Bob Janiskee


Biography

While serving 33 years on the faculty of the University of South Carolina, I taught a national parks course, helped get Congaree National Park established, and worked as a V.I.P in that park. Now retired as Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Geography, I want to continue visiting parks, thinking about parks, and writing about parks until I assume room temperature. To help keep me focused and busy I teach “America’s National Parks” and several other courses through the University’s Independent Learning division.



Bob's Most Recent Comments (view all)
  • 5/08/2008 2:51 pm - National Park System Geofactoids Quiz: Are You Centered? : Nice job, Barky; I'm impressed. Maybe you should be writing these quizzes instead of me? The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (not River; I've corrected the typo) was one of the original eight Wild and Scenic Rivers. The lower part of the park/riverway, the St. Croix River, forms the border ...
  • 5/07/2008 8:06 am - Vet Removes Snare From Neck of Wolf in Denali National Park and Preserve : Many people think it's wrong to protect wolves and a total waste of time and money to provide medical treatment for injured ones. I can certainly understand that these people may be dismayed and angered when some wolf enthusiasts declare that people who harm wolves are utterly contemptible, or that ...
  • 5/07/2008 4:57 am - Report Shows Visiting National Parks Could be Hazardous to Your Health : Sabattis, the people who diss Steamtown -- and that is a LOT of park advocates -- have no quarrel with the commemoration of railroading history in the National Park System. The issue centers on the tainted political process that resulted in the selection of the Steamtown site. Steamtown would never ...
  • 5/07/2008 4:16 am - Where Are the Best Sunrises in the National Park System? : Marylander, I can sure sympathize. My own dawn visit to the peak of Haleakala -- probably the only one I'll ever get to make -- wasn't rewarded with a glorious sunrise either. It's a good thing that there's so much more to Haleakala National Park than a (sometimes) glorious sunrise ...
  • 5/06/2008 6:35 am - Traveler’s Delightful Dozen: Windshield Touring Trips in the National Park System : I see your point, Anon, but I think you’re a bit off the mark in implying that we are part of the problem instead of part of the solution. All of us here at Traveler agree that reducing vehicle-related air pollution in our national parks is a high priority goal. ...
  • 5/04/2008 2:48 am - Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them? : I'm open to argument on the issue of persons with physical disabilities being allowed to use Segways in the national parks. That's why I used the word "perhaps" in my comment. Anon has made a strong case for it. I realize that dealing with ms is very difficult, and I ...
  • 5/02/2008 8:06 am - Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview : Thanks for the info, Doug. Being with husband Paul implies that Anna will be at Natchez Trace Parkway in the next novel. Bingo! :o) The park visits answer is very interesting. Ms. Barr lives with her husband in New Orleans, so scheduling a visit to a park in that vicinity ...
  • 5/02/2008 5:48 am - Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview : Thanks for the feedback, Debbie. I agree that the Anna Pigeon books can be read in any order without undue confusion, though it's best to read them in chronological order if you can manage it. There's a classic rule of thumb that applies to reading materials that are published in ...
  • 5/01/2008 7:07 am - Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview : Since you're an experienced Nevada Barr reader, Debbie, maybe you could provide some advice for newcomers. Would you recommend that a newbie read the 14 books featuring ranger Anna Pigeon in chronological order, from first to last, or would it be OK for her/him to start with the most recent ...
  • 4/30/2008 5:59 am - Charismatic Marine Fauna : It's so sad that the coral reefs providing vital habitat for this gorgeous fish and a host of other marine species are being destroyed or degraded all over the world at an alarming rate. The reef losses have reached critical levels in many areas, leaving us to wonder if some ...


Bob's Most Recent Articles (view all)

National Park System Geofactoids Quiz: Are You Centered?

Do you know where the national parks are located? This little quiz will test the accuracy of your National Park System “mental map.” The answers are at the end. No peeking!

Traveler’s Delightful Dozen: Windshield Touring Trips in the National Park System

We love our cars, we love our parks, and we love to drive our cars in the parks. Well, at least when the traffic isn’t too bad, and we really don’t mind just going along for the ride. The windshield touring season is nearly here, so it’s time to start thinking about park trips. All of the national parkways are recommended. Here are a dozen other traverses, loops, and shuttles that belong on your short list.

Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview

Nevada Barr’s 14th park-based mystery novel, Winter Study, is a New York Times Best Seller. You’ve already read it, so now you’re wondering what Super Ranger Anna Pigeon will be doing in #15. Traveler knows all, and reveals it here for the first time anywhere.

Traveler's Top 10 Picks For Movies Involving National Parks

Dozens of movies have depicted actors and actresses cavorting, romancing, running, hiding, fighting, and yes, even dying in national parks or places destined to become national parks. Here are ten of Traveler's favorite movies with a national park connection of some sort. Note that we don’t restrict the field to films shot on location in parks.
Review

World War II Memorial: Jewel of the Mall

WWII Memorial: Jewel of the Mall Stephen R. Brown published his World War II Memorial photo book a full three years ago this month, but it somehow never ended up on the Traveler’s Fireside Read list. It’s high time to fix that, so let’s just dispense with the “better late than never” weasel-speak and get on with it.

Does the National Park Service Need a Quota System for Peak Seasons?

It’s conceivable that the National Park Service might eventually have to take drastic measures to reduce peak-season crowding in our most popular national parks. Overcrowding and overuse lead to congested roads and trails, excessive air pollution, accelerated erosion, and many other problems that reduce recreational pleasure and damage park resources.

Park History: Exploring the National Parkways

Along with "parks," "seashores," "lakeshores" and "battlefields," the National Park System counts a number of "parkways" that fall under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Though most are incredibly scenic byways, there also are two major metropolitan arterials in this collection.