| Page 13 | National Parks Traveler

The housing issue is HUGE. GSA sets the rates, which rise as local rents rise. In a tourist area, this prices the lower graded seasonal employees out of housing, even if housing is availble. The Yellowstone improvements are great, and were badly needed-however, YELL has access to resources that the vast majority of parks simply do not have.

Nov 19th - 21:15pm | Paul S.

Poor Govt Housing/Lack of Govt Housing is not a new issue. I recall back in 1991 the NBC Today Show did a segment on poor housing in the NPS and showed video of my shared seasonal mobile home unit (GRCA), which was given to the NPS in the late 1960s after construction of the Glen Canyon Dam was completed.

Nov 19th - 13:29pm | Tom Ribe

This is an important article and I hope it is widely read. The NPS used to be one of the most desirable agencies to work for and people enjoyed their careers there. Now it seems upper level managers at the NPS and other agencies are busy ruining the agency. It is almost impossible for new people to get hired because the hiring process is so broken and obstructive, people give up applying.

Nov 19th - 11:10am | Lee Dalton

Are there any comments to this article? If there are, they're not showing up.

Man Cited For Illegally Landing Helicopter In Grand Teton National Park

Nov 19th - 14:15pm | Doug Leen

The trial is mentioned in this week's Jackson Hole News & Guide. (November 19)

National Parks Traveler's Lights Going Out

Nov 17th - 19:12pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, Joshua, I'm afraid subscriptions won't carry the day. We need guaranteed funding to enable us to transition to the next editorial generation, bring the website up to the latest version, and ensure the Traveler's long-term stability. Subscriptions are piecemeal, though they can certainly help once the base funding is in place.

Nov 17th - 18:15pm | Joshua Israel

Kurt, what about going supscription based to view articles on NPT? Is this a possibility?

Nov 3rd - 10:49am | Glad2bretired

Kurt: I just sent in a donation to help you a little, and hopefully help keep National Parks Traveler from going dark. You have provided a service nobody else does, shining a light in places that National Park Service's management would prefer to keep quiet. Once again, thanks for all you have done for the National Parks!

Windows To The Past At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nov 17th - 17:37pm | Theresa Kay Hus...

My grandparents were born and raised in the Smoky mountains. When the Federal government took their lands out from under them, they were lost. They moved to Gastonia and tried to make a living. They both died young, unhappy and felt unwanted. So sad.

How Might The Colter Bay Area Be Improved To Make Your Grand Teton National Park Visit More Enjoyable

Nov 17th - 02:33am | Regina Rogers

While camping a few years ago at Colter Bay I found reliable phone service lacking, unless standing outside of the Laundry store.

Inside The Battle To Save The Cats That Call San Juan National Historic Site Home

Nov 16th - 22:02pm | Julie Levy

Thank you for a beautiful story about the human-animal connection manifest in the cats of El Paseo. "They matter to a lot of people." I truly hope for a management plan that is humane to both cats and the people who care about them. The cats are a naitonal treasure.

Lost to Hurricanes, the Flamingo Lodge at Everglades National Park Will be Hard to Replace

Nov 16th - 13:43pm | Valerie

I worked there back in the late 80s in the hotel as a housekeeper when Margie was head of housekeeping. I never knew the hurricanes destroyed it til just now. I'm glad they've rebuilt it. I loved working here and meeting new people and living in such a beautiful. I remember when a few people would be picked for the summer and how we'd have to prepare for hurricane season.

How Many NPS Websites Are You Familiar With?

Nov 14th - 12:54pm | Doug

Personally I have found that both the NPS and Recreation.gov sites to be very poor. In every sense of the word. Poorly organized, full of propaganda, lacking critical inforation, slow to load, slow to update both technically on-line as you use it and slow to be updated with current accurate information. The pages are poorly laid out pages.

New Superintendent of Appalachian Trail Has Record Of Fiscal Misconduct

Nov 13th - 08:17am | Robert Carl

Clark is bad but why is no one also commenting on the killed bald eagle? Aren't there enough accidental kills from turbines that they can get there feathers? Ceremonial kills of protected species is bullshit.

House GOP Pushing Double-Digit Cut For National Park Service Budget

Nov 12th - 15:08pm | George Rogers

No. It doesn't need be cut. Funding needs to increased for the EPA, IRS, and other regulatory groups. It could be easily done if the wealthy paid their fare share in taxes.

Nov 9th - 10:22am | A. Johnson

That's not typical of how NPS has been acquiring properties. As I stated, here's the story of how NPS acquired Stonewall: http://npshistory.com/publications/ston/reconnaissance-survey.pdf

Nov 8th - 15:35pm | WaltD

Well, your cooments are mostly based on assumptions that the NPS willy nilly comes along and buys up land to make into a park. Nope. In many cases Congress directs the NPS to create a park, monument, or recreation area, but then frequently fails to provide the agency with adequate funding to build or maintain it properly.

Nov 8th - 15:19pm | WaltD

So the BLM is closing areas to the public "for no good reasona' eh? You obviously haven't been to those areas where mounatins of trash have been dumped, fragile soil and vegation trampled beyond repair, and hundreds of vagrants homesteading in prime areas keeping the responsible camper away.

Nov 8th - 11:37am | A. Johnson

Mike G is correct--we cannot afford everything that gov't--NPS in particular--wants to do.

Nov 8th - 00:47am | Hank G

Maybe we should put the IRS tax back up to where it was, before Trump's corporate welfare tax cut. I understand about 1.2 trillion dollars of revenue was lost as soon as it took effect. Tax the rich, and corporations like the should be and there should be plenty of budget $$.2kx83

Nov 6th - 23:20pm | The Vegas Tourist

Well, something has to start the ball rolling. Throw something out there to get the attention of the lamestream media.

Nov 6th - 13:06pm | Mike G

The country cannot afford the government it now has. Revenues cannot support current levels of spending. Everyone wants their favorite program exempted but it cannot ever be so.. current spending cannott be sustained. And then , there is the current debt politicians have currently committed us to.pXx

Nov 6th - 12:20pm | RangerR

You are Incorrect.. A drastic budet reduction of this magnitude would cripple the NPS, cause the shut-down of some areas and cause real damage to our Cultural and National Heritage.. .

Nov 6th - 12:10pm | Clayton

Go ahead and cut parks by those numbers and see what happens. Most of the parks couldn't stay open.

Nov 6th - 08:09am | Snochasr

The budget MUST be cut someplace. It would be nice to be able to afford everything on everybody's "wish list," but a little trim like this forces administrators to prioritize to real needs, and that is a GOOD thing.

Nov 6th - 07:55am | Public Land Owner

All this while the GOP's favored presidential nominee is planning to confiscate federally managed public lands to turn them into "Freedom Cities". The robber barons of our time just keep reaching for more.

Wildfire Burning In Backcountry Of New River Gorge National Park And Preserve

Nov 11th - 10:00am | Will

Thank you for this story. I was on Amtrak train 51 (westbound Cardinal) and saw fires and wondered what was happening.

Hunters, Anglers Say Proposed Ambler Road Would Harm Wildlife, Fisheries, Backcountry

Nov 10th - 20:39pm | George Bogenschutz

This is a "no-brainer". Once pristine wild places like this are breached by devopment of any kind it is lost forever and cannot be reclaimed to the state that The Maker intended! Leave it as it is!!

Public Comments Sought On North Cascades Grizzly Recovery Proposal

Nov 10th - 15:05pm | daniel blatecky

I feel that an attempt in reintroducing the grizzly bear back into Washington State is a disastrous move, as the brown & black bears have already established the apex niche once held by the vacated grizzlys. The available game sources have changed since the grizzlies have vacated at the turn of the century.

Update | Jemez Pueblo Quickly Given OK To Take Eagles From Valles Caldera National Preserve

Nov 8th - 14:57pm | John Coyne

Just because you deem the ceremonial kill not important to you, does not mean the process and/or practice is not important to the tribe.

Nov 8th - 13:37pm | Rebecca Latson

I'm having a difficult time understanding this on so many levels. Is the NPS following some sort of Animal Farm formula where some agencies are more equal than others, so they are signing off on this, even though it appears in conflict with NPS regulations?

Rocky Mountain National Park Proposing To Make Timed-Entry Permanent

Nov 7th - 12:19pm | Rex Garnes

Is their an easy way for Grand County locals who desire to drive to Estes Park a few times each year to Not have a a reservation if not befor 9am and return later that day? I checked a couple of years ago and was told I could obtain a form. We don't camp. or stop except to view the animals if any are present.

A Tough Week for Hikers and Mule Riders at Grand Canyon National Park

Nov 5th - 13:23pm | Daphne

Seemed to be these visitors are not experienced in hiking , camping , nor know anything about riding . Seems to me from reading above entry's, they were not relaxed and somewhat on the uncomfortable side from the get go , before even heading out . Which of course these mild temper , easy going animals can of course since .

Mexican Wolf Heads North Towards Valles Caldera National Preserve

Nov 5th - 09:38am | Kathy Cheatham

What wild animal (other than Mexicam Wolves) are subject to a map of where they aren't allowed to wander? Did they do this to Bald Eagles? California Condors? Black footed Ferret? Not a realistic rule

Sullivan’s Island Was the African-American Ellis Island

Nov 4th - 21:07pm | Mark Sullivan

I am from Starr, South Carolina. I currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama. I know there are some Sullivan's here in Big Cove. But, I am not sure if there is a connection.

NPS Wants More Women In Law Enforcement Positions

Nov 3rd - 11:32am | Glad2bretired

Many of the National Park Service's best rangers are women, and the NPS is to be commended for recognizing that its law enforcement workforce doesn't adequately reflect its customers' demographics. I hope that this initiative is successful, but with the failure of the "No Net Loss" directive, I'm not all that optimistic.

Nov 2nd - 16:01pm | Rick B.

Wow - A Johnson. It's only social engineering if someone else does it, eh?

Nov 2nd - 14:39pm | A. Johnson

This effort is bound to fail because women don't care about NPS initiatives--they care about making life and career decisions that are best for themselves. This is true for ALL people. People are what we can human--and they make their own decisions because they have free will. Let's RESPECT that, and stop trying to fill our narrow-minded perceptions of what ought to be for them.

Review | U.S. Rangers, The Law of the Land: The History Of Law Enforcement In The Federal Land Management Agencies

Nov 3rd - 11:05am | Glad2bretired

This book, and its previous editions, have brought to attention issues which hardly anybody else is addressing. The history of U.S.

Nov 2nd - 07:59am | Chris White

handcuffs 1977, as a NPS Park Ranger we were not allowed to carry mace or handcuffs, our shotgun had to be locked in the trunk of our patrol car, no Sam Brown belts, and we had to purchase our own bullet proof vests. Also, our only authorized weapon was a Smith and Wesson with a two inch barrel. No reloads could be carried as we had no place to carry them

Traveler's View | When Did The National Park Service Lose Its Voice?

Nov 3rd - 10:53am | Kurt Repanshek

Many thanks! If everyone who visited the Traveler in October contributed just $10, we'd be set for a couple years. That's all it takes.

Nov 1st - 13:11pm | A. Johnson

I will never look at Yellowstone bison in the same way...and that's not a good thing. gee, thanks.

Nov 1st - 09:24am | Stephen H Kibbey

It's just not the great National Parks and wildlife that are suffering but the encroachment of development near the boundries of our national battlefileds, historic sites and monuments as well. Recently visited the Chancelorville battlefield and drove the Jackson Trail, which is the route of his famous flank attack.

Nov 1st - 04:05am | judo at 2007

This just shows why NP traveler is needed. How can we convince you not to shut your doors?

Ferdinand Hayden And The Founding Of Yellowstone National Park

Nov 2nd - 14:50pm | A. Johnson

. Among several shameful statements he made,... As scientists, we should not be making editorial comments on views or acts committed over 150 years ago, that by TODAY's standards, are no longer acceptable. This is known as the fallacy of presentism.

Humpback Whale "Hog-Tied" By Fishing Gear Freed Near Glacier Bay National Park

Nov 1st - 23:46pm | Rick B.

Not only an amazing effort across many individuals and agencies. but well documenented. We saw many whales in Alaskan waters, and seeing one so trapped is tragic, and of course who deoesn't love a happy ending.

What Did You Think Of Your Experience At Arches National Park?

Nov 1st - 13:19pm | Stuiterbal

I enjoyed and support the timed entry system. It seems a fair and effective measure to manage the load of high visitation numbers

Search Continues For Missing Trail Runner In Rocky Mountain National Park

Nov 1st - 10:54am | Daria

Has anyone found Mr. Pallansch?

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