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Weather Conditions Continuing To Hamper Search Efforts For Missing Katmai National Park Plane

Sep 15th - 15:20pm | G.J. Tuttle

marco, is a good personal friend of mine, as a world class surfer, sailor as well as a pilot, anybody who knows him can tell you, he is quite resourceful, if he was able to get the plane down, without any one being mortally wounded, they could be very much alive and waiting, i'm sure we are all still hoping for the best.

All Was Not Lost When Loggerhead Turtle Determined to Nest at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Was Run Over

Sep 15th - 15:11pm | matt Stubbs

After the actions I have seen by these Rangers at this particular park and after the incident (denied by the NPS) of the ranger doing donuts in an enclosure I will only say they are human and humans do stupid things no matter what they do for a living.

Sep 15th - 14:03pm | Anonymous

as a previous nps turtle patrol employee at this park, resource management staff are not out on the beach after dusk or before sunrise. You can't see the turtles you are supposed to patrol in the dark. If out after dark it is usually to facilitate outside research.

Sep 15th - 12:50pm | Ryan

Thank you for acknowledging my expert status.

Sep 15th - 11:21am | matt Stubbs

and an expert speaks...

Sep 15th - 10:46am | Ryan

Mr. Stubbs,

Sep 15th - 10:29am | matt Stubbs

What I believe Mr Johnson is saying and I personally agree with is that you cannot be sure it was not a Ranger or Turtle patrol vehicle that did this with the irresponsible and inconsistant way the NPS handles themselves.

Sep 15th - 09:56am | Ryan

Mr. Johnson,

Sep 15th - 09:45am | Dave Allison

The outcome of the story was not in any way positive. A mature female turtle, one of a species threatened with extinction, that was prepared to nest multiple times this year and for many years into the future was destroyed. The survival of a handful of nestlings, fewer than 1% likely to survive is not ultimately positive.

Sep 15th - 08:48am | Jeff Johnston

While the outcome of this story was ultimately positive, it is clearly intended to position ORV drivers at Hatteras as negligent and careless. Nothing is farther from the truth, hence the reward they offered. I personally witnessed a ranger driving "donuts" within a bird enclosure this spring to taunt fisherman who were on the other side of the barrier. Who is negligent?

Reader Participation Day: Where Was Your Worst Dining Experience in the National Parks?

Sep 15th - 14:46pm | Randi Minetor

Kurt, I just read your St. Mary Lodge story. Yikes! It's interesting: We also booked late, about two weeks before our trip, because the trip itself came up fairly unexpectedly. I theorize that these organizations hold the rooms in need of repair to book last, perhaps knowing that they should not be booked at all.

Sep 15th - 13:22pm | Kurt Repanshek

Randi, I should have had you argue for me with the front desk clerk at St. Mary Lodge...;-)

Sep 15th - 13:11pm | Randi Minetor

Nelson, we had a very similar experience at Canyon Lodge in YNP in June. We were willing to go with the flow when a manager came and told us (after 40 minute of waiting for our food) that our waiter had just realized he had never entered our order into the computer. The manager then offered us an additional glass of wine, which we assumed was complementary.

Sep 15th - 12:45pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I hate to admit it, each time I've been to Crater Lake I have tried the new Annie Creek restaurant for their breakfast buffet (a total of about five visits). The service was minimal, but not horrible. But every single time, the food was completely tasteless and incredibly slow. Most the restaurant was in a state of waiting most of the time... waiting for food to come to the buffet.

Sep 15th - 11:27am | Lawrence J Caldwell

Over the past three years I have visited and/or dined in the grand old lodges of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon South Rim, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Bryce Canyon, (alas, no lodges), and Zion.

Sep 15th - 11:22am | y_p_w

I've told this before, but my experience was at Bryce Canyon Lodge in 2006 when it was run by Xanterra.

Sep 15th - 11:08am | pkrnger

Kevin, between the hours of lunch and dinner, meals should be available at the cafeteria at Rim Village at Crater Lake, which is only a few hundred yards stroll from Crater Lake Lodge. Also, when the dinning room at Crater Lake Lodge is full, meals and starters can be served to those sitting in the Great Hall area of the Lodge.

Sep 15th - 09:06am | nelson decker

Like everyone else vacation should be stress free but we had the worst meal I have ever had vacation or not at the Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone last month.Service was slower than slow,one entree was not what was ordered another was called prime rib but was grilled mystery meat and was overpriced.We mentioned this to several rangers and employee's of the company and they all agreed bad food dont

Sep 15th - 09:05am | Kevin M

First of all, I love the comments by Connie and Jerry. We try to practice the same. I think most people's expectations are slightly lower in National Parks.

Sep 15th - 08:35am | pkrnger

I agree with Connie. When we travel, we try not to focus on the negative. On the other hand, when prices are high and quality of service is low, some form of public notification should be warranted.

Sep 15th - 08:23am | Lee Dalton

Connie Hopkins -- what a GREAT reply. As for me, my worst dining experience was when I was camping in a drenching rain and all the firewood was completely fireproof and my little butane stove refused to operate. Have you ever tried raw Spam? :))

Sep 15th - 08:16am | JerryC

Dining room at Grant Village, YNP, about 3 weeks ago. Didn't know a couple of pork chops could be so tough. Waiter never came back to check on how the meal was. But, like Connie, chalked it up to just a bad day in the kitchen, or whatever, and let it go. Paid the $50.00 bill, walked outside, and thanked the good Lord for places like Yellowstone.

Sep 15th - 07:47am | Connie Hopkins

I try NOT focusing on negatives while we are on vacation. I figure that vacation is when a person should be the LEAST stressed out in their life. Having said that though, it has happened to us, fortunately just once, turtle-paced waiters and kitchen staff. We shrugged it off and realized that some days are going to be like that, workers being overwhelmed.

What Do GOP Politicians Have Against Protecting National Park Landscapes?

Sep 15th - 13:39pm | Lee Dalton

George, the last GOP conservationist in Congress was killed off about seven months ago when he was run over by a huge tea bag outside his office. They were an endangered species, and now have been officially declared to be extinct.

Sep 15th - 11:59am | George

I'm looking forward to the day when conservationist Republicans return to Congress. Back in the 1960s and 70s I saw them standing up for national parks and wilderness. Representative John P. Saylor (Republican of Pennsylvania) was an outstanding advocate for the parks. A group called Republicans for Environmental Protection is now laying the foundation for a resurgence.

Sep 15th - 09:14am | Anonymous

I think part of the problem is that many people who are not GOP as you label them do not want drilling ANYWHERE. So there is discussion about alternatives. I agree it does not make sense to go onto national park land to do so, but if people were not so against it ANYWHERE, those kinds of propositions would not come up.

Sep 14th - 19:16pm | Kurt Repanshek

Bogator, good eyes. I figured when you cut and paste, you don't have to double-check the quote. That said, here's one that's more appropriate:

Sep 14th - 19:01pm | Bogator

Kurt, I hate to be a nitpicker, but in Teddy Roosevelt's quote above, you left the "un" off "unmarred". Without it, the quote reads entirley different.

Sep 14th - 10:57am | Glenn Scofield ...

Though I am no lover of recent GOP policy, I'm also no lover of the distance between the Right and Left in this country right now. That gap makes it difficult for reasonable discourse to occur and keeps good policy from implementation. The GOP has a history (as Kurt pointed out above... Thanks, Teddy!) of supporting conservation issues, including park issues.

Sep 14th - 07:37am | Anonymous

You are so right! Republicans would be drilling on the front lawn of the White House if they thought they would make more money for their oil industry friends! The have no respect for wilderness areas and wildlife as demonstrated by all their ideas.

Sep 14th - 07:13am | PM

GOP: Gas Oil Plutonium

National Park Mystery Photo 27: Hard to Figure

Sep 15th - 12:45pm | Kurt Repanshek

Nope, not First Ladies NHS.

Sep 15th - 12:38pm | Connie Hopkins

First Ladies NHS?

Sep 15th - 12:00pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, not the speedway, which is not a unit of the National Park System.

Sep 15th - 11:42am | J. Ervine

The photo portrays the starting line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Sep 15th - 11:31am | Anonymous

the surface is brick

Sep 15th - 11:26am | J. Ervine

Trimble block is renowned for its use as a paving stone. It was used to pave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910.

Sep 15th - 09:03am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, we've got a partial winner. Christy correctly identified the location, but not what the photo portrays. We'll hold her answer a bit to see if she can either circle back and identify what the photo is of or until someone else can correctly ID the location and the subject.

Sep 15th - 08:05am | Kurt Repanshek

Nope, not James Garfield, Connie.

Sep 15th - 07:51am | Connie Hopkins

James A, Garfield Historic site?

Sep 15th - 07:47am | Kurt Repanshek

No, 'fraid not.

Sep 15th - 07:19am | Anonymous

Harry s Truman National historic site

National Park Quiz 86: Ringer III

Sep 15th - 12:39pm | Bob Janiskee

You're quite correct, y_p_w; the stock grading instruction I developed for the quizzes doesn't work with "Ringer" type quizzes. Heck, it's pretty much of a joke anyway -- except, of course, for that part where I encourage people to enroll in my national parks course. :o)

Sep 15th - 11:27am | y_p_w

I'm just wondering. You qualified that 9 of 10 were true. Wouldn't choosing all answers as "true" get 9 correct? Or randomly choosing 9 as true would either have all 10 correct or 8 of 10?

Big Trees of Yosemite National Park, the Video

Sep 15th - 11:02am | pkrnger

This is an excellent video. In 1969, when I first came on board in Yosemite Valley as a year-round seasonal park ranger-naturalist, my first illustrated evening program was entitled "A Generation Gap in the Big Trees." The emphasis was on the role of wildfire and reproduction of the giant sequoia.

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

Sep 15th - 01:17am | Brad Dykes

I know Marco the pilot very well he is a good man and i know if he survived a crash he will walk out some day...CMON MARCO walk out mate,,,,our prayers go out to all missing and searching,, A.B.

Crisp September Weather Brings Crisp Apples, Along with History, To the National Parks

Sep 14th - 17:19pm | Michelle Hansen

I'm fascinated with the historic orchards in parks and I posted some info about the Yosemite orchards in the spring of this year at my travel blog, California Junket: http://www.michelle-hansen.com/journal/2010/5/4/home-apple-blossoms-in-y...

Another Daring Rescue at Yosemite National Park Uses a Bean Bag/Short Haul

Sep 14th - 14:45pm | Anonymous

I'd say attempting El Cap where at least 75% of the party don't know how to rappel is negligent, risky behavior.

The South Unit of Badlands National Park is Likely to Become America's First Tribal National Park

Sep 14th - 08:55am | d-2

As everyone is saying, another fine job. I am glad you are inching toward the key issue of addressing partnership parks. There must be a way the skills developed in the better of the heritage areas can be applied to national park proposals where enlightened conservation is necessary, but no preservation can occur without collaborative management.

Sep 14th - 08:06am | lelandg

Good job on this article!

The Essential RVing Guide

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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.