| Page 1018 | National Parks Traveler

The Quizmeister is delighted to learn that you are happy, Eric, even when wandering the poorly marked trails of the mystery photo wilderness. As for your latest guess, well, I'm afraid that your feel-gooder is in need of recalibration. Now that you have struck Fort Vancouver National Historic Site from your list, I trust that we may expect to hear from you again very soon?

Feb 2nd - 07:53am | Eric Nelson

Just so you can get hit by Eric's on both sides, I'll guess a keg of gunpowder in the arsenal at Springfield Armory NHS.

Feb 2nd - 07:41am | Eric

I feel good about this one keg of powder at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. If nothing else, I am getting better at deciphering the 'CAPTCHA'

Feb 2nd - 07:38am | Ted

How about gunpowder (or other military supplies) going down the canal at Cuyahoga N.P. in Ohio?

Feb 2nd - 07:34am | Bob Janiskee

Not a keg of gunpowder at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Feb 2nd - 07:30am | Eric

I suppose it could be keg of powder in the Museum of Westward Expansion at Jefferson Memorial Expansion Monument?

Feb 2nd - 07:26am | Bob Janiskee

Not gunpowder kegs at Grand Portage National Monument. There is no limit on guesses, Eric. Bring 'em on. I assure you that the Quizmeister, who has been hardened by three years in the military, 40 years of dealing with college students, and 48 years of marriage, can outlast you.

Feb 2nd - 07:19am | Eric

Is there a limit on guesses? Feel free to cut me off anytime now... How about keg of powder at Grand Portage National Monument?

Feb 2nd - 07:04am | Bob Janiskee

Not a keg of gun powder at Fort Laramie National Historic Site.

Feb 2nd - 07:00am | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, Becci; this mystery photo does not show barrels of black powder at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Feb 2nd - 06:58am | Eric

Running out of 1840s era fur trade posts. How about keg of gunpowder at Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Feb 2nd - 06:49am | Becci

The Armory at Harper's Ferry Barrels of black powder.

Feb 2nd - 06:39am | Bob Janiskee

The Quizmeister has sniffed the breeze and he thinks he detects what might be a relentless process-of-elimination going on upwind. This photo was not taken in Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. Next, please. :o)

Feb 2nd - 06:23am | Eric

How about a keg of gunpowder at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site?

Feb 2nd - 06:20am | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, Eric; this photo was not taken at Bent's Old Fort. Folks, please remember that this mystery photo puzzle requires you to submit a two-part answer. Tell what is depicted and identify the unit of the National Park System in which the photo was taken.

Feb 2nd - 06:04am | Eric

Bent's Old Fort?

"Connect Trails To Parks" Awards Help Improve Trails To National Historic And Scenic Trails, Other Federal Lands

Feb 1st - 23:56pm | Zebulon

Maybe they have some money left over to remove the "no bikes" signs from the PCT.

Feb 1st - 18:15pm | Jill

Hopefully someday they can improve the signage and historical references on the Oregon National Historic Trail in Wyoming.

Yellowstone National Park Officials Look To Boost Lodging at Old Faithful Complex

Feb 1st - 23:39pm | Meg

I'm just glad they didn't tear down the OF Lodge cabins. They're my favorite place to stay in the park. Not everyone can afford to stay in the Inn or the Snow Lodge, but it's absolutely fantastic to be able to walk from your cabin directly into the geyser basin. I'm just sad that there's no place to camp closer than Madison or Grant.

Reader Participation Day: Which Park has the Most Scenic Picnic Area?

Feb 1st - 23:36pm | Meg

The picnic area at Hurricane Hill (at the end of the Hurricane Ridge Road) at Olympic National Park. Sweeping grandeur, snow-capped mountains, fields of wildflowers -- and a chipmunk that ran up my shorts leg and scared the tar out of both of us [g].

Feb 1st - 16:00pm | Low Cro

Well, my favorite is naturally close to home. I never visit The Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP without stopping at The Sunset View picnic area . It has gorgeous vistas of the Canyon, as well as the wide valley that the Gunnison River flows out into. And on a clear day, (which is most of them), you also get a great view of The Grand Mesa.

Feb 1st - 14:07pm | Kurt Repanshek

From Traveler's Facebook page comes this photographic entry from Glacier National Park: https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksTraveler?ref=search&sid=1220262061...

Feb 1st - 12:46pm | Rick Smith

I like the picnic area just east of Norris Jct. on the Canyon-Norris road in Yellowstone. It is quiet, peaceful and not crowded. Rick

Feb 1st - 11:13am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

My family and I loved the picnic area on the Little Pigeon River in GSMNP. We stopped there every day mainly because my boys and I could go rock hopping up and down the river. There were lots of tables, plenty of parking, and clean restrooms. This was a large picnic area on the river and while it was not what I would call scenic, it was a lot of fun hopping those rocks.

Feb 1st - 09:46am | RangerLady

I am a little baised, but I love the picnic area at Capitol Reef. No fancy structures, but it has huge, towering cottonwoods, lush grass, and Sulphur Creek running through it.

Feb 1st - 08:20am | Lee Dalton

Riverbend Overlook in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The stone structure there was also built by CCC workers.

Bears Lost Ironic Advocate in Jim Cole

Feb 1st - 22:30pm | Michael Sanders

Please, the sensationalist nature of what you're saying is total BS. You evidently did not know Jim Cole but your comment come from a non-news worthy source. You have no evidence to confirm any of your rants about any unethical conduct. The only unethical conduct I see is the words you write.

Reader Participation Day: What Was Your Most Surprising Encounter On a National Park Trail?

Feb 1st - 22:03pm | Anonymous

Mine isn't as interesting as some but.... My husband and I were hiking to St.

Survey of Western Attitudes Shows Strong Support for National Parks, Clean Environment

Feb 1st - 20:40pm | Lee Dalton

And from the Utah State Constitution: Utah Constitution, Article 3, Section 2:

Feb 1st - 20:36pm | Lee Dalton

Well --- the Salt Lake Tribune just posted an article about this year's anti-Fed blustering in our state legislature. Here's a snippet: Utah lawmakers are again making noise about taking over federal lands in the state, with one proposal calling for a court battle to control almost all such lands.

Feb 1st - 19:49pm | Lee Dalton

No, RangerLady, I hadn't heard about that one yet. But the annual legislative circus is just beginning. Ken Ivory is one of the biggest developers and home builders in the state. Something like 83% of our state legislators are involved in real estate, home building, or land development in some way. But there's no conflict of interest there. Nope. None.

Feb 1st - 17:26pm | RangerLady

Lee, have you heard about a West Jordan lawmaker who is introducing a bill that will force the federal gov't to give all public land back to the state by 2014? Rep. Ken Ivory (R) is also supporting it.

Feb 1st - 12:06pm | Jack

As someone who values our parks and wildlife way more than urban sprawl, and who just happens to be living in southern Arizona, I would like to see some suggestions on how to keep trash (litter) from spoiling the beauty of what God created.

Feb 1st - 11:51am | Anonymous

What would be your reaction to this? Would it be straight environmental ideology that all mining is not tolerable in general regardless of the needs of even green projects, in this case the wind power industry?

Feb 1st - 10:22am | Anonymous

Yes, I fall into that "not wealthy enough" category to have significant sway in policy unlike those campaign contributors that got put ahead of the tax payers who, without a choice, contributed billions to neat but deeply flawed projects. Likewise with the GM bailout where private investors were subjugated to union interests.

Feb 1st - 10:08am | Lee Dalton

Anon : "Just to be fair what agency has been paying your ticket during your career and retirement? Where do those funds originate? Setting aside the extremes that you like give to support your arguments, it's a bit of ingratitude (at least) to disparage the very source of your own income and that of all government agencies. Just saying..."

Feb 1st - 09:00am | Rick Smith

EC-- You might wish to check out HR 1505, authored by Rob Bishop, (R-UT), and reported out of the House Natural Resources committee on October 6th of last year. It would suspend the following environmental laws within 100 miles of the Canadian-US border and the Mexican-US border, all in the name of "border security".

Feb 1st - 08:32am | Anonymous

Lee: It might also help all who read your posts to understand where you are coming from if you would provide some background information on yourself. Where do you live? What kind of work do you do? Who do you work for? What possible financial interests do you have in the stances you espouse here.

Faraway Ranch Tour at Chiricahua National Monument Gets Five Stars

Feb 1st - 19:57pm | celbert

I have also really enjoyed my visits to Chiricahua, and I echo the praise of the Faraway Ranch tour. I've been looking forward to a return trip to take a more extensive hike through the rock formations, and I hope the recent fire hasn't marred the scenery too much.

Feb 1st - 10:16am | Anonymous

I love visiting the park. It is almost in my backyard and a beautiful respite from the daily grind. Well worth the trip. It even has a campground and beautiful picnic areas.

Feb 1st - 10:16am | Cochise County ...

Thanks for the post! I've shared with Cochise County fans on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CochiseCountyTourismCouncil.

Feb 1st - 08:31am | Lee Dalton

I was there last year and took the tour with seasonal ranger Karen Gonzalez. I haven't had an opportunity to tour the ranch with Bill Dean, but I sure would give Karen at least eight stars.

Feb 1st - 08:27am | Jim Burnett

As an article earlier this week on the Traveler noted, the fire crews did an outstanding job protecting the Faraway Ranch and other structures in the park.

Feb 1st - 08:21am | Donna Hull

Chiricahua National Monument suffered a devasting fire in 2011. Luckily, you can still vsit Faraway Ranch. It's still a beautiful area with interesting history. One of my favorite off-the-beaten-path Arizona destinations.

What's the Word at Chiricahua National Monument After Last Summer's Major Wildfire?

Feb 1st - 14:36pm | Al

I was at CNM in early January 2012 and I am posting photos on my flickr page showing the good and the bad. CNM was not hit too hard and is recovering. Bonita Campground was very nice.

Study Says Pythons Behind Startling Declines In Common Mammals in Everglades National Park

Feb 1st - 14:36pm | MG

This is sickening! I've lodged my voice with the Feds some time ago, and all because some fool had a "pet snake!" These arent "Pets" adn should NOT be permitted in the USA for any reason, including zoos. Those that import these types of animals in the present day should be harshley delt with. I was ina pet store in Dublin, CA with my son recently only to find Pythons in there!

Birding in The National Parks: Bald Eagles No Longer A Ghost Bird in the National Parks

Feb 1st - 09:57am | Ben

We have seen them fairly often by the Tidal Basin on the National Mall in DC. Our national symbol has come back to even great urban parks like we have here in the nation's capital.

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