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07/10/2008 - 10:10amBlack Bears in Denali, Grand Teton National Parks KilledI wish it was as simple as the Not-Verifieds above would have it. But think about it? We should remove humans from Alaska? From Wyoming? There have been human beings in these areas for at least twenty thousand years (and probably much longer). The question becomes how do we choose ...
07/10/2008 - 9:48amMan Bitten at Saguaro National Park by Gila MonsterBut this is one more reason why we NEED our National Parks. Americans are growing further and further distanced from the natural world, other creatures and the land. Our Disney-ized, New Age-y image of animals as kindly brothers does not reflect the reality that animals, like people, deserve respect and ...
06/16/2008 - 3:54pmRibbon-Cutting Planned for $70,000 "Bio Toilet" at Mount Rainier National ParkI can't believe I'm about to write this, but I am so excited by this potty! When you think of the amount of ground that is disturbed by plumbing systems in the parks, especially in campgrounds, by the amount of water used and the impact all this makes, one has ...
03/21/2008 - 5:08pmShould Uranium Mining Be Allowed Outside Grand Canyon National Park?Those who advocate nuclear power as an excellent alternative to oil never seem to recall the issue of nuclear waste. The words "long-term storage" is entirely inadequate to explain what is needed for the used waste any increase of nuclear energy will produce. What are we talking about leaving to ...
01/15/2008 - 12:06pmNational Park Status Proposed for Oregon, West Virginia State ParksHmm, smells of pork... As a resident of Oregon, I have to admit the Silver Falls area is beautiful, but is already very well governed by the state. I don't know if every waterfall in the country needs an NPS designation; if so, the Columbia River Gorge would be far ...
01/11/2008 - 5:54pmTar Sands Development Could Impact Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Glen Canyon NRAI used to wonder what the BLM stood for, but now I know: If there's a buck to be made, rape it, mine it, destroy it and let our kids clean it up when we're gone.
01/11/2008 - 5:49pmDo Professional Hockey And Yosemite National Park Belong Together?Ok. Hope this is succinct enough for you. National Parks are not like everywhere else. They are as lands considered too unique for common use, but instead they are mandated by law to be preserved and protected for the enjoyment of future generations. Where the hell does a hockey game ...
12/13/2007 - 1:34pmNational Parks Contribute Holiday Ornaments to White House Christmas TreeOh my God. There really IS an Andersonville Prison NHS Christmas Tree Ornament! I thought Beamis was being sarcastic! Read about it here: http://www.daltondailycitizen.com/statenews/cnhinsall_story_345145913.html. Unfortnately, there's no photo...
11/19/2007 - 12:07pmDoes Hiking Yosemite National Park's Half Dome Still Present a Wilderness Experience?This is a very funny thread! It really shows the distinct dilemma that anyone (NPS or whoever else you want to put in there) faces with it's mission. The thread begins with the initial question: "Is hiking Half Dome a wilderness experience?" No, seems the consensus. And why? Because the ...
11/06/2007 - 4:10pmPark History: How Volcanics Sculpted Parts of the National Park SystemActually, I was just refreshed that this was a topic I could talk about without being called names... Really, my love for many of the great parks and my love of geology go hand in hand and I was just enjoying the continuation of the list! Meant no disrespect... I ...
11/05/2007 - 4:46pmPark History: How Volcanics Sculpted Parts of the National Park SystemNorth Cascades National Park in Washington also contains a part of the Cascade range of volcanos.
10/03/2007 - 3:54pmWorld War II Sites in the National Park SystemAnd don't forget the Ahwahnee in Yosemite was transformed into a military hospital for recovering vets during much of the war. There are some amazing photos in the Yosemite Research Library of the tents set up on the Ahwahnee lawns.
09/21/2007 - 11:27amVietnam Veterans Memorial VandalizedI guess I really don't understand what would motivate someone to do this. It's an odd act of vandalism. The beauty of the Vietnam war memorial is that it touches deeply to the core of every visitor, regardless of their political affiliation or their feelings about the war. I've seen ...
09/17/2007 - 5:38pmIf You Have to Ask the Price, The Ahwahnee And Jenny Lake Lodge Are Probably Out of ReachI agree, Beamis. They are not.
09/17/2007 - 4:21pmIf You Have to Ask the Price, The Ahwahnee And Jenny Lake Lodge Are Probably Out of ReachThe idea that fair market competition would lower prices in Yosemite or any other park is absolutely absurd. Where in the rest of the world does that happen? Resort industries have a monopoly by their very presence in the valued place so prices only go up up up. Competition would ...
09/17/2007 - 4:08pmCentennial Projects: Mountain Biking in Big Bend National ParkHere, here, Anonomous (not verified) 2... well put. I have to say I've hiked on trails in Yosemite Valley when illegal mountain bikers came through and I almost got beaned good. And after they were gone, the ruts and damage done to the trail really surprised me. Mountain biking is ...
08/31/2007 - 3:16pmShould the NPS Be Given Mount St. Helens?MSH, because of its easy access to the public and science affords a unique ability to watch the natural processes of regeneration - a regeneration process which requires park status protection. There are lots of areas outside the monument where Weyerhauser and others can study the effects of timber planting ...
08/30/2007 - 12:51pmShould the NPS Be Given Mount St. Helens?And one more thing, the USFS does not operate three visitor centers in the monument. It used to, but one visitor center (Silver Lake) is now operated by the Washington State Parks and Recreation department and it isn't located in the monument, but several miles away near Interstate 5. Two ...
08/30/2007 - 12:33pmShould the NPS Be Given Mount St. Helens?As I mentioned last time this came up, there is enormous pressure on the Forest Service for mining, forest and (intrusive) recreational use within the boundaries of the monument. Because the Forest Service's mission is not about protection of the resource, but best use of the resource, the Forest Service ...
08/30/2007 - 12:11pmYosemite Falls All Dried UpThe watershed that feeds Yosemite Creek is very small compared to the massive watersheds for Bridalveil Creek (which feeds Bridalveil Fall) and the Merced River (which feeds Vernal & Nevada Falls). Yosemite Creek's watershed is based around the southern slopes of Mount Hoffman which isn't far from Yosemite Valley. It ...
08/30/2007 - 12:00pmInterpretation on the Tallgrass PrairieI have to agree with Owen here. Not only has the quality of interpretation slipped, but the quantity of interpretation has seriously declined. Used to be a host of walks and evening programs and other programs to help one better understand the park and its history, geology, etc. Now they're ...
08/30/2007 - 11:33am10 Best Lodges in the National ParksI have to admit, I'm a real sucker for Roosevelt Lodge at Yellowstone and for White Wolf tent cabins in Yosemite. They are to me reminiscent of the old-fashioned park experience with a touch of civilization attached. I love waking in the mornings to the cool morning air, lighting up ...
08/24/2007 - 12:31pmNPS Centennial Projects and Programs AnnouncedMaybe I misunderstand here... but looking at the full list, it looks like most of these proposals are from groups that would have been doing these projects even if this was not the centennial. Yosemite Fund and Yellowstone Foundation and many other park partners have these planned far in advance ...
08/09/2007 - 1:10pmVice President Cheney To Dedicate Grand Teton Visitor CenterYes, Frank, it does. When speaking to a public servant who no longer serves the public and is acting vampiric the best language to use is vampire-speak. I would never use that language with you or other commentators. In this case the issue IS the VP and his immoral, illegal ...
08/09/2007 - 10:55amVice President Cheney To Dedicate Grand Teton Visitor CenterYou misunderstand my past post, Dennis. I'm referring to attacking the personalities of the debaters. For instance, your saying that I disgust you. I disagree with your stance on Dick Cheney, but you don't disgust me. I think you're wrong about what I'm saying, but I'm not attacking you directly. ...
08/09/2007 - 10:24amAre Yellowstone's Geysers At Risk From BLM's Leasing Proposals?The email address Amy gives above is specifically for feedback on this issue: geothermal_eis@blm.gov This is the best place to address this (otherwise it winds up lost in the shuffle). There is actual accountability on a feedback to an EIS, so send in your comments! Thanks, George! I hope all ...
08/08/2007 - 5:58pmVice President Cheney To Dedicate Grand Teton Visitor CenterThe irony of Tricky Dick Cheney, lackey to any business interest who can even slightly smell cash in the air, taking a photo op at the Grand Tetons - as if he gives a moose's butt about land if you can't drill, mine or blast a road through it... well, ...
08/08/2007 - 5:47pmAre Yellowstone's Geysers At Risk From BLM's Leasing Proposals?This is what I'm talking about! This is why I love this site! This is the kind of information we can DO something about! All those who want to groan and moan about the state of the parks, here's something you can actually DO about it. Email these bastards at ...
07/31/2007 - 5:04pmWebsite Administrative Note about Comment SpamThere's certainly nothing wrong with passion (see my original post). But when passion and outspokenness becomes personal, it can change the debate from something constructive and problem-solving to something merely mean. Reading the above conversation seems to prove this point. My post was simply to say that this place could ...
07/31/2007 - 2:32pmWebsite Administrative Note about Comment SpamThis serves my point exactly, though. By putting the commentary outside civility, by making the argument about the arguer and by using tones that beg for irrational, emotional response, you cease the flow of creative ideas altogether. I don't want to put words into Kurt & Jeremy's mouth, but I ...