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National Park Mystery Spot 21: Alas, Poor Hillside Homes

Feb 9th - 08:46am | Anonymous

2nd Largest State?? Are you sure it isn't the third largest state? [Yup, second-largest. You would have to cut Alaska in half to make the referenced state the third-largest. Ed.]

Feb 9th - 08:17am | Bob Janiskee

Rangertoo has nailed this one. (What took you so long, my friend?) The answer will be embargoed to let other Traveler readers try to work it out. Rangertoo, while the rest of the Traveler Tribe works on this puzzle, here's a bonus puzzler for you. Take a look at the photo accompanying this quiz and tell me what you notice. Hint: one doesn't match the other.

Updated: Budgeting At Grand Canyon National Park Is Not Always As Simple As You Might Think

Feb 9th - 07:40am | Gordon Smith

Heres a pretty good quote } Mister Grumpy 9:25 PM on January 14, 2011 Trail erosion?............ the canyon has been there for millions of years........... a few mules isn't about to damage the canyon........... Odds are someone with influence didn't like the donkeys leaving their presents on the trail.......

Feb 7th - 18:31pm | Jess Goodwin

I didn't want to write another comment but as I have observed this site I am amazed at how childish all of this has gotten. Anyone who is hiding behind "Anonymous" or "Tag names" says enough about them.too afraid to be known who it really is.

Feb 6th - 16:44pm | y_p_w

Maybe one of these days I'll be on a mule ride in the Grand Canyon. However - closer to home, there are still mule rides offered at Yosemite NP. There's even a specific horse/mule trail that isn't open to hikers. For whatever reason, they set a rider limit of 225 lbs.

Feb 6th - 16:02pm | Gordon Smith

Mule So CALLED POOP is not down every mile of trail, only per say at a few pit stops along the miles of trail other wise its pretty clean, the biggest excuse here I think is the EROSION issue blamed mostly on mules not the thousands of hikers and there trash, and a missapropreation of money for trail work, make the hikers pick up a little of that tab, not just paying an entrance fee, say two

Feb 6th - 14:56pm | Keeper

YPW,

Feb 6th - 14:29pm | y_p_w

Keeper - I really have no animosity towards the mule rides per se. It probably would have been the highlight of my week to have come across a mule train when I was on the South Kaibab Trail. My only reservation is about the poop. I don't care for the whole blame game; blaming hikers for the bad behavior of a few isn't going to make the conflict go away.

Roundup of Nearly 300 Yellowstone National Park Bison, With Some Destined For Slaughter, Draws Condemnation

Feb 8th - 22:47pm | Anonymous

Sorry, to burst your bubble, but the Superintendent of Yellowstone NP doesn't have much say in this issue. Well, he has less influence than one would think. The true problem lies with the cattle ranchers and the state of Montana.

Grand Teton National Park, The Land of Legends

Feb 8th - 17:27pm | Lynda

Loved the video and all Teton postings to Facebook.

Traveler's Checklist: Crater Lake National Park

Feb 8th - 16:45pm | Jim Chadderdon,...

Mr. Hoffman, Thank you for your wonderful article on the only National Park in Oregon. We here in Klamath County are proud of this iconic resource in our backyard and also take every opportunity to share its beauty in the marketing of our County. I want to add a couple points to your otherwise thorough review.

Feb 8th - 11:58am | Kelly Chambers

Of all the parks I have been to in my life, this is the one park I go to over and over again. It is spectacular! And the area of Klamath County has so much to offer, something for everyone. We took the kids again last summer and they loved the lava tubes, hiking the rim of Crater Lake, kayaking and seeing all those birds.

Feb 8th - 11:45am | Lloyd Smith

Great article.

Feb 8th - 08:39am | Owen Hoffman

Jerry, Thanks for posting your link to an excellent series of articles and video on some of the more subtle adventures associated with a visit to Crater Lake National Park. I especially enjoyed reading your article on Llao's Hallway. This hike is not for the unprepared. A hard hat, sturdy boots, and gloves are definitely recommended.

Feb 8th - 07:51am | Susan L.

I have been to 3/4 of our National Parks throughout my lifetime, so I have experienced a lot of natural beauty. I made the effort to go to Crater Lake 2 summers ago for the first time. When we pulled over to look at the lake for the first time, I simply stood there and cried. This is the most beautiful place on the face of the earth, as far as I am concerned.

Feb 8th - 07:50am | Anonymous

On our one and only trip (so far) to Oregon/Washington for a conference, we were fortunate enough to be able to rent a car and travel for 10 days. Our main objectives were Olympic NP, Mt. Rainier NP, Mt. St. Helens, and Crater Lake NP. What a life changing trip that was. The beauty is magnificent. The drive over to Crater Lake was unforgettable and gorgeous.

Feb 7th - 15:23pm | Owen Hoffman

Thanks Craig, It's a pleasure to write this article and have the park's superintendent comment and offer additional information. I will have to make the new Plaikni Falls Trail, a "must see" on my own list for my next visit. It's great to have you at the helm at Crater Lake, which to many of us is a most sacred place.

Feb 7th - 13:30pm | Anonymous

Hi Owen,

Feb 7th - 11:55am | Keeper

For those that seek a little faster movement around the Rim while still on your feet, there is a Marathon, Half Marathon and 6.7 mile race every August. It is a pretty difficult event because of the 7,000+ feet elevation and few big name runners participate because of generally poorer times compared to sea level events. Not a bad thing to take it slow at such a spectacular place:).

Feb 7th - 11:35am | Craig Ackerman,...

Thanks, Owen, for a very nice article on the park. One of our objectives is to educate the public that although the park was created to protect and preserve the lake and its environs, Crater Lake is truly a national park in every sense with spectacular scenery, fascinating botany, abundant wildlife, and wonderful recreational opportunities.

Feb 7th - 10:28am | Ron Mastroguseppe

The most distant geographic location ancient Mt. Mazama volcanic ash has been identified is in Antarctica ice cores during a three year period when high altitude fine ash was finally deposited. http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/antarctica/antartica08b.htm

Feb 7th - 10:17am | Lynn F.

I am so glad to finally see a really long and indepth article about Crater Lake. I live approximately 1.5 hours from the Lake and spend as much time there as possible during the year. I try to make a "winter" trip (which I will be doing this week) and then several trips for hiking and photography from July 1st to when the snow flys. That can be anywhere from September to November.

Yellowstone National Park Exploring Improvements to Bechler Region

Feb 8th - 15:13pm | Christopher Buehler

I agree that the Bechler area needs some love in the form of improvements. There are a number of cabins (including A-frame) that are rather dilapidated. I used to be a summer ranger and would visit the area on occasion. Oftentimes, I'd almost prefer to stay in a tent than risk getting hantavirus in the cabins! I'm happy to see that there will likely be improvements in this area.

Feb 7th - 12:09pm | Anonymous

I have been to the Bechler area once and would love to do more exploring of the area. Paving and or improving the Grassy Lake Road would get my vote but it is not in the Park. Mesa falls are also worth looking at outside of Yellostone in Idaho if you are in the area.

Feb 7th - 12:03pm | Anonymous

The housing at Bechler for the rangers is deplorable! The "temporary" atco trailer installed in 1986 was to be for only 2 years, 25 years later it is still there. I guess you could say it is "historical" now as it been there a long time!

Traveler Classic: Rare Motion Pictures Show Civil War Veterans at Gettysburg

Feb 8th - 13:32pm | robtdaniels

Great videos, thanks for posting. It makes my visit to Gettysburg all the more memorable. It is gratifying to see pictures of veterans of the war who may have actually been at the battle.

Feb 8th - 13:21pm | Lee Dalton

Interesting. Especially so because William Henry Jackson was THE western photographer who chronicled so much of its exploration. He was with the Hayden survey in Yellowstone. I found a short biography at an NPS website: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/sontag/jackson.htm

Feb 8th - 12:10pm | Tina

Thank you for posting these videos. They were wonderfully touching and makes me think of our remaining World War II vets today and the brevity of life. It was truly beautiful seeing those elderly Civil War vets being honored.

Feb 8th - 11:10am | Bob Janiskee

Yes, it is interesting footage, Bob. Thanks for making our point, and thanks for being a Traveler reader.

Feb 8th - 11:00am | John Robert "Bo...

these old films a far from rare. They have been utilized in many productions, from documentaries to feature films. They are a regular to any advanced Civil War study. Granted they are not mainstream and "viral", but the knowledge of their existence and the ability to find them on the net does not make them rare or really news worthy.

Lecture Series at Fort Frederica National Monument Ranges From Turtles to 18th Century Battles

Feb 8th - 13:07pm | Rick

Love the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and everything that Dr. Norton and staff is doing there to protect our dwindling sea turtle population. It's a wonderful place for kids (and adults) to learn about sea turtle ecology.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Dispute Places Birds, Turtles, and Humans on Small Strip of Sand

Feb 8th - 09:25am | Matt Stubbs

OOPs forgot to mention the dead mammals that live there are missing and some of us enjoy watching nature take its coarse. And I forgot the fact the scenic beauty is taken away by thousands of signs, string and wooden posts throughout the entire seashore.

Feb 8th - 09:22am | Matt Stubbs

If you read the comments posted here (in particular those from Dapster) you will see pedestrians in the enclosed areas, dogs not on leashes, pictures doctored to misrepresents crowded areas, and beaches entirely closed to all humans! This affects tourist like this: Pedestrians in an enclosed area that are caught will force the NPS to close more beaches 50 meters at a time.

Feb 8th - 08:29am | Anonymous

this is not telling me about the tourists and how they affected the area

A Short History of the Flat Hat's "Lemon Squeezer" Pinch

Feb 8th - 07:58am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks, Judy. Traveler readers might want to have a look at this uniform at this site. We'd be interested to know what you think of it.

Feb 7th - 16:18pm | Judy Bischoff

Anyone interested in the history of the NPS uniform should read works by Bryce Workman, who is retired from the NPS Harpers Ferry Center in Harpers Ferry, WV. There are great pictures in the books, including white "go-go" boots and the minidress to go with them.

Feb 7th - 15:19pm | Jude

When I was a seasonal ranger, one day a visitor asked me whether working in the Park Service was like being in the military. I replied that no, while the army had originally run the parks, it wasn't like that now. "Have any rules for that uniform?" he asked. "Well, yes. If you're inside a building, you take off your hat.

Feb 6th - 15:21pm | Jenny

I have always wondered about that...thanks for answering!

Olympic National Park, Tribes to Continue Study of Kokanee Salmon in Lake Crescent

Feb 7th - 22:25pm | Anne Husmann

I have camped on Lake Crescent several times.

Restoration of Bodie Island Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Hits a Snag

Feb 7th - 13:33pm | Oct. Bride

I'm planning an October wedding. In light of the recent update on the restoration of the Bodie Lighthouse, does anyone know, or even anticipate, that the lighthouse project will be completed by October 2011? We had planned on using the Lighthouse as a photo op location, but should I plan on finding a new location? Thanks in advance for any input you can provide!

Will This Be Remembered As Our Preamble To Losing The Wolverine?

Feb 7th - 05:48am | Bob Janiskee

MikeA and others, I agree that the federal government can use taxpayer dollars lots more wisely. However, I'm appalled to see critics of profligate federal spending choose perfectly legitimate expenditures as examples of "wasteful" spending. When we do this, it doesn't make our point, it just makes us look uninformed or agenda-driven.

Feb 6th - 20:52pm | Steve Nelson

If you read the last two paragraphs Concerned Taxpayer, the author is critical of Obama as well. See "flaunting the lame excuse."

Feb 6th - 20:35pm | Wally Pike

Quite so. The wolverine is if fine shape in Canada, Alaska and Russia. There are also huge stretches of federal wilderness in the lower 48 that are very difficult to study. Most of "population studies" don't venture very far from the comfort of park headquarters or a decent size city.

Feb 6th - 20:14pm | MikeA

There is no end to the number of places the federal government could find a couple million dollars per yer in waste. Why does this author single out the war in Afghanistan? Imagine if we turned all the money we are now spending on solar shingles and climate change research and used it for wildlife. Or some of the money we spend the study things like cow farts.

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

Feb 7th - 00:18am | Al Snipes

I concur. Billy Malone is one of the most finest, honest and forthright person I know. He was and will always be known as the Trader at the Hubbell Trading Post, and he definitely is Trader to the Navajo as BJ puts it. And, I for one stopped trading with the Hubbell Trading Post when this unjust action started.

Reader Participation Day: What Do You Look For In A National Park Vacation?

Feb 6th - 19:32pm | toothdoctor

I guess the main thing that I look for in planning a National Park trip is proximity of Parks to one another. In the past I have found that the majority of the Parks in the Lower 48 are either grouped in two's or three's when looking at a relatively short drive between them.

Rangers Catch Snowmobilers Riding Illegally in Yellowstone National Park's Backcountry

Feb 6th - 17:09pm | Spirit Coyote

Snowmobiles are used in the bison roundup.

Feb 6th - 15:21pm | DANNY O

We love to snowmobile in Yellowstone. Coming from Florida, we bring a living to all that reside and provide in the surrounding communities. and I know how this is appreciated.

Plan to come to the Appalachian Trail Festival and Biennial Meeting In July

Feb 6th - 15:21pm | Rosanne

Thanks for such a great article! This should be first-rate event!

Feb 6th - 15:19pm | Ned Kuhns

Danny has written a wonderful article describing the varied activities in which attendees can participate at "Virginia Journeys 2011", ATC's 38th Biennial Conference.

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.