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11/19/2009 - 7:57pmSunset and Moonlight Hikes and Talks at Saguaro National ParkThanks tomp - Not sure what calendar I was looking at when I added the day of the week to the park's list of dates for the programs, but it must have been for a different planet. I've made the correction for Dec. 2.
11/19/2009 - 10:14amLawsuit Aims to Halt Uranium Mine Near Grand Canyon National ParkTo expand a bit on the above comments by tomp and Kurt: The question of whether there should be "buffers" on public lands owned by other agencies adjacent to parks has always been fertile ground for debate. As tomp notes, one factor in evaluating an activity on public lands adjoining ...
11/10/2009 - 5:11pmIs This the Most Unique Job in the National Park Service?According to a story in the [i]Fairbanks Daily News-Miner[/i], Sandy Kogl held the job from 1974 until 1989, Gary Koy ran the kennels 1989-1999, and Karen Fortier has held the position for the past 10 years. That news story says she is leaving the job after the birth of her ...
11/09/2009 - 6:16pmVisiting National Parks by Train – Eastern U.S. Thanks for the comment Daniel. Yes, an article about train travel to some western NPS areas is in the works. Look for it in the next few days.
11/01/2009 - 9:27amTamarisk Beetles Found in Grand Canyon National Park. "Oh, My" or "Oh, Me"?Lover of Lake Powell - The comment about the flowers, fall color and shade provided by tamarisk wasn't intended to be a defense of the pests, simply an observation about some people's reaction to the plants. I've seen tourists along the Colorado in the Grand Canyon happily snapping photos of ...
11/01/2009 - 7:13amMan Pays $2,500 For Mussels at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, But They Weren't The Main CourseSounds like this guy was determined to thumb his nose at the park's attempts to protect the lake - and other boaters - from the serious consequences of a mussel infestation. Given that all it takes to introduce zebra or quagga mussels into the lake is the launch of one ...
10/22/2009 - 8:27amAdding to the National Park System: Here's One List Of Possibles....Well, we got a bit off the original topic, but both Ranger Bob and d-2 are correct about reporting that serves no useful function. I was the "GPRA Coordinator" at the last park where I worked; the process soaked up an enormous amount of time for park staffs, not to ...
10/21/2009 - 8:00pmThis Third Time Was Anything But Charming – SPOT Misuse At Grand Canyon National ParkAnonymous - Your comment indicates you believe a ranger should have the authority to deny a group a backcountry permit based on his or her evaluation of their experience and/or qualifications for the trip. I'd be interested to read the reactions of other readers to that idea, including what criteria ...
10/18/2009 - 4:40pm"Red Tide" Prompts Visitor Advisory at Padre Island National SeashoreRed Tide - Sorry if there's any confusion about information posted on various linked websites; this is obviously a situation that is changing each day. I did check the embedded links a few minutes ago, and they do seem to provide current information, if you read through the various pages ...
10/14/2009 - 9:34pmSearch Under Way For Missing Backpackers in Kings Canyon National ParkLynn - The book is [i]The Last Season[/i], by Eric Blehm.
10/05/2009 - 1:59pmRocky Mountain National Park Officials Select "Lethal Reduction" To Help Reduce Elk Herd--Updatedy_p_w Your comment is an interesting one. There's some discussion on that very subject on the story currently posted on the [b]Traveler[/b] about elk hunts at Grand Teton.
10/05/2009 - 1:55pmAnnual Elk Hunt Scheduled to Begin in Grand Teton National Park Oct 10Marshall - I haven't checked into this, so I'm just shooting from the hip (an appropriate analogy for this topic), but I think it's likely the process of "deputizing" the hunters may have originated in an attempt to avoid setting a precedent in allowing "sport hunting" in a national park. ...
10/05/2009 - 8:35amAnnual Elk Hunt Scheduled to Begin in Grand Teton National Park Oct 10Anonymous made an interesting comment in the previous post: [quote]hunters want the biggest, healthiest and best of each species. That, on balance is not always the best way to control overpopulation of a particular species.[/quote] That relates directly to an article which ran on the [b][i]Traveler[/i][/b] back in April: "[url=http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/01/humans-super-predators-new-study-offers-startling-information-about-hunting-and-fishing]Humans ...
10/05/2009 - 7:56amOrganization Forms to Promote Expansion of National Park SystemDavide - Thanks for asking. You can click on the link in the second paragraph of the story. Here it is again, for easy reference: http://www.newnationalparks.org/index.html
10/04/2009 - 12:58pmReader Participation Day: So, What Do You Think of the Ken Burns Film So Far?I enjoyed the series, and now that I've seen it, had a couple of reactions to it and to the comments on this story. If you look at Ken Burn's other work, it's primarily from the viewpoint of a historian - not a travel writer, or a naturalist - and ...
10/04/2009 - 8:31amDog Owner Cited After Pit Bull Attacks a Deer at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkPaul - Thanks for your comments. There's no question that pit bulls have both fans and detractors, and you're correct: the breed has the reputation of being more aggressive than many other types of dogs. Is that fair? I don't know. Perhaps it's deserved, or perhaps it's merely a combination ...
09/29/2009 - 5:31pmUpdated: Tsunami Waves Slam Into American Samoa and National Park of American Samoa, Leaving Death and Destruction in its WakeSad news, and a difficult situation for the park and the islands. It sounds like the park had no advance warning of the tsunami. This is definitely an isolated area, with limited emergency response resources. The park website includes the following advice for visitors considering a trip to the park: ...
09/28/2009 - 6:02pmWould Free "Loaner" Personal Locator Beacons Save Lives and Money in Parks?John - Thanks for the feedback about how the program is working so far there in the Blue Mountains! Kevin - appreciate your comments, too. It was good to know how the idea is faring at one U.S. park.
09/28/2009 - 10:52amTraveler's Checklist – Colonial National Historical ParkPete A - You're right about the Cape Henry site; I elected not to include it in the story, since the site is located on the Fort Story Military Reservation, about 50 miles from Yorktown, and security requirements may occasionally make getting to it a bit inconvenient for some visitors. ...
09/24/2009 - 5:36pmArt in the Park: The Return of the Condory-p-w Yikes, you're exactly right! Not sure where that came from, but I've made the correction. Thanks for the catch :-)
09/22/2009 - 8:26amDog Owner Cited After Pit Bull Attacks a Deer at Great Smoky Mountains National ParkAT Hiker - Your comment brought to mind an experience I had while hiking a trail in a park in Alaska last summer. In that location, the understory vegetation was thick and I was remaining alert for bears, so it would be an understatement to say I was startled as ...
09/19/2009 - 10:29amAt Gateway Arch, a Two-Week Blackout Benefits Migrating BirdsKath - [quote]Somehow I think this 'light out' is more symbolic than effective.[/quote] Perhaps so; I don't know if the Arch's location right next to the river - and it's height - makes it more of a problem for migrating birds as compared to the other structures you mentioned, or ...
09/17/2009 - 6:25pmSPOT – The Good, the Bad and the Silly Uses for Those High-Tech CommunicatorsDM - Thanks for the information. I've modified the closing of the story in response to your comment.
09/16/2009 - 10:37amA Drowning-free Summer at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Wasn't Just Good LuckAnonymous - Yes, I quoted the park's "disclaimer" from the original press release in the story, and they're both wise and correct in being cautious about claiming too much credit for this summer's success. It's always difficult to establish cause and effect in such situations. There are a lot of ...
09/11/2009 - 8:03pmUpon Further Review: Sometimes Chicken Soup Just Isn't Good for a Ranger's SoulBruce - Thanks for sharing the story. At least your "haz-mat" material was a lot more palatable :-)
09/09/2009 - 8:59amStill No Signs of Missing Hiker in Grand Canyon National ParkThe [i][b]Traveler[/i][/b] received the following message, which we'll post for those involved in this search: [quote]All of AJ's family, friends and coworkers appreciate the huge effort the Park Service, the various law enforcement organizations and volunteers are putting into finding AJ. We cannot thank you enough. [/quote] Lou Barfield ...
09/07/2009 - 10:48amCreature Feature: Invasives At Biscayne National Park Often Come By SeaAnonymously yours - An interesting solution. Sounds like it's a marketing challenge - and opportunity. Perhaps the key is to convince people these fish are the latest "in thing" for dining, and let the marketplace have at it. Anybody have a good contact at the Food Network?
09/03/2009 - 10:03amA Silly Way to Die - Friends Don't Let Friends Teak Surf Anonymous - Since there's some question about the details you mentioned in the incident cited at Glen Canyon, I've modified the text. The key point in this tragic story is how quickly CO can affect people who are in the vicinity of a motor which is running.
09/01/2009 - 8:05amNational Park Service Reaches Final Agreements To Obtain Land Needed for Flight 93 MemorialA nice outcome. Perhaps the Secretary has a future on the international front :-)
08/31/2009 - 1:48pmGreat Smoky’s Highway 441 to be Closed Temporarily for 75th Anniversary Rededication CeremonyMRL - A reasonable question, and the park was apparently sensitive to that point. The park staff put out a press release that invitations to the event were available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis, but they were snapped up very quickly. I was going to run ...
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