| Page 1136 | National Parks Traveler

Those like Grylls make me sick. They 'capture' snakes then eat the poor innocent things. The tv show is not life or death and a poor animal has to die.....not right. I saw the Gold Rush episode where they killed the bear. Uncalled for especially since it was their fault a bear was in their camp (food left out) and it was not the same bear that took the cookies/crackers anyway.

Feb 24th - 20:20pm | Random Walker

Unlike Tom, I have no doubts, I gave up on The Discovery Channel long ago. Folks really thought it was all real reality? LMAO! Time for me to jack off line and go for a wander awhile...

Feb 24th - 17:22pm | Julie Trevelyan

Being a backcountry enthusiast, my b.s. meter went off the first time I saw Bear Grylls defying "certain" death on his show.

Feb 24th - 13:21pm | y_p_w

I remember seeing some documentary on the City of Anchorage's bear hazing team. They were shown dramatically throwing unsecured trash cans at some black bears to get them to take off. I wonder if they perhaps laid in wait with a situation they knew was going to produce a bear incident.

Feb 24th - 10:28am | Todd Wilkinson

Matt: Great thoughts. Indeed, it might be calling the kettle black if, in wearing his polo shirt, Palmer was pretending to be hosting a reality TV show, after he pretended that his plane crashed and he was marooned in the Amazon, but the photo was taken of him as he, being a college professor, was on his way to deliver a lecture.

Feb 24th - 09:53am | Matt Stubbs

No mention of "Survivor Man"!? Well I guess if you are one of the people who have actually been lost in the woods and had seen a show like this it may actually have some value.

Feb 24th - 07:45am | Marjorie

I’ve never seen any of these shows (don’t get reception where I live) but I had some boys out on a hike once who were nuts for Survivor. They spent an inordinate amount of time figuring out how to trap and eat the ground squirrels.

Tracking Crime in National Parks Is Not An Exact Science By Any Means

Feb 26th - 07:03am | Kirk

Let me give a point of view as a concessionaire employee that works at the grand canyon. I live in a small town approximately 35 miles south of the canyon and work nights. NPS officers are under the impression that any employee that is arriving into the park at that time of night has been drinking at the bar and needs to be stopped using any means possible.

Roped-Together Climbers Die in Fall On Mount McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve

Feb 25th - 23:32pm | Deborh

I came across this site searching for information about my childhood art teacher, John's grandmother I believe. My hope was to get in touch with John's mother I met only a few times many years ago. I am shocked and sad for both men's families. My heart goes out to his family.

Where in the World is Paul Fugate?

Feb 25th - 16:28pm | cat

I too, would have attended the Memorial had I known about it. Although I did not know Paul or Dody Fugate, as a Tucson resident at that time I followed this perplexing case closely. I vividly remember the "Where Is Paul Fugate?" bumper stickers and my heart ached for his family.

Reader Participation Day: Should A Federal Budget Stalemate Lead To Closure of National Parks?

Feb 25th - 15:21pm | y_p_w

Will Strong: How do you close down a park? It is open space. Are there no rangers, no security? So what?. Sure "close" them down, it wont stop me using them.

Feb 25th - 14:40pm | vink80

At 87yrs old and retired for 25+ yrs I've seen and hiked in most of them --- so I'm done with 'em ! !! !!! !!!! How selfish can one get ???? More seriously -- I think they are over developed, over visited, and the private

Feb 24th - 21:07pm | Someone in the ...

If we could just learn what we can do without the government it would be the best lesson to be learned. That's the biggest fear of those in government! Maybe we should try it. A corrective situation has been presented to us so lets learn the lesson and get on with it:).

Feb 24th - 20:26pm | Sabattis

A government shutdown may not be a reasonable solution, but it is probably what is required by our Constitution... "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law".

Feb 24th - 10:22am | John Conway

So shut down the government to save money... every time that has been done the employees go home, no work gets done, when they get back there's more damage to the system due to lack of daily maintenence, leading to more back logged maintenence, costing tax dollars to repair, and the employees get paid for the lost time anyway, leading to a net loss.

Feb 23rd - 22:40pm | Will Strong

How do you close down a park? It is open space. Are there no rangers, no security? So what?. Sure "close" them down, it wont stop me using them.

Feb 23rd - 21:21pm | MarkK

Privatization wouldn't necessarily mean for-profit. It just means non-government. There are many existing private organizations on a local, state, and national level that run or contribute to parks, museums, etc.

Feb 23rd - 10:15am | justinh

Lawrence, Privatization would seem to be as a disasterous option. What would prevent this from opening the door to chopping down the Redwoods, mining the Grand Canyon, turning open prairie into golf courses, etc.? Not to mention that a for-proft motive might also price the parks out of some families' budgets.

Volunteer Opportunities at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Feb 25th - 10:13am | Danny Bernstein

And you get to wear a uniform. You can't beat the experience. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Tidal Pool Science in Olympic National Park: The Video

Feb 25th - 10:03am | Jane S

Reminds me of my days as an archaeologist, mapping sites and taking measurements in a similar fashion. Fascinating video.

Lodging Sale At Yosemite National Park, Where You Can Leverage 50% Savings This Fall on Second Night Stay

Feb 25th - 00:49am | Natalie - Coppe...

Thanks for the heads up on not planning to go there during the fall, Kurt! I never would have guessed that the waterfalls can actually dry up. My kids would really be disappointed if they don't get to see this when we go.

Arches National Park Developing Formal Climbing, Canyoneering Management Plan

Feb 25th - 00:20am | y_p_w

There is a strong tradition of climbing in our national parks, whether it's big wall climbing in Yosemite, or mountaineering in Denali, Grand Teton, Mt Rainier, etc. It's an activity that frankly isn't terribly popular compared to the millions of tourists who visit without even thinking of climbing a rock.

Feb 24th - 15:18pm | Anonymous

Rock climbing at its best is an inappropriate activity for a National Park. It is intrusive, destructive, and trashy; just ask the BLM for a copy of the study they did along Indian Creek.

Newspaper Turns Back the Calendar and Calls for "Buffalo Commons National Park" in Kansas

Feb 24th - 19:45pm | Ben

You do realize that the Buffalo roamed freely in the Great Plains and for sure in the areas of Kansas proposed. These Bison are hardy animals and the lands being brought up ARE their NATURAL grazing homes.

Feb 23rd - 19:20pm | Gaddy Bergmann

The Great Plains have been called an “American Serengeti,” and this is an apt comparison. During pre-Columbian times, and even into the 1800’s, the Great Plains supported huge herds of big game, including as many as 30 million bison, as well as numerous pronghorn, elk, deer, prairie dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, bears, and cougars, and many different kinds of birds and reptiles.

America's Great Outdoors Report Carries Lofty Goals That Need Widespread Support For Success

Feb 24th - 19:42pm | Keeper

To Ron Saunders and friends, "ROCK ON!" K

Feb 24th - 16:08pm | Ron Saunders

What a letter. I have no doubt a great many of us can identify to some degree with the writer. Cudos to Keeper and those like him. I have been to the canyon and can understand. Wish I had been able to take that Mule ride but time did not allow. Maybe some day. Lets urge the continuence of that experience for all.

Feb 24th - 09:30am | Keeper

Bob,

Feb 23rd - 10:02am | Matt Stubbs

Bob, One thing to consider is what one persons idea of "special" is and that another persons ideas are will conflict. Not once but every single time!

Nine Injured By Lightning Strike At Old Faithful In Yellowstone National Park

Feb 24th - 17:17pm | Anonymous

This is during the same season that eleven mountain climbers were struck while climbing the nearby Grand Teton. What a crazy season it was in Wyoming. I heard one of the people in Yellowstone suffered an extra shock from her medical alerts system she was wearing around her neck. This kind of stuff is so coincidental and crazy.

Wyoming Legislature Agrees To Sell Land Inside Grand Teton National Park; Will Congress Pay For It?

Feb 24th - 14:32pm | jean flinders

I am glad the Interior Dept is trying to buy the land. I am soooooo sick of developers getting their hands on every bit of land. They are so greedy.

Public Comment Opens On Whether to Allow Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon National Park

Feb 24th - 14:31pm | Big D

"We need to head in the direction of clean technologies like solar energy, wind farms." I agree, lets build a line of wind turbines along the GCNP boundary, with solar paenls beneath them. Just kidding. "Gaining Energy independence" via the official "green energy" technologies is like peeing on a forest fire.

Feb 24th - 09:09am | Ronin

I really hope there are enough sensible people who will be aware and active when these corporate tools try to desicrate yet another of this country's vulnerable and venerable places. Think mountain top removal in West Virginia...they won't rest until the land is stripped, poisoned and worthless.

Efforts to Regulate Off-Leash Dogs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area Spark Debate

Feb 24th - 14:20pm | Ron Saunders

This has been one of the best open discussions of an extremely volatile situation affecting many Parks and Recreation Areas. I am encouraged with the manner in which so many people have commented. Facts and opinions without the, too often, accompanying insults and adjectives.

Scuba Diver Dies at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Feb 24th - 12:17pm | Anonymous

As a divemaster candidate, I am baffled and confused to know why regional scuba would take a student diver out on such a cold day when hypothermia is the biggest concern which could lead to a heart attack or his regulator (breathing device) freeze up. My condolences to the family for their loss.

National Christmas Tree Felled by High Winds

Feb 24th - 10:26am | Anonymous

The falling of the Christmas is a warning to the president that if he is coming closer to the evil Chinese communist for the purpose of getting some chips, disaster will accompany. Communism is against God and its purpose is to ruin the world.

Feb 23rd - 11:46am | Rev. S.M. King

Given the increase in entropy that our nation has experienced since 1978, perhaps it is time to replace the fallen Christmas tree with a 50 foot aluminum pole. (Festivus, for our all-inclusive amalgam!)

2010 National Park System Visitation Dips To 281.3 Million, Down 4.2 Million From 2009

Feb 24th - 08:54am | Bob

Adams NHP: I have no idea but here's a question: does it depend on school field trips? It's certainly imaginable that school districts would cut field trips in the current financial climate.

Feb 23rd - 23:42pm | jjedit

I find it interesting that you continue to find ways to paint Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in dark and dreary colors. You point to the decline in numbers at Amisted National Recreation Area as well. You didn't include numbers from Big Bend or any other southwestern area park to substantiate your theory concerning border problems affecting attendance.

Feb 23rd - 22:20pm | Steve Nelson

MM, that is a mystery. Visitation was more than 200,000 for 10 consecutive years then fell off the table. I live in Massachusetts and don't recall any problems in the area of the park, or the city of Quincy where it is located. Maybe someone who lives closer to Quincy than I do has an idea. The economy is better here than in many areas of the USA.

Feb 23rd - 19:42pm | MM

Hello: Does anyone who is familiar with Adams NHP have any ideas as to why visitation was so much lower in 2010? Thanks. M

Feb 23rd - 10:20am | Owen Hoffman

Although the visitation statistics indicate a relatively large drop between 2010 and 2009, I wonder how credible the numbers really are? My skepticism is based on the fact that the number of visits are merely crude estimates.

Feb 23rd - 10:08am | Kurt Repanshek

Visitors. NPS does a pretty good job of differentiating between "recreational" visits and "non-recreational" visits.

Feb 23rd - 10:05am | Matt Stubbs

Were they visitors or clean up crews? I would never had guessed the numbers would be up because of visitors?

Feb 23rd - 10:02am | Kurt Repanshek

Actually, Matt. I did overlook that, and it is interesting. Visitation to Gulf Islands National Seashore, figured to be the most likely target for oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, was up in 2010 over 2009, according to NPS stats. 2010: 4,283,747 visitors 2009: 4,132,674 visitors.

Reader Participation Day: Do We Need More Interpretive Rangers, Or Law Enforcement Rangers, in National Parks?

Feb 24th - 05:17am | MO

Both are important to the mission. A State Park Ranger myself, an issue with combining roles is LE Rangers are in large part a specialized and reactive arm of the agency. When out with a group of 40 folks, unless staffing permits its not realistic to drop the group to respond to an emergency.

Are Yosemite National Park Officials Overlooking Safety of Curry Village Guests?

Feb 23rd - 19:03pm | Anonymous

safety of yosemite

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