| Page 1155 | National Parks Traveler

Only ten mules a day to Phantom? Try getting a backcountry permit for the Corridor during rim-to-rim season, or anywhere in the park during Spring Break or Thanksgiving. Waiting list to be drawn for a private river trip is about ten years. Fact is, the Canyon is a limited resource, and the Park Service is charged to protect and preserve.

Jan 14th - 08:33am | Ryan

I hear ya Ron, I just worry about the day when everything is motorized and human have lost the ability to use their legs because they have no need to walk anymore...just kidding. I never want to deny access, I simply think that not all access needs to be invasive, walking is still a very viable means of transportation.

Jan 13th - 19:56pm | Ron Saunders

Ryan I guess we are not that far apart, my friend. One of my (maybe original) sayings in life has been "all men are created equal until they are born, then that all ends". Just think about it and it becomes immediately clear.

Jan 13th - 19:32pm | Also Interested

To much theory gang! You've gone off the charts. Nothing real I've seen in the last few comments. I'll take you all for an adventure and then we'll talk. :) Kind of like the focus group Albright or maybe Mather had in the Sierras with the big shot Congressmen. Boy, does this country need some direction. I'll give you parachutes and we'll have an adventure :), then we'll talk, LOL!

Jan 13th - 18:29pm | y_p_w

Ryan:

Jan 13th - 17:17pm | Ryan

Access should not be provided to everyone just because. I am unable to do certain things at this stage of my life that I could when I was younger, and I except that. I would rather know that others can enjoy it for the foreseeable future than build more trails, or roads or make it easier to access.

Pruning the Parks: Holy Cross National Monument (1933-1950)

Jan 15th - 17:16pm | John Tarter

Actually, by any measurement, George Washington was our greatest president. Unlike Lincoln and the rest, and Honest Abe would agree, Washington's reputation only grows the more you learn about him. He is iconic and deservedly so. Even King George III of England proclaimed him the "greatest man in the world."

Jan 15th - 17:07pm | John Tarter

As the son of a Park Service Landscape Architect (Blue Ridge Parkway) I at first was ready to disagree with this. But the concept of the states taking over the presidential sites preservation has a lot of merit. And the Park Service is definitely having issues maintaining the parks without the pork issues.

Snowcoach Traffic Up, Snowmobiles Down, As Yellowstone National Park's Winter Season Gets Under Way

Jan 15th - 16:38pm | SnowmobilerinNy

What is this snowcoach thing? Sounds interesting, how could it be more popular then a sled?

Peeking Inside The Rangers Club At Yosemite National Park

Jan 15th - 14:56pm | Vincent Goetz

I lived there (in the Ranger Club) in the early seventies. On my 21st birthday we had so many people on the deck that it separated from the building, very slowly. It was an awesome place to live back then. The communal kitchen was something to behold. You did not dare leave food out or it was eaten, and even the refrigerators had padlocks.

Jan 15th - 13:03pm | y_p_w

Just curious, but what does the Forest Service have to do with the article or any of the comments?

Jan 15th - 12:03pm | Anonymous

What a beautiful gem! It's just a shame that the forest service keeps covering everything up with brown paint! There is so much detail being covered up because people are lazy now days.....

Jan 14th - 22:45pm | Megaera

It must be like living in a museum. Cool in some ways, but -- can't the library even update its books? Those should be in a museum.

Jan 14th - 14:48pm | pkrnger

Steve, I would like to add my thanks for the excellent job you are doing by producing these video " Yosemite Nature Notes." They are truly outstanding examples of what the NPS can do in Yosemite and at other sites to effectively interpret park resources to a public located far beyond the park's borders.

Jan 14th - 11:49am | pkrnger

It's nice to see a photo of my former room (second floor, first window on the left of the three above the back porch). This video brings back fond memories of people and experiences during the two years I was privileged to work in Yosemite National Park and live in the Mather Ranger Club of Yosemite Valley.

Jan 14th - 11:22am | Kurt Repanshek

Steve, perhaps it's my own Germanic background that subconsciously makes me want to rename you. I know this isn't the first time, and, unfortunately, might not be the last. Perhaps it'd be better if you did indeed change the spelling;-) My apologies.

Jan 14th - 11:20am | Park Service Kid

What a tremendous facility for the Yosemite Rangers! Living anywhere else in the park, with the possible exception of the Ahwanee, would be a comedown. I visited Yosemite with my Dad several times and on my own, but never heard of the Rangers' Club. Wish I had had a chance to see it personally, but the video is a fine substitute.

Jan 14th - 11:12am | YosemiteSteve

Lawrence- The name on the letter is Herbert Baum, of the Franklin Life Insurance Co., in San Francisco, dated 1946 Kurt- I appreciate you posting and sharing, and also that you reach back to my German roots and spell my name more correctly than it actually is, but alas, I'm just a bum(gardner)

Jan 14th - 09:53am | Lee Dalton

I just realized as I watched the video that when I worked in YOSE, I was inside the Rangers Club only once or twice. What a privilege it would have been to have been able to live there. Steve Bumgardner, thank you for this tour! Every time I watch one of your videos of Yosemite, I'm reminded how little I know of a place where I once worked and lived and enjoyed.

Jan 14th - 09:42am | Lee Dalton

It's great to see that the Ranger Club is still there.

Jan 14th - 05:57am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

Such a wonderful video showing something I entirely missed this past summer. Had I seen this video sooner, I would have inquired at the Club about the letter in "The White Tower" book. The family name "Baum" appeared there. That is my family name on my mother's side. It makes me wonder if the letter was written by my grandfather. How can I find out?

Creature Feature: The Common Raven is an Uncommonly Intelligent Bird

Jan 15th - 09:41am | Bob Janiskee

Wow, Anon, that's an interesting question. Unfortunately, I have no earthly idea whether ravens commonly eat that way.

Jan 15th - 09:37am | Anonymous

We notice a raven eating in our backyard very frequently......when he does he pack the food in his mouth/beak so full he then makes a choking noise will spit up then eat it again after that he will fly off...is this common practice of their eating habits?

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

Jan 15th - 06:11am | BJ Malone

Thank you for this article! It has been a very long road to redemption for my father, Bill Malone. After so many years of waiting…I think our family can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Jan 14th - 22:58pm | defellows

In reply to RangerToo, I lived in Chinle during the mid 70's, and at that time Hubbell was not the place it is today, which is why I was asking about the staff positions. Yes, I do know all about manhours, etc., and 24/7 scheduling. Thank you to both you and Bob for clarifying the situation.

Jan 14th - 15:09pm | Kurt Repanshek

The OIG investigation indicated that it was common practice, and accepted by former executives with WNPA, for Mr. Malone to use his government-owned home as an extension of the trading post. It also pointed out that in it he kept both personal property he gathered over the years, consignment items, and trading post items.

Jan 14th - 14:57pm | Anonymous

Malone's lawsuit can be viewed at http://peer.org/docs/nps/09_30_9_Malone_civil_complaint.pdf. Some of it seems self-incriminating to me. In his lawsuite, he admits to 6000 pieces of jewelry (WOW!) and HTP tags on some of the rugs.

Jan 14th - 09:48am | Rangertoo

I can answer Dottie’ question. A park operates 24/7, even if it is closed to the public. As Chief Ranger, I lived on the site and provided law enforcement protection for the extremely valuable trading post, the historic buildings, and the contents. Navajo police are a long way off, as was fire protection. I oversaw all interpretation programs, tours, and operations of the visitor center.

Jan 13th - 20:43pm | Also Interested

No wonder they are always wanting money, from ANYONE!

Jan 13th - 19:23pm | Bob Janiskee

The current NPS People and Places Directory entry for Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site lists 11 individuals and 11 different job titles as follows:

Jan 13th - 18:23pm | Dottie

I would prefer a National Park Service person please reply to my question, rather than a visitor to the national parks. Did and/or does Hubbell Trading Post have a position titled "Chief Ranger"? If it is part of the Navajo Lands Group (if that still exists), then it would probably share such a position with maybe Canyon de Chelly; that's all I was wondering.

Traveler's Checklist: Glacier Bay National Park

Jan 15th - 01:11am | Kimber

Don't forget about the small 12 passenger ships that offer hiking and kayaking as well as cruising. Think of your boat as the mothership from which to base your daily Naturalist led adventures. Check out the parks website for permitted operators. Immerse yourself in nature-explore, discover and learn in this most magnificent wilderness.

Group Calls For Boycott on Alaska After Game Officials Allow Wolf Trapping Near Denali National Park

Jan 14th - 20:34pm | Anonymous

Brought to you by the same folks who complain about mule pool on.the trails while those same mules carry their beer, steaks and Thanksgiving Turkeys to Phantom Ranch, the really clueless. Nothing personal but keep looking for the real answers.

Jan 14th - 18:43pm | Kurt Cheney

I sincerely hope you tell all your friends to also boycott ever coming to Alaska. Most of us are so tired of you know-nothing out of staters trying to manage our state for us ... You really dont do anything but make a menace out of yourselves and just get in our way. Worry about your own state and stay the hell out of ours!

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Jan 14th - 15:34pm | Anonymous

This animal is very rare and cute so it should be protected.....

Annual Count Shows Huge Decline In Yellowstone National Park Elk Herd, But How Accurate Is It?

Jan 14th - 14:22pm | wyowind

Don't understand the problem Dr. Smith has with predation being one of the primary causes in the decline of the northern elk herd. To blame it on "climate change" is an absolute joke. Must be a joke. Ha ha, very funny. Or maybe I have it skewed.... Is it possible that there areas in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana that ARE NOT, for whatever reason, subject to the whims of "climate change"???

Jan 14th - 14:17pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thirty-seven wolves killed 1,400 elk?

Jan 14th - 14:06pm | Toby Bridges

The problem is wolves...period. Well that, and pro-wolf biologists like Doug Smith who use smoke and mirrors to try hiding the truth. LOBO WATCH

Grant Will Help Blue Ridge Parkway Ranger Collect Oral Histories

Jan 14th - 12:00pm | Anonymous

What did they do with all the oral histories complied by Dr Ted Coyle of Western NC University? Have they been made available for public to hear/see/read, used in programs or exhibits, or just sit on a shelf somewhere?

Group Urges NPS Director Jarvis To Reject ORV Plan For Big Cypress National Preserve

Jan 14th - 11:12am | Matt Stubbs

I understand Ryan but some will insist that it NEVER happens. I was simply trying to oust the uniformed and people who are not willing to do a little research before speaking. Please reread the end of my last post and add if you are stupid.

Jan 14th - 10:28am | Ryan

Matt, the link you provided started out by saying that a man picked up a cub and was attacked...frankly, someone picks up my kid without asking I will attack as well.

Jan 14th - 09:01am | Matt Stubbs

P.S. to JP they are not wanting to add more trails they are simply trying to reduce the amount of trails. No one in their right mind as a NPS official or an environmentalist would suggest increasing access to National Parks that would be career suicide. "Nor has anyone in Florida ever been attacked by one." (excellent research!) Read the following for the real truth

Jan 14th - 06:58am | Bob Janiskee

While it's true that Florida panthers haven't killed anybody (at least not in modern times), I'm a tad uncomfortable with the statement "panthers don't eat people." The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is a cougar subspecies, and cougars that live elsewhere do occasionally prey on people.

Jan 14th - 06:38am | JP

Panthers don't eat people. Nor has anyone in Florida ever been attacked by one. We should protect the land set aside for wildlife and human enjoyment. I don't know why me need more and more miles of trails for ORVs. You want to enjoy the Big Cypress? Walk it.

National Park Service Sued Over Termination of Indian Trader at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Jan 14th - 11:01am | Anonymous

"Transparency" is just a word with this bunch that always means just the opposite. You look at the character and motivations of the principles in this and other "accomplishments" are indicative of why this country is in decline. Arrogance and power...

Reader Participation Day: What Is The Most Unusual, Interesting, Or Silly National Park Souvenir You've Seen?

Jan 14th - 06:38am | Danny Bernstein

I learned why the NPS arrowhead is not authentic. The arrowhead is copy protected and the manufacturer would have had to get permission to use it. Still a great doll! Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Couple That Was Lost In Grand Canyon National Park Had Good Survival Plan

Jan 14th - 04:25am | ANDREA 1

Brilliant story of survival of two wise people. They should tell everyone so that their message of sticking together and not moving around wasting energy should be heard. Also, the fact that they had pre-arranged meetings with people after who knew to notify the authorities was smart. You are truly survivors.

Jan 13th - 20:42pm | CLUBFOOT KOLBY

Glad to hear they were alright. I wanted to go to Royal Arch this year but after going to Monument Creek via the Hermit Trail I know I need some more back country hikes before I try the Royal Arch out, very smart to stay at a water source.

GAO Study Says More Interagency Coordination Needed To Address Illegal Border Crossings in Southwest

Jan 14th - 01:38am | Anonymous

I put that radio system in and made sure EVERY radio in 22 agencies was programmed. The DOI people want to listen in on the BP TAC traffic key. Why in the world would DOI want to know unrelated LE intelligence matters?

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