demographic changes the US has experienced into account in their models.

Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

Feb 14th - 21:48pm | Bob

My previous response was not cleared by the moderators for some reason so I will try again.

Feb 13th - 10:38am | Anonymous

Easy Bob! No offense, just trying to make a point. Bob, just take a hard look at your local supermarkets, the shopping malls and parks...most Americans are horribly over weight...and out of shape! Why? I just assume for two basic reasons: diet and lack of a good exercise regimen.

Feb 13th - 09:56am | Bob

I'm 6'5", 200 lbs, and in good health but I ride a Segway because I have bad knees ... and because it is cheap, green, and efficient way to get around. I too like to experience the national parks that my taxes pay for ... if you judgmental people don't mind too much, that is! What nerve.

Feb 13th - 09:12am | Anonymous

Actually they're toys for tikes! For god sakes fat Americans...start walking & hiking more!

Dinosaur National Monument Cutting Paleontology Staff

Feb 14th - 19:36pm | Ted

The USGS does a great job at Rainier, and the public gets to see what part of this process? Maybe a seismograph needle? The beauty of Dinosaur USED to be that people could see something in action in the field or in the lab. Since the visitor center shut down there have been few fossils to see and only a couple of days of excavation the public could actually see.

Dinosaur National Monument Superintendent Favors Law Enforcement, Maintenance, Interpretation Over Paleontology

Feb 14th - 17:29pm | JoeSF

As long as we are hiring out, let’s put up all the maintenance jobs for contract bidding. Certainly they should go first. Actually I am sure there are private Americans who will work for less than government employees and still provide good service. After that we can cut costs further by contracting to firms that hire illegals. Then we can call them "jobs Americans won't do".

Feb 14th - 14:08pm | Matt M.

This is not an unusual arrangement. Many agencies rely on partnerships to get this type of work done. Partners are frequently better equipped to do certain jobs and this is one of them.

Feb 13th - 21:59pm | JoeSF

The last time I was to yellowstone the extensive geologic exhibit was replaced with a wild life exhibit. All well and fine for eco systems , but yellowstone park is probably the most significant geologic area in North America if not the world. Maybe some one can say if the geologic exhibit has been restored? So this has been going on at lot longer than you think.

Feb 13th - 21:48pm | David

I bet if it had oil under it, or small foreign country surrounding it the Feds would be interested. The War on Science has many battlefields - this is one them. Perhaps the new regime will actually spend a little money on America.

Feb 13th - 21:16pm | Anonymous

C'mon Kurt, too d*#m much money is spent on scientists now, puttin' jewelry (collars, tags) on animals to study 'em to death! Sheesh! The people want ranger talks and walks, concessions (good food), and clean restrooms!

Feb 13th - 21:11pm | Anonymous

I think this is a very good move on the part of the Superintendent. This work CAN be done more than adequately in partnerships with universities.

Feb 13th - 16:22pm | Anonymous

I have been to Dinosaur National Monument twice. Thie second time I took my granddaughter who is interested in anthropology and geology. It is a shame that the Superintendent is putting himself before the interests of the public. Maybe he needs to find another job.

The Yellowstone Precedent

Feb 14th - 07:51am | Anonymous

Having been to Yellowstone several times - once in the winter. I can from first hand experience say that the pollution from snowmobiles is minute at worst and non-existant at best. Pollution from cars in the summer is much more severe. The animals are not even fazed by slow moving snowmobiles.

Welcome to the National Parks Traveler 2.0

Feb 13th - 19:23pm | Anonymous

This is the BEST site I've found if you are seeking not only the best Nat. Park info, how-to's, what not to miss etc., but it also gives the concerned reader/traveler an easy way to keep informed about what is happening - both positive and of great concern - in the parks! Keep up the AWESOME WORK!

U.S. Sen. Coburn Runs Poll On Whether "Concealed Carry" Should be Allowed in Parks

Feb 13th - 18:03pm | repanshek

OK folks, I think we've covered all angles of this debate. Time to move on.

Feb 13th - 17:53pm | Art

Amazing. The impulse to commit violence is not tied, in any way, to owning a gun. Period. "One statistic NO ONE can debate is that if guns had never been invented, there would have been be a lot fewer dead people down through the years."

Feb 13th - 11:09am | Anonymous

Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated): Homicide Suicide Other (inc Accident)

Feb 13th - 08:26am | Bradley Edwards

Statistics are like a bikini...they reveal a lot, but what they don't show is usually more interesting.

Modeling Mesa Verde National Park With Lasers

Feb 13th - 12:53pm | Landon Silla

Thank you Kurt for such a great article! One small correction though, you provided a slightly incorrect link. The link to the map of Fire Temple is: http://archive.cyark.org/Mesa-Verde-Fire-Temple-map.php If you were looking for a map to the entire Mesa Verde park, the link is:

The Essential RVing Guide

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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.