| Page 1197 | National Parks Traveler

We want to say "Thank you" to all the SAR teams, park employees, and anyone still searching for these 4 young men. I have only recently met Marco through his girlfriend and good friend of mine Fa in Phuket Thailand and we are, like the rest of you hoping and praying these men are found alive, healthy and very soon.

Shock-Synthesized Diamonds Unearthed in Channel Islands Reveal a Death-Dealing Extraterrestrial Impact

Sep 13th - 21:14pm | Dennis Cox

The Daulton paper is shamefully inept. From an email from Bunch to Leroy Ellenberger: [color=#400000] Dear Leroy – not to worry, Daulton is a competent scientist and did what he could do with the materials given to him. The problem lies with Scott and Pinter. Some brief reasons why the Daulton et al paper is inept:

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 13th - 20:43pm | crimsontide

m daddy dug ginseng for forty years and i have been digging it since i was 6 years old i remember hen you could sell ginseng any time during the year and hunt it any time bu now you cant and if you wait to september or go asking for permission you aint gonna get no ginseng most ass hole want let you on there property but a week laer they cut there timber so i say to hell with protecting it im g

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

Sep 13th - 19:33pm | Barky

Yes, thanks for this.

Sep 13th - 10:19am | Lee Dalton

Bob, thank you for presenting an article that lays out facts with no obvious bias. Too often these days, opinions seem to trump objectivity. This sounds like it could be a win-win situation if it is done with wisdom and care.

Big Trees of Yosemite National Park, the Video

Sep 13th - 15:46pm | Connie Hopkins

That's Ranger Shelton Johnson, I'd recognize his voice anywhere! The Sequoia's are so incredibly majestic and not fully appreciated unless seen in person. Pictures can not do them justice. My first exposure was in 2006 when I accompanied my husband on a business trip to San Fransisco and there was a very brief outing to Muir Woods. I was in awe!

Sep 13th - 07:05am | Lawrence

Just visited there last week. The weather was just as beautiful and by the looks of the phase of the moon I'd swear you made this video the same week. The week before we were in Muir Woods. That's the first time my family has ever seen the majestic giants. Words in the expressive language of Muir escape me. I am speechless. And I'm a writer!

Sep 12th - 23:37pm | y_p_w

Certainly nice enough and great if your plans are only to visit Yosemite.

Sep 12th - 16:03pm | destroyerman

really nice,we were just there this summer,we also visited the humbolt state park and saw the avenue of the redwoods,beautiful.

Sep 12th - 11:25am | dean

Great video, and yes, it does bring back memories. 2002 to be exact.

Think Death Valley Is Parched? This Year It's Twice as Wet As Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Sep 13th - 15:45pm | Bob Janiskee

Gosh, y_p_w, I hope you weren't too surprised to find it raining in Hilo. If you check NOAA climate records, you'll see that Hilo gets 180-200 inches of rainfall in a typical year and has more rainy days than just about any city-sized urban place in the entire United States.

Sep 13th - 15:08pm | Pacificislandranger

Pu`ukohola Heiau NHS is located in 1 of 2 small regions on the Big Island that are the only places in the Nation under "Exceptional Drought" conditions. Mount Waialeale has received about 100 inches less this year than normal! (still well over 200 inches YTD). This past winter we were under El Nino conditions, which bring drought to the Islands and heavy rains to the West Coast.

Sep 13th - 14:50pm | y_p_w

I haven't been there (it was just off our planned drive from Hilo to Kona) but I do remember what the Kohala Coast was like. It was warm, dry, and parched. That was compared to the day we landed at Hilo Airport, where it was raining up a storm.

Sep 13th - 13:18pm | Candace

I am surprised to see this. Poor Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site! Death Valley had some flooding events early this year that felt minor compared to the "big flood" a few years past. All that rain added up!

Popular Junior Ranger Program is Expanding to Add "Let's Move Outside" Activities

Sep 13th - 14:54pm | Anonymous

The official policy of the Junior Ranger Program is that no one is to old to be a Junior Ranger. No park is supposed to deny any visitor the right to participate in the Junior Ranger program. However, most of the programs are geared towards 6-13.

Another Record Month of Visitation At Yellowstone National Park

Sep 13th - 14:32pm | TontoParkMan

That's an amazing number! Has there been any increased geyser activity or increased coverage in the media to cause this? Either way, it's well deserved and I really should be going over there soon.

Sep 9th - 20:48pm | Anonymous

Well 2 more are coming from Ohio this Sept. C-Ya on down the trail......

Picking Apples in the National Parks, Some History

Sep 13th - 11:47am | y_p_w

Bruce W. Bytnar:

Sep 13th - 11:30am | tahoma

There are also small apple orchards in the Elwha Valley of Olympic National Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humes_Ranch_Cabin

Sep 13th - 10:40am | Bruce W. Bytnar

The Blue Ridge Parkway is also a source of "old time" apple species. The many home sites and small farms that were located along the Southern Appalachians planted apple trees for kitchen and at times commercial use. It is not uncommon to be hiking through the backcountry and come upon a surprise stand of apple trees.

Rare Fall Visit to Wetherill Mesa at Mesa Verde National Park is Possible On September 19

Sep 13th - 10:03am | Bob Janiskee

The fact that Wetherill Mesa is open to the public only from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day can be attributed to seasonal staffing limitations and the fact that this higher, colder part of the park can get heavy snow as early as October and as late as May.

Sep 13th - 09:29am | Colorado Cowboy

My wife and I were keenly disappointed to learn only yesterday that the Weatherill Mesa was closed after Labor Day. On our first visit to Mesa Verde in 2006, Weatherill Mesa was closed because of road construction. We were looking forward to finally seeing that part of the park on on road trip this month.

Black Bear Attacks Child at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 13th - 00:22am | uncle sam

Are you serious? A boy was attacked. Maybe the bear was in the boys territory

Fall Spectacular: The Season of Love For Wildlife In Yellowstone

Sep 12th - 09:49am | Anonymous

These videos are awesome! They make me want to be there again right now! Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

Sep 9th - 09:55am | Laurel Rematore

Reality television shows could take a few cues from the Wild Kingdom, dontcha think? Spice things up a bit to see guys jousting or butting heads--literally instead of figuratively!

Got Time For A Fall National Park Visit? These Lodges Have Room

Sep 12th - 09:41am | anonymous

For the past three seasons, there have been many disappointments in the management of Crater Lake Lodge. A new Lodge Manager is needed who respects employees and confirms the thorough cleanliness of private rooms and public restrooms. The Dining Room experience has also been disappointing in both food quality and prices.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

Sep 11th - 14:33pm | Anonymous

i think it would be nice if central beach was clothing optional

Update: Hurricane Earl Remains on Track to Impact the Outer Banks Parks

Sep 11th - 05:58am | SS1

Matt your welcome to have the last word on it, I’m done.

Sep 10th - 13:52pm | matt Stubbs

I too enjoy kids getting outdoors... As far as plenty of room: There is now, but if and it is a BIG if these plovers get lets say 120 nests on Cape hatteras and lets say these nests were 1,000 meters apart. This will in fact shut down the islands beaches. Funny 120 sure does not sound like too large of a number.

Sep 10th - 06:09am | SS1

Matt Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeking children fish and hunt. I am 100% in favor of access to do these things in CHNS. I’m really sorry it has come to all this.

Sep 9th - 07:53am | matt Stubbs

I did not claim we did not have lawyers.

Sep 8th - 07:00am | SS1

Dan You mean the 1978 Interim Draft ORV Plan. A plan that was not complet never finalized and not used. Different superintendents issued various Superintendent Orders that deviated from the plan when it resurfaced in 2002. Your real turtle facts are in real dispute by real scientist.

Wouldn't It Be Nice If the National Park Service Resumed the Distribution of Park Window Stickers?

Sep 10th - 23:27pm | Merry

Yes!!! We need the stickers to come back. We just returned from a wonderful visit to the Grand Canyon and I was disappointed I could not find a stick to put on our truck. We plan to start discovering America and want to collect stickers of all the places we go. BRING BACK THE STICKERS!!!!

Storm Aftermath Makes it Impossible to Negotiate White Rim Loop in Canyonlands National Park

Sep 10th - 14:47pm | Karen w/ Holida...

Mother Nature does not always play nice! We have a group of ladies from Alaska who had booked a 5-day Oct White Rim. They plan to do an out and back trip instead now. Everyone just has to "go with the flow" and adjust a little. The desert is a beautiful and dynamic place! Nice story Kurt.

Fall Spectacular: Fall Colors Delight Motorists on National Park Roads -- Part I, Eastern States

Sep 10th - 08:10am | Randy Fought

The Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent travel choice for viewing fall colors. The area from Tupelo, MS north to Nashville, TN offers the best fall foliage due to a mix of hardwoods and rolling hills. Peak time is typically the last half of October and some years into the first week of November.

Federal Judge Overturns Federal Government's Delisting of Gray Wolf From Endangered Species Act Protection

Sep 9th - 22:21pm | Melinda Frazier

Actually, I'd like to clarify that the cows we lost were on a private ranch in Paradise Valley, MT, not Riverton, WY.

Mountain Biker/Attorney Argues For Making Wilderness Safer

Sep 8th - 19:50pm | Anonymous

It makes no sense to allow equestrian use but not bikes in wilderness. The numbers of bikers in these areas would be small. The trails used by bikes are not much different than ones used by bikers. It's a dirt trail, not a paved path. Hiking creates "damage" too. Hikers just want to keep the trails to themselves, it's selfishness pure and simple.

National Park Quiz 86: Ringer III

Sep 8th - 17:04pm | Barky

As a spot of trivia, official trails in the Connecticut Trail System all use blue blazes. That's the only reason I got the AT trail blaze question right. :-)

Sep 8th - 12:43pm | MikeD

The North Country Trail is marked by blue blazes. Not sure what other national scenic trails use blue blazes but I think there is at least one. In my state of Wisconsin, the Ice Age Trail uses yellow.

Search Being Scaled Back For Missing Plane Over Katmai National Park

Sep 8th - 14:31pm | Anonymous

If your hope can be dashed by anonymous postings on web sites, then it is not hope, but an unreasonable wish caused by the perfectly appropriate stage of grief. It is on point with the story above that the park service - friends and coworkers of the missing - know what the score is and are not willing to risk the living to search for the dead, as sad as it is.

Sep 8th - 08:14am | Anonymous

To the "Anonymous" person that posted at 1:19am.... Please consider who might be reading before you post a comment that can strike at the heart of the family members of these four gentlemen that are missing. I am close to one of those families and I know that they are checking this site regulary for updates of any kind.

National Park Service Revenues Down $1.3 Million On Transition to America The Beautiful Pass

Sep 8th - 10:49am | Anonymous

"for the price of just *one person* to enter one major theme Park like Disney or Universal Studios for just *one day* you can get your entire family into every Federal Public Land in the United States for one year. Really, the most amazing thing is just how cheap the ATB Pass really is....."

Sheep Fire in Kings Canyon National Park Spreads Beyond 1,800 Acres

Sep 8th - 10:11am | Anonymous

Your decision to travel to and to stay in the area was your fault. There was no requirement that you be there. YOU are the ones that subjected your children to the bad air, not the forest service! I feel bad for the rangers and other forest service personnel and firefighters who don't have a choice.

Fall Spectacular: Fall Colors From a National Park Lodge

Sep 8th - 10:06am | Gaelyn

The Aspen should be going gold in a week or two at the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park. I'm sure to post some great photos as soon as they come on.

Sep 8th - 07:44am | Danny Bernstein

The Pisgah Inn is wonderful. But I hope you made reservations last year for this October. Danny www.hikertohiker.com

Sep 8th - 07:18am | Connie Hopkins

We have stayed at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park in October and the bushes and shrubs along Swiftcurrent Lake are gorgeous! My husband even got a beautiful picture of a moose in the Lake, Many Glacier Hotel in the background and the bushes in the foreground, accented with gold and red!

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