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West Yellowstone: A Gateway Town Worth Hanging Around

Jul 16th - 11:51am | Stephen Timblin

Hey Kurt,

Jul 15th - 22:14pm | Anonymous

We stayed in West Yellowstone last year while visiting the park and it was a great place to stay. Threre were some nice restaurants and the hotel we stayed at was comfortable. The access to the park is very good when you cannot find a place to stay in the park.

Jul 14th - 18:02pm | matt

I hadn't heard about Ruby's Inn trying to incorporate - that's awesome. Nothing better than spending a couple of winter days and nights at Ruby's for about $49/night. Off-season travel rocks!

Jul 13th - 20:08pm | repanshek

Don't forget Moab (aside from the semi traffic down main street). And I must admit I have somewhat fond memories of Cooke(d) City from 1988 when I was there covering the fires.

Jul 13th - 19:45pm | Beamis

Yes I agree with ya Kurt it is a great gateway town. I was there in May and it had not changed too terribly much since I had last visited way back in 1981. I worked a summer in Yellowstone, at the Lake, and my friends and I always headed for Montana on our off time to re-supply or make merry.

Jul 13th - 18:14pm | Merryland

Aww, man, now I'm hungry. My son and I are in the neighborhood in late August -- now I need to make a stop for BBQ... I'm sure it's better than park concessionaire fare any day... -- Jon Merryman

Bringing Color to the Public Lands Landscape

Jul 16th - 11:22am | repanshek

I think one needs to separate diversity in the workplace and diversity in park visitors. The Park Service, according to the agency's own numbers, is overwhelmingly Caucasian and decidedly male-oriented.

Jul 16th - 10:56am | RangerX

"The real question is what diversity can do for all of us." No. This isn't a real question. It's not a real question because it doesn't have an answer, and Hare poses the question without even attempting an answer. It's meaningless drivel, mindless mumbo jumbo.

Jul 16th - 08:27am | Anonymous

the fact is that not only has this been going on for a long time, it is also that the outdoor industry and the public lands management agencies are freaking out about it.

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Jul 16th - 06:08am | Anonymous

my son and i where there on may 20 and may 25 of 2007 we climbed upto scouts' landing just below angels landing and based on the amount of people going up and down, the time of day and the wind chose not to finish the climb up to angels' landing. other people made a similar chose and when either on or backdown.

Private Party At Charlestown Navy Yard Doesn't Lack Alcohol

Jul 15th - 18:59pm | Anonymous

You should have been there for this...I was. I am a resident of the area and was told I could not walk down the Pier (which I do every night) by someone in a yellow shirt. I spoke with one of the Park Service officers and they told I could still ultilize the park even with this event.

Jul 13th - 16:19pm | snowbird

Yeah! one point for Snowbird!!

Jul 13th - 15:55pm | jersu

Anonymous,

Jul 13th - 15:21pm | Anonymous

Why isn't this comment edited? I find this highly offensive.

Jul 13th - 15:17pm | Anonymous

Seeing how this current administration has used the Department of Interior and particular, the National Park Service, for a test case of outsourcing jobs and slashing the budget to the point where the departments can barely operate, how else are you supposed to fix parking lots, leaking roofs, and broken computer equipment than to do a little creative fundraising?

Jul 13th - 14:56pm | repanshek

Is that what the Park Service has come down to? Managing properties to rent out for parties and weddings? What's next, renting out the boardwalk around Old Faithful for a private party or the ground beneath Yosemite Falls for a wedding? Should the Tetons or Arches National Park be used for the climbing competition in the next Extreme Games?

Jul 13th - 14:51pm | jersu

Anonymous, I've deleted one of your comments and edited another. This is a forum for open debate, not name calling or unnecessary profanity. Your thoughts are welcome, but the personal attacks are not.

Jul 13th - 14:40pm | Anonymous

Why is it a big deal that the park service rented out their space for a party that (gasp!) served (legal) alcohol? [edit] Honestly. Are you upset that you didn't get an invitation? I've been to a wedding reception that was held there. Were they supposed to let park visitor's into my friends' reception? Give me a break.

Jul 13th - 14:02pm | jersu

About a year and a half ago, I went to a private party at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, and even consumed alcohol! I think the circumstances of my event were quite different than the party described here. I was an attendee at the American Association of Museum's annual conference.

Jul 12th - 14:28pm | Anonymous

You know all the people involved? Are they anonymous too?

Jul 12th - 12:57pm | Anonymous

Actually Snowbird I know all the people involved and they are 100% Kennedy liberals, only this time no one died.

Jul 12th - 10:44am | Snowbird

"more like a business" Eh! The Dick Cheney way...right Mary!!

Tragedy Stalks the National Parks

Jul 15th - 09:43am | repanshek

I'm not sure what Dickey's point was, but the use of profanity and personal attacks fail to drive discussion and are not condoned on this site. While we are interested in hearing as many points of view as possible, those that resort to such approaches will either be edited or removed.

Jul 15th - 09:05am | Merryland

If you consider the border parks in Arizona alone, sure, there are deaths in the National Parks every day. The Morning Report on the NPS site is a good source if you want your daily dose of morbidity. http://home.nps.gov/applications/morningreport/ -- Jon Merryman

Jul 15th - 06:50am | Rick Smith

Gee, Dicky, how about a little civility in your postings? Rick Smith

Park Shuttles, More Than Just A Bus?

Jul 15th - 00:28am | Anonymous

I wish there was a better shuttle system in many of the national parks. I think that the use of car actually restricts your freedom when you visit the park. For example, if you go hiking, you always have to come back to the point where you left your car.

Jul 13th - 13:23pm | pkrnger

One of the reasons why the Shuttle works in Zion is the presence of convenient nearby public parking in Springdale, UT, at the mouth of Zion Canyon.

Jul 12th - 21:44pm | Rick Smith

I was recently in Zion. I believe that the shuttle bus system has generated the most remarkable change in a park experience that I have ever seen. Remember the bad old days? Cars bumper to bumper in Zion Canyon--thousands of them--all looking for one of the very few parking places. The Canyon was choked with vehicle emissions. The roads were unsafe for pedestrians and people on bikes.

Jul 11th - 19:25pm | RangerX

The reason I accepted a seasonal position at Zion in 2000 was because it was the park's first year with a shuttle system. The shuttles made life in the canyon much simpler and much safer. Every high-volume park with roads should implement a mandatory shuttle system.

Glacier's Shuttle System Rolling Along the Sun Road

Jul 14th - 22:31pm | snowbird

Susan, you sound like a real neat person to travel and be with. Unfortunately, Becky definitely needs a attitude adjustment. Let's get her started on with more flower power (an old hippie slogan).

Jul 14th - 21:07pm | susan

To be able to see the beauty and grandness of this totally awesome park I would ride with anyone.The spectacular wiews ,wildlife,flora and fauna are a very special part of my life experiences.People need to understand that everyone is in the parks for the very same reason,be you a hippi,yuppie,or any other thing you want to label people.If we are to respect Mother nature and all Her glories,you

Jul 14th - 00:55am | Becky

I don't want to ride a shuttle with nasty smelly hippies.

Climate Change: What Implications Does it Carry for the Parks?

Jul 14th - 14:23pm | Snowbird

Ruth, read between the lines what so called PhD is advocating...consume...consume until your hearts delight. I'm not alarmist, nor do I live in a cave like FOX NEWS would like to peg us who truly believe that Al Gore is on to something that is rational and potentially forthcoming in disaster. What's your beef? When Dr.

Jul 14th - 13:02pm | Ruth

Snowbird: You sound as if you might live in a cave...you must not "consume" anything! Wow...

Jul 14th - 10:42am | snowbird

Mr. Renault, I assume you refute NASA's indepth and extremely conscientious work on global warming...especially the brilliant work done by Dr. Jensen at NASA (remember how the goverment tried to stifle his work).

Jul 14th - 00:49am | Roger

Cmon now...we still know so little about the dynamic system that is our global climate.... So what caused "global warming" before the last ice age? Cars?

Jul 11th - 19:18pm | RangerX

Old growth giant sequoias receive most moisture through snow melt. If the snow pack in the Sierra Nevadas continues to decrease as scientists predict, old growth sequoias may cease to exist. Their species will continue around the world, but humans in the coming centuries, may not be able to visit 3000-year-old trees.

Jul 11th - 08:56am | snowbird

From are abuses to the earth's environment...it's payback time...nature bats last!

Olympic Backcountry Still Buried in Snow

Jul 11th - 20:33pm | Dave O

My wife, her daughter and I went out the middle of June to backpack from Olympic Hot Springs to the Hoh Rain Forest via Appleton Pass and the High Divide. Or so we thought! We ended up just doing 4 days in the Quinault River Valley. The snow up on the peaks was plainly visible. And the streams were really flowing. Another time I guess.

National Geographic Rates the Best Parks

Jul 11th - 19:12pm | RangerX

I'm with Kurt. One of my least favorite questions (aside from "Is it worth seeing?") at the VC was: "What's the best hike here?" "Best" is subjective and requires a value judgment. Guess it's human nature to rank stuff.

Jul 11th - 14:57pm | repanshek

Over the years I've developed a distaste for these sort of stories, particularly since the magazines try to do them year after year and so are forced to come at them from different angles and so you begin to wonder how valid they are.

Jul 10th - 21:33pm | Merryland

I have to agree with Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota. Found some cougar footprints at the North unit, and while riding my mountain bike quietly around the South Unit scenic loop road, I surprised tons of large mammals as I rounded every corner - bison, pronghorn, mule and white-tail deer, an elk too. After all those ungulates I expected a moose was gonna be next!

Wall Street Trail in Bryce Canyon

Jul 10th - 13:24pm | jr_ranger

Amazing photo!! I'm at an international conference at Wake Forest with other youth from around Europe/Eurasia and they are like "This is America?! It so so beautiful" Mr. Dunway did a great job with this one!

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jul 10th - 10:49am | Richard

The Park service does not need to put the cable up in a wilderness. Since they have, it encourages the action of climbing half dome. Since they encourage it, they should require harnesses and clippin onto the cable. Anything less is criminal.

Jul 9th - 11:37am | pkrnger

I've climbed Half Dome 3 times, once as a 17 year-old in 1962, once again in 1970 when I worked and lived in Yosemite Valley as a park ranger-naturalist, and finally in 1993 when I took my son up the cables. In 1993, my son just happened to be the same age I was when I first hiked the cables to the top. That ascent was notably much more difficult than was the previous two.

Jul 8th - 23:06pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I think Half Dome has become too "easy" to get to and it's partially the fault of the Park Service and the concession. There are whole sections in the gift shops devoted to "I made it to the top" shirts, hats, belt buckles, mugs, shot glasses, etc.

Jul 8th - 11:39am | snowbird

Common horse sense...PLEASE! This hike to the Dome requires some basic common sense, and with reasonable decent wilderness skills, and careful preparations. For gods sakes people...THINK! Rachel Carson was right!!!

Jul 8th - 11:27am | Constance

I think NPS should issue back country permits with only a limited number of people obtaining them per day. This way people could actually enjoy the peace and solitude of the climb. It would also lead to being more prepared as you would actually have to do something ahead of time in order to climb. And I know this is not popular but a nominal fee for the permit should be charged.

Jul 8th - 11:25am | Art Allen

Jeremy: The climb is dangerous... 3 deaths in one year. HalfDome is a magnet and the Park continues the more than 50 year tradition to make the trek "more available" with the cables. The ascent should be like many other climbs: only available to those with the skills and proper equipment. Encouraging the average person to attempt a difficult climb is willful negligence.

Is the Everglades Out of Danger?

Jul 8th - 17:05pm | coolstud

I have lived in Fl. most of my life and I am blessed to have seen Fl. as Fl. was once. Simply "beautiful".

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