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2007 Visitation Across National Park System Projected To Rise

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on January 3, 2008 - 5:13pm
Two years ago there were concerns that national parks were losing their pull over the traveling public. Today, though, National Park Service officials are bullish about visitation, pointing to gains at a number of parks, including Yosemite and Yellowstone.

Yosemite Valley Case Returning to the Courtroom

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on November 28, 2007 - 3:01am
There's scheduled to be a court hearing in California today to revisit the issue of whether the National Park Service is properly taking care of the Yosemite Valley.

Does Hiking Yosemite National Park's Half Dome Still Present a Wilderness Experience?

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on November 16, 2007 - 1:28pm
Thousands of folks trek to the top of Half Dome each summer. Their footprints have created a well-worn path up past Vernal and Nevada falls and onto the granite behemoth. Which begs the question: Does Half Dome offer visitors a wilderness experience?

Giving a Name to Yosemite Area Peak for Longtime Ranger Carl Sharsmith.

Submitted by jersu on November 1, 2007 - 2:02am
Since at least 1976 an attempt has been made to formally establish the name Sharsmith Peak on a Yosemite National Park summit. In 2003 a group of citizens formed a committee to complete this task. I've asked Bill Jones, the lead member of the 'Name4Carl Committee', to provide for us an update on their efforts. Read on for his report.

Kids Detached From Nature? Here's One Example

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on October 23, 2007 - 9:06am
Think electronics aren't getting in the way of kids and nature? While it might not be true in every nook and cranny of the country, it is happening in some areas. Take California, for instance. Tommy Nguyen told the San Francisco Chronicle trees are pretty boring.

Photo Shoot: Today's Cameras Make It Easier to Capture the National Parks

Submitted by patcone on October 3, 2007 - 8:33am
Not everyone is a painter, musician, or sculptor, but it seems that everyone is a photographer. Whether tracking Yellowstone wolves, following Glacier’s goats, or watching Yosemite waterfalls, all it takes is a camera. And that’s exactly what camera manufacturers count on: Making it easier and easier, especially in the new digital world, to produce quality photographs.

Lodging Deals Can be Had in the National Parks

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 30, 2007 - 3:00am
While it seems the cost of booking a room in a national park seems to be on an ever-upward spiral, there are bargains to be had if you're flexible in your travel.

Fall's Brightest Colors Descending on National Parks

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 28, 2007 - 2:00am
With Fall officially under way, it won't be too long before the season's most spectacular colors are daubed, stroked, and splashed across the national park system. The good news is that you haven't missed the peak yet. The bad news is that if you don't already have a room reservation, you probably won't find a vacancy in any of the well-known fall foliage parks.

If You Have to Ask the Price, The Ahwahnee And Jenny Lake Lodge Are Probably Out of Reach

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 15, 2007 - 6:00am
Earlier this summer we ran a list of the Top 10 Lodges in the park system. Admittedly it's a "soft" list, one that definitely is not objective. But what some might find objectionable are the nightly costs for staying in some of these places.

The Secret Life of Drugs in Parks

Submitted by jersu on September 6, 2007 - 3:06pm
I was inspired recently to write an article about the problems drugs bring to the parks when I visited Olympic National Park earlier this summer. As recreational visitors to the national parks, we may not be aware of the battle behind the scenes to keep drugs out of the parks. I was told a story by a long-time law enforcement ranger that surprised me, and made me realize the burden to the resource they represent.