| Page 1168 | National Parks Traveler

I've done this in the summer, although I had to modify it because rockfall had blocked off the Wall Street portion of the Navajo Loop. I threw in the Peekabook Loop. I'm not sure about the "best 3 mile hike in the world". That's subjective, and I would note that from Happy Isles to Vernal Fall and back via the John Muir Trail and the Mist Trail is also 3 miles.

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin Hanging Up His Hat

Dec 8th - 13:55pm | Anonymous

For the last five years, I have had the opportunity to work with both of the Martins in an official capacity. During that time, I found them both to be two of the most capable civil servants I've had the honor to work with. To say that Mrs. Martin is unqualified to serve in her present role is unfair and untrue.

Dec 8th - 13:29pm | Anonymous

I suppose his proudest accomplishment is the destruction of the mule rides. People who have been in the GC park for 20-30 years know all about Mr. Stevie, and his wife. Must be nice to be able to CREATE a position and put your spouse into it! His excuses for getting rid of the mules were pure B.S. Good riddance, I say.

Dec 8th - 11:10am | Anonymous

Stop whining and calling it "crappy". Actions and example speak louder than any write up. Martin is lucky he and his wife were not idicted for their ethical and other wrong doings including official travel often conveniently rigged to be done together at taxpayer expense.

Dec 8th - 09:52am | Anonymous

This is a really crappy write up to summarize a 35 year career with the NPS. I am deeply disappointed to read garbage like this. There is no mention of all that Steve Martin accomplished in his career and especially in his four years at Grand Canyon National Park. Very disappointing!

National Park Quiz 89: National Recreation Areas

Dec 8th - 13:12pm | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, Lee; I don't like green jello.

Dec 8th - 12:15pm | Lee Dalton

You need to move out to teach at a Utah university. You'd be a lot closer to some mighty fine parks, too.

Dec 8th - 11:58am | Bob Janiskee

No need for apologies, Lee. The quizmeister missed four of those questions himself. :o) Alas; if you want to enroll in Professor Janiskee's national parks course you must first be a student in good standing at the University of South Carolina.

Dec 8th - 11:41am | Lee Dalton

Dang! That was embarrassing! How do I sign up for Prof. Janiskee's remedial recreation area class?

Study Says Half Dome Permit System In Yosemite National Park Apparently Does Not Enhance Overall Hiker Safety

Dec 8th - 12:24pm | y_p_w

I was predicting that average weekday traffic up the cables was going to be more than the average weekend traffic. It wasn't that hard to figure out - that those who would make this trip on short notice (or who couldn't secure a permit) would shift to the non-permit days. If they really want to do something, they''ll need permits for all days that the cables are up.

Dec 8th - 11:47am | Anonymous

I am 100% in favor of 'every day' using the permit system. Talking to lots and lots of visitors during both the weekend and the week days last season gave me the impression of how much more enjoyable the experience was with a permit. Just because it is there does not mean we have to continue to allow unlimited access, jeopardizing both experienced and unexperienced hikers/climbers.

Reader Participation Day: What is the Most Iconic Image Associated With the National Park System?

Dec 8th - 12:20pm | y_p_w

Dec 8th - 11:57am | Bogator

The Grand Canyon.

Dec 8th - 11:29am | Bob Janiskee

Just to clarify: Statue of Liberty National Monument has been managed by the National Park System since 1924 and is still counted as one of the 393 NPS units. Ellis Island National Monument has been an administrative unit of Statue of Liberty National Monument since 1965.

Dec 8th - 11:28am | Lee Dalton

RangerLady, I really do believe that most anyone who has ever visited a national park area will associate the Arrowhead with it in some way. But as for the never ending confusion between NPS and USFS, it's hopeless.

Dec 8th - 11:11am | rdm24

Liberty Island is a national monument, not a park, but I'd say that the Statue of Liberty would easily win. If we are strictly talking about national parks, I think it's a toss-up between Half Dome and Old Faithful.

Dec 8th - 10:36am | RangerLady

I have to go with Lee on the Arrowhead, but so many visitors don't know what it means or even notice it. So many times, while looking at the Arrowhead, visitors talk about how nice the National Forests are! Picking the most iconic is difficult. I would say some of the Washington DC monuments, or the Statue of Liberty, but a lot of people don't know they are NPS sites.

Dec 8th - 09:34am | Rich Granberg

http://archive.library.nau.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fcpa&CISO...

Dec 8th - 09:33am | Lee Dalton

How about our ARROWHEAD emblem? It represents ALL our parks, monuments, sites, rivers . . . . all our whatever you choose to call thems and all the dedicated people who preserve them. To me, it's the universal symbol of our pride.

Dec 8th - 09:19am | MontanaSherryC

Old Faithful is the most iconic, I think, although Delicate Arch is way more dramatic in real life. Once you've been to Yellowstone, you realize that while, yes, geysers are bizarre and cool, Old Faithful is not that much different than so many other geysers in the area, and its setting has become such a touristy location that it hardly feels like you're out enjoying nature anymore.

Dec 8th - 07:48am | Connie Hopkins

As much as I love the natural wonders that you have mentioned and there are many, many more, Mt. Rushmore speaks volumes to me!! In my opinion, the representation of the 4 American Presidents on its rock face embody the essence of our country!

Still No Sign of Missing Plane In Katmai National Park After Four Days of Searching

Dec 8th - 11:43am | Anonymous

Our friend Marco Alletto had a very colorful life, filled with many unique experiences that took him around the world. I first met Marco in Hawaii, but also had the pleasure to surf with him in Indonesia. We flew together, surfed together, and enjoyed some great times together. Through his travels and experiences, he made many friends along the way... the list is long and impressive.

Creature Feature: The Hawaiian Hoary Bat (‘ōpe‘ape‘a) is Hawaii’s Only Native Terrestrial Mammal

Dec 8th - 10:15am | Digi Fan

Totally agree with previous poster, that's what I was thinking too.

ReserveAmerica Can't Find a National Park Campground It Likes

Dec 8th - 09:24am | Johnny

Totally agree with previous poster, that's what I was thinking too.

A Real Puzzler: Can You Piece Together the Lower Falls In Yellowstone National Park?

Dec 8th - 08:00am | Anonymous

couldn`t get the page to finish loading. I will try again later.

Memorial Ceremonies Mark Dedication of New Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

Dec 8th - 06:47am | Bob Janiskee

On the surface of it, incorporating War in the Pacific National Monument into the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument makes good sense. However, when that idea was vetted, it's a good bet that political considerations stood in the way.

Dec 8th - 06:02am | Anonymous

Let's not forget that there is already a National Historical Park created in 1978 with the mission designated by Congress of telling the entire story of the Pacific War - War in the Pacific National Historical Park on Guam. Of course, few Americans visit Guam compared to Oahu. Now we have a National Historical Park 7,000 miles from the U.S.

Dec 7th - 07:50am | MRC

It is pure nonsense to have Tule Lake War Relocation Center as tiny part of an umbrella National Monument, while Manzanar and Minidoka are National Historic Sites in their own rights. If you want decentralized units in the National Park System, then combine the War Relocation centers in a decentralized National Historical Park.

Dec 7th - 05:32am | Bob Janiskee

I see where you are going with this, MRC, and I have to admit that I don't rest easy with the immense sprawl of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. However, given the vast size and complexity of the Pacific theater of war, I suppose it's understandable. There are administration and interpretation difficulties aplenty, that's for sure.

Dec 7th - 04:29am | MRC

Great. Now we need a new decent designation of all the Pearl Harbor related NPS units under one umbrella. Preferable a National Monument, but maybe a National Historical Park would do. It should include all sites related to World War II on Oahu. And it would break up the useless World War II Valor thing that is simply impossible to administer, to interpret and to visit.

Foothills Parkway Construction Continues in Great Smoky Mountains National Park With "Missing Link"

Dec 7th - 19:59pm | Will

Once completed I'd like to see the Foothills Parkway and Gatlinburg By-Pass locally known as the spur broken into its own unit. It takes a large part of GRSM's budget to patrol and they are already a bit understaffed as most National Parks are. It would be neat to see the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Foothills Parkway as separate units on opposite sides of the park.

National Parks On Average Are The Backdrops for 41 "Suicide Events" Annually

Dec 7th - 19:54pm | Ron Saunders

Forgive Me, But this is the most rediculous thing I have ever read about. Does anyone really think putting up barriers to keep someone from killing themselves is the responsibility of the National Park System or anyone else for that matter? If someone really wants to kill themselves, there are too many ways and places to do it. If they don't, they won't.

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

Dec 7th - 11:33am | Ken

More law enforcement Rangers are needed to keep the tipping point of losing our parks to criminal activity, such as growing illegal drugs within the protected borders. If we lose control of the larger aspect of keeping our parks safe, no amount of interpretive Rangers can keep our parks safe, in my humble opinion.

Dec 6th - 15:12pm | anonymous

They remain perplexed about what is the magic the NPS has that they don't. (Hint: it is not law enforcement) Perhaps it is because we don't spend a significant amount of our institutional time and money directly supporting and promoting resource extraction and consumptive uses. Just a guess *rolls eyes*

A Second Starry Night Print Offered to Raise Funds for Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Dec 7th - 09:46am | Tom Vaughan

Beautiful presentations of a little-known park.

Fish And Wildlife Service Says ORV Plan for Cape Hatteras National Seashore Could Be Helpful to Plovers, Sea Turtles

Dec 7th - 09:32am | Matt Stubbs

"Allowing one car per 20 feet of beach is an exceptionally liberal compromise that ORVers should be happy with" If it were only this easy we would all agree. I personally look for a spot with no one and this is the main reason I utilize my street legal non tricked out vehicle to legally search for that spot.

Dec 7th - 08:41am | Ron Saunders

This will be my last post. I apologise for anything I have said to anyone underserving of my criticism. Emotions due run deep on both sides. I am all for a practical policy of regulations, protections, education and funding for the shore..

Dec 7th - 06:55am | SS1

Matt and Ron are not going to answer any hard questions like: Do they personally believe an ORV in CAHA has ever crushed plovers and beach-nesting shorebirds (despite not having it documented)? Or Redford’s question, do they think 4000 lbs of vehicle doesn't take up considerable more space (and resources) than a person?

Dec 7th - 06:25am | Matt Stubbs

Redford You realize the island is so narrow that the exhaust and noise from these vehicles will indeed reach the beaches.

Dec 6th - 23:37pm | Redford

Matt Stubbs said: I guess when you take your trips to the point in Cape Hatteras you walk out their with your children and wife and sit in the sand with your Birkenstocks and humm tree hugging tunes all day without needing water, food, sunscreen, or even a beach towel, just like the National Park (in your mind) was intending.

Dec 6th - 16:52pm | Ron Saunders

Matt, You are wasting your time. Some of these guys have us beat. They know more about us than we know about ourselves. Ref; My statement that "I don't recall disturbing any flora or fauna" Crot's reply "therein lies the problem" I had no idea my memory had gotten that bad. Maybe I am desroying the beach and killing the birds and turtles and just can't remember.

Dec 6th - 14:15pm | Matt Stubbs

Redford,

Rock Falls In Yosemite National Park Provide Homes For Curious Scorpion-Like Creature

Dec 7th - 06:46am | Gindy52

We get the smaller cousins of these big guys in our house all the time. They are actually quite adorable, for insects, and very much smaller than these. Ours hunt for mites and bugs in the carpeting and come in on the dog's fur. When we find them, we scoop them up with a piece of paper, as they are quite delicate, and release them outside where there is more food for them than in our house.

Traveler's Checklist: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Dec 7th - 05:00am | Bob Janiskee

Good for you, Anon. And good for your father, who has earned my envy. Like him, I lectured incessantly on natural history to my own children. Unfortunately, the only thing I inspired in them was a love of quiet.

Dec 6th - 19:59pm | Anonymous

I'm planning on visiting next summer. Much of CUVA I'm familiar with (grew up in Canton) but haven't seen it for ages. Its quiet beauty along with my father's incessant lecturing on natural history bear primary responsibility for my love of the outdoors.

Dec 6th - 11:14am | Lee Dalton

Well, Bob, I guess they can come tar and feather me instead.

Dec 6th - 10:48am | Bob Janiskee

Gosh, Lee, I intentionally left out that "river that used to catch caught fire" stuff to keep from being tarred and feathered by CUVA supporters (their park "doesn't get a lot of love," you know), and here you've gone and let the cat out of the bag.

How Do You Move a 25-Ton Cannon? Dry Tortugas National Park Found an Ingenious Answer

Dec 6th - 09:56am | Nancy Russell

The project is documented on Facebook. Search for "South Florida Collections Management Center" and you'll find information about the museum collections for the 5 South Florida Parks. There is a photo album called "DRTO Cannon Mounting" which has pictures of the entire process. There is a also a short video clip of the cannon being moved.

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