National Parks Traveler

Paul "Barky" Dionne

Biography

I am, quite simply, a National Park System enthusiast and collector. I have visted over 100 of them so far. The parks dovetail quite nicely into two of my interests: American history and the natural world. Having no other qualifications than amateur studies and personal explorations of the NPS, I am posting essays of my observations, experiences, and insights in my own blog, americaincontext.com.

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America In Context

Paul's Most Recent Comments (view all)

8/29/2009 4:57 pm - Updated: Missing Backpacker Found in Good Condition in Great Smoky Mountains National Park : I guess I didn't read the other entries about this (I'm not into the "park accident of the day" posts). But I do have to say "God bless this man who can go backpacking across the park at 70 years old!" --------------------------------------------------------- My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url] ...
8/29/2009 2:46 pm - Battle Against Marijuana Growers Temporarily Closes Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park : Anonymous asked [quote]Barky, in all do respect...why?[/quote] when I disagreed about the National Guard fighting drug growers in the national parks. Here's why: you use the right tool for the right job. The National Guard is a great organization for supporting the Army in times of war. It's a great ...
8/28/2009 2:04 pm - Battle Against Marijuana Growers Temporarily Closes Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park : Anonymous, sending in the National Guard to stormtroop through national parks isn't a great idea, either. ================================= My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url]
8/27/2009 8:43 pm - Battle Against Marijuana Growers Temporarily Closes Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park : Cut back on the weed, YPW. ;) ==================================== My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url]
8/27/2009 5:22 pm - Battle Against Marijuana Growers Temporarily Closes Crystal Cave at Sequoia National Park : They should just legalize, regulate, and tax the stuff and put these scumbags out of business. ===================================================== My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url]
8/02/2009 7:59 am - Pinnacles National Monument: Should It Be Labeled A National Park? : I've been there, and it is an incredibly cool place (a volcano on a fault line? Wow!). But I have to say, I don't think it's worthy of National Park status. It's current status as a National Monument is adequate in my opinion. If you abuse the crown jewel label ...
7/20/2009 8:29 pm - Second Drowning In Two Days at Sequoia National Park Claims 14-Year-Old : Gads, that's terrible -------------------------------------- My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url]
7/19/2009 10:22 am - Are Our National Parks No Longer for the People? : I think the premise is nonsense. The parks are a preservation system, not a recreation system, especially not a motorized recreation system. Visitation is down because people's tastes have changed, not because of bans on snowmobiles. Anonymous' post above mine is spot-on. ================================================ My travels through the National Park System: ...
7/04/2009 11:38 am - Senator From North Dakota Trying to Legislate Elk Management in Theodore Roosevelt National Park : [quote]Will you see these very same "riders" on Congressional appropriations bills as being so detrimental when it produces funding for something you agree with?[/quote] I know I'm a little late to this particular party, but I think it's fair to accuse folks of favoring riders for their projects but rejecting ...
7/02/2009 9:13 pm - Senator From North Dakota Trying to Legislate Elk Management in Theodore Roosevelt National Park : Reading stories like this only solidifies in my mind the notion that the NPS should come out of the government's hands and become a form of NGO or public trust or something free of Congressional strings. ================================ My travels through the National Park System: [url=http://www.americaincontext.com]americaincontext.com[/url]

Paul "Barky" Dionne

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