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Report Raises Concerns Over How Colorado River Basin Dams Impact National Parks

May 1st - 13:42pm | y_p_w

There are powerful human forces at work here. It's a dry area where the Colorado River is the predominant water source. They can't even do anything about the relatively small Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. I'm not saying it's right, but there's strong political backing to keep these dams operating as they are.

Corporate Relations And The National Parks: Good Deal?

May 1st - 09:09am | Lady Bird Supporter

May 1st - 07:31am | Greed is Good

Go to the St. Louis Arch for the "Fair St. Louis" July 4th event and you will see a massive sign over the stage "Budwiser Salutes the National Park Service."  I cannot think of anything more offensive and inappropriate.

May 1st - 05:52am | Lone Hiker

If Corporate America can stand the thought of an NPS that stands firmly with the mantra "Give us your money and keep your products and services FAR away from our properties" then I say fine, take the money and run.

Understanding Mountain Lions at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Gets A Boost From New Lion

Apr 30th - 22:17pm | Karen

I took a rather late hike in Reck Park in Topanga this evenng with my dog. We had we were just entering back into the residential area about 7:30 p.m., and I heard a dog that lives in the nearest house off the trail going crazy, my dog got suddenly very alert, and a mountain lion dashed up the hill next to us so fast it took my breath away.

Tour Group Gets Up Close -- Too Close! -- To Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Apr 30th - 21:12pm | DD-393

"Let's look down a hole that's full of superheated water."  The perfect vacation.  What a bunch of knuckleheads.  Destructive knuckleheads.  They should all have been fined, thrown out of the park, and the tour company banned from the park.  The punishment did not fit the crime, in this instance.

Apr 30th - 19:47pm | Megaera

Stupid is not the correct word.  They knew what they were doing, and chose to break the rules.  It would have served them right to get erupted on.  Except that the park service has much better things to spend its money on than defending from frivolous lawsuits.

Apr 30th - 17:31pm | Lone Hiker

On the one hand it's a shame Ms. Faithful didn't choose one of those moments when the group was still on the apron to spout and "untimley" steam bath their direction.

Apr 30th - 13:54pm | Anonymous

Multiply the fines by ten and note that on the signs. And stick to it, no exceptions!

Apr 30th - 09:50am | Becci

I was watching the web cam when it happened, my jaw dropped too.  I couldn't beleive the arrogance of the whole group.  Then afterward reading that they "Did not see the signs"  That's the biggest lie I've heard all year. All 30ish of them should have been fined and the tour company banned for at least the rest of the season.

Apr 30th - 00:43am | Dale

Once agian dumb people doing dumb things and with no clue why it was wrong.  The gene pool defiantly need's to be purged.

Apr 29th - 20:10pm | Bruce

Again, the law of natural selection is [momentarily] averted!

Apr 29th - 18:20pm | Happy Toadster

I have seen the many signs in multiple languages throughout the park and I am constently amazed at the visitors who break the rules. I agree with the other person. Fine them all and maybe we can close the budget gap.

Apr 29th - 17:44pm | R Stefancik

Maybe they should post a picture of someone's scalded foot in the thermal areas.  One picture like that might be worth a thousand warning signs.

Apr 29th - 13:44pm | WI-Cheesehead

Props to my fellow Wisconsinite!  Way to go!

Apr 29th - 13:31pm | Mike Painter

The touring company's Yellowstone NP operating permit ought to be revoked.

Apr 29th - 12:08pm | samsdad1

The story should tell us how 26 people can break the same law and go away fine free? Simlar (dare I say) Cape Hatteras where several violate the letters of the law and escape unscathed even when the Rangers are watching. I say fine them all large amounts and this will evetually cease.

Apr 29th - 11:50am | dennis g.

Having been to Yellowstone, I can say that the signs are numerous and easy to read. These people must be either blind or stupid - and they're not blind. And the fines are too low.

Reader Participation Day: What Do You Want To Read About National Parks?

Apr 30th - 17:45pm | Kurt Repanshek

LH, have you tapped into my computer? Watch these pages next week.....

Apr 30th - 17:43pm | Lone Hiker

Hey Kurt, I'm more than just a little late, but personally I'd like to read about how the NPS is going to reinstate the $50 / year  "National Parks Annual Pass".  Hell, make it $75 for all I care.  Now THAT would be newsworthy.

Apr 29th - 16:54pm | Zebulon

Clearly, Imntbike has made all my points and then some.  I'll go back to doing spreadsheets and making a buck or two. :)

Apr 29th - 16:32pm | imtnbke

Hey, Rick —

Apr 29th - 15:48pm | Rick Smith

Imtnbike--

Apr 29th - 14:35pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, roads and fancy hotels are definitely allowed....although some think there should be more, but that's another story;-)

Apr 29th - 14:25pm | imtnbke

Fair enough. I admit that I write in a polemical style.

Apr 29th - 12:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

"Toys" denigrates? And "Luddites" doesn't;-) (Sorry, couldn't resist....)

Apr 29th - 12:42pm | imtnbke

Well, even so, that doesn't take away from the undeniable fact that there's a tension between the traditionalists and the nontraditionalists (whom it would be unfair to denigrate as relying on "toys"; it's a far broader issue than that) that must be a major challenge for the NPS.

Apr 29th - 12:31pm | Kurt Repanshek

The devil's advocate would have to question IMTNBKE's Luddite comment by noting 1) That Sam enjoys playing in the waves at Cape Hatteras and was awed by the Grand Canyon, two age-old aspects of nature that are obviously appealing to generations young and old, no other toys required, and 2) in the Traveler's recently concluded essay contest for youth 8 to 18 the winners

Apr 29th - 12:04pm | samsdad1

I agree with IMTNBIKE and would take it further with possible kid developed storylines on both side of the issues. My 6 year old knows about several of these parks from our visits, but by far his two favorite ones offered the most for his age. Cape hatteras (things to do and waves) and Grand Canyon (PURE unadulterated AWE)

Apr 29th - 11:58am | imtnbke

I'd vote for an article or two on what NPS is doing to make itself relevant to younger people. The poor agency has for decades been beset by the demands of elderly curmudgeons, and the organizations that represent them, like the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, the Audubon Society, etc., that nothing change.

Apr 29th - 06:19am | MRC

For me the features are main reason to read the Traveler. History and politics are my leading interests. The next best thing are personal accounts about trips to the parks featuring well known or not so well known trails and experiences.

Murder Suspect Rescued, Then Arrested, by Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park

Apr 30th - 17:40pm | Lone Hiker

I guess all the fuss over how dangerous the National Parks are is just a bunch of hot air.  Take Grand Canyon for instance.  Twice in one week.....one guy jumps in, the other pretends it's a Jack-in-the-Box, and neither is the worse for wear.  Somebody should make canyon jumping the next Olympic extreme sport!

Driver Survives Plunge Off South Rim At Grand Canyon National Park

Apr 30th - 17:33pm | Lone Hiker

Maybe this guy should get together with the tour group from Yellowstone..... Texting, sexting, gawking, having a Kodak moment or whatever, better luck next time bud!

Apr 28th - 11:23am | Bruce

The evolutionary process of natural selection was unnaturally kind to this individual.  This time.

Fierce Winter Challenging Snow-Plowing Efforts In Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone National Parks

Apr 30th - 15:20pm | Mellody

Well, given the snowfall in the Northern Rockies of Colorado, it maybe mid June before trail ridge will be open. Just yesterday they had a winter storm warning for the vicinity. We still can have a massive blizzard in the Denver area, it is not that uncommon.

Obama Administration Proposes $12 Billion Interior Department Budget, Extra National Park Funding

Apr 30th - 15:02pm | Anonymous

I hope the National, State, and local parks will continue to flourish even though there are many difficulties.

Updated: National Park Service Budget Would Grow by $138 Million Under President's FY12 Proposal

Apr 30th - 10:27am | Anonymous

first off, you are right about the the bombs. you are insane if you think the nat park can mange its lands. they are on a buying spree for resources, appearing to cater to the selfish interests of a select group. come visit quinault this summer, that might change your mind. or even contact me private!

Some In Congress Urge National Park Service To Find Solution for Yellowstone National Park Bison

Apr 30th - 08:41am | Ranger Paul

It seems like congress is sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong again.

Apr 29th - 14:30pm | The Truth

The NPS is a major part of this problem.  They have known the truth regarding the politics and science of this issue for years, and have failed to provide moral leadership.

Apr 29th - 10:11am | RangerLady

I agree with C.C. Let them do what they have to. Many bison cannot survive the Yellowstone winters and have to migrate to find better grazing, which means they have to go out of the park. There has not been a single documented case where burcellosis has been transfered from bison (or elk) to cattle.

Apr 29th - 07:55am | C.C.

Let the bison roam!  They shouldn't be managed as livestock, they are wildlife!  The cattle industry should not have any more say over where the bison migrate!

Apr 28th - 13:10pm | richp39

These guys were so worried about how NPS was managing bison in Yellowstone, they couldn't come up with an annual budget for the whole country until 6 months into the budget year. I wonder how much the final budget allocated to developing a new policy for the bison?

Apr 28th - 12:48pm | samsdad1

blaming the nps is like blaming the bullet.

Apr 28th - 12:28pm | Bob

The NPS could probably come up with a scientifically-based solution tomorrow, which Congress would reject on political grounds on the day after tomorrow.  The problem here isn't with the NPS.

War And Consequences: The American Indian Movement Vs. The National Park Service At Fort Laramie, Part II

Apr 29th - 16:04pm | David H.

Richard Sellars has not only provided the rationale to widen---or is the word to "correct?'---the way NPS wants us to remember a significant and treacherous part of US history surrounding Fort Laramie, but he also told his story with clarity, and almost perfect pitch and balance.

Camper Killed As Severe Storm System Thrashes Natchez Trace Parkway

Apr 29th - 15:23pm | Jay

"Greater love hath no man than this..."

Road Trip 2011: The National Park Lodges

Apr 28th - 22:43pm | Ron and Lynda

Amazing adventures !We even duplicated a few of them with great success. Couldn't do without your books. They come along in our backpack. THANKS!

War And Consequences: The American Indian Movement Vs. The National Park Service At Fort Laramie

Apr 28th - 15:11pm | Eric DeLony

I too am retired Park Service. Though not my area of expertise, we discussed this interpretation of Fort Laramie several times over lunch in Santa Fe. I've been to Ft. Laramie one time and found it to be an outstanding Park Service restoration/rehabilitation.

Kemp's Ridley Turtle Nesting Season Off To Good Start At Padre Island National Seashore

Apr 28th - 10:48am | MarkN

We here in Texas are keeping our fingers crossed that the Kemp's nesting numbers continue to improve. With nests showing up last year from the Mexican border to Galveston Beach the prospects are great. While fishing the jettys at Port Aransas last year I was amazed at the numbers of turtles living in and around the South Jetty. The same can be said for the North Jetty at South Padre Island.

National Park Mystery Photo 35 Revealed: This Big Gear Turns No More

Apr 28th - 10:42am | Dottie

Actually, I answered it early yesterday morning (the 27th), but never went back to check it until late last night and discovered my answer never "took".  Remember well the hot buggy day hiking down to that place in the late 1970's.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

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.