Grand Teton major rescue tally nears single-year record

Could some or all of these rescues have been avoided if the people involved had put more time and effort into planning and properly preparing for their outings?

LANDER, Wyo. — When Laura Mason’s controlled slide Thursday on a snowfield on 11,901-foot Nez Perce Peak sped out of control until she collided with rocks below, she became the 27th major rescue in Grand Teton National Park this year.

Because of high winds, park rescue rangers were unable to helicopter the Royal Oak, Mich., resident to medical help. Instead, rescuers made a technically complicated, 1,200-foot lowering of Mason, park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said.

The park’s annual record for major rescues set in 2000 was 30. In 2009, there were 16 major rescues followed by 17 in 2010.
“They usually flirt around 17 to 20 a year,” Skaggs said.

Rangers perform rescues all the time during the summer, but many are minor — a twisted ankle at a popular tourist destination or dehydration on a crowded trail. Park officials consider any rescue operation that costs more than $500 to be major.


Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_d46d9fe2-db7e-5eda-b1e9-166718cac3aa.html

When the rules get broken

I went for a hike with my family yesterday in Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate Mother's Day. It was a perfect day for a hike - 60's, sunny, a few clouds and no wind. As we hiked, we began to notice tracks in the snow that looked like those of a coyote. I'm no Tom Brown so I wasn't sure but they were fun for our son to follow. We hiked to an abandoned mine in the Park, found a nice spot for a picnic and had the place to ourselves. We only saw a few other people on the trails all day. However, on our way back to the trailhead, we heard a group coming from behind us. I turned around an noticed they had a dog on a leash. That explained the tracks in the snow but begged the question as to whether or not the dog owner knew that dogs aren't allowed on Park trails.

The dog owner was moving pretty quickly past us and I knew I'd only have one shot at talking to him about the dog. My initial thought was to just tell him dogs weren't allowed. But as he got closer I changed tact and said, "Howdy. Do you hike here much?" expecting him to say that he was new to the Park, which would allow me the opportunity to tell him about the Park's rule on dogs and why they weren't allowed. Much to my surprise, he told me he "hiked in the Park a lot." To which I said, "I didn't know dogs were allowed on Park trails [playing dumb]." His response got me, "Dogs aren't allowed on the trails but they're [the National Park Service] pretty cool about it this time of year. It's just not a big deal." At this point, I really didn't know what to say. Especially since this guy knew the rules but blatantly chose to break them.

This is the guy whose selfish actions impact the rest of us. Don't be this guy...

New National Park in Maine?

Maine is already home to one of the first national parks on the East Coast, Acadia National Park, but for the last 15 years plans have been in the works to establish another national park (bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined) in the undeveloped northern region of the state. The group RESTORE, along with individuals such as photographer Tom Szelog have long supported the creation of such a national park.

Others, however, are less thrilled at the prospect of the increase of visitation that would occur with the creation of a national park. Some residents and landowners in the area propose conservation easements as a better solution to preserve Maine's northern woods in their current state of wilderness.

What do you think?

New National Monument in the Works in California

Mojave Desert National Monuments in the Works

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) says she plans to introduce legislation today to establish two national monuments on roughly 1 million acres of Mojave Desert outback that is home to bighorn sheep and desert tortoises, extinct volcanoes, sand dunes and ancient petroglyphs.

Its centerpiece, Mojave Trails National Monument, would prohibit development on 941,000 acres of federal land and former railroad company property along a 105-mile stretch of old Route 66, between Ludlow and Needles.


The smaller Sand to Snow National Monument, about 45 miles east of Riverside, would cover about 134,000 acres of federal land between Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino National Forest in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Its diverse habitats range from desert scrub to yellow pine forests 9,000 feet above sea level.

The legislation, which had been delayed by efforts to resolve conflicts among environmentalists, off-roaders and renewable energy interests, would also designate 250,000 acres of public land near the Army's training center at Ft. Irwin as wilderness; add 41,000 acres to the southern boundary of Death Valley National Park and add 2,900 acres to northern portions of Joshua Tree National Park.

Article continues: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mojave21-2009dec21,0,7093884.story

Leave No Trace Video is Back!

The Leave No Trace video is now available! Presented by the National Park Service, this video is an inspiring testimony of individuals who love the land. It introduces the ideas and principles of Leave No Trace and the importance of taking a personal role in preserving the outdoor experience for future generations.

It’s a great teaching resource for Trainer Courses, Awareness Workshops, and any Leave No Trace community program.

Check it out by obtaining your copy for sale or by viewing through the Leave No Trace website. The video can be purchased for $2.75 through the online store and viewed on Educational and Training Resources page.

National Parks Waive Fees for Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11

From the National Park Service ...

National Parks Waive Fees for Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11

Date: November 5, 2009
Contact: Mike Litterst, Public Affairs Officer, 757-898-2409

Yorktown, Va. – To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has declared that areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11. Included in the fee-free day are all National Park Service sites, including the Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield units of Colonial National Historical Park.

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” said Salazar said “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee-free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way.”

As an agency of the Interior Department, the National Park Service preserves and protects 392 units representing some of the country’s most significant scenic and cultural places. The National Park Service website provides information on National Park Service battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate the service of American veterans.

Free entrance on Veterans Day applies also at other areas managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

More Info ( + )

National Park Service's Leave No Trace DVD Now Available

Presented by the National Park Service, this video is an inspiring testimony of individuals who love the land. It introduces the ideas and principles of Leave No Trace and the importance of taking a personal role in preserving the outdoor experience for future generations. Running time is 9:30. Under special agreement with the National Park Service, we are able to distribute this video. You can find them in our online store.

Poll Answer - Most Visited National Park

Thanks to all those who participated in the latest poll question: What is the most visited national park?

Answer choices included:

A. Grand Canyon National Park
B. Yosemite National Park
C. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
D. Yellowstone National Park
E. Rocky Mountain National Park

The correct answer is: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Park, established in 1934, is celebrating it's 75th anniversary this year.

From the National Park Service website:

"A Wondrous Diversity of Life - Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park."

The Park receives almost 10 million visitors each year, far more than any other National Park (actual # for 2008 - 9,044,010 visitors).

Annual visitation (2008) for the other answer choices:


Grand Canyon National Park - 4.42 million
Yosemite National Park - 3.43 million
Yellowstone National Park - 3.06 million
Rocky Mountain National Park - 2.75 million

While the large number of visitors to National Parks is a good thing, it also means that Leave No Trace is more important than ever. Do your part to enjoy the parks you cherish in a responsible way.

For more information and statistics on National Parks, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/.

Off the Beaten Path

I love road trips! There is nothing like the open road, a reliable atlas and no schedule to feed that craving for exploration. With so many well-known landmarks and destination spots across the country, there is never a want for new places to see.

Sometimes you have the good fortune to stumble upon some pretty incredible places en route to these "destinations." That's just what happened to me last week as I was visiting some relatives in the Midwest. Never having seen much of the Upper Midwest, I set my sights on the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. That destination became a stepping off point for several other small adventures. Here are few photos from the trip - enjoy! May your sense of discovery and exploration (and conservation!) never cease. :)


Kohler-Andrae State Park


Point Beach State Forest


Apostle Islands National Seashore

New Year's Resolution from National Park Service Director

December 24, 2008

New Year's Resolution from NPS Director Mary A. Bomar

WASHINGTON – Out with the old, in with the new—let’s get rid of those tired old New Year's resolutions and do something different—pledge to take a kid to visit a national park!

As Director of the National Park Service, I have spoken across the country of our children being “seduced by the dark side of video games.” That may sound harsh—but it reflects the grim reality that too many kids spend too much time in front of the television, and too little time in healthy outdoor recreation

Across the country, teachers bemoan a lack of knowledge about our nation’s history. As I often point out in my speeches. “More people know Homer Simpson’s hometown than Abraham Lincoln’s.” (Yes, they are both from the town of Springfield.)

As we become an increasingly sedentary society, it is important to set aside time to get up and get moving. A walk through a national park with your child promotes family bonding, a healthy lifestyle, and countless opportunities for discovery.

National parks are the real deal—and places where kids can be hands on. Lat year, we enrolled 565,000 new Junior Rangers after they completed activities at a national park. Just about every national park offers this free program that guides children through site-specific activities. We engaged kids and their families with “bioblitzes,” a quick inventory of all living things in an area. Throughout the country, kids can borrow “discovery backpacks,” visit “exploration stations,” attend ranger programs, or participate in living history demonstrations. We introduced hundreds of thousands to urban archeology at places like Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, and told the story of Africans enslaved just a block away from Independence Hall.

We are not against technology—if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! As a visitor, you can hear the Gettysburg Address on your cell phone while visiting the Lincoln Memorial, and hear about President Harry Truman while strolling through his neighborhood in Independence Missouri.

All across the country, park rangers are turning into podcasters. Hundreds of brief audio and video programs are up on park websites, giving visitors a new national park experience. People can learn about park resources, take a guided tour, get help planning trips, and, best of all, meet actual rangers.

We have a website for children at www.nps.gov/kidszone with online games that are both fun AND educational. There are activities about wild animals, caves, soldiers, working dogs, archeology, and much more. Children can create their own ranger station, view webcams, and sample the Junior Ranger program.

I always say that national parks are special places that unite all of us as American. But they can also enlighten, comfort and keep us healthy as well. So do your kids a favor and visit one of the 391 national park sites across this country. Help them discover their America—without a joystick in their hands!

Car Camping in Style

For some it’s the smell of a campfire. For others, it’s sleeping under the stars. And, for others it’s simply being outside for a night. In 2007, more than 60 million people went car camping in the U.S. These people stayed at state parks, private campgrounds, national parks, US Forest Service campgrounds and everywhere in between. For many, car camping is the preferred way to enjoy the out-of-doors.

There are many reasons that car camping is so popular in the U.S. For starters, it’s relatively easy when compared to backpacking–you can take fresh food, coolers, large camp stoves, barbeque grills, hammocks, sun shelters, games, pets, folding camp chairs, etc. Additionally, developed campgrounds generally offer trashcans or dumpsters, bathrooms, washing facilities, picnic tables, flat tent pads and even electricity in some locations. Another reason is that many car camping areas are close to home and easily accessible. Finally, car camping is something that the whole family can enjoy together.

Fortunately, car camping makes it easy to camp in style while minimizing impact. Here are a few things to keep in mind on your next car camping trip for Leaving No Trace:

Know Before You Go – Decide where you want to go–trips close to home are usually easiest. The US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service and most state parks offer many car camping opportunities. Some designated campgrounds are very developed (showers, laundry, hot tubs, etc.) and other areas quite primitive (pit toilets, no running water, very few if any amenities, etc.) Visit http://www.reserveamerica.com/ or http://www.recreation.gov to find and reserve a site that meets your needs. Borrow or purchase some basic gear if you don’t already have it: tent, sleeping bag, pad, stove, lantern, etc. Be sure to bring all other items you’ll need to ensure a comfortable stay. Also find out if there are any special regulations for the area or campground you’ll be visiting.

Overnight Right – Many designated campsites offer tent pads or other areas that are well suited for tents. Use these areas. If no designated tent sites exist, put your tent site and kitchen site on the most durable surface available: gravel, bare ground, rock, etc. Consider putting a tarp down in your kitchen area to catch food and trash which can then be easily put into the trash. When traveling around campgrounds, to and from the bathhouse for example, use established paths.

Trash Your Trash – If trashcans are provided, use them. If not, take your trash back home with you so you can dispose of it properly. Burning trash is highly discouraged and burying trash is never in style.

Where’s the Bathroom? – Should your chosen campground have toilet facilities, use them. If not, bury human waste in a small hole 6-8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water sources. Be sure to pick up after your pet too. Use a plastic grocery bag or newspaper bag and toss pet waste in the trash or pack it out.

Leave It As You Find it – Remember that other campers will likely visit your site in the future. Leave the site in a condition that others can enjoy.

Be Careful with Fire – Camp stoves are generally much easier to cook on than fires, and they are safer and create less impact. If you do want to have a fire, make sure it’s permitted and safe. Use existing fire rings and keep your fire small. Remember, a campfire isn’t a trashcan so pack out or throw away your trash. Before gathering any firewood in a campground, make sure it’s allowed.

Keep Wildlife Wild – Securely store all your food when car camping. In many locations this means in your car. Check with rangers or campground host about proper food storage. Remember, feeding wildlife is unhealthy for them and starts bad habits.

Share Our Campgrounds – Be considerate of other campers by adhering to campground rules, keeping your pet under control and by being a good neighbor.

These simple tips will make easy to Leave No Trace of your next car camping adventure.

Department of Interior Considers Lifting Firearm Ban

The Department of Interior, under which both the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reside, is considering lifting a ban on concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. Proposed new regulations that would allow visitors to carry loaded, concealed firearms in national parks if the state where a national park unit is located permits people to carry concealed firearms in their state parks. This would be a first and has caused concern for many ardent park supporters while other groups are very much in favor of the proposed rules.

Gun rights advocates, notably the National Rifle Assn., have said the ban infringes on their 2nd Amendment rights to bear arms and their ability to defend themselves from predators, both human and animal. "If you're hiking in the backcountry and there is a problem with a criminal or an aggressive animal, there's no 911 box where you can call police and have a 60-second response time," said Gary S. Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Assn.

Some in the National Park Service feel that parks have long been safe havens for both wildlife and people. Charles R. Farabee, a former acting superintendent at Montana's Glacier National Park said, "there need to be places in this country where people can feel secure without guns and know that the guy in the campground across the way does not have one."

For more information, visit: http://www.npca.org/keep_parks_safe/ and ttp://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-09606_PI.pdf

Visiting America's National Parks

Between 1923 and 2007, annual visits to America’s national parks grew from 1.5 million to 275 million. It’s no wonder why–our national parks are truly amazing places! If you’re a well-seasoned park visitor you already know why these places are so special. If you’ve never experienced a national park, don’t wait any longer. The National Park Service manages 56 national parks and an additional 300+ park service units such as national monuments, historic sites, battlefields, wild rivers, long-distance trails and national seashores. With so many options, a little preplanning will go a long way towards ensuring a great visit to one of these treasures.

The best place to start is the National Park Service website: www.NPS.gov. The site allows users to access information about every Park Service unit in the country. The information on the site is organized into four main categories: Parks & Recreation, History & Culture, Nature & Science and Interpretation & Education. Additionally, each Park Service unit has its own website that provides in-depth information, area maps, lists of activities and education programs, and tips on planning your visit. Most national parks have a visitor center that you can call to speak with a ranger about the area. You can also have the Park Service send you maps and other information to help you plan your visit.

There are several things to consider when deciding which national park to visit:

• What activities are you interested in? Hiking, rafting, camping, fishing, bird watching, auto touring, snowshoeing, horseback What time of year will you be visiting, and what will the weather be like?
  
• How much time will you have? One day or a week?
  
• Are there entrance fees? If so, how much? 
  
• Does the park offer ranger-led activities, hikes and education programs?
  
• Where will you stay in the area? 
  
• If you plan on camping, do you need reservations or a permit?
  
• Are there particular wildlife considerations for the area? 
  

Planning your visit to a national park is easy and fun. By doing a little research, such as visiting the National Park Service website or calling a visitor center for information, you can be prepared, knowledgeable and ready experience all that our national parks have to offer.

National Mall in D.C. in Trouble

I just read a disheartening article about the poor condition of the National Mall in Washington D.C.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-13-nationalmall_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip(link

The article detailed a number of issues the Mall is facing but also focused on the bigger picture of the current status of the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS is charged with managing a system that contains nearly 400 units (National Parks, National Battlefields, National Historic Parks, National Rivers, National Monuments, National Seashores, etc.) that comprise 84 million acres of land. Due to significant budget deficits and lack of both personnel and resources, our parks are suffering. Some of the damage is the result of management issues but other damage is the result of overuse, and in some cases, outright abuse. Leave No Trace is an obvious solution to some of the damage. However, there are other issues that can likely only be dealt with by Congress. I urge you to support our National Parks to the extent you can so that this wonderful resource can endure for future generations. I know that someday I want my son to be able to enjoy and explore our wonderful system of parks, battlefields, seashores, monuments and rivers as I have done...