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Mountain Biker/Attorney Argues For Making Wilderness Safer

Sep 2nd - 00:11am | yellowstone98

[quote=haunted hiker]To say that the suggestion an agency place signs in certain locations is a wedge that will allow mountain bike in the wilderness is a ridiculous leap. I'd say that considering the person who made such a suggestion is who he is, it is not so ridiculous as one might think.

Sep 1st - 18:00pm | Random Walker

"Something will be lost, no doubt, when many pilgrims follow the mountain trails - when this wilderness, like Switzerland, is smoothed and carved for the foot of man and dotted with lodges for his comfort.

Aug 31st - 11:31am | Kurt Repanshek

Zeb, The line in the table on page 4 that you're referencing refers only to "National and State parks and related recreational areas, national and State wildlife refuges, and national wilderness and primitive areas."

Aug 31st - 11:20am | haunted hiker

If a sign is "necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area for the purpose of this Act (including measures required in emergencies involving the health and safety of persons within the area)" To say that the suggestion an agency place signs in certain locations is a wedge that will allow mountain bike in the wilderness is a ridiculous leap.

Aug 31st - 10:55am | Richard Smith

I have knees that are arthritic, and I cannot hike more than 4-5 miles at a time without it becoming painful. If I were given the chance to mountain bike in a wilderness, I could go much farther, because there is less impact on my knees. Llamas and horses have more of an impact than bikes on designated trails.

Aug 31st - 10:42am | Zebulon

Kurt, I simply looked at the table 1 on page 4 and it is in million of acres, so 100 would be 100 M acres. You stated earlier that approx 53M acres of wilderness were in the lower 48, and all those are closed off to bicycles, hence my 50% comment (i.e. 53/100). My high level % does not take into account other exclusions (i.e NPS and other local agencies especially in CA).

Best Places To Work: National Park Service Is Improved, But Still Far From the Top

Sep 1st - 18:34pm | destroyerman

i had the best summer of my life working at mt.rushmore(seasonal maintenance)pay was not that great,the people i worked for were.i am 68 yrs. old ,and would go back there to work if i could.it sure as heck beats any job in d.c.

Sep 1st - 15:49pm | pkrnger

Kate, I hope your WE committee does a commendable job and that Mr. Jarvis pays close attention to your recommendations. There was a time when the NPS was the most prestigious organization to work for in all of the Federal Government. I'd like to see it back at the top. Owen

Sep 1st - 15:39pm | yellowstone98

For those who misunderstand: Punish the competent = Pile work on your most effective employees until they reach their breaking point while ignoring your average and poor performers. I guess it does come down to leadership around here after all.

Sep 1st - 15:13pm | yellowstone98

Our culture continues to be: pay our folks as little as we can get away with considering human resource policies and hope that the fact that we live and work in beautiful places will make up for it. Well, it does, to some extent - I have lived and worked in some of the most beautiful places on the planet. But I can't eat rainbows and I can't send my kids to college with sunsets.

Sep 1st - 14:55pm | twoeightnine

They're definitely the best "places" to work, I mean your office is some of the most beautiful land in the world, but this doesn't surprise me. Besides the stated reasons just think of the isolation from the outside world at some of the parks. It may take you one to two hours just to get out of Yosemite.

Sep 1st - 14:12pm | Kate R

In November of last year, the Director and NLC endorsed and supported the creation of a Workplace Enrichment Committee. WE (get it?) is made up of 25+ field employees, NLC members, and lead by a full-time program manager (me). I have 30 years of field experience, most recently as Superintendent at SF Maritime NHP and have long been invested in helping our workplace environment.

Sep 1st - 14:01pm | Anonymous

I can't speak to the internal workings of the NPS but the rangers I have encountered have been some of the nicest, friendliest, knowledgeable people I have ever encountered.

Cape Lookout National Seashore To Close in Advance of Hurricane Earl, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Shuttering, Too

Sep 1st - 17:46pm | darlene cornett...

gosh, that is scary stuff, i sure hope Earl shifts and misses this beautiful Island, i was there in May we stayed in Buxton and loved it so much that i planned our honeymoon there on September 25th at the outer banks motel, i sure hope and pray there is still a motel there in 3 weeks, and by the way my groom to be name just happens to be EARL....

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Sep 1st - 14:53pm | Anonymous

How about the bears that attack hikers at night, in their tents? I don't think bear spray is as effective in this situation. If anything, the spray will disorient the hiker. I believe that at night people should have guns loaded and ready. Most of the bear attacks I've researched happened at night, and in a tent. I don't like the killing of bears, but in some circumstances, it is necessary.

Reader Participation Day: Should Pets Be Given More Leeway in National Parks?

Sep 1st - 13:15pm | Anonymous

A misbehaved mutt poses much less danger and is much less common than a misbehaved hiker. How about we close the trails all together until every hiker is a responsible hiker??

Welcome Crater Lake Institute to the Traveler's List of Sponsors!

Sep 1st - 13:09pm | pkrnger

The Crater Lake Institute has been an avid supporter "in spirit" of National Parks Traveler from the beginning. We feel that National Parks Traveler is the best online and offline source of information, news, and commentary about our national parks and the Natonal Parks Service.

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

Sep 1st - 12:30pm | Anonymous

Great flying!! 100+ = very low density air congratats to a great helicopter pilot.

Aug 31st - 18:51pm | Anonymous

Must climbing parties file a "climb plan?" One of the entries might include primary language and an emergency contact person on the ground. Kudos to the helicopter pilot and rescue team. It was the hottest day of the year throughout California, so factoring in wind, heat and all of the physical dynamics this was an extraordinary operation.

Aug 31st - 11:35am | Kurt Repanshek

Rescues in the National Park System generally are at no cost, unless those needing rescue show extreme risk-taking.

Aug 31st - 11:02am | Anonymous

Do they have to pay for there rescue? If so how much? Great story and good job.

Reader Participation Day: California, or Utah, For A National Park Trek?

Sep 1st - 11:18am | Dr. Stewart MD

I'd have to go with utah! The red rock is so beautiful! California is too crowded, but utah has so much to choose from and it's never crowded.

Cost of Search for Missing Plane Over Katmai National Park and Preserve Approaching $1 Million

Sep 1st - 11:17am | Anonymous

Thank you to all the residents, park employees and everyone searching for my nephews Neil and Seth, Mason and Marco . Our family sincerely appreciates all of your kindness, efforts, and caring help in these horrible times. God will reward you, and our family will always have nothing but wonderful thoughts about each of you. We are really blessed to have you in our lives.

Aug 31st - 23:18pm | yellowstone98

Any aircraft emergency locator transmitter whether old or new is only designed to withstand so much. It will fail in a high energy crash more often than not, but the occupants are not likely to survive such an accident anyhow.

Aug 31st - 20:44pm | Anonymous

Correction: The 406b ELT is the ONLY beacon that is now monitored by Satellite.

Aug 31st - 19:47pm | Anonymous

A new 406b costs around 1200 dollars before install. They are the main locator beacon being monitored after Feb 1st 2009. The old 121.5 series are not monitored, should a plane go down with one of those no one would know until its reported missing by someone that knew of the flight plan.

Aug 31st - 16:20pm | Brian Beasley

Does anyone know the cost of the 406b emergency locator transmittor that was previously mentioned? Also, I found this device for $113 (http://www.gps-planet.com/spsameemlo.html). It is mind boggling that these planes can take off without state of the art emergency locators. I don't understand at all.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Turning to 240 Volunteers To Help Reduce Elk Herd

Sep 1st - 10:01am | justinh

Let's keep a bit of perspective here. All the science shows that natural predation creates much healthier herds than does hunting. Unfortunately, I imagine there is way too much public oppposition to the reintroduction of wolves ot TRNP.

Sep 1st - 09:05am | Anonymous

Have they chose the volunteers yet?

National Park Mystery Spot 15: After Half a Roman Century

Sep 1st - 09:08am | Bob Janiskee

Kudos to Eric and Barky, who have both hit this one right on the nose. Barky, I'm sorry that this quiz was too easy for you. As you know, we try to strike a middle chord with these quizzes to give the typical Traveler reader a fighting chance.

Sep 1st - 06:39am | Barky

The granite cliffs of El Capitan. Easy, dude. :-P

Sep 1st - 06:14am | Eric

El Capitan in Yosemite National Park

Cherokee Orchard Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Under Construction

Sep 1st - 06:53am | Anonymous

I was there last week trying to take my family on the Motor Trail. After waiting 5-10 minutes for the paving crew we got to the cabin and made a u-turn and left. Why the heck can't those large signs tell people the Motor Trail is closed before we waste 45 minutes in line to find out?

Work Nearly Finished On New Road Through Gibbon Canyon In Yellowstone National Park

Sep 1st - 06:43am | Connie Hopkins

The construction work has made us change our itinerary the last several visits to Yellowstone. In July when we were there, we were staying at the Old Faithful Inn and wanted to hike the Osprey Falls trail. Wanting to get an early start and knowing that the road would still be closed, we decided to catch the sun rising over West Thumb.

Updated: Improving Weather Aids in Search for Missing Plane at Katmai National Park

Aug 31st - 22:42pm | Anonymous

Myself and three girl friends flew with the pilot of this plane from King Salmon to Becharof Lodge at the Rapids on July 30 and returning to King Salmon with him on August 5th. This has hit home to all of us tremendously beings we just flew with him in this plane and I personally have flown with him the same route two years ago.

Aug 31st - 13:52pm | Anonymous

Can someone who knows life/airplanes in this area of the world explain to me why more precautions aren't taken when flying people around? If getting around in airplanes in Alaska is so prevalent aren't FAA safety rules mandated? Aren't these commercial airplane companies?

Running Dry, a Journey From Source to Sea Down the Colorado River

Aug 31st - 22:15pm | Anonymous

Legal Strategy:

Creature Feature: The Common Raven is an Uncommonly Intelligent Bird

Aug 31st - 22:10pm | anonymous

I have a question to which I cannot find an answer. I visit parks every morning before dawn -- way before dawn. I hear ravens making gurgling sounds at this time -- when it is still pitch black outside. They are soft and gentle sounds. This is at the end of August in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. I'm wondering how nocturnal ravens are? I'm wondering what hours they keep?

Is Another "International Park" on the Horizon for the NPS?

Aug 31st - 18:01pm | Barky

Jim, agreed on your statement. I didn't get out of that article that such continuity already existed. Please don't misunderstand, I'm in favor of preserving what we can preserve. I'm just thinking we have to learn how to let preservation and utilization co-exist.

Could Joe Miller Really Force the Federal Government to Hand Over Denali National Park to Alaska?

Aug 31st - 17:50pm | Barky

To the brave poster called "anonymous", I consider Tea Baggers "nutbags" because they don't offer any real solutions, just a bunch of goofy rhetoric and ideas chained together from Scrabble tiles. I haven't heard a single, intelligent, thoughtful plan come out of that group at all. It's just diatribes and slogans and "death panel" paranoid nuttiness.

Aug 31st - 15:14pm | John Robert "Bo...

another right wing idiot Tea Bagger sporting the scarlet "I"

Aug 31st - 14:07pm | justinh

In the immortal words of Ted Stevens, "I am guilty of asking the Senate for pork and proud of the Senate for giving it to me."

Aug 31st - 12:01pm | Mike Kennedy

The liberals have had their crazies for a long time. It's about time the conservative crazies represent themselves.

Aug 31st - 10:59am | tahoma

This is red meat for rednecks and a bluff-charge by this 'papa grizzly'. Without it's massive federal subsidies, Alaska would be a frozen Guatamala: http://www.adn.com/2010/08/30/1431200/can-alaska-really-curb-its-appetit...

Aug 31st - 10:35am | rdm24

Alaskans are hardly the examples of independence. They are more dependent on Federal largesse than any other state in the Union. And Mr. Miller wants to take even more....

Aug 31st - 10:31am | JP

Perhaps Mr. Miller would like to lead the charge for Alaska to secede. That way, he and his Alaska Tea Party colleagues could live entirely free and independent of the billions of dollars of federal aid that keeps the state running each year. They all could enjoy the liberty of being 100% responsible for all of their own needs.

Aug 31st - 10:27am | Anonymous

I agree with Danny. Some Alaskans live in very remote areas, but when something happens that affects their chosen way of life their quickly holding out their hand waiting for Government assistance.

Aug 31st - 09:25am | Anonymous

I wouldn't dare let Mr. Miller cross the street escorting my mother. The man is a potential hazard to Alaska's natural resources...rape, greed and pillage is in his focus.

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

Aug 31st - 12:04pm | Anonymous

RE: True American

What Should Gettysburg National Military Park Do With Its Empty Cyclorama Building?

Aug 31st - 11:00am | Catherine

Nothing is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places simply because it is old. It has to have historic significance in order to be eligible.

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