National Parks Traveler Photo of the Week

Really, She Didn't Fall Off

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:32:34 -0400

photo for week of 07/04/2009

Photographer: Kurt Repanshek

What better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with a river trip? This photo, though, was taken along the Warm Springs rapid on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument back in late April, if you can believe that.

Rangifer tarandus

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:25:18 -0400

photo for week of 06/28/2009

Photographer: Troy Hamon

Where once there was a 7,000-foot-tall mountain, there now is a crater 3,000 feet deep. With a caribou (Rangifer tarandus) running across it in this instance.

Balancing Act

Kurt Repanshek — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:16:36 -0400

photo for week of 06/21/2009

Photographer: Chris Russoniello, NPS

The Bering Land Bridge might sound like a desolate place, but as this photo by Chris Russoniello clearly shows, you can find wildlife there if you know where to look. Chris spotted this least weasel balanced on the toppled remains of a building.

Historical Graffiti

Kurt Repanshek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:29:40 -0400

photo for week of 06/14/2009

Photographer: Sarah Beckwith

There are many places in the West where travelers in the past have left their names, initials, or messages. Signature Rock in Wyoming and Newspaper Rock in Utah are just two examples.

Little Tin Soldiers -- the Mighty Massachusetts 54th

Kurt Repanshek — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:00:59 -0400

photo for week of 06/07/2009

Photographer: Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the Shaw Memorial to honor Robert Gould Shaw and the African-American soldiers -- the Massachusetts 54th Regiment -- he trained and led into battle for the Union during the Civil War.

Down in the Sunken Garden

Kurt Repanshek — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:33:20 -0400

photo for week of 06/01/2009

Photographer: National Park Service

Located in Connecticut, Weir Farm National Historic Site honors the efforts of J. Alden Weir, a 19th-Century painter, to create a refuge for artists in a bucolic setting.

As was the case then, artists are welcome to roam the grounds and paint the landscape in the tradition of the many artists that have worked at the farm in the past.

The Sunken Garden was added to the property in the 1940s.

Looking Spring in the Eye

Kurt Repanshek — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:02:59 -0400

photo for week of 05/17/2009

Photographer: National Park Service

Ahh Spring, it is visible in some many ways. This curious buck got his picture snapped at North Cascades National Park, where, in spite of the occasional spring snowstorm, spring most certainly is under way. You can check out more shots of Spring in North Cascades at this site.

Sailing in Place

Kurt Repanshek — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:22:27 -0400

photo for week of 05/10/2009

Photographer: Rob Mutch

Perhaps one of the most attempted photographs taken at Crater Lake National Park is of the curious formation in the lake known as Phantom Ship. This shot, by Rob Mutch, executive director of the Crater Lake Institute, illustrates why.

But what is the Phantom Ship? Here's the National Park Service's explanation:

Captured In Rock

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:55:23 -0400

photo for week of 05/03/2009

Photographer: Kurt Repanshek

Can you name the artist?

Dinosaur National Monument is a well-known repository of Native American rock art, with much left from Fremont culture artists or shamans.

Big Rock Candy Mountain?

Kurt Repanshek — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:51:36 -0400

photo for week of 04/26/2009

Photographer: Kurt Repanshek

Is this the Big Rock Candy Mountain that the late Burl Ives made famous in the 1950s? Nahhh, but it should be.