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What Should Gettysburg National Military Park Do With Its Empty Cyclorama Building?

Aug 28th - 13:31pm | Anonymous

First time I saw that building I wondered why a holding tank from a wastewater treatment facility had been placed on the battlefield.

Aug 28th - 12:31pm | Metro DPS

I feel that the history of the place far out weighs the architectural history of the building. The grounds and adjacent parking lots should be restored to the 1863 appearance of Ziegler's Grove. If a group wants the building then THEY should pay for the moving of it not the tax payers.

Aug 28th - 10:02am | Dick

The building was built to house the cyclorama? The painting is now gone. I've been in the building and fail to see where it qualifies for any sort of historic standing. Tear it down.

Aug 28th - 09:38am | ecbuck

Maybe I missed something - but what were the arguments for keeping the building? Some building built in the 60's to hold a painting since removed hardly seems historic - especially in relation to the ground it is sitting on.

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Closed until Further Notice Due to Wildfire

Aug 27th - 21:28pm | Ron Mastrogiuseppe

Our friend, the Late Paul Fritz, of Boise, was the keyman for Hagerman Fossil Beds NM. as well as ONE of several CO-FOUNDERS for Redwood NP, a Park borne in Controversy. Paul also served as Landscape Architech for Crater Lake NP during the Redwood NP Struggle. So, One person can make a positive difference. THANK YOU PAUL FRITZ.

Donate To a Good Cause And You Could Wind Up with a Log Cabin Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Aug 27th - 17:31pm | Claire M. Walter

Great cabin but alas, really far from Colorado.

Aug 27th - 08:24am | Amy Rollins

That is awesome. I am going to buy some tickets right now. Hope I win

Aug 27th - 07:43am | Danny Bernstein

What a great cabin. And you can't beat the location. You could float down Deep Creek every day next summer. Danny www.hikertohiker.com

Careless Camper Leads to Small Fire in Grand Teton National Park

Aug 27th - 17:14pm | Jan

I certainly do hope that this individual is fined by the federal magistrate. Thank goodness this fire was small. Thank you firefighters!

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Turning to 240 Volunteers To Help Reduce Elk Herd

Aug 27th - 16:33pm | Randy C

Priscilla,

Updated: NPCA Names Dirk Kempthorne to Its Board of Trustees

Aug 27th - 15:14pm | Sabattis

I commend the NPCA for this move. The NPCA is sometimes criticized for being perceived as being just another arm of the Democratic Party. In order to succeed in its mission to enhance and protect the National Parks, it is going to take a broad-based coalition of public support, and forming that coalition is going to require building bridges across both sides of the aisle. I hope that Mr.

Aug 27th - 09:45am | Dave Crowl

Great article Kurt. It is good to keep eyes on the direction of this organization. It does make you wonder how much pressure Kempthorne had from the Bush administration and how much of his decision making was his own; Lets hope the past mistakes were not of his thinking.

Need to Cull Elk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park Points To Larger Problem Across National Park System

Aug 27th - 15:09pm | olderguysrule

This is a note to the reply sumitted by Lee.

Aug 27th - 12:49pm | Lee Criswell

The National Park Service has also previously implemented elk-culling operations in Rocky Mountain National Park. They employed professional sharpshooters to perform the culling operation, with a lottery to distribute the resulting meat, after testing to exclude chronic wasting disease, free to the public. Approval was granted to remove 100 cows from the RMNP herd. Elk are NOT stupid, however.

Aug 27th - 09:39am | Kurt Repanshek

Lee, technical woes that we didn't notice turned off the comment option on the NPCA-Kempthorne story. We typically encourage comments on each and every one of our stories. If you ever see a story with no comment option, please contact us immediately so we can correct the problem.

Aug 27th - 09:26am | Lee Dalton

Once again, politics trump good sense. But I guess this is a better situation than the alternative pushed by President Cheney -- privatization of our parks.

You Can't Always, or Fairly, Blame Technology For Visitor Woes in National Parks

Aug 27th - 14:56pm | jessstryker

The comment about cameras being dangerous is one few of us think about. I've been photographing National Parks for many years and have had some success with obtaining great and unique photos. But those photos have come at times at a risk, possibly very close to an unacceptable risk a few times. I've had a number of close calls in trying to get that "special shot".

Aug 26th - 17:50pm | Random Walker

..technology leading visitors into harm's way in national parks. But that's really not the case, is it? LMAO! You really have to ask?

Aug 26th - 17:48pm | Lynn

I have been hiking for several years. Mostly in our national parks. Last year, myself and a friend, hiked over 80 miles on the trails in Yosemite National Park, which included all the trails from the valley floor, as well as several in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Not once did I bring my cell phone on any hike! What we did bring was plenty of water, food and a layering of clothes.

Two Countries, Two Parks

Aug 27th - 14:55pm | Susan Hansen

This is a beautiful photograph! I have been in Glacier National Park but have never been to Waterton Lakes National Park. Regarding your blog on the missing floatplane in Katmai N.P., I suspect that the floatplane is under water either in the Shelikoff Straits or in some lake. I used to work there many years ago. ...a sad situation.

Running Dry, a Journey From Source to Sea Down the Colorado River

Aug 27th - 13:46pm | Lee Dalton

And for years it has been known that in summer heat, six inches of water evaporate from all of Lake Powell's surface. That, they say, is enough to handle all the water needs of Los Angeles for a day. Then, downstream, how much evaporates at Lake Mead and so on?

Aug 27th - 10:31am | tahoma

Many years ago I happened to share the elevator accessing tours of Glen Canyon dam with a federal hydrologist. He claimed that one gallon out of three of Colorado River water entering the reservoir ended up seeping into the sandstones under the Navajo Reservation!

Aug 27th - 09:37am | Lee Dalton

Sounds like this Waterman guy is just another of those environmental wackos who just doesn't understand what America is all about. It's simply unAmerican to suggest that we actually conserve or apply real stewardship to the land around us.

Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman

Aug 27th - 11:03am | Anonymous

Charlotte is buried in Santa Barbara

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Aug 27th - 07:09am | a true american

What gets me is ... Wonder how many private parties have lost their Land Because Our Government took it from them. To make a park. And the next thing is its federal land ..Ok who owns the government.. The people. This means it is public land set forth for the people of this country to use and enjoy. So we the people own this land. If sang is dug and replanted it hurts nothing.

Reader Participation Day: Help Plan Our Special Fall in the National Parks Series

Aug 27th - 05:44am | Sabattis

Gauley NRA has its dam-release days in the Fall, making it a mecca for white-water rafters...

Aug 26th - 15:54pm | Megan U

You could visit Lake Mead NRA. The weather is lovely in October, the hiking is getting great and you would get a chance to see the newly finished Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman bridge. Its a sight not to be missed. If you want to get out on the lake, take a cruise on the Desert Prince Cruise. There is a lot of things to do once the temperatures drop!

Aug 26th - 12:18pm | Les & Jill Taylor

Kurt's re-posting of his very informative "Traveler's Checklist: Acadia National Park (Sept. 14,2009) provides a wonderful overview of the only national park in the Northeast. Acadia, "Where The Forest Meets The Sea," is easy to traverse because of its compact size.

Aug 26th - 12:00pm | Anonymous

Ozark National Scenic Riverways for sure. What could be better than spending a day paddling downriver or visiting springs, surrounded by bluffs full of brilliant orange, red, and yellow trees? eg, Big Spring in fall: http://www.nps.gov/ozar//images/20080305120341.jpg

Becoming A Junior Ranger At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Aug 27th - 02:23am | Flygresor

Wonderful picture.,Hannah looks so confident. Parents should get familiarized with the different activities for their children. And as they say, "childhood is the best that life can offer" and if that's the case, they should not miss being a Junior Ranger.

National Park Service Sets Meetings For "Rim of Valley Corridor" Special Resource Study

Aug 27th - 00:52am | Anonymous

This is a great idea. The Rim of the Valley Corridor is long overdue.

Aug 26th - 18:31pm | tahoma

tomp-

Aug 26th - 13:52pm | tomp

tahoma--

Aug 26th - 11:02am | tahoma

I've nothing against this particular proposal, but am wondering when the supposedly green, but over-extended NPS will rise above the bureaucratic imperative and recognize the existence of limits?

Search For Missing Plane in Katmai National Park and Preserve Has Covered 17,500 Miles

Aug 27th - 00:50am | Anonymous

Thank you for keeping us updated!! Neil is a good friend and we are holding everyone in our prayers right now!!

Aug 26th - 23:09pm | Anonymous

In response to the question above, there have not been any search efforts by foot. See this link on Katmai National Park and Preserve's web site for the daily press releases on the search strategy: http://www.nps.gov/katm/parknews/newsreleases.htm.

Aug 26th - 19:40pm | Anonymous

I am the parent of a Katmai ranger who is currently involved in the search for the missing plane. My heart goes out to everyone involved in this situation. Many, many, MANY people are staying on top of this story and sending positive energy your way for a successful outcome.

Aug 26th - 18:23pm | Joe Brown

I have known NPS employee Mason McLeod since he was born. His Mom & Dad are friends who I went to high school with. I spent a year in Southern Alaska in the sixties in the Coast Guard. I know the difficulty involved in searching a large area from the air. I found a B-25 Mitchell Bomber that had crashed in a deep valley during WWII while on a hunting trip in the Tangass Nat. forrest.

Aug 26th - 16:37pm | Anonymous

Thank you for the update. Can anyone say if there have been any search efforts on foot?

Aug 26th - 16:27pm | KarmelK

I received my first email from my Katmai Ranger daughter last night. Here's what she says about what's happening there:

Updated: Searchers Looking for Missing Plane With Park Service Employees Aboard at Katmai National Park and Preserve

Aug 26th - 23:57pm | Anonymous

I work at a fishing lodge very near to branch, and we use them exclusively as our means of transport for goods and for flyouts. The day before he went missing, at 3:30, Marco flew me out of the lodge in the same beaver he has gone off the radar in, and he's was as sharp as ever. Marco is a fantastic pilot and a great person.

Still No Sign of Missing Plane In Katmai National Park After Four Days of Searching

Aug 26th - 23:49pm | Anonymous

me and family in Bali - Indonesia , knew Marco the pilots few years ago when my sisters was with him , he is a nice guy , we all like him , we pray for him and all the rangers who still missing , we surrender in God's hands. Amen

Aug 26th - 14:56pm | Anonymous

my brother in law and I took 4 of our kids on the trip of a life time two summers ago. We stopped at Brooks Lodge where we met Mason. He made a huge impression on our family sharing knowledge and experiences about brown bears and the wilderness that will last a life time. When Katmai came up in the news, my attention quickly turned.

Aug 26th - 14:36pm | Anonymous

My thoughts and prayers to those missing on the plane and to their families and friends. Praying for a safe return.

Happy Birthday to the National Park Service Arrowhead Emblem

Aug 26th - 19:24pm | y_p_w

Anonymous: Currently traveling through Yellowstone and I think it's ironic that the symbol for the National Parks is a Native American Arrrowhead and a bison, these two icons Don't symbolize protection and preservation.

Aug 26th - 19:19pm | y_p_w

Bob Janiskee:

Aug 26th - 16:45pm | Anonymous

Currently traveling through Yellowstone and I think it's ironic that the symbol for the National Parks is a Native American Arrrowhead and a bison, these two icons Don't symbolize protection and preservation.

Reader Participation Day: Where Are the Best Waterfalls In the National Park System?

Aug 26th - 14:51pm | Mike C

I love the Jacks river falls in the cahutta wilderness on the Ga Tn line. It's a cool hike with about 38 to 40 river crossing to get there. But it's worth it just to see it. You use to be able to camp out there on the falls but now they won't let you due to the bears. But still have lots of great spots to set up the Eno and relax.

Traveler Readers Invited to "Test Drive" Prototype Website For Birding in the National Park System

Aug 26th - 14:31pm | MikeD

I'd also note that the order (i.e., by order/family) doesn't go in the order most bird guides use. Looks like it arranges it alphabetically. I'm sure this is something you could add pretty easily though.

Photo Exhibit To Benefit Glacier National Park Fund

Aug 26th - 10:29am | Brad

Stunning photos of a spectacular land!

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.