| Page 12 | National Parks Traveler

I'm sorry to burst the bubble, but when a park becomes a National Park and contains items, locations, or artifacts listed in the National Historic Registry, it is supposed to be against Federal Law to "remove, deface, or disrupt" said items. These properties are a part of history. They should either be kept up or allowed to "Naturally" return to nature. Yes, I said what I said.

Dec 20th - 13:37pm | Steffanee Jurado

Houses are history.

Help The Traveler Earn A $7,500 Match From The National Parks Conservation Association

Dec 21st - 14:17pm | Kurt Repanshek

The hope is that donations from readers and listeners will match that amount. So far this week donations have reached $5,000.

Dec 21st - 13:43pm | Stuiterbal

What are the requirements to reach this $7,500 match from the NPCA?

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

Dec 20th - 18:42pm | Tom Ribe

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is surrounded by Pueblos. 6 Pueblos are close to the Preserve and another 13 Pueblos exist farther away. If more of these Tribes seek to kill eagles in the Valles Caldera, the eagle population could be destroyed. This is a no-win for the NPS. Hopefully this is the last time anyone wants to kill an eagle at the Valles Caldera.

Review | After The Blast: The Ecological Recovery Of Mount St. Helens

Dec 20th - 13:48pm | kathy dickerson

very interesting subject, one many, many would like to learn about. incl. myself. but wagner uses scientific jargon and the backgrounds of his ecologists (geologists more interesting) way too much, cluttering up the subject. By page 97 I wanted to throw the book across the room. That's why i'm thanking you for telling us about later info. You read it so i don't have to.

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Points To NPS Morale Issues

Dec 19th - 18:14pm | Chris…

Cash bonuses are not a perk for the seasonal staff that largely comprises the most workforce. it sounds like they intend on paying the problem mgmt to keep up the good work...

Dec 19th - 16:13pm | BCKENNER

NPS employees don't need PEER to tell them the NPS has serious employee morale and retaliation issues. NPT does a service by publicizing these continuing poor employee polls. This has been true for 20 years.

Dec 19th - 13:05pm | Kurt Repanshek

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2023/11/sunsets-arent-enough

Dec 19th - 12:48pm | What more can p...

So. Are you a mouthpiece for PEER or reporting on what is really going on? Scores improve but not good enough for NPT. Maybe PEER can keep NPT afloat?

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Testing Electric Trail Maintenance Equipment

Dec 19th - 14:37pm | David Govatski

The battery technology is getting better all the time. We switched to battery powered chain saws, pole pruning saw, and string trimmer a few years ago. You still need bar and chain oil for the saws but we have been using biodegradable bar and chain oil made from rapeseed or what we know as canola oil. The big saw companies sell biodegradable bar and chain oil alongside their fossil based oils.

Dec 14th - 09:50am | Snochasr

If it makes sense from an economic or efficiency standpoint, do it by all means. But PLEASE do not claim that you are doing it for "THEE CLIMATE." That is just stupid in spades. First of all, recharging these electrics is probably done by fossil fuel plants, and second, If the US stopped burning fossil fuels entirely, Global temperatures would be reduced, 100 years from now, by roughly 1/100

National Park Service Working To End Trespass Cattle At Valles Caldera National Preserve

Dec 19th - 13:13pm | WaltD

Why should the so-called "do-gooders" spend their own money? You don't explain. The ranchers whose cattle are trespassing on public land and causing habitat injuries should be sent bills by the NPS to recover public monies spent in repair And yes, the NPS should be more proactive in responding to these incidetns.

Dec 18th - 08:06am | Loui

How much does it cost to sue the NPS? Maybe if the do-gooders spent that money on fence repairs the issue would be resolved already.

Fee Change Coming To Grand Teton National Park Backpacking Permits

Dec 18th - 18:10pm | Hoyt Johnson

I was helicoptered out to Idaho Falls last summer ($85,000 for the 65-mile ride), but no hard feelings; I'm going to try for the Grand again next summer. The small increase in fees doesn't trouble me. A movie ticket costs more than that these days.

Work Underway In Congress To Help, And Possibly Hurt, National Park System

Dec 18th - 08:57am | chris...

Everything listed as a positive is just a transfer of the wardens of that land to recreation.gov. Putting it in wilderness status and or making it a national park/trail is just a euphanism for recreation.gov will now take your money.

The Trouble With Horses On Cumberland Island

Dec 18th - 07:27am | Suzanne Spengler

As an owner of several horses in my life I agree explicitly with everything that you have shared from your heart. There is a season for everything under the sun and it's time for the season of change for these beautiful horses. They are not being cared for properly, and the environment is not conducive to a healthy existence.

Readers Comment On The Future Of The National Parks Traveler

Dec 17th - 15:35pm | SmokiesBackpacker

Kurt et al are the only responsible guardrails against the NPS and their fee abuses. Other media are complicit in the schemes that have taxed citizens to use lands for which they have already paid taxes over and over again.

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

Dec 16th - 18:56pm | Where is the co...

Below is a note from the Director to all NPS employees. Yet no coverage in Traveler? --------------------------------------------- Dear colleagues,

Family of Man Killed By Mountain Goat in Olympic National Park Sues National Park Service

Dec 16th - 02:12am | cara ivens

Its not even a species native to this country tho .. it shouldnt be there to begin with

Update | Railroad Sued Over Grizzly Bear Deaths On The Doorstep Of Glacier National Park

Dec 15th - 11:04am | Daryl Hunter

When I'm photographing grizzles I always make freight train noises so they don't notice me. Since if they are actually doing the mitigration stated the only answer is to shep Montana grain east instead of west.

Dec 15th - 10:10am | A. Johnson

Why can't we sue wind turbine developers, owners, and operators for the THOUSANDS of deaths of endangered and threatened species of birds? I note that Wild Earth Gaurdiians have made no such effort to protect birds from wind turbines. According to WildEarth's IRS Form 990 (2022), they spent $530K to raise $4.3 million = 13%--a bit high for enviromentally-focused 501c3's.

The Wolves Of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Dec 14th - 18:08pm | d-2

This is a welcome and excellent piece, fully up to the best aspirations of National Park Traveler. It provides great context to the politics that surrounds this issue, gracefully minimized in this piece that focuses on place and ecological resources, and, especially, wolves and predators in the environment.

USFWS Seeking Comments On Recovery Plan For Canada Lynx

Dec 14th - 17:13pm | Peg R

And yet, trapping of cats- Bobcat & Lynx- & trophy hunting of Mountain Lions with high-tech gadetry & hounding dogs- is still legal. We must protect our apex predators if we wish to have a balanced ecosystem.

Transparency | National Parks Traveler By The Numbers

Dec 14th - 10:20am | A. Johnson

I appreciate Kurt's response. Obviously I do not see all the comments that are deleted, but I l know which of mine were.

Dec 14th - 01:34am | Mike B.

For what it's worth, I see no evidence of bias in the Traveler content. As far as the comments, there are views expressed across the political spectrum, some of which I agree with and others with which I definitely disagree. To me, this demonstrates fairness. Finally, with regard to climate change, I believe that the science is clear: it is real, it poses danger to the resources we all clai

Dec 13th - 12:03pm | Loui

I don't think balance in the comments is the issue. It's the left leaning bias in the substantive content of many of the articles themselves that undoubtedly alienates many. Some articles are written by Kurt, most by contributors.

Dec 13th - 10:48am | Kurt Repanshek

Comment moderation is one of the trickiest aspects of running a website, especially when there is only one or sometimes two people trying to tackle it. That is why many organizations have done away with any and all comments. They create too many headaches.

Dec 13th - 10:11am | A. Johnson

First of all, I apologize for referring to Kurt as "KP". If inattentiveness were rewarded, I'd be rich.

Dec 12th - 17:14pm | Cary Carlson

Would you explain what you mean by More Balance? NP Traveler is certainly promoting park preservation. It's not necesarily pro National Park Service or pro Federal beaurocracy.. it sure showcases park problems/threats, and offers readers wonderful education. I like its balance, or lack thereof.

Dec 12th - 15:32pm | A. Johnson

KP: I do wish you the best of luck. As stated before though, I sincerely believe that you're alienating many potential donors by not offering more balance. It's certainly your prerogative to do as you please, but I argue that it has a substantial downside. Best of luck.

Lottery Dates For Angels Landing Permits At Zion National Park Announced

Dec 13th - 09:54am | A. Johnson

Let's look at some rough numbers: 80% successful permits (400,000) issued means that 500,000 folks applied. So, about 100,000 folks were unsucessful, each spending $6--that's $600,000 of revenue for Zion (and yes, rec.gov) that they collected for doing NOTHING, having no impact on the park, with no additional duty on the park.

Dec 13th - 09:44am | A. Johnson

How does the NPS/rec.gov justify keeping the reservation fee for unsuccessful applicants? Isn't there a perverse incentive to hype this lottery, knowing that more applicants for the same number of permits will mean more revenue from more unsuccessful applicants? This is a sick and cynical marketing plan by NPS/Zion. SHAME on them.

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 252 | Support Keeping the Lights On

Dec 12th - 12:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Brian, if you have any connections with those companies you mentioned, please let me know. We've tried them all and they've ignored the Traveler.

Dec 12th - 12:25pm | Brian Gleason

While I agree that some form of subscription plan may be a useful form of fundraising, The amount suggested seems quite high when I can get a subscription to the Wall Street Journal on sale for as low as $50 per year. It might be more helpfulto approach commercial advertisers who can pay higher advertising fees.

Dec 11th - 13:01pm | Steven Mullen

As I was listening to this podcast, it struck me that working with or merging with the NPCA might be the way to go. We could have National Parks Traveler powered by NPCA, or you could be their new news division. I wouldn't think the former is within their mission, but having a news division certainly could be.

"Global Mass Coral Bleaching And Mortality Event" Expected To Hit Caribbean Parks Hard

Dec 12th - 12:12pm | Frederic larue

Knowing that sunscreen chemicals can affect marine life: Green Algae: Can impair growth and photosynthesis.

Shenandoah National Park Backcountry Reservations Moving To Recreation.Gov

Dec 12th - 09:03am | chris...

Of course they are. The govt backed corporate coup of our national lands continues.

Glacier National Park Adds Early Access Lotteries For 2024 Wilderness Permits

Dec 9th - 11:32am | A. Johnson

I'm well aware of rec.gov's involvement and stake. The fact remains: if GNP did not agree to create or permit this lottery, there would be no rec.gov involvement.

Dec 8th - 15:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

Actually, rec.gov takes the lion's share, about $6 of the $10. But in the big picture, these lotteries do seem to be simply another way for rec.gov to make money. Why shouldn't everyone interested in a backcountry permit be in the same lottery pool?

Dec 8th - 13:43pm | A. Johnson

There will be a $10 non-refundable fee to enter each lottery regardless of success. AMAZING! GNP will collect $10 for simply doing their jobs, and likely not meeting the needs of backpackers. Talk about a sure money maker for the Park, with no downside!

Essential Parks Coverage You Can Count On

Dec 9th - 08:55am | Will

The AARP Magazine that arrived yesterday cites Kurt and NPT in its first few pages. I hope this draws more readers and more contributors.

Groups Continue To Raise Issue Of Livestock Trespass At Valles Caldera National Preserve

Dec 8th - 13:38pm | A. Johnson

It is deeply disappointing that the Forest Service and National Park Service have been unable to work together Dissappointing only to those who expect the NPS or the FS to do their jobs with a modicum of effectiveness. The other 99.9999% of us are rarely surprised or disappointed by the lack of effort made by the FS or the NPS. Welcome to YOUR government!

Dec 8th - 09:27am | Carol Velasco

Money talks. Beuraracy gets us stuck. Why haven't the cattle owners been fined yet? If they were and with a hefty fine, owners would think a little longer if they want to stay in business & how can they remain.

Dec 7th - 16:54pm | Maggie Frazier

I have to wonder - since this seems to be an ongoing problem and "These reports included photos, brand and ear tag information, and location information" - why not penalyze, sanction & fine the livestock producers who are responsible? In reading many other articles in other Western states - the problem is the same - trespass livestock - and just like here in a National Preserve, there seem

Dec 7th - 16:34pm | Bruce M

I've spent a lot of time on the Valles Caldera for as long as it has been public.

Dec 6th - 22:31pm | Mike B.

Round up the trespassing cattle and have a big, big barbecue.

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