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To Work, To Work, Off We Go To Work

Jan 3rd - 22:46pm | tahoma

Actually, the CCC did some beautiful work in the Parks that has mostly endured and seldom been equalled since by the National Park Service. I'll bet they could lay a water line that would not need replacing several times a decade as has the one at Paradise, Mt. Rainier. Judging by the photo, the vegetative impacts look to be about the same though.

Resolved: I’ll Visit at Least These Five National Parks in 2009

Jan 3rd - 20:32pm | treehugger99

Hi Bob. I'll chime in with some suggestions. Climbing the dunes at Great Sand Dunes is hard work, but it's great fun. It just about killed my Chicago lungs. If you get high enough, you can feel the dunes vibrate when the wind hits the resonant frequency.

Jan 2nd - 11:42am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for the reminder to include the smaller, less visited national parks in our travel plans, dlmatz. We try to remind Traveler readers about these opportunities, even though we do focus more of our attention on the larger, more popular parks.

Jan 2nd - 10:56am | Bob Janiskee

My sincere thanks to readers who've offered encouragement and suggestions for my 2009 parks-visiting itinerary. Since I managed to go through 2008 without adding a single new national park to my "been there, done that" list, I have very high hopes for a breakthrough year.

Jan 2nd - 10:34am | dlmatz

Please do not forget all the smaller park units that are local favorites. We have one just 20 minutes away - Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Or towards the other end of the state is Alleghany Portage Railroad National Historic Site.

Jan 1st - 21:37pm | Kirby Adams

Bob, I think you'll find Theodore Roosevelt to be similar to your beloved Congaree. Yes, TR is short of cypress trees and Congaree is lacking in bison, but both parks are underrated, underappreciated, and full of unique character. Last summer in TR, I got up before dawn and walked from our campsite down to the Little Missouri River to watch the sunrise.

Jan 1st - 15:18pm | Arlan Roberds

My wife and I just returned from Hawaii and the national parks there. This was our 50th state to travel in, and our next goal is to go to all the national parks. We have 17 more to go. We too are planning to go to Death Valley National Park this year. Maybe we will see you there. Happy traveling.

Jan 1st - 12:46pm | tahoma

I envy you your itinerary, Bob. Death Valley & Great Sand Dunes are both underappreciated gems. I still vividly recall watching the changing moonlight shadows on the distant dunes while shivering all night during an unplanned bivy near the summit of Colorado's Crestone Needle.

Jan 1st - 12:33pm | Kurt Repanshek

Good point, DWalker. For several years I've been pondering a backpack trip there, and since it's in my backyard, relatively speaking (what's a 5-hour drive?!?), I should add that to my 09 list.

Jan 1st - 12:28pm | DWalker

Don't forget to visit Great Basin, my personal favorite.

Jan 1st - 12:24pm | Kurt Repanshek

2008 was a good year for me, park-wise, as I made stops in Great Smoky, Cape Cod National Seashore, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Death Valley, Yosemite, and Devils Postpile. But......there still are many units out there that I have yet to step foot in.

Jan 1st - 11:14am | Barky

TR Nat'l Park is one of my favorites in the NPS. It's beautiful, and it's remote, meaning less travelled. I like my solitude when I travel in the parks, and TR is one of the best places to get solitude. Say "hi" to the wild horses for me. :D ===========================================

Jan 1st - 10:27am | brettgross

Bob-

Glen Canyon Marina Fire Damage Estimate: $3-$5 Million

Jan 3rd - 15:04pm | Anonymous

Where was Hall's Crossing Security Team providing 24 hour security which is offset by our mooring fees? Why was it that the call happened to come from a couple who happened to be staying on their boat? Why did it take 45 minutes for NPS @ Bullfrog to respond? - Shouldn't Hall's also have the same fire prevention/security messures - ARAMARK needs to address these concerns.

Jan 2nd - 16:03pm | Lak tra

well said, and nice profile, too! ;^)

Earthquakes Continuing to Rattle Yellowstone National Park

Jan 3rd - 14:13pm | Ted Clayton

Besides the 3 supereruptions that have occurred at Yellowstone in the last couple million years, there have also been far-larger numbers of 'lesser' but still important and sometimes major eruptions. For example, in the last 14,000 years of the current Holocene Era, there have been 20 large explosive events.

Violent Deaths in the National Parks

Jan 3rd - 00:51am | Dienekes

The people who will be allowed to carry firearms for self defense in the National Parks are the law abiding majority of responsible citizens. These are not people who act in a careless manner. Rational and reasonable citizens can be in possession of a firearm, a knife, an axe, a saw, explosives, or even a motor vehicle without endangering others.

Upon Further Review - Let Sleeping Snakes Lie

Jan 2nd - 15:06pm | JimB

Paul - Thanks for sharing your own story. Glad you saw the tail and not the head!

Jan 2nd - 13:12pm | Bob Janiskee

Paul? You mean your name is really not Barky?

Jan 2nd - 13:06pm | Barky

Clever! Yep, they're pretty lucky folks. I didn't realize reptilian suspended animation existed either!

Yosemite National Park Officials Looking For Suggestions on Preserving Badger Pass Ski Lodge

Jan 2nd - 14:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Frank, Interesting concept, but.....

Jan 2nd - 12:26pm | Kurt Repanshek

Geez, Alexander, Happy New Year to you, too!

Jan 2nd - 12:11pm | Rick Smith

I was the ranger at Badger for a couple winters. There is a lot of park history tied up in downhill skiing at the park. I am inclined to vote for keeping it as a low-key, family-oriented place. It's also a great jumping off point for day ski tours to Dewey Pt. and longer overnight tours to Glacier Point and the Ostrander ski hut.

Jan 2nd - 07:00am | Alexander

At first, I was tempted to comment on keeping this "precuious jewel" and continue the tradition for a relaxing getaway for many world families to visit. However, when I read Mr. Repanshek's sob story of how my federal tax dollars are used to maintain a wealthy man wealthier.....I think you should geat real. Hell, If i was rich, I too would donate millions of dollars to my faviorite charity.

Jan 1st - 19:25pm | Kurt Repanshek

C'mon Frank, this is America. Isn't becoming a success the American dream? Don't you aspire to better yourself and your family? The Jacobs' family success is the American dream, with three brothers earning their start in business selling peanuts and popcorn at ball games.

Jan 1st - 13:12pm | tahoma

I have mixed feelings on the issue of downhill ski facilities in the National Parks. On the one hand, thousands of sharp ski edges and the oil dripping from the lift cables & grooming machinery cause noticeable vegetative impacts. Ski areas do provide more incentive for the NPS to provide access for other types of non-motorized winter recreation, though.

Jan 1st - 11:14am | ClaireWalter

The ski area in Rocky Mountain National Park mentioned above was originally called Hidden Valley and briefly renamed Ski Estes (after the town of Estes Park on the east side of the park).

Jan 1st - 10:53am | Ted Clayton

Is it "blasphemy" to take out a ski-operation & lodge in a National Park? No, I think it is viewed as blasphemous, to have such a facility in a Park. Those who like having a resort & ski development in the Park will not regard proposals to remove it as "blasphemous", but rather as yet another example of environmentalist extremism - and intolerance.

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Jan 1st - 20:59pm | Anonymous

So why does the sound of the spray scare off the bear... but not the sound of the gun? It sounds like you have it in your mind guns are bad no matter what. Don't make yourself sound so silly.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jan 1st - 20:45pm | Clinton Wilkins...

The RIGHT to bear arms should not be restricted . Be it in a park or mall or at work.. You damned Democrats will never give up until the phrase "only criminals own guns" become a reality and no one can defend themselves or their loved ones from the violence YOU CAUSED.

Happy New Year from the Traveler!

Jan 1st - 12:15pm | fhasti

To all of you who make Traveler exist and endure. Thanks for this site. People who care about our parks like we do need a site like this to make sure everyone else out there knows where we stand. Thanks for all your hard and dedicated work to bring us the issues that matter, and those that are just plain interesting.

Dec 31st - 19:05pm | DJ

Happy 2009 to Traveler. I don't get to travel much these days, but I've spent time in many of the Parks from coast to coast in the past, and I still try to keep up with the goings-on, especially in the one's that have always been my favorites. I appreciate all the time and hard work you put into this site, and am grateful.

Dec 31st - 16:26pm | Warren Z

Thank you all for providing a great site! It's the first thing I read every day. May 2009 bring health and prosperity to us all!

What's Driving All The Shaking At Yellowstone National Park?

Jan 1st - 11:15am | jsmacdonald

To consider the new year as we are all prone to do, I've written my two cents on this doom and Yellowstone stuff (and there's many more posts on the newspaper on this on all sides of the doom continuum).

Dec 31st - 12:57pm | Roger

It's all Bush's fault!

Some Things We'd Like 2009 To Bring to the National Park System

Jan 1st - 11:11am | Lepanto

1. Land Acquisition. The most important thing is to protect the land. That means significant funding for the land acquisition program. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, that pays for the land from revenues derived from oil leases, should be funded to the full level indicated by federal oil revenues.

Jan 1st - 09:51am | Ted Clayton

I think that it is good to make lists like this, and we could do with more of them. I am working on a list of exotic fauna, flora and animal-population issues in the Park system, with an emphasis on those that might use hunting & harvest as a management-tool.

Jan 1st - 09:18am | Barky

Nice list. I have two minor additions, both of which have to do with apparent disinterest in African-American history in the NPS:

Jan 1st - 09:02am | Bob Janiskee

Funny you should mention African American representation in the Park System, Barky. I recently finished an African American-themed quiz for the weekly series and loaded it for "release into the wild" on Wednesday, January 21st. I'd be interested to know how you do on this quiz.

Jan 1st - 07:13am | Warren Z

Excellent! You have my support on every point.

Cats on the Prowl

Dec 31st - 19:43pm | John Hunter

That is awesome. I visited Capitol Reef National Park this summer, I didn't see any cats. I would have loved to see that cat and get a photo.

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

Dec 31st - 18:59pm | Anonymous

Why only 30 rooms? We need 103, like before, at least.

Brady Campaign Sues Interior Department over Concealed Carry in National Parks

Dec 31st - 17:29pm | Ted Clayton

Warren Z., Ah, thanks for the clarification of the Brady group's role in the gun-control community. I was unaware of them being the leader, but sometimes such things are the case even though not evident (sometimes, by design).

Dec 31st - 16:51pm | Frank N

"the terminology they used in discussing limitations ran to words like "longstanding" and "traditional" situations, naming examples like the mentally ill, felons, schools and federal buildings....." 72 years is pretty "longstanding and traditional" I'd say.

Dec 31st - 16:20pm | Ted Clayton

Frank C. asks:

Dec 31st - 15:16pm | Warren Z

Ted Clayton:

Dec 31st - 15:10pm | jason

What everyone seems to be missing is the fact that the rule is aligning with State law. Why should Washington DC be deciding on my ability to Carry in Yellowstone. Shouldn't it be the state, for which it is located, be making the rules. If you are legally able to carry in your state, a National Park should not be exempt.

Dec 31st - 12:49pm | Ted Clayton

Warren Z. said:

Dec 31st - 12:05pm | Kurt Repanshek

Frank N, this is probably the story you're recalling considering crime stats for the national parks.

Wanted: Expert on Lassen Volcanic National Park

Dec 31st - 12:53pm | Suzanne Frost

Snowshoeing can be done almost anywhere in and around the Park. Because we are so lucky and live nearby, we, use the main road, from the Southwest entrance off State Hy-way 36. We snow shoe up to the Sulphur Works, and we have cross-country skiied, taking the kids. We also use logging roads out of Chester, esp. up Feather River Dr. and the Lockerman Canyon Rd, up above the Chester Cementery.

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