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11/17/2009 - 9:35amForest Service Open to Allowing Mountain Bikes on Continental Divide Trail, But What About Park Service?During our most recent vacation to the Desert SW, we stopped for a night in Grants, NM and decided to dine in a local Chinese restaurant. Sitting in the both next to us we noticed a tall, weathered but good-looking European couple who were frequenting the buffet over and over ...
11/16/2009 - 1:37pmCheck Out The Traveler's Sponsors!It's seems to me that National Parks and Conservation Association would be a potential future sponsor. Or, maybe they see NPT as competition? Thank you for the great service you provide to the rest of us and our parks. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
11/13/2009 - 7:57amFriends of the Everglades is Down, but Not OutIt would be interesting to see how many other parks face a similar problem with their Friends organization. In some parks the Friends groups are a source of citizen input to the NPS to ensure that park managers maintain a focus on preservation of park resoruces. In other areas, the ...
11/11/2009 - 11:23amNational Park Service Sued Over Termination of Indian Trader at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic SiteI hope that NPS Dirctor Jon Jarvis' affirmation of high standards of ethical conduct in NPS operations will eliminate administrative disasters such as the one described in the article above. However, if there's even a hint of truth to the allegations made by Mr. Mallone's attorney, some form of NPS ...
11/11/2009 - 9:30amReader Participation Day: What's the Most Important Part of Your National Park Trip?I would rate a winter visit to Carlsbad Caverns as among my most memorable experiences. Upon arrival at a make-shift trailer/visitor center (the real VC was being renovated) we were greeted personally by a female ranger who made a special effort to come out from behind her information desk to ...
11/09/2009 - 7:52amCenter for State of the Parks Gives Lassen Volcanic National Park A "Fair" RatingI wonder to what extent the problems identified by the NPCA affiliated Center for the State of the Parks are unique to Lassen Volcanic National Park, and to what extent these same issues repeat themselves system-wide? Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
11/06/2009 - 8:49amReader Participation Survey: What Was Your Most Fascinating National Park Interpretive Program?Tom, Thanks for commenting. I am proud to have had the chance to work with you during those critical times in the park's history. I am also proud to have had the chance to have known and worked with Gary Hathaway, who resided in the Mather Ranger Club of Yosemite ...
11/04/2009 - 4:00pmReader Participation Survey: What Was Your Most Fascinating National Park Interpretive Program?Has anyone encountered Stewart Fritts at the Grand Canyon? I still remember a talk he gave to our group more than 22 years ago. It was a brilliant presentation with rapid transitions of scenic mood slides shown while reciting a long thread of pertinent quotes from the works of Shakespear ...
11/02/2009 - 8:51amVisiting Zion National Park in November? Here’s the Fall Schedule for the Free Park Shuttle Two weeks ago, parking conditions were quite crowded in Springdale, UT and the availability of the shuttle buses helped a lot. Many buses were filled to capacity and had standing room only available. Now that the Zion shuttles are being reduced to a voluntary system only, I worry that traffic ...
10/25/2009 - 1:03pmYosemite National Park Says "No Thanks" to Major Cycling RaceI wonder to what extent organized sporting events are permitted in other national parks? Crater Lake has a Rim Run. I believe marathons have been held in other parks as well. Which have held, or allow through travel for, bicycle races? Personally, I'd rather see parks managed for the enjoyment ...
09/09/2009 - 2:06pmReader Participation Day: What "Must Have" Article Do You Pack for a National Park Visit?I'll be visiting the great parks of the southwest in a few weeks. I'll be sure to take my 10" Dobsonian telescope and tripod-mounted 10 X 50mm binoculars for night sky viewing, along with a green laser pointer to show anyone I meet just where in the sky they would ...
09/08/2009 - 7:59amNational Parks Lost A Strong Advocate With the Passing of Art AllenI've been a participant in Art Allen's Protectnationalparks@yahoo.com and Parklandsupdate@googlegroups.com listserves since 2003. His efforts in developing these listserves have brought many former National Park Service employees and managers in close contact with each other. He managed these two listserves as "free speech zones" but discouraged commentary that amounted to ...
08/26/2009 - 9:01amReader Participation Day: What Indelible Image Best Reminds You of the National Parks?Iconic national park images that I relate to would be: (1) my first view of inner caldera of the collapsed Mt. Mazama revealing the deep blue of Crater Lake and the exposed cinder cone of Wizard Island, (2) Zion's Great White Throne, (3) Zion's Great West Temple and Temples and ...
08/25/2009 - 9:01amDo People Who Get Lost Really Walk in Circles? New Research Offers an AnswerMy own adventure is rather recent. I decided to try my luck at night hiking along the River Bluff Trail near Norris State Park, downstream of Norris Dam along the Clinch River in East TN. My goal was to start the hike at dusk and, if it became too dark ...
08/24/2009 - 3:12pmWhat Lurks Beneath the Surface of National Park System Waters, A Diving GuideThank you Rick for an outstanding article. It was a very interesting and informative read. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
08/24/2009 - 3:05pmBlack Bears Racking Up Property Damage In Yosemite National ParkIn 1993, while backpacking and camping above Vogelsang Lake in the Yosemite backcountry, a bear had its way with the contents of our food cache, which we made sure to tie up high above ground, beyond reach of anything on two or four legs. We had no trouble with this ...
08/21/2009 - 2:29pmUpon Further Review: "Where's the Spare?"Thank you Jim for sharing one of many of your true experiences as a national park ranger. Did you ever get a note of appreciation in the mail? Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
08/20/2009 - 9:24amSearch for Human-Habituated Grizzlies in Glacier National Park Ends With Two Dead BearsThose who venture into the backcountry of Glacier National Park are not "most casual park visitors." By entering the backcountry, certain risks must be accepted. These risks include the possibility of encountering bears. When I last visited Banff and Jasper National Parks in 2005, I noticed that trails known to ...
08/19/2009 - 12:30pmKids Advocacy Site Recognizes National Parks Traveler For Its Content and ApproachThis recognition is indeed an honor for [i]National Parks Traveler[/i]. It is also an indication that this informative site is attracting a very wide and diverse readership. Thank you Kurt for a job very well done. Thank you too for your continued commitment to strive for the highest standards of ...
08/07/2009 - 3:31pmInterior Department Releases Study That Tracks Decline Of Glaciers in Alaska and Washington StateAs with Health Care Reform, the public debate on global warming is fraught with mis-information. Some of this is organized and funded by industry, some stems from the influence organized public relations campaigns have had on uninformed opinion, including the opinion of so-called scientists. It's amazing to me how many ...
08/06/2009 - 3:03pmReader Participation Day: Do You Believe There Should Be Overflight Tours of National Parks?Check out this article, posted on Oregon Live http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/08/conservation_groups_write_lett.html Several conservation groups today sent a letter to federal officials warning that a proposal to allow helicopter tours of Crater Lake National Park could be illegal. Noise from the helicopters would shatter the peaceful beauty of Oregon's only national park, and ...
08/05/2009 - 10:46amReader Participation Day: Do You Believe There Should Be Overflight Tours of National Parks?Once again, here's a clear and present example of a conflict between resource protection and economic opportunity. In today's fast-paced world, many potential park visitors opt to fly over the park from a distant location than drive to it. Approval of helicopter overflights to Crater Lake would be a net ...
08/03/2009 - 10:34amTraveler's Top Overlooks In the National Park SystemWhat's missing from the summit of Half Dome is the view of Half Dome itself! My favorite overlook in Yosemite National Park is Glacier Point. In fact, I believe the best view of Half Dome is obtained from this vantage point. For a view of Half Dome without crowds, try ...
07/17/2009 - 2:44pmBig Bend National Park Helps Protect Night Skies. You Can, Too—Here's How!By promoting the value of the night sky as a major cross-cultural natural resource, the NPS is taking a leadership role as the nation's premier conservation agency. Demonstrating the in-park advantages of lighting practices that preserve enjoyment of a dark and starry night will indeed have a positive societal effect ...
07/17/2009 - 10:37amLet's Start a Tradition: "Thank a Ranger Day"I agree with you. Carl was very special. You might wish to visit www.name4carl.org for additional thoughts and memories. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
07/13/2009 - 8:51amJon Jarvis Finally Nominated to be Next Director of the National Park ServiceThose of us with a special love for Crater Lake National Park applaud the Obama appointment of Jon Jarvis as the next NPS Director. Jon served Crater Lake as resources managment specialist during the early 1980's. This was a special time when Congress initiated directed funding for lake monitoring and ...
07/12/2009 - 4:59pmNight Sky Viewing Programs at Acadia National ParkIn honor of this International Year of Astronomy and the special opportunities presented to visitors of national parks to view the night sky away from the pollution of city and suburban lights, I would hope that the NPS promotes programs like this throughout the national park system. Parks are places ...
07/10/2009 - 3:12pmUpdated: Greenpeace Climbers Arrested for Climate Change Protest at Mount Rushmore National MemorialWell said Jim. Thank you. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830
07/10/2009 - 2:54pmTechnology a Key in 3 Recent Rescues at Yosemite National ParkDuring last year's Yosemite Ranger Reunion, we learned that some members of the famed Yosemite Search and Rescue team are highly trained academics, like MIT physicist and Park ranger John Dill. Ranger Dill is known to have used mathematical probability analyses based on Bayesian statistics to find lost hikers and ...
07/09/2009 - 1:29pmUpdated: Greenpeace Climbers Arrested for Climate Change Protest at Mount Rushmore National MemorialHey Smokey, exactly how will Al Gore make millions off of a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Your position on nuclear power suggests that you aren't aware of the overall costs of design, licensing, construction, operation and regulation of these highly complex facilities, let alone the ...
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