| Page 1056 | National Parks Traveler

Outstanding! Wind Cave is a relatively unknown jewel we enjoyed immensely this past summer. The bison are so pleantiful and the prarie dogs are awesome. Great hiking and of course, the cave itself features boxwork which cannot really be seen elsewhere.This continues to add to the greatness which is the Black Hills. Let the bison roam!

Oct 10th - 09:52am | justinh

This is a spectacular section of the park!

Oct 10th - 08:43am | Bruce

Excellent! I only wish it were convenient for me to attend the dedication, "7-11 Road" notwithstanding.

Oct 10th - 08:42am | Anonymous

Always great to see additions to National Parks...Wind Cave NP is a great place to see wildlife, hike, and enjoy photography.

A National Park Superintendent And His Questionable Real Estate Deal

Oct 10th - 16:56pm | Anonymous

tahoma, I have to be honest and say I was more horrified by your link and it's descriptions of the concession operations at Rainier, specifically RMI then I was with Uberauga's involvement. Perhaps I'm wrong but after his predecessor (at the Canyon) and his string of over the top actions abusing any number of people and processes, it'll takes a lot to blemish my image of Mr. Uberuaga.

Oct 10th - 10:20am | SS1

Kurt, Previous to the real-estate collapse many properties could be sold in many parts of Dare and Hyde County NC for double the closing price paid 2 to 3 years previous. I was wondering how did that sale compare to similar properties sold in that time frame in that area?

Oct 10th - 09:25am | tahoma

In reply to Anonymous-

Oct 9th - 21:40pm | Dishonored Legacy

If anyone was waiting and hoping for a much needed "agency reset" when our new director John Jarvis was sworn in, think again. He is leading us nowhere.

Oct 9th - 09:11am | Anonymous

Just a thought, Tahoma, after reading your post; What would you have the President (US) and his entourage doing in their "next careers?"

Oct 9th - 08:37am | tahoma

I saw lots of management's shady behavior and (mostly) petty corruption during my career, but this very disturbing story indicates to me that the NPS's ethics have continued to decline. Quid pro quo is very difficult to prove if the conspirators have rehearsed their stories, but I have no doubt that this was a bribe or kickback for preferrential treatment by RMI.

Oct 8th - 09:21am | Anonymous

Wrong on both counts, babble:). I do admit I'm not an English Major. In fact my history has had a good bit of adversarial "engagement" when I believe things are going sideways or backwards. Not always a good career move but I can sleep at night. Like I said I know nothing of the real estate deal so I won't comment on that. I just stated my impression of the man.

Oct 7th - 23:36pm | Anonymous

Anyone who uses "engage" as an intransitive verb is either a colleague of the person in question or a corporatroid well-versed in biznobabble.

Oct 7th - 23:32pm | Anonymous

Grand Canyon suffered badly for the last few years under a superintendent whose reign of terror was marked by callous treatment of employees and complete disregard for rules when applied to himself. Somehow he was coated with teflon and charges never stuck, but employees are still shellshocked.

Oct 7th - 14:57pm | Anonymous

The time I've experienced with new Superintendent Dave Uberuaga including private office time, has been refreshing. The word and what I've witnessed is that he really does like to engage and encourage very good working relationships with NPS employees, visitors, stakeholders and neighboring tribes. More than just words but in practice.

Oct 7th - 14:24pm | Cliff Leverette

And lets also not kid ourselves that this happens all the time in politics as well. And like the business man, if you are a state or lower level elected politician you will also be held accountable. But if you are Federal, what's the problem? Isn't that a perk?

Oct 7th - 08:59am | Anonymous

If you take all the information in it's totality, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this was a quid pro quo.

"Red Tide" Prompts Visitor Advisory at Padre Island National Seashore

Oct 10th - 10:05am | Gary

Some friends and I were on North Padsre Island Sunday Came in late Saturday night and four wheeled it down about ten miles. Immediate problems with burning eyes, breathing, severe histamine reactions to the allergens, coughing, nose running, and the same with eyes. Pitched tent spent the night. Dog was very sick and things became worse throught the night.

Updated: Grizzly Kills Hiker In Yellowstone National Park

Oct 9th - 15:56pm | Anonymous

Hey, The Grizz has been hunted in Yellowstone by the NPS and poachers: well over 100 have been killed since the earlier 1960'-70s studies by the Frank & John Craighead Brothers. Former Supt. non-biologist, Jack Anderson and other pseudo-biologists did not respect nor understand (for political reasons) the value of their scientific work with management recommendations.

Oct 9th - 10:57am | Anonymous

a mans life was taken, if the bears were hunted like they are in other areas the bear would be more fearfull of humans a thing like this would never had happend.

Say What? Overheard in the Park...

Oct 9th - 12:58pm | Rob rGyatso

Many strange comments are heard on the road. I remember a family vacation where we drove across Canada from our home in Vancouver to the Maritimes.

Oct 9th - 12:29pm | Lois

As a 23-year VIP (Volunteer-in-Parks for you "outsiders") with about 1600 volunteer hours in several NP's, I have heard similar remarks! One question I believe must have been made to me with 'tounge-in-cheek' happened at The Great Sand Dunes when an elderly man asked "Where did they get all this sand....it must have taken months to haul here".

Oct 8th - 00:58am | MWTT

The wife and I are avid photographers with some serious equipment. A couple of years ago in Yellowstone parked along side the road the wife was trying to take a picture of a grizzly and her cub from across a valley. The wife was using a huge 600mm lens on a DSLR with tripod, the works. She was having a hard time getting a good picture due to the bears in tall grass and being a LONG ways away.

Oct 7th - 20:51pm | y_p_w

I overheard a Grand Teton ranger talking to a group of fellow rangers: I think I'm probably more likely to use my bear spray against a crazed visitor than a bear.

Oct 7th - 19:01pm | DStaniforth

"This volcano is boring, there's not even any lava" - overheard in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park overlooking Kilauea

Oct 7th - 16:24pm | y_p_w

Wulverine: In almost any national park you go to, you will always here questions about how the rangers feed and care for the wild animals.... I personally assume that ranger feed the wild animals dumb tourists....... This used to be in Yellowstone:

Oct 7th - 16:02pm | Lee Dalton

Any ranger can recite a long, long litany of "overheard."

Oct 7th - 14:47pm | Wulverine

In almost any national park you go to, you will always here questions about how the rangers feed and care for the wild animals.... I personally assume that ranger feed the wild animals dumb tourists.......

Oct 7th - 13:38pm | Anonymous

Years ago my husband's family camped at Crater Lake where they heard a bored visitor grousing "Once you've seen one glacial lake, you've seen them all!"

Oct 7th - 13:08pm | Rick B.

I overheard a family visiting the Klondike Gold Rush NHP in Skagway this summer. The father was carefully explaining to his kids that "...we are just a couple of weeks early. They don't bring out their grizzlies until the salmon start to run...".

Oct 7th - 10:08am | Rich Granberg

In a way your article made me think of what's so special about the Grand Canyon. By far the most frequent reaction by first time visitors is, silence. Can't be described and do it justice. Okay, I did overhear one 30ish fellow that said that "he thought it would be bigger," lol! The great, great majority sense the humbling "Canyon Effect" I like to say.

Oct 7th - 09:12am | Anonymous

I enjoyed your article. It reminded me that during my September visit to Yellowstone NP we decided to join the ‘Wolf Watchers’ in Lamar Valley at dusk. While standing on the roadside hill, with binoculars at the ready, a visiting couple pulled up behind me and shouted, very casually, "Hey, do you know where the carcass is?” Dumbfounded by the question I could only respond, “Umm no.

Boundaries of Two of England's National Parks Targeted To Grow By A Combined 193 Square Miles

Oct 9th - 05:54am | DStaniforth

Some beautiful areas up there they're looking at. Wild Boar Fell is really in Cumbria, not Yorkshire, I do hope a name change won't happen for the Yorkshire Dales!

Birding in the National Parks: Spotting Egrets, Herons, and More In Big Cypress National Preserve

Oct 8th - 00:05am | Frank Denninger...

Kirby did a fine article here but skipped describing where Old Florida/Gladesman spots are that truly reflect local culture of the region. The NPS welcome center mentioned is nice but so tame. For some real Gladesman Cultural style excitement there is Wooten's Air Boat Rides a privately owned operation 1/2 mile West of the welcome center.

Reader Participation Day: Where Do You Go To See Fall Colors In The National Parks...And To Flee the Crowds?

Oct 7th - 08:40am | Lee Dalton

Great Basin. I was there two weekends ago. It was quiet, almost empty, and absolutely wonderful. Plenty of open campsites, perfectly clean everywhere, with a staff of enthusiastic rangers and an obviously hard-working maintenance crew. Absolutely delightful.

Oct 6th - 09:55am | Danny Bernstein

Get on the trails. Then you'll be in the colors with few people. Danny

Debate Over Oyster Farming At Point Reyes National Seashore Offers Differing Perspectives

Oct 6th - 17:00pm | anonymous

You know, Anon, this exercise in exposure of exactly what has California and the nation in the forefront of economic disaster that is just now percolating to a horrific state of dysfunction, is interesting.

Oct 6th - 12:40pm | Anonymous

Mr. Lunny is adopting the standard anti-environmental industry tactic of making accusations against environmentalists. He claims they are trying to put his company, Drakes Bay Oyster Company, out of business when actually they are just trying to get his company to adhere to environmental protection rules. But while making those accusations, Mr.

Shiloh National Military Park Doing Away With Entrance Fees

Oct 6th - 16:44pm | Gary Candelaria

Excellent decision. Congratulations to the park and superintendent for taking this action.

National Park Mystery Spot 29 Revealed: A Hole in the Ground

Oct 6th - 13:39pm | suki

awesome clues!

Oct 6th - 10:01am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, Danny. Please relay this information to Kurt at some early opportunity. I could use a raise.

Oct 6th - 09:52am | Danny Bernstein

Amazing! Both Bob, J. who came up with the clue and Eric who identified the spot are geniuses. Danny

Cape Lookout National Seashore Officials Pick Beaufort Location For Ferry Service

Oct 6th - 13:39pm | Anonymous

Until the new ferry service is available, the NPS maintains a list of ferries authorized to provide service to the park: http://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/ferry.htm

Oct 6th - 09:57am | Kurt Repanshek

You could head up the road to Harker's Island and catch one of the ferries from there. Easy and quick.

Oct 6th - 09:54am | Danny Bernstein

Finally an easy way to get to Cape Lookout. This is the only National Park Unit in North Carolina that I still have not visited. Do I want to wait until 2014? Danny

By the Numbers: Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Oct 6th - 10:28am | Bob Janiskee

There are plenty of books for that, Nicholas. If you're looking for something beyond the ordinary, you might try Lael Margan's Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush (Whitecap, 1998). I bought my copy in the visitor center in Skagway.

Oct 6th - 09:57am | Nicholas Napont

can you tell us about just the stampeders?

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