| Page 1100 | National Parks Traveler

I'm more inclined to speak up if someone is annoying animals, littering, harming plants, etc. Less so if they are simply risking their own life and limb. Once saw a pilgrim edge closer and closer to a cow & calf moose trying to get a photo while wife & kid hollered for him to come back. Moose was getting really fed up!

Jun 8th - 14:29pm | Bruce W. Bytnar

Making the decision as to whether or not to intercede when one observes violations in National Parks is a personal decision that should be made after fully assessing your situation. Ask yourself some of these questions; · Is correcting the person worth placing yourself in possible danger?

Jun 8th - 12:02pm | John

If I encounter a person with a dog I expalin to them it is against National Park rules then I go on explain why the rule is there. Dogs are non natural animals, to other natural animals they smell like wolves and the natural animals will stay away from the trails. If they ask where they can take their dogs in to forests I tell them BLM and the forest service allow dogs.

Jun 8th - 10:42am | Kurt Repanshek

What were the infractions, Dennis?

Jun 8th - 10:34am | dennis g.

As I spend most of my time in the backcountry, I've rarely run into this type of situation. However, I can recall two occasions - both in Yellowstone - where I spoke sternly, but as politely as I could to point out the offense to the rule breaker. And in both instances they complied with my request.

Jun 8th - 09:54am | RangerLady

Like Gaelyn, it doesn't matter what park I'm in, I'm still a ranger. When I see someone breaking the rules I always identify myself and explain the rules as politely as I can. Sometimes when I'm not in uniform I can get a little snippy when people are doing really stupid/dangerous/mean things.

Jun 8th - 09:44am | Brad

I yelled at some tourons to stop approaching a young male bear in Great Smoky Mountains this spring. They gave me a dirty look, but the noise ran the bear off and probably saved its life, if not theirs.

Jun 8th - 08:55am | Jan

When we pass someone doing something not correct, we rather loudly confer with each other, "Oh, I didn't think we are suppose to bring dogs, pick flowers, etc". Once, someone passing tried handing me a wildflower boquet, I said, gee, thanks, now they won't make seeds and will not grow next year, and shrugged off the flowers. I guess you might say, I tend to be bluntly rude.

Jun 8th - 08:51am | Anonymous

I saw some adults and their probably 4-year-old child clmbing up and down a rushing waterfall, despite multiple warning signs along the trail. I would have just shaken my head if it were only adults, but since they were allowing/encouraging their child, I said several times things like, "You really shouldn't be doing that" and "That's really dangerous.

Jun 8th - 08:35am | Kirby Adams

Double-post. Stupid CAPTCHA said I was a robot then decided I wasn't.

Jun 8th - 08:32am | Kirby Adams

I have mentioned something a couple times, trying to avoid a confrontational attitude if the action involves damge to natural resources (kids whacking delicate plants with sticks) or unresonable damge to my enjoyment (unleashed dogs flushing out birds I was enjoying). I have to admit I'm unlikely to say something if the person is doing something that endangers themself.

Jun 8th - 08:11am | Lee Dalton

I almost always speak with the problems. I've discovered that if I politely approach and simply explain the situation, there is almost always an apology and hopefully a lesson learned.

Jun 8th - 07:12am | Gaelyn

Wether I'm in uniform or not, when I see someone breaking the rules in any National Park I try to gently let them know, and explain why. These are all of Our special places so why not help.

Jun 8th - 06:53am | samsdad1

My wife has a real habit of telling children that litter "Excuse me you dropped that" She will escalate until the child picks it up... it is effective to "embarass" the youth of today into doing what you want.

Busy Day On McKinley: Three Climbers Felled By Altitude Sickness Rescued in Denali National Park

Jun 8th - 18:38pm | Anonymous

Another good reason to charge climbers higher fees for their permits. All three of these climbers were from other countries. Why should the daily park visitors have to pay for the "enjoyment" of the few.

Yellowstone National Park's Wolf Population Down More than 25 Percent

Jun 8th - 16:40pm | WingedWolfPsion

No, we don't need to do anything about this. Drought, harsh winters, predation, and pressure from predators like wolves, and most CERTAINLY, high human harvest rates, lowered the elk population dramatically. The wolves in areas with lighter population densities were less affected, and that is as it should be. The severe reduction in wolves matches the severe reduction in elk. Nature has ALR

Congressman Asks If National Park Service Went Too Far to Accommodate Citizen Palin

Jun 8th - 16:39pm | Ameriken

I find it ridiculous that anyone in Washington, D.C.

Jun 8th - 16:04pm | Ron Saunders

OK, So now the Folks that like Sara Palin still like her and the ones that hate her still hate her.

Jun 8th - 15:50pm | Angela Bates

Palin should be treated exactly as any ordinary person would be, for that is what she is.

Jun 8th - 15:23pm | y_p_w

Jim Burnett: Perhaps the bigger concern here is that Rep. Earl Blumenauer apparently doesn't have a clue about which sites are even administered by the NPS.

Jun 8th - 14:40pm | Anonymous

So a Congressman is asking for an investigation about possibly unwise use of taxpayer dollars and the self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives are whining? (I'll even concede there's a political element--it's not say Senator Coburn who's pursuing this issue.) I'm not sure which is more nauseating, conservative hypocrisy or conservative ignorance. I need a week in Dinosaur to get away from their

Jun 8th - 13:28pm | Mellosy

She should have been treated like any private citizen that goes to a NP. Pay at the gate and explore. Millions of Americans do not get special treatment from the NPS, IE going into places early with a personal Ranger escort. That is ludacris. She does not hold public office, if anything she's trying to get more attention.

Jun 8th - 13:27pm | Jim Burnett

Perhaps the bigger concern here is that Rep. Earl Blumenauer apparently doesn't have a clue about which sites are even administered by the NPS. According to another news report, his letter to Director Jarvis complained about NPS special treatment for Palin at both Mount Vernon and the National Archives. The NPS has no role in the management of either of those locations.

Jun 8th - 13:02pm | AnonymousD

Let's rephrase the question to make it politically neutral: To what extent should the NPS spend its scant funds to provide extra support to a private citizen who does not currently hold public office? That is a question worthy of investigation.

Jun 8th - 12:03pm | y_p_w

I'm not a fan of Palin, but I would think that this kind of special treatment was actually prudent to avoid the inevitable zoo. I don't know if it was necessarily her political stature that got her the VIP treatment, but her celebrity.

Jun 8th - 09:47am | Anonymous

Much ado about zippo. As distasteful as this is to some, if not many, NPS routinely "accommodates" VIP visitors. When you've got a news media entourage and fans trailing behind you, you're a VIP. NPS was correct to reach out ahead of time, proactively, to accommodate the potential ruckus. As Olson said, standard treatment for celebs, no big deal.

Jun 8th - 09:41am | Brad

Sounds like plain old pure jealousy. I love that Sarah can push people's thin-skinned buttons so easily.

Jun 8th - 08:19am | Kirby Adams

Love her or hate her, you have to admit every politician is playing politics every minute they're in public.

Jun 8th - 08:06am | Lee Dalton

Irrational Palin hatred? How about very rational Palin disgust. Nothing irrational about that.

Jun 8th - 07:40am | Steve O.

This is pure political theatre and irrational Palin hatred at work here.

Jun 8th - 05:36am | DD-393

I very much dislike having our National Park System used for political purposes, particularly those politicians who have little knowlege or interest in our history. And it's particularly repulsive having the Gettysburg National Military Park used for a cheap political shill. GNMP stands for so much more. "Sacred soil" can be a cliche, but in this case it's appropriate.

Jun 8th - 00:54am | Anonymous

why do you do a special show for them,if i saked would you accomdate me???i am just a regualr tax paying citizen...

Jun 7th - 21:22pm | Steve O.

Good Lord, do these congressman have anything else better to do? Do they know the economy is starting to tank again? Seriously, isn't it time for these idiots in Congress to get back to the things that actually matter to their constituents?

National Park Road Trip 2011: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Jun 8th - 11:57am | Dang

Yikes! My wife and I have reservation at Manzanita Campground for the Fourth! Sure hope most of that snow is gone by then...

Adult Grizzly Struck and Killed By Motorist In Yellowstone National Park

Jun 8th - 11:53am | Dottie

"You have to wonder what someone was doing out at 2 am." Really? Why? What is wrong with being out at that hour of the morning? It certainly must be easier to navigate the busy roads without all the other visitors on the road. Its not breaking a law to be out at 2 in the morning, and heaven forbid they should make such a law. And what could you possibly care that someone was out at 2 in t

Jun 7th - 22:22pm | y_p_w

Aznana3: I have to agreed with the person that posted the email about possible curfew times. I hate to think of all the suffering the bear endured before passing away. People need to slow down and be very cautious while driving day or night. The animals in all the National Parks are a joy to see and need as much protection as possible.

Jun 7th - 21:19pm | Anonymous

We were just at Yellowstone last month. The speed limit is 25 mph. The area still is snow covered and many areas are still not able to be accessed. You really have to wonder what someone was doing out at 2 a.m.

Jun 7th - 18:26pm | ChrisM-FtWorthTX

No we do NOT need curfews! The last thing I want is the federal government controlling another aspect of our lives. C'mon people, you know curfews aren't a good idea. Just drive cautiously and chances of this reoccurring are diminished proportionately to how many people heed more caution.

Jun 7th - 17:50pm | Aznana3

I have to agreed with the person that posted the email about possible curfew times. I hate to think of all the suffering the bear endured before passing away. People need to slow down and be very cautious while driving day or night. The animals in all the National Parks are a joy to see and need as much protection as possible.

Jun 7th - 16:06pm | tomp2

I don't think that anyone should be driving motor vehicles in Yellowstone at 2am; I'd favor a curfew from 10pm-6am or so to protect wildlife. If the driver needed to be driving at 2am, we need to figure out how to adjust lodging for employees or whatever the cause was to eliminate the need.

$10,000 Donation Will Help Students Get Involved In Citizen Science at Glacier National Park

Jun 8th - 09:23am | Merry Lynn

Very nice job on this story! Thanks for sharing this info with national park lovers.

Calling All Pee Wee Rangers To the National Parks

Jun 8th - 06:52am | Keri

And Yosemite NP has a Little Cub program for the small ones (Little Cub program ages 3-6. Junior Ranger program ages 7-12). If my memory is correct, they receive a Junior Ranger badge and a Little Cub pin.

When Did Dancing In The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Become A Crime?

Jun 8th - 03:57am | Anonymous

Come on guys, we have had protests all over the city, we as police officers know that they are only dancing and dancing is protected uner the first amendment. As a cop in DC I have seen much worse in the 1970's and we didn't lock them up or throw them on the ground for dancing. These are our people for God's sake.

Acadia National To Receive $1.7 Million From LWCF to Seal Deal On 39 Acres

Jun 7th - 19:45pm | Bruce

Well done.

National Park Service Responds To Dancing In The Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Jun 7th - 16:04pm | Lee Dalton

We did know the law. But sometimes under pressure, it's hard to remember the exact chapter, number and verse. If you misquote anything, you're open to ripping by some defense attorney.

Backpacker Magazine's National Parks Collector's Edition

Jun 7th - 15:49pm | Bob Janiskee

That "somebody" who mentioned the Carlsbad backcountry is a former superintendent of Carlsbad.

Jun 7th - 15:45pm | Kurt Repanshek

Couldn't agree with you more, Bob.... /2009/06/dinosaur-national-monument-more-you-can-imagine

Jun 7th - 15:40pm | Bob

Glad somebody mentioned the Carlsbad backcountry, which is on my list of things to do. As for my own "next national park" list, how about Dinosaur National Monument? Wonderful, wonderful place.

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