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Grand Teton Fatalities-Updated

May 3rd - 21:22pm | Josh Morrow

Jonathan Morrow is my brother. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Jonathan was an amazing person who brought joy to everyone around him. He died doing what he loved the most, and I'm sure that he wouldn't have it any other way. He accomplished so much in the short 28 years of his life.

May 2nd - 22:04pm | MM

Big thanks to the ranger service, I know they did everything in their power to recover the bodies.

How Are Entrance Fees Affecting Visitation?

May 2nd - 13:18pm | Jim Macdonald

My own anecdotal sense of things with Shenandoah is that entrance fees are making a difference, but it's not perhaps the wisest thing to compare the totals of Shenandoah with those of Great Smokey.

Mountain Bikes and National Parks

May 2nd - 11:00am | Rick Smith

Erik-- You bring up a good point. I don't want Mtn. bikers in the arms of the Blue Ribbon Coalition either. Certainly the impact of mountain biking on park service area roads is much less than the impact of snowmobiles on the environment of Yellowstone or jet skis in the various park service areas where they are now permitted.

May 1st - 19:46pm | Random Walker

I do not agree with the "cutting" of any additional trails in Our National Parks. This pristine 20,000-acre slice called Grapevine Hills in Big Bend National Park sounds like the type of place I rely on Our National Park Service to protect from any type of development. What are the differences between a foot trail and a bike trail? Are we still cutting trails through meadows?

May 1st - 17:35pm | Erik

This is an important discussion and desperately needs to be fleshed out, particularly if we are interested in expanding the Wilderness Preservation System. There is no reason that Mt. Bikers should be pushed into the arms of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. It's happening.

May 1st - 13:32pm | debri81

My comments were not meant to offend. Sorry if they did. I'm not a forum flamer by nature. And in all my posts (if you read them) you would see a willingness to meet "you" half way. All I read in response were the typical adjectives that are used to mount an counter argument against "us" mountain bikers. I also apologise for misunderstanding the source of this blog and your profession.

May 1st - 13:01pm | Rick Smith

Jees,Debri81-- Cut Kurt some slack. He does this because he loves parks and thinks they are important. The only thing that sustains him is the dialog that his blog generates. Most of that dialog is pretty good natured, even when people disagree. Too bad yours isn't.

May 1st - 11:51am | repanshek

Sigh. First of all, I created this blog to spur discussion and debate of national park issues. You and others are more than welcome to toss in your two cents, as you've certainly done. I don't claim a monopoly on right and wrong; I invite discussion to encourage different views, for only through rational discussion can we reach rational decisions.

May 1st - 11:27am | debri81

Simply put you see the hikers as being good and righteous and mountain bikers as invaders. Why? Because shoes came before bikes? And mountain bikers "screaming" down into hikers who have to be nimble. Please. Always the worse case scenario.

May 1st - 09:59am | repanshek

We could bat this topic back and forth for days, perhaps weeks, but it doesn't appear as if we'll see eye to eye on it.

May 1st - 09:19am | debri81

Wow looks like you had your coffee.. LOL Let's only talk about mountain bikes. I'm not here to support vehicles with engines. That's another conversation that I'm not interested in being part of. First things first. If it were up to me, I would have the more land "protected" and not given up for development. I would also allow exploration by approved methods of those lands.

Apr 30th - 15:13pm | richard smith

At Point Reyes N.S. you can mtn bike for miles on a dirt road until a sign says wilderness area, which is 1/4 mile from the ocean. But if there is a fire, they take big tankers on those roads and cut trees so they can get to the fire. Which has more impact? Which belonngs in a wilderness? Why is it even wilderness when you can view boats plying the waters, and bbq grills at the campsites?

Apr 30th - 13:53pm | repanshek

I feel there are plenty of opportunities out there for mountain biking without the need to further cut trails in the national parks.

Apr 30th - 13:25pm | debri81

Why wouldn't you want more usage? More enjoyment? As our children grow more sedentary, you suggest reducing park usage. Why not cross country skiing trails too? Public use and or land closings are one of the biggest topics of the mountain biker community. So, for someone like you (I assume) works in the great outdoors it is no hardship. You have an abundance of woodland.

Apr 30th - 11:50am | repanshek

Debri181, I think you're missing the point I was trying to make. I have nothing against mountain bikes. There are two in my garage, right next to our two road bikes, and they all get good workouts on a regular basis. And you're right, speed isn't in the equation when one is pedaling up a mountain. But it certainly comes into play on those downhills.

Apr 30th - 11:23am | debri81

I find it amusing that the terms "thrills" and "speed" always seem to be (mis) used by the earthy-crunchy, self-serving sector of our society. Obviously, you have never pedaled up a mountain on a bike. Speed doesn't enter the equation. Especially when we need to carry all our survival gear on our backs.

Apr 30th - 08:13am | D Smith

I think mountain bikes can be compatible with National Parks. Leave No Trace ethics have limited the impact that hikers have on the environment. I think the same principles could be applied to Mt Bikers. Education is the key. Should every park and every trail be opened to mountain bikes? Of course not, but many parks can and should support bikers.

Apr 29th - 16:59pm | MS Kennedy

As an avid mountain biker (one who logged over 2000 miles of mostly single-track one short summer on the west slope of the Colorado Rockies, riding on weekends!)I agree that there are plenty existing trails and we don't need to be building more trails in NP's for mechanized traffic. I also hike plenty and really enjoy -- no, crave -- the solitude of remote, hikers-only trails.

Lyle Laverty: A Threat to the Parks?

May 1st - 15:37pm | Mark F.

Bush appointed him. I'm pretty sure that's an automatic guarantee that he sucks.

Privatization Lives Under the NPS Radar

May 1st - 13:09pm | David Quintana

Thanks for the great info about Gateway NRA...

NPCA Applauds Air Pollution Legislation

Apr 30th - 08:18am | earl whaley

your the best i love you

How Much Will it Cost to Attend A Campfire Talk?

Apr 29th - 17:25pm | MS Kennedy

In a related vein, see this article in the Sunday WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/28/AR2007042801230.html

Apr 26th - 14:52pm | Random Walker

Only after a dozen or so folks called, Natural gas wells planned for the Chaco Canyon area was put on hold. I have found that all my state gov type folks do listen and even respond to an individuals concerns and I do not believe this distracts from the issues in any way. Getting together with family, neighbors and other concerned citizens is important.

Apr 25th - 20:46pm | JLongstreet

Jim Macdonald, I hear you and appreciate the dialogue. Sorry I can't do much about home rule in DC! JLongstreet

Apr 25th - 04:51am | Jim Macdonald

JLongstreet,

Apr 24th - 19:41pm | JLongstreet

I'm not suggesting superintendents are victims. Every one I know would accept responsibility for the decisions he or she made. And yes, some, indeed, did jump on the fee program aggressively since (1) parks are desperate for operating money even after making lots of cuts and improving efficiencies, and (2) Congress did pass a law which established the parameters of a fee program.

Apr 23rd - 03:46am | Jim Macdonald

Unfortunately, JLongstreet, we as individuals are local and not national, and so the beginning of any response must be organized locally (even if we acknowledge that it is national - heck, I'd argue it's bigger than that - I don't believe that user fees are really the issue of concern so much as what they themselves represent; to me this is in fact a global issue, a pattern seen in countries all o

Apr 22nd - 20:01pm | retreadranger

Indeed, Gen. Longstreet, I do not doubt that is the case. However, it is common knowledge in my neck of the NPS woods that some parks have jumped on the fee bandwagon with a lot more gusto than others.

Apr 22nd - 19:39pm | JLongstreet

I've written this before but I'll say it again. Good park managers have been caught between a rock (legislation) and a hard place (underfunded park operations) and have been all but forced by Washington to toe the line on entrance fees and to be creative with user fees.

Apr 21st - 18:58pm | matt

Jim, I don't think we are actually that far apart. While I encourage folks to contact their reps (I acknowledge DC gets hosed in that regard) it is equally important to mobilize their family, friends, neighbors, etc. There is definately strength in numbers and I believe you are correct in the overall effort requiring organization.

Apr 21st - 18:24pm | Jim Macdonald

I live in the District of Columbia; we don't have anyone except an elected delegate to the House, who doesn't have a vote. The city has sold out on a Democratic plan to give the district one vote and Utah one more vote, but that's not likely to get anywhere (and isn't even constitutional). It did pass the House, but that's really not the point.

Apr 21st - 16:39pm | matt

I disagree with you on the not calling your congressperson. And I figured we all understood that members of Congress don't answer their own phones, but thanks for reminding me!

Apr 21st - 06:12am | Jim Macdonald

And, calling and complaining to your congressperson won't work, either. You can come to DC, visit your congressperson - more likely the legislative aide (who is the person you should be reaching out to, anyhow - that's how it works), and it won't make a difference. Even if you have a nice big campaign check waiting for them, it still won't work. This is big money.

Apr 20th - 17:11pm | matt

While I ordinarily do not object to reasonable fees for using public lands, some of these fees seem to be getting out of hand. I am also not one to frequently jump to the defense of the NPS but they are not the real problem here. The problem is that NPS (and USFS, BLM, BOR, and FWS) are chronically underfunded.

Apr 20th - 15:20pm | Oz

The proposed fee hikes in your article are disturbing. I have always thought of our national park system as a variation of the local public library: a priceless but often underfunded resource for individuals from all walks of life. Regrettably, it sounds as if the government's proposed fee hikes will keep less fortunate visitors from visiting our nation's treasures.

Apr 20th - 14:02pm | Owen Hoffman

Unabashed fee creep in our national parks and monuments must stop. Parks are public property. Our government should make parks available and welcoming to all citizens and not just the few who are unlikely to react negatively to the economic impact of an assortment of rising entrance fees and special use fees.

Apr 20th - 13:50pm | retreadranger

Unfortunately, this is happening all over. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will begin charging for interpretive programs this summer: sliding fees for individuals or families for short programs, more for "in-depth tours." Parking areas that were previously free will now charge a fee. Ditto docks that once were free. The fee schedule is posted on the park web page; it's pretty amazing.

Apr 20th - 12:52pm | Anuhea

That is so sad! I hope they don't start charging. I remember my father taking me around to National Parks when I was younger and I loved the "summer camp feel" where all (or most)the activities were free.

Commenting Made Easier

Apr 24th - 15:16pm | repanshek

Speak Out! is a more general approach to voicing your concerns about the national park system. The people I've listed are committee chairs with direct oversight of the NPS. As such, they are the movers and shakers we should be reaching out to in general, while the Comment Now! fixture is to comment on specific park proposals.

Apr 24th - 15:07pm | jr_ranger

Would you mind explaining the "Speak Out!" info? I don't get it. :)

Big Cypress: Wilderness or ORVs?

Apr 24th - 07:40am | Diane Jacobs

Please protect the natural landscape - no ruts from ORV's! I support Preliminary Alternative F.

Apr 23rd - 18:15pm | Alan Gregory

Kurt, my wife and I visited the Big Cypress VC in 2001 and sat through a showing of the preserve's intro film, which featured several minutes of swamp buggy footage. At the time, I was outraged but realized later that perhaps the Big Cypress managers were simply trying to tip off visitors to the damage caused by these ORVs without being overt about it.

Haleakala Proposes to Double Entrance Fees

Apr 23rd - 18:19pm | Alan Gregory

And what does the park propose to do with the increased revenue? I've said it before and will say it again: It is the Congress's responsibility to ensure national park units are fully funded to their legitimate, non-political, non-pork barrel needs. Individual parks should not have to resort to bake sales and the like to raise money.

Sequoia, Drugs, and Rangers

Apr 23rd - 10:46am | mountedpatrol

Have you ever seen the lines of vehicles backed up at National Park entrance stations? At my park, these lines extend for over a mile at peak visitation periods. This suggestion of mandatory vehicle searches upon entry to National Parks would be impossible to carry out without waiting in lines smelling exhaust fumes for hours.

Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

Apr 21st - 09:16am | repanshek

Kingsley, I've been up Angel's Landing a couple times, once when my youngest son was about 8 or 9, and each time has been incredible. Yes, you have to be careful and clear-headed, but if you are somewhat comfortable with exposures (personally, I hate heights), the trek is not insurmountable.

Apr 21st - 03:53am | kingsley

reading the posts and having seen pics of the hike- should i be terrified- i have lots of experience ridge scrambling in uk- devils ridge, crib goch, anoch eagach etc- i get married in sept and we set ourselves the challenge of angels landing but now i'm not sure- it looks awesome-maybe too awesome?

Mount St. Helen's National Park?

Apr 20th - 12:35pm | kath

Well, Lassen hasn't erupted since the early 1900's and I don't recall any expensive looking facilities up there. All I'm saying is that while St. Helens is still occassionally belching and the interior of the crater is still rising, it's not the time to be building multi-million dollar state of the art visitor's centers in the blast zone.

Apr 20th - 11:56am | Glenn Scofield...

So is Lassen Peak, Haleakala, Mauna Loa, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake and Mount Baker. But these have visitor centers and other park interpretation.

Apr 20th - 08:46am | kath

The NPS shouldn't spend too much money on visitor's centers at Mt. St. Helens. It's still an active volcano after all.

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