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Arizona Officials Planning Shooting Range Near Walnut Canyon National Monument

Feb 17th - 16:13pm | Anonymous

The plan is to dangerously close to the main entrance going into Walnut Canyon National Monument. Therefore, I suggest moving the shooting range in the opposite direction of the park to avoid high velocity bullets going astray. One mile bullet range (or more) doesn't cut for me in regards to public safety.

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

Feb 17th - 15:52pm | Anonymous

Interesting, I've been involved with young people, the physically challenged, troubled adults, not troubled adults and watch them somehow make the decision, sometime years after the seed was planted, to climb on a mule and go down the Grand Canyon. I've been in this conversation before but I've seen so many miracles with my riders that I'm not likely to quit.

Feb 17th - 14:56pm | Matt Stubbs

Sounds very admirable Bruce. these are the kinds of programs that need the funding and it should come from the stock piles sent to buy more lands!!!! Education of our kids is top priority, second is experiences. Without either we might as well be communists...

Feb 17th - 14:28pm | Bruce W. Bytnar

Like most initiatives what will make a difference is where the money is spent.

Feb 17th - 07:49am | Smoky Mtn Hiker

Call me stupid, but I'm really not seeing anything in this report that will get kids out into the woods in any meaningful numbers. This appears to be a major waste of money. Nothing is stopping kids from getting outside right now. Throwing more money at this issue isn't going to solve anything.

Enter Traveler's "Take Your Family to the National Parks" Essay Contest!

Feb 17th - 15:48pm | Kurt Repanshek

Stick to the age brackets.

Feb 17th - 15:42pm | Anonymous

Which category should my son do? He is 11 but in middle school.

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

Feb 17th - 15:14pm | 12:51

Well, Michael, Ron, D-2, there is an obvious divide in how we see things which I understand and really don't have a problem with as we all have different life experiences. What's fun is to be in the specter of these great places (NP's ) and it not be about any of it. Bigger than us and puts us beyond self, from what I've seen. Lots can be accomplished in that kind of climate.

Feb 17th - 14:19pm | Michael Kellett

Hi Anonymous (not verified), I agree with Ron Saunders that this is getting out of hand. You clearly are witnessing many of the same things that I am, but often coming to diametrically opposed conclusions. That is your right, and there is nothing to be gained in arguing forever.

Feb 16th - 23:11pm | d-2

Anonomous, this is silly. Now Barney Frank is responsible. You want facts: how about you just read the financial crisis inquiry commission report? Check out, when you see all the facts, how empty your arguments are. And it is not as if one of the commissioners did not argue your points, he did and the facts annihilate his, what turns out to be, ideological arguments.

Feb 16th - 20:30pm | Anonymous

Ha! You want to go on a Mule Ride? Heard from my guide that anything can be solved by putting everyone on a mule and head into the Canyon. I believe he's right! Catch you later:).

Feb 16th - 19:59pm | Ron Saunders

Man, this is some heavy stuff. I'm not being funny. I'm not sure if everyone is right or everyone is wrong or if we should call it a draw.

Feb 16th - 19:42pm | Anonymous

A little history on Clinton's success. Never one to deny credit for someone else's labors, shaming the office and setting a poor example for the young by setting a new low in behavior (and making it acceptable), Clinton arrived on scene as the economy was turning around on it's own.

Feb 16th - 18:25pm | Michael Kellett

Anonymous (not verified),

Feb 16th - 17:22pm | Anonymous

What really distinguishes comments, opinions and purported facts is the character of their proponents. If you instantly go to demeaning tactics directed at people personally there most usually playing fast and loose with the truth and are called out. There is so much that totally dominates the airways with what can only be described as a CON at worst and youthful naivete at best.

Feb 16th - 16:56pm | d-2

I don't support left OR right -- I support POLICIES and ACCURATE FACTS. Anyone who has supported the NPS for long knows some of the best friends to parks and the environment have been Republicans, and there were Democratic Administrations and officials who hurt the parks.

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

Feb 17th - 14:50pm | Matt Stubbs

really troubling when I have to listen to rules made soooo long ago and the world has changed sooooo much that now I must walk on egg shells to even enter a park system. Lord knows besides my dog do not let a toddler near the park system as they are not trained in the ways of the ranger...and will destroy the single cell organisms that are only found in this particular puddle.

Feb 17th - 13:09pm | y_p_w

Honestly - Golden Gate National Recreation Area is an interesting mish-mash of assorted properties brought together under one management. Who knows WHAT the criteria should be for management; I'm surprised they can even keep things straight. They've received so many random additions over the years that were deeded under so many different stipulations.

Feb 17th - 12:11pm | Kurt Repanshek

Joking aside, unleashed dogs in the parks, non-conforming uses in wilderness, and even mules in the Grand Canyon are some of the more noticeable, and contentious, issues in the park system. There's a long list of 'em.

Feb 17th - 11:53am | Rich T

Sooooo what does the Sierra Club have to say about this, or could they be to busy working on getting rid of the Oysters at Drake's, LOL? Suspect they might have a generic press release form that just requires changing Oysters to dogs to mules .....:).

Feb 17th - 11:21am | Anonymous

The issue is particularly interesting to me growing up on the Central Coast beginning in the late 50's. Going back to show my kids my sandbox I got to play in I was met by park rangers denying access because they were searching for WWII explosives in my" sandbox," LOL! I could not take our dog (at all) out of the car and on and on.

Feb 17th - 11:20am | Matt Stubbs

This is a nationwide issue and not only a Dog Issue but an access one. Please do band together and incite something that makes the Department of the Interior, National Parks Service, and all others take notice. I assure you if you get it together We on the east coast as lovers of Cape Hatteras will join you as well. Leashes Across America

Feb 17th - 11:18am | Ron Saunders

I must add to my comment that I am not advocating policy at this particular park because I do not know all of the facts and am not qualified. I don't want to be like many that we are contending with at Cape Hatteras.

Feb 17th - 11:07am | Ron Saunders

y.p.w. Thanks for the info on Snowy and USFWS. Also thanks for your constructive comments.

Feb 17th - 10:22am | SFdogwatch

This issue is getting a lot of attention and many dog groups and banding together. Let's band together, so that we can work together to get our voice heard. Please join the yahoo group: sfdogwatch

Feb 16th - 21:47pm | y_p_w

Ron Saunders: Since I am concerned with the different but similar situation at Cape Hatteras, I found it interesting that the "Plover" is again involved. I would be interested to see what organization is involved in this coincidence. Not the same species. The piping plover is Charadrius melodus:

Feb 16th - 21:20pm | y_p_w

I would also note that sometimes the enforcement personnel can't even keep all the rules straight. I was at an interprestive ranger program on the history of flight at Crissy Field when our ranger noticed a group on the beach with a leashed dog. He excused himself and said that he might have to whip his ticket book out.

Feb 16th - 21:04pm | y_p_w

This is a very complicated issue - especially those areas ceded by the City and County of San Francisco under a set of restrictions. The agreement was that the areas that were open to off-leash dog walking under city control must remain so under NPS control. The Endangered Species Act does of course complicate issues.

Feb 16th - 18:17pm | Anonymous

I am against unleashed dogs! Dogs should always be leashed in public spaces. One nice thing about Hawaii's State Park Beaches is that dogs are not allowed, period. But, no matter what the law is, dog owners will not obey the laws and the dogs will be unleashed and no one in authority will do a thing about it. I've seen that over and over.

Feb 16th - 16:03pm | Ron Saunders

Bob, I think the reality again is that the "use groups" do not wish to deprive God's creatures of anything. they simply want to share it. The vast majority love the birds, including the Plovers ( though it may be getting difficult in light of current conditions).

Federal Judge Refuses To Block Yellowstone National Park Bison From Being Slaughtered

Feb 17th - 14:39pm | jsmacdonald

Jamie,

Feb 17th - 10:17am | Aggnonymous

I can relate, Jamie. What has been in vogue in these modern times is the proclivity to judge and condemn, using PC standards, somethings that are so distant and disconnected from there own lives. Private property rights, life risks (risk is required in the life experience) and the apparent goal of dumbing things down to the safest and pablum fed non-existence.

Feb 17th - 08:31am | Jamie Marty

Interesting comment from JS Mcdonald! So agreed, the yellowstone bison herd has been allowed to increase past what the rangeland within the park can sustain. What I advocate is managing this herd to a level that can be sustained. What you advocate is that the land around the park be made available for the bison so the the herd doesnt have to be reduced.

The National Park System's Cultural-Historical Wing: America's Story in 10 Chapters

Feb 17th - 14:39pm | Bob Janiskee

We've been closely following the issue of mule rides management in Grand Canyon National Park in the Traveler. It's certainly triggered heated debate.

Feb 17th - 12:01pm | 12:51

Grand Canyon, Bob. Kurt should have quite a file on the situation by now.

Feb 17th - 11:55am | Bob Janiskee

Perhaps you could be more specific about the park you have in mind. I'd be grateful if some Traveler readers would register their thoughts and feelings about these issues. Count me in favor of preserving cultural-historical-archeological resources and improving access wherever possible in the parks.

U.S. Senator, Colorado Governor Lobby National Park Service To Allow Bike Race Through Colorado National Monument

Feb 17th - 13:36pm | TIMOTHY PRZYGOCKI

Mr. Udall's family is part of the Department of The Interior's past heritage. His family was part of the Eisenhower Administration and the Reagan Administration as well. They were proud visionary conservationist and fierce protectors of America’s people and special places.

Feb 16th - 14:33pm | John Foote

It seems to me that this is a blatant attempt to glean limited commercial benefits from Colorado National Monument, to the detriment of the purposes for which the monument was created.

Black History Month Celebrated With Special Events at African Burial Ground National Monument

Feb 17th - 10:23am | Donald Bunn

Thank you for bringing this monument and the Black History Month presentations to my attention. I'm at Palm Springs CA but if I could make it to New York I'd certainly be there.

Trickle of Documents Highlights National Park Service's Mistakes In Hubbell Trading Post Investigation

Feb 17th - 07:43am | Anonymous

Have to think at least one of the many thousands of new IRS agents just hired would be hot on that! Maybe the new agents could double as border security officers checking their Social Security Cards:). You used to only see this kind of stuff in the cartoons.

Feb 17th - 06:46am | Liz Ross

And did Mr. Malone have receipts for the items in is NPS residence? I am sure he would need these for the IRS.

Feb 17th - 06:41am | Liz Ross

One thing for sure Billy Gene Malone is one of the best story tellers in the cowboy tradition of his Texas roots.

Does the National Park Service Need a Quota System for Peak Seasons?

Feb 17th - 01:09am | Randy

While I don't buy for a moment that these places will be lost forever due to overcrowding during peak usage, certainly the magic is significantly reduced (the all-afternoon traffic jams on summer weekends in Yosemite are a definite kill-joy).

Park History: Badlands National Park

Feb 17th - 00:57am | Badlands Nation...

One can only try to imagine what it must have been like for pioneers traveling for months across a never ending sea of prairie and then mountains and then this! THE BADLANDS

National Park Mystery Photo 32: What Object Might This Be?

Feb 16th - 22:23pm | Brenda_12

Mystery photo 31 is one of the Three Sisters lighthouses in Cape Cod Natl Park. We were there on vacation last year. Lest anyone think we're regional, we live in the midwest.

Feb 16th - 22:21pm | Brenda_12

My NP passport is nearly full. :-)

Feb 16th - 15:19pm | Kurt Repanshek

Not Acadia, but you're in the right neighborhood Steve.

Feb 16th - 15:10pm | Steve

Looks like painted wood shingles. Looks New England to me. I'll say Acadia somewhere.

Public Comments Run Against Extension of Oyster Company Lease at Point Reyes National Seashore

Feb 16th - 16:20pm | Anonymous

ypw, Excellent background!

Feb 16th - 15:26pm | y_p_w

There was an interesting discussion on this back in 2009, featuring a lot of the principals in this fight, including Sen Feinstein, Kevin Lunny, Corey Goodman, Gordon Bennett (representing the local chapter of the Sierra Club), and Tess Elliott of the Point Reyes Light: http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R906301000

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