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Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Jul 7th - 10:39am | Barry

We just hiked up part of Angels Landing but turned back after part of the  trail with the chains.  To me it  just wasn't worth the risk especially when you have to get past other people.  If you like thrills like roller coasters fine but that isn't my thing.  We hiked up the West Rim Trail instead where you can get views down on to many peaks including Angels Landing without hanging on chains. 

Will Obama Administration, Wyoming Governor, Find Common Ground on Dealing With Wolves?

Jul 7th - 09:30am | Westerner

Integrity?  Just another word that the President would like attached to himself (without basis).  I don't know much about Gov. Matt Mead but the "political moxie" description?  The Governor is up against "Mr. Political."  The most kind word of many that come to mind. Respectfully 

National Park Mystery Spot 26 Revealed: A Hill Like No Other

Jul 7th - 09:00am | Bob Janiskee

Nobody submitted the correct answer for this one. It was obviously much more difficult than the usual mystery spot quiz, though by no means impossible to solve.

Jul 7th - 08:50am | RangerLady

It was the singer that messed me up. I kept thinking it was John Denver (Rocky Mountain High) so I was focusing on Colorado or anything that started with "John"

Jul 7th - 08:15am | Lee Dalton

This one was kind of far out.  Did anyone get it?

Updated: Grizzly Kills Hiker In Yellowstone National Park

Jul 7th - 08:16am | G

Dear Anonymous:  [gratuitous remark removed] We have an inherit nature for being in the wild. WE HUMANS as you put it need to be in nature as much as the animals you say we are invading. These guys were on a maintained trail. If you surprise a bear you don't turn and run. Luck does favor the prepared.

Jul 7th - 06:43am | Anonymous

I am glad to hear that no action is being taken against the bear.Time and again we hear of such incidents that could be avoided if we humans didn't invade the living space of these wild creatures.I would not be surprised if it's revealed that the couple had no pepper spray, no bear bells, or were not making any noise to notify the bear they were in the area.

Jul 6th - 23:55pm | Bill

We were visiting the South Rim trail this evening when the ranger informed us they were closing the area due to "an incident with a bear".  We were finished viewing the falls and leaving anyway.  I found out about this tragedy when I got home tonight.  

Jul 6th - 23:34pm | Matt M.

I'm glad they're not planning to take any action against the bear". That's the way it should be.

Jul 6th - 23:30pm | Shantal Murphy

William Tesinsky did not take one picture of a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park.  Tesinsky had his camera on a tripod in the middle of an open field, with a elk buggle.  I've been there many times in the field where he was killed.  In 1986 bear management was not as well organized as it is today.  Lee Whittlesey, author, made sure that William Tesinsky looked like the prob

Jul 6th - 23:02pm | Shantal Murphy

The mauling on William Tesinsky was not because he was taking pictures of grizzlies.  He had no pictures on his camera of grizzly bears.  Just because he had a camera with him does not mean he was taking pictures of grizzlies.  There is no proof of this and in 1986 bear managment in Yellowstone was not as well organized as it is today.  The bear that killed Tesinsky was a habitual bear and was

National Park Mystery Spot 26: An Elevation

Jul 7th - 06:33am | Bob Janiskee

Not Sheep Rock, Cinder Cone, Crater Lake, or Petrified Tree.

Jul 7th - 03:17am | Old Geezer

Petrified tree in YNP

Jul 7th - 02:32am | th0emu

Crater Lake National Park? is designated by Congress (Monuments are proclaimed by the President **) is in a western state was created when Mount Mazama exploded [**Congress can also use legislation to create a National Monument. Ed.]

Jul 6th - 23:49pm | Anonymous

Cinder Cone at Lassen Volcanic

Jul 6th - 22:00pm | RangerLady

Sheep Rock at John Day Fossil Beds?

Jul 6th - 21:28pm | Bob Janiskee

Not a Craters of the Moon feature or the (abolished) Sullys Hill National Park.

Jul 6th - 18:53pm | tomp2

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that the feature is in Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, perhaps Inferno Cone.  But, I don't think that the clues narrow things down very well, and I wouldn't give very good odds...

Jul 6th - 18:39pm | Anonymous

Sullys Hill National Park

Jul 6th - 18:06pm | Bob Janiskee

The mystery spot is a hill.

Jul 6th - 17:57pm | Ed123

I Agree

Jul 6th - 17:44pm | RangerLady

More clues Bob! This one is really making my head hurt and I haven't been able to concentrate on work...lol

Jul 6th - 16:30pm | Bob Janiskee

Not Sequoia-Kings Canyon. The mystery spot is a terrain feature in a western national park that is not a National Park-designated unit.

Jul 6th - 16:22pm | Westerner

Sequoia-Kings Canyon

Jul 6th - 16:15pm | Bob Janiskee

The mystery spot is not Glacier Bay, nor is it in any other Alaskan national park.

Jul 6th - 16:12pm | Chip

Glacier Bay

Jul 6th - 15:55pm | Bob Janiskee

Not Devils Tower, and not the San Andreas Fault.

Jul 6th - 15:11pm | Manasa

Is it the San Andreas Fault

Jul 6th - 15:06pm | Bill

Devils Tower National Monument.

Jul 6th - 15:00pm | Bob Janiskee

Not the Point Loma Lighthouse, and not a mint (whether peppermint, denver, or other). Here's another hint: The mystery spot is a terrain feature associated with a long-ago event.

Jul 6th - 14:46pm | Eric

Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo NM?

Jul 6th - 14:25pm | Anonymous

Denver mint

Jul 6th - 13:36pm | Bob Janiskee

Not Chatham Manor, RangerLady. You're barking up the wrong tree. You are also in the wrong half of the continent. This mystery spot is in a western state.

Jul 6th - 13:30pm | Bob Janiskee

Not Colorado National Monument.

Jul 6th - 12:46pm | RangerLady

Ok this is a wild guess...Chatam Manor? I'm guessing that the first clue is refering to a black (umbrella) locust tree and that's the only place I can remember one being protected. Don't even ask me how the other clues figure into this guess =)

Jul 6th - 12:45pm | Anonymous

Colorado National Monument

Jul 6th - 12:10pm | Bob Janiskee

Not Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Jul 6th - 12:04pm | Ed123

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?

Reader Participation Day: What Brings You To Yellowstone, Wildlife Or Water Works?

Jul 6th - 22:13pm | Megaera

Waterworks, definitely.  When I take a friend with me (I usually travel solo, but I have introduced two good friends to the park) we will take a day and go critter hunting, but the rest of the time and the whole time I'm on my own, I'm wandering around geyser basins waiting for things to go off. 

Jul 6th - 18:55pm | Radar

The scenery although the waterworks are nice.

Jul 6th - 15:14pm | Bill

On our 5th day of visiting the park today.  I think we came for a bit of both.  We have been watching closely for wildlife while jumping between various basins, waterfalls, and lakes.  Even got to get a July snowball fight in.

Jul 6th - 12:01pm | Tina

The wildlife, always the wildlife.  Spring for the new babies - elk and bison, fall for the bugling elk.  Always a new experience, and sometimes not at all what's expected.  Last fall we spent three days anticipating bugling elk, but only came across one.  Disappointing, but that's nature.    Yellowstone is only 3 hours away from where I live, so it's a place we visit often.

Jul 6th - 10:39am | Rick B.

I love to look at the landscapes, but have the camera ready for wildlife.

Jul 6th - 10:28am | Raphael

I went to Yellowstone because it was a place where I could take my elderly parents and my toddler nephew to see some *guaranteed* spectacles, both geological and biological (and we never had to choose between the two). And like many of the more developed National Parks, the most spectacular sights were also very accessible, with easy trails and plenty of benches.

Jul 6th - 10:10am | Anonymous

My first trip was about the water works....the next 3 trips focused completely on the wildlife.  Seeing 4 out of the big 5 ...in one sunny snow covered day....priceless!!!

Jul 6th - 10:02am | Lewis

Mostly the scenery, the waterfalls, the geysers.  But we'll be on the lookout for wildlife.

Civil War-Era Fort Monroe Drawing Top Attention In Bid To Be Included In National Park System

Jul 6th - 17:01pm | MarkK

It sounds like a great addition IF it can be self supporting.  With our difficit exploding, we should not be adding any new expenses to the federal budget.  Several posts indicate that the co-managing with the Fort Monroe Authority might allow significant revenue generation.  If it can, I'm all for it.  If not, we just can afford it. 

Groups Urge National Park Service To Block Transmission Lines Along Everglades National Park

Jul 6th - 16:34pm | Drew Martin

The Sierra Club will continue to strongly oppose this plan.  Overhead high voltage lines are not consistent with the mission of our National Parks.  We need to protect these areas from these sort of developments.  The purpose of National Parks is to provide a break from the eyesore of Transimission Lines.  FPL needs to withdraw this proposal and donate the land back to the National Park and the

National Park Road Trip 2011: Glacier National Park's Interior Lodges

Jul 6th - 14:13pm | Kay and David Scott

Sorry about mentioning the Northern Pacific when we meant the Great Northern.  We did the same screwup on another story but caught it before sending.  By the way, we are now in Livingston, MT and just visited the old train station that has been turned into a railroad museum.  Now here is where the Northern Pacific (later acquired by the Burlington) did offer passenger service until the late 196

Jul 6th - 12:44pm | KC Traveler

Annemarie, we usually split our Yellowstone lodging into a couple of locations to save on driving time.  We like to stay a few nights at Old Faithful Inn (our favorite lodge) and a few nights at Mammoth.  However, there are several options within the park.  Be sure to make your reservations as soon as you have your dates planned.

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.