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Another Snake Story from Everglades National Park

Jan 26th - 23:42pm | Merryland

Snakes? Why'd it have to be snakes? Southern Florida is an ecological mess. There are so many people releasing non-native "things" into the 'glades, canals, swimming pools, and coastal waters. There are thousands of stories like this just waiting to be reported and while entertaining on one level, it's also a very sad statement on humans' unique ability to truly foul things up.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jan 25th - 11:17am | Kelly Britton

One could also make that the argument that if there were NO cables, the risk/thrill takers would still attempt the climb. Furthermore, the NPS is providing a safer alternative during the warm season.

Jan 21st - 17:15pm | Yosemite faithful

The argument that people might die on Half Dome so it shouldn't be so accessible is as illogical as saying that people might die in a car crash while driving Tioga Road so it shouldn't be open. Of course someone could die on Half Dome. Or on the highways. Or at Glacier Point. There is reasonable risk for great reward in Yosemite.

Paw Print Another Sign That Wolves Might Be Returning to Rocky Mountain National Park

Jan 25th - 07:57am | jsmacdonald

With today's expected change of the rules to allow more shooting of wolves and the plans of wolf management that have been approved for the states (especially those of Wyoming and Idaho), it will be interesting to see whether the expansion of a wolf here and there into Colorado (as well as into other states; for instance Oregon) happens before the wolf populations face decimation.

Jan 25th - 06:09am | mark

Bravo Terry,,,I feel exactly as you do.

Jan 23rd - 17:57pm | bryan

Very exciting. In addition to the "problem" of wolves naturally recolonizing an ecosystem of which they were- and should be- a vital component as a top carnivore, there will be great opportunity.

Jan 22nd - 18:27pm | Terry

We are the ones who destroyed them in the first place and brought the problem on ourselves, we need to protect them and reintroduce them but the law needs to be enforced as well we have seen the problems that are happening all around us because of the lack of care we have given this planet.

Jan 22nd - 13:51pm | Anonymous

We reintroduced the wolves so it is our responsibility to manage them in balance with other points of view.

NPCA Asks Secretary Kempthorne Not To Change Gun Regs in National Parks

Jan 24th - 20:39pm | Frank N

"The text of the Second Amendment is, 'A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'"

Jan 24th - 14:56pm | Fred Miller

Frank N. makes some good points here. I'm glad he's never felt endangered while hiking the backwoods. I hope I never do either. I hope I never need to start a survival fire, but I carry a magnesium fire-starter anyway. Does this mean that we need to outlaw fire-starters because they could be used for arson? C'mon. give me a break!

Jan 24th - 13:23pm | Anonymous

I'm not a member of the NRA, nor do I own a handgun, nor do I support the current administration. I am, however, a Constitutionalist and believe the job of every American is to defend the Constitution, not just part of it.

Jan 24th - 08:45am | Anonymous

Folks, it's the philosophy of fear that's deeply entrenched and portrayed by the NRA and the Bush & Cheney administration. Scare tactics with crime helps to sell guns! The NRA and gun nuts will exploit this to the fullest extent. The next visit to the National Parks they may ask you:"Where's your papers"? Carry a gun? God forbid!

Jan 23rd - 16:41pm | Frank N

......."this isn't about risk; it's about the Constitution." War Cry of the NRA

Jan 23rd - 13:14pm | Anonymous

"People who insist that they need to carry a loaded gun everywhere astonish me."

Jan 23rd - 12:34pm | Frank N

People who insist that they need to carry a loaded gun everywhere astonish me. How have I lived to be 62 years old and NEVER carried one? I have hiked and backpacked all over this great country. I have walked (at night) down the streets of LA, New York, Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans and others.

Jan 18th - 22:20pm | scott white

Mr. Miller, While I actually agree with your criticism of the above statements, I find it strange that you should feel the need to be defended all the time. It seems inconsistent to me that someone who is the risk taking, self sufficient type of personality who would travel in the wilderness would feel so much at jeopardy.

Jan 18th - 15:40pm | Fred Miller

Once again we hear lots of good arguments about preventing poaching. We're missing the point here. How does this discussion keep me safe when I'm hiking in the wilderness? I only want to defend myself from a person who might try to steal my wallet or assault my wife. I'm a "good guy". I obey the laws, including hunting laws.

Super Volcano, The Ticking Time Bomb Beneath Yellowstone National Park

Jan 24th - 10:23am | Brodie Farquhar

Kurt: thanks for the heads-up on the new book. I wrote about the Super Volcano extensively for the Casper Star Tribune and struggled with how to convey the technical information from the scientists, to the lay reader. I'll have to see how Breining handles it.

Groups Fighting Road Building In Death Valley

Jan 24th - 09:49am | Anonymous

Members of the "kick the bucket club" would like to see some of the beauity and wilderness you seek to protect from all but those able to hike 10-20 miles with full pack. Ive driven these roads many years and resent that suddenely its time for change. Solitiude and peace are what is saught by visitors to these areas,that means access!!!!!!!!!!!!

Senators' Letter to Open National Parks to Concealed Weapons

Jan 23rd - 14:57pm | fred

That sounds paranoid.

Pot Farmers Tilling Ground in Yosemite

Jan 23rd - 14:32pm | gordman

Drugs are a serious problem and seeing these marijuana plantations makes me think about how serious the problem really is. Drug smugglers are really powerful, they keep pushing drugs down to the market and the result is mostly disastrous. How can we stop this? Drug rehab facility

Association of National Park Rangers Opposes Change in Park Gun Regulations

Jan 22nd - 20:46pm | Steve Sergeant

As a long-time professional in the "media biz" I can say that press accounts of backcountry violence are about exceptional, unusual, extraordinary events. In other words, they're weird, that's why they're news. Literally, the likelihood of these kinds of mishaps happening to any one of us is in the one-in-many-millions chance.

Jan 20th - 13:53pm | skunklove

i agree,people with the proper permits are a very small amount of the problem, illegal arms are....... this law seems to prevent me from visiting all our national forest and parks, this is another way to chip away at the 2nd amendment, how many shoot outs have you heard of in a national park....... i think the present laws are just fine....

Jan 18th - 10:10am | Anonymous

Schools are not federal property as are national parks. Citizens should be able to carry weapons in national parks, and those who use weapons cavalierly in national parks (for target practice or poaching) should be punished. But the Second Amendment, which seems to protect individual rights to carry arms, should not be ignored.

Jan 18th - 07:49am | Anonymous

Perhaps then, we should allow people to arm themselves in a school building...after all, you can have guns out on the road in front of the school and there have been rapists who turned out to be teachers, and doesn't the 2nd Amendment state that we can carry weapons?

Jan 17th - 17:28pm | vince

I don't see the strength of the argument. It's the same story of banning the law abiding citizens while ignoring the fact that the bad guys (criminals, poachers etc) will be armed with or without the ban. If you have passed all the checks and are deemed to be a responsible adult then it shouldn't make a difference when you walk from state woods onto the NPS woods.

Jan 17th - 17:17pm | Anonymous

that is true, also what do they mean by negligent discharge, any law abiding citizen who has a legal ccw or cancealed carry firearms permit is not going to just be letting off rounds in the park for no reason if any citizen with a legal ccw is discharging there firearm its because of a rabid wild animal or bear or mountin lion which are EVERY where!!

Jan 17th - 12:42pm | Anonymous

It is my beleif that the Second Amendant givies everyone the right to Self defence. It follows that everyone that is every person has the constitutional right to Arm themselves for self defense agaist any enemy, be they human or not. If a person citizen does not have the right to self defense niether does the State or nation or the people emloyed by said nation and or state.

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

Jan 22nd - 12:16pm | pkrnger

Hi Carol, It's great to see you contributing to the commentary on National Parks Traveler. To answer your question, yes I met several women on the trail who were in our age bracket. No one in the women's dorm at Phantom Ranch complained of snoring either. Owen Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Jan 22nd - 05:34am | Carol Bouville

Owen - Andre and I are very impressed with your accomplishment. I am not sure which was harder - the trek up and down or the stay at Phantom Ranch. It doesn't sound like many women do this circuit. Did you encounter any my age? Best wishes, Carol

Jan 21st - 10:34am | pkrnger

Yes, I used two hiking poles (that I purchased in Glacier National Park almost ten years ago). Both the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab trails show signs of recent trail mainentance, so they were not as rocky or eroded as I remembered from previous trips. I recall that in 1969 there used to be two parallel ruts and a central ridge in the South Kaibab trail. Those are now gone.

Jan 20th - 14:56pm | Anonymous

Did you use hiking poles? They are motivators on the uphills (plant them alternatively in front of you and walk up to and past them) and knee-savers on the downhills. They also are help on rough, rocky or eroded trails -- like both Bright Angel and South Kaibab, which have such steady mule train traffic.

Jan 19th - 08:05am | pkrnger

One of the really pleasant surprises of this trip was encountering NPS park interpreter Stewart Fritts while he was conducting a guided walk along the rim at the Grand Canyon Village. His walk focused on the historic architectual accomplishments of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. Mr.

Great Basin National Park's Air Could Be Compromised By Proposed Power Plant

Jan 22nd - 06:53am | Electrical Engineer

I see lots of NIMBY here. That stands for "Not In My Back Yard."

Jan 17th - 16:44pm | WOW!

First of all, I want to say this might seem like I am picking on Lone Hiker but this is directed to all people who mix in a lot of emotion with a small amount of facts when they post an article. We all have our own ideas about how things should be and that is right and good but you better know what you are talking about and the finer details involved.

Jan 16th - 07:03am | Lone Hiker

Regulators no longer permit coal plants to be built.

Entrance Fee Repeal Legislation Would Have Little Impact on National Parks

Jan 21st - 15:59pm | Suzi Dow

Sounds like the Park Service got another sweet deal on the back of our national forests. According to S-2438, National Parks can charge and everyone else can not.

Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman

Jan 20th - 22:00pm | jsmacdonald

I scan all the news on Yellowstone daily, usually 2-3 times a day, and I haven't seen a bit of news about this since it happened. Almost anything is possible; people really can accidentally plunge to their deaths from that location, one could commit suicide, or one could commit homicide. No matter what, it's certainly tragic, and as far as has been reported, still a mystery.

Jan 20th - 00:07am | Anonymous

How come we can't know the name of the "panic ridden" man who was with her? Who is this person who wrote this last comment. Why does everyone know Charlotte's name but not his? Somebody knows something. How about starting with Van Susteren or pictures of her with friends from myspace.

Crater Lake, On Average, Is Deepest Lake in North America

Jan 19th - 07:46am | pkrnger

Just to provide an update about my ongoing research on the deepest lakes of the world: Crater Lake is the deepest, when compared on the basis of average depth among lakes whose basins are entirely above sea level. The average depths of Lakes Baikal and Tanganyika are deeper than Crater Lake; however, both have basins that extend below sea level.

Park History: Acadia National Park

Jan 18th - 18:38pm | Paul

I have been going to Acadia every June for the past 15 years. Some people think I would grow bored of it, but I enjoy it more and more with each year. I couldn't imagine NOT going.

Do Professional Hockey And Yosemite National Park Belong Together?

Jan 17th - 23:13pm | YoseMom

For those of you who actually care. The kids loved having the team up here to play. These are kids that make the choice of either going to a very small school (30 students Kinder.

Climate Change and the National Parks

Jan 17th - 16:44pm | Kath

I wouldn't worry too much about the giant sequoias. They predate the dinosaurs and have lasted for 70 million years. In fact, more types of sequoias flourished when the world was hotter. As climate changed over the millenia and the earth became cooler and drier, their range became much more limited.

Jan 17th - 07:48am | jr_ranger

Well, if it helps any, Whitnam Mission NHS out in Walla Walla, Washington is doing more than its fair share.

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Jan 17th - 13:19pm | Joel

Good point Kurt. That is exactly what conservatives (when we actually had 2 parties instead of the hodgepodge we have now) have been saying for years. Leave such laws to the state and not the federal government. This then lends to the point of the proposed law change.

Jan 16th - 18:36pm | repanshek

Actually, how exactly the 2nd Amendment should be interpreted has been questioned for quite some time. Does it mean states can field a militia, or that individuals have a right to bear arms?

Jan 16th - 18:26pm | Anonymous

The current federal law permits people to keep their guns while traveling in national parks, but it denies them the right to bear, or carry, guns on federal land. Wrong. The current law prohibits carrying LOADED firearms in the national parks. You can keep you weaponry cased and in your possession at all times, provided the piece is UNLOADED.

Jan 16th - 15:23pm | Peter

Awesome...It's great to have Lone Hiker to tell us all how stupid we've been. With all the time he spends posting for the anti-gun platform we'll be singing sweet songs to each other in no time. Talk about a last word freak!

Tar Sands Development Could Impact Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Glen Canyon NRA

Jan 16th - 11:57am | Bob Janiskee

In situ ("in place") processing methods are designed to use steam, solvents, controlled combustion, and related techniques to remove liquid and gaseous fuels, bitumen, wax, and other valuable commodities from tar sands and oil shale deposits while leaving the waste rock and sand right where it sits.

Jan 15th - 22:41pm | Scott White

Hey Bob, how 'bout some more info on this "in situ" process. I'd rather hear it from you before I start hearing the media spin.

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