Wed 07/01/09 National Park News

Big Bend National Park News:
Beauty of the Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend is one of the world's last frontiers, a relatively untouched corner of the American West
Named for a deep sweep in the Rio Grande River that divides the United States and Mexico, the Big Bend country of West Texas is a land of striking beauty...
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=990928&lang=eng_news
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Glacier National Park News:
Free Weekends in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park will offer three “Fee Free” weekends this summer as part of a National Park Service (NPS) program to encourage visits to national parks this summer.
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/free_weekends_in_glacier_national_park/11427/
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Grand Canyon reviewing train operations
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - Officials at Grand Canyon National Park are evaluating train operations at the park.
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1184400
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Postal Service unveils Grand Teton stamp
The U.S. Postal Service is unveiling a new 98-cent international postage stamp featuring Grand Teton National Park.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/06/30/news/wyoming/23-teton.txt
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Camping at the Elkmont campground
The Elkmont campground is located 8 miles away from Gatlinburg, TN entrance to the park on Newfound Gap Road. Since the Tennessee side of the park is the most visited side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Elkmont is a highly visited campground with 220 total sites.
http://www.examiner.com/x-14485-Great-Sm...mont-campground
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Misc. National Park News:
Feds may take possession of some California parks, if they close
The federal government is threatening to take possession of several of California's most prominent state parks — including Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, the top of Mount Diablo and four miles of beaches at Fort Ord Dunes near Monterey — if Sacramento lawmakers close them to balance the budget.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12727075
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Gem Lake may be one of the smallest lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, but it's definitely worth a visit. Because it's one of the shorter hiking trails in the park, it can be a busy trail, even on weekdays.
http://www.examiner.com/x-2520-Denver-Hiking-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Family-hike-Gem-Lake

Wolverine possibly spotted in Rocky Mountain National Park
Animal would be first of its kind in park since it was established in 1915
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090630/LOVELAND01/90630004

Region’s Air Quality Is Wanting
Mercury, Ozone, Nitrogen of Concern
SILVERTON – A recent booklet released by the Silverton-based Mountain Studies Institute suggests that air quality in the eastern Four Corners region may be worse than we realize.
http://www.telluridewatch.com/pages/full...ies_left_column

And the free shuttles over Logan started today!

Denali National Park News:
Union for 16 Denali workers continues to negotiate
The union that represents 16 bus mechanics, radio technicians and warehouse workers at Denali National Park continues to try and work out an agreement instead of going on strike ahead of the busy holiday weekend.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10627428

Scientists discover track of soaring prehistoric creature
While hiking a hillside in Denali National Park last July, Steve Hasiotis bent down and picked up a rock. Its curious shape, like a plaster cast of a giant bird track, made him ponder the rock for a second before handing it to Tony Fiorillo.
http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/070109/out_457427936.shtml

Nepali Sherpa trains on Mount McKinley
The glacial flanks of Mount McKinley is an odd place to find an international exchange program.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10623359
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Everglades National Park News:
FWC: Facts about the Burmese python
The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provided the "Talking Points" about the Burmese python:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090...-Burmese-python
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Misc. National Park News:
Grants, land at risk if California parks close
California could lose millions of dollars in federal grants and the National Park Service could seize land in six parks, including Angel Island, if the state goes through with a proposal to close 219 state parks, officials said Wednesday.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/01/MNJP18HC0N.DTL&type=science

Stake a claim to a cheap campsite at national parks
Carla and Jim Boerman of Walworth, N.Y., have been campers for nearly two decades, starting when their twin daughters, who are now in college, were just 18 months old.
http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2009/07/stake_a_claim_to_a_cheap_camps.html
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Mount Rainier National Park News:
Ranger rescued after 40 foot fall at Mt. Rainier
An injured climbing ranger has been airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after falling into a crevasse while skiing from the summit.
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=184900

Park staff looking at effect of human visitors on wildlife
Wild animals eating human food was an issue at Mount Rainier National Park last season. Park staff is hoping to keep it from becoming an issue this year.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/797827.html
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Saguaro National Park News:
Saguaro Park West offers series of special programs
Saguaro National Park is offering a series of special programs that will explore the natural and cultural history of the park.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/299139
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Mesa Verde National Park News:
House approves park visitors center for Mesa Verde
The proposed visitor and curatorial center at Mesa Verde National Park stands to receive $22 million under a funding bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2...for_Mesa_Verde/
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Misc. National Park News:
National Park Service Threatens Takeover of 6 Calif. Parks
The National Park Service is warning that it might take over six California state parks if they are closed under a proposal from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for addressing severe state budget shortfalls.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/02/...of-6-98645.html
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial News:
Rushmore fireworks launch despite clouds
Fog blanked the annual fireworks extravaganza Friday night at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/07/04/news/top/doc4a4e7216b23a8305156446.txt
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Yosemite National Park News:
Current Yosemite National Park Fire Activity Update
Yosemite National Park, CA.....Yosemite Fire Update #17, July 3, 2009....Trail closures have been implemented on the Harden Fire for public safety. The closures are the Smith Meadow to White Wolf and Aspen Valley to White Wolf.
http://thepinetree.net/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=12481
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Zion National Park News:
Propane leak in Zion National Park sends man to hospital
A propane leak at the Zion Lodge in southern Utah's Zion National Park sent one man to the hospital and led to an evacuation of the area near Springdale.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12741247
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Acadia National Park News:
On vacation, rediscover the bliss of disconnecting (Personal Interest Story)
Summer has arrived, and soon I'll be in Maine, sailing across Frenchman Bay, hiking up Cadillac Mountain. Maine, as the billboard boasts, is "the way life should be." The claim may be vaulting, but the sentiment fits a state whose license plates long proclaimed "Vacationland."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/...connecting.html
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Denali National Park News:
Diving over Mount McKinley (Personal Interest Story)
At 20,320 feet, Mount McKinley looms over everything in the 600-mile-long Alaska Range. Last week, Columbia residents Tom Smith, Jim Lee and Lance Wood set out to be among the first ever to skydive over it.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/jul/05/diving-over-mount-mckinley/

Scientists discover track of soaring prehistoric creature
While hiking a hillside in Denali National Park last July, Steve Hasiotis bent down and picked up a rock. Its curious shape, like a plaster cast of a giant bird track, made him ponder the rock for a second before handing it to Tony Fiorillo. Fiorillo looked at it and confirmed they had found a missing piece of Alaska during the time of the dinosaurs.
http://www.adn.com/life/alaskana/story/853634.html

Denali National Park buses break down as mechanics strike continues
Striking union members say at least eight tourist buses have broken down over the weekend at Denali National Park.
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/05/denali-national-park-buses-break-down-mechanics-st/
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Hike Grand Canyon with caution, respect (Personal Interest)
Frank Poole worked out at a gym and hiked around his Mississippi home carrying a weighted pack for months in preparation for his trip to the Grand Canyon.
http://www.cleveland.com/travel/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living-2/1246609810254460.xml&coll=2
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Behind the beauty, a war against invaders
Alien species – insects, hogs, even rainbow trout – threaten the natives
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/817043.html
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Thrifty Campers Flocking To Rocky Mountain Park
Visitor numbers at Rocky Mountain National Park were up 23 percent in May compared with a year earlier, and the economy may be a factor
http://cbs4denver.com/wireapbusinessco/Thrifty.visitors.fill.2.1070282.html
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Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite National Park Current Fire Acitvity Update for July 5th, 2009
Yosemite National Park, CA....While thousands of visitors came to experience the beauty of Yosemite National Park on July 4, fire personnel continued to manage the Grouse and Harden fires in the Park. The Grouse Fire is located three miles southwest of Yosemite Valley and north of Glacier Point Road. The Grouse Fire is 2,300 acres and 50 percent contained. The Harden Fire on the north side of the park, west of Harden Lake and northwest of White Wolf is currently 1,594 acres and 75 percent contained.....
http://thepinetree.net/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=12500

Fire temporarily closes Yosemite trails, roads
Two lightning-caused fires in Yosemite National Park have forced temporary closures of trails and roads, park authorities said today.
http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/1515494.html
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"Denali National Park News:
Union for 16 Denali workers continues to negotiate
The union that represents 16 bus mechanics, radio technicians and warehouse workers at Denali National Park continues to try and work out an agreement instead of going on strike ahead of the busy holiday weekend."

What a bunch of BS. They went out on Strike BEFORE the weekend. They were striking on June 30. They should all be fired. There were NO buses breaking down as the Feds are sending the buses outside of the Park to be worked on. these Mechanics had since last year to get a contract and they wait until tourist season this year to go on strike. The tourists are not being hurt by this strike and neither is the Park. If they don't want to work, fire them and hire somebody who does want to work. Union Mechanics are the lowest paid Mechanics on the Planet and I could never figure out why they would vote a Union in and lower their pay.

Hey David,

Thanks for the info. It is good to have someone around who knows first hand what is happening in the parks.

James

Acadia National Park News:
Acadia Park Cracks Down on Rock Thieves
Bill Weidner, a ranger at Acadia National Park, can spot them immediately: lumbering up from the shoreline, backpacks weighed down by cobblestones; popping out of the woods with bulging pockets or, in egregious cases, tossing slabs of granite into minivans ready to peel away at a second’s notice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/us/08rock.html?ref=us
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Badlands National Park News:
Sylvatic Plague detected in Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park official are encouraging visitors to use common-sense safety precautions around wildlife in the park, following the confirmation of sylvatic plague and tularemia among park prairie dogs.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/07/07/news/top/doc4a53c92aed7b7743506100.txt
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Big Bend National Park News:
Big Bend National Park Announces Summer Fee Free Weekends 7/6/09
Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has announced that the National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit these national treasures.
http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=13362
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Denali National Park News:
National Labor Relations Board to investigate Denali strikers' claims (David, perhaps you may know something about this?)
The National Labor Relations Board has sent an investigator to Denali National Park and Preserve to look into a claim that Doyon/ARAMARK J.V. threatened to fire employees if they went on strike.
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/07/national-labor-relations-board-investigate-denali-/
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Olympic National Park News:
Coast Guard Hoists Injured Hiker From Olympic National Park
The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated an injured hiker Tuesday afternoon near Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19985217/detail.html
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Climbers may be barred from Australia's famed rock
Climbing Uluru, Australia's famous red sandstone monolith, may be banned in the future under a plan released Wednesday by the national parks service, citing cultural, safety and environmental reasons.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jqkj0ZMSWKWV_y1UH67iRpllJGVwD99A73U00
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Woman rescued after falling into river in Rocky Mountain National Park
Monday morning, a 54-year-old woman from Enid, Okla., was posing for a photograph next to Glacier Creek along Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park when she slipped and fell and was swept 15 to 20 yards downstream. She was able to pull herself up on a rock and hold on to a shrub. Her husband drove to Moraine Park Visitor Center to get help.
http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20090706/NEWS/907069995/1067
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Yellowstone National Park News:
June visits to Yellowstone set record
Visitors flocked to Yellowstone National Park in June, propelling the park to its busiest January-June period on record, according to numbers released Tuesday.
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_12772367
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Yosemite National Park News:
Crews make gains on 2 fires burning in Yosemite
Nearly 500 firefighters have all but put out two lightning-sparked wildfires that caused trail closures and obscured views inside Yosemite National Park over the holiday weekend.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12762123

Glacier National Park News:
In Glacier, No Trail Left Untouched
In Glacier, No Trail Left UntouchedNothing can stop these gentlemen from conquering the mountaintops. Not snow nor water. Not blindness nor heart attacks.
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/in_glacier_no_trail_left_untouched/11598/
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Expanded store planned for Cades Cove campground
A modest expansion of the Cades Cove Campground store in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the works.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090709/NEWS/907089982
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Joshua Tree National Park News:
Bee swarm closes national park campground
Joshua Tree National Superintendent Curt Sauer on Wednesday, July 8 ordered Jumbo Rocks Campground closed temporarily due to safety concerns raised by the presence of swarming bees, park Chief of Interpretation Joe Zarki said in a press release.
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2009/07/08/breaking_news/doc4a55535fb72bd114295805.txt
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Mount Rushmore National Park News:
Greenpeace Activists Arrested After Draping Banner on Mount Rushmore
Greenpeace activists draped an enormous banner next to the carved stone faces of Mount Rushmore today, calling for more-aggressive action to fight climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/08/AR2009070802246.html
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Sequoia National Park News:
Sequoia National Park offers guided lantern tours
Lantern tours of the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park are being offered throughout the months of July and August, organizers announced.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20090709/NEWS01/907090322/1002
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Yellowstone National Park News:
One million travel through YNP gates
2009 Numbers holding steady in Park County
After the first four months of 2009 showed dismal visitor numbers in Yellowstone Park, tourism rebounded in May and June to push the total number of visitors to the park so far this year above the 1 million mark, topping the previous January-June record set in 2007.
http://powelltribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1567&Itemid=2
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Zion National Park News:
Fire closes part of West Rim Trail in Zion National Park
The West Rim Trail from Lava Point to Potato Hollow in Zion National Park has been temporarily closed because a lighting-sparked fire is burning nearby.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12783232
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Best epic day hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
While the rest of the country sits around waiting for their two free weekends to the National Parks, why not take a trip to the nearby, and always free Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
http://www.examiner.com/x-10310-Atlanta-...s-National-Park
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Mont. declared free of livestock disease
Export restrictions on Montana's billion-dollar cattle industry are to be lifted on Friday after federal officials declared the state once again free of the livestock disease brucellosis.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/07/09/ap6638693.html
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Yosemite National Park News:
Oh, Ranger! Why is Yosemite National Park in flames?
Yosemite Valley, with its polished granite domes, chiseled ridges, towering waterfalls and alpine meadows, “Is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.” (Ansel Adams)
http://www.examiner.com/x-12879-LA-RVing...-Park-in-flames

Everglades National Park News:
Pythons Wreaking Havoc In Florida
Pythons have become a major problem in Florida where one suffocated a sleeping baby to death in her crib and thousands others prowl the Everglades, and nearby towns, threatening endangered species and pets alike.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015745344?Pythons%20Wreaking%20Havoc%20In%20Florida

The Everglades - what does the future hold?
For more than 100 years land developers, farmers and politicians at local, state and federal level did everything they could to transform the Everglades from "wasteland" to productive land.
http://www.ecofactory.com/news/everglades-what-does-future-hold-071009
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains is worth the climb
Some people go to great lengths to escape Florida's summer heat. • I go to great heights — 6,593 feet above sea level to be exact, to LeConte Lodge at the summit of Mount LeConte.
http://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/article1016501.ece
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Misc. National Park News:
National Parks boss has NW Roots
President Barack Obama has made another Northwest-friendly appointment to a high post in his administration.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/173511.asp?from=blog_last3
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Acadia National Park News:
Schoodic: The Secret Side of Acadia (Travel Story)
Did the lobsterboats wake you at 4:30?” innkeeper Megan Moshier called brightly from the kitchen, which was emanating an enticing aroma of baked apple pancakes. No, I told her, I slept like a log.
http://www.downeast.com/node/11294
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Biscayne National Park News:
Biscayne National Park management plan revised
An effort to draft a general management plan for Biscayne National Park is under way, with a controversial measure to ban no-take zones in park waters.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1137858.html
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Denali National Park News:
Glaciers, wildlife stir sense of adventure, love of outdoors (Travel Story)
It's not every year you can share a milestone birthday with a state.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=305786&src=330
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Everglades National Park News:
Mighty moth may become Everglades' new weed eater
A moth from Hong Kong emerges as a powerful weapon against an exotic fern that threatens the Everglades by draping native plants in a cloak of death.
http://www.miamiherald.com/573/story/1138028.html

Feds may open forest, swamp around Alligator Alley
A federal proposal would open a vast sweep of forest and swamp on both sides of Alligator Alley to hunting and off-road vehicles.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1137333.html

Python threat to Florida Everglades
Deadly Burmese pythons are thriving in the Florida Everglades, after dozens of the reptiles escape from a pet shop 17 years ago.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtec...Everglades.html
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Glacier National Park News:
Trixi’s treat (Not really park related, but interesting)
Historic roadside diner in Ovando has been a mainstay for local ranchers and tourists shuttling between parks since moving to current home in 1968.
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2009/07/12/weekly_features/helena_life/top/50hl_090712_trixi.txt
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Father, son rescued after falling in Snake River
A Los Angeles man who was rescued along with his 15-year-old son after they fell off an inflatable raft into the Snake River has been issued two citations
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12817655?nclick_check=1

Visits To Grand Teton National Park Dip In June
While Yellowstone National Park saw a record number of visitors in June, visits to Grand Teton National Park were down 3.7 percent from a year ago.
http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewswy/Visits.to.Grand.2.1081812.html
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Yellowstone National Park News:
MT again Brucellosis free
Montana cattle will once again carry the Brucellosis free status after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday that the state's cattle are now "class free".
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10673835

Separating from the herd: Getting away in Yellowstone's backcountry
Animal jams are a common occurrence in Yellowstone National Park. Elk, bison, coyotes, moose and bear appearing along the road (and sometimes in the road) cause traffic to stop and backup for hundreds of feet.
http://www.thedailystar.com/lifestyles/local_story_192083055.html?keyword=topstory

Yellowstone starts work on park's first major Recovery Act project
Work has begun in Yellowstone on the first of several large projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/articles/2009/07/10/news/news5.txt

Road construction slows traffic at Yellowstone's east gate
This next note is for anyone planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Road construction at the east gate begins Monday. The state transportation department said chip sealing crews will be working on US Highway 14/16/20 west of Cody. The road being reworked lies about halfway between Cody and the park’s East Gate.
http://www.ktakradio.com/news/2009/jul/10/road-construction-slows-traffic-at-yellowstones-ea/
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Yosemite National Park News:
Park service looks again at Yosemite visitor limit
Nine years after creating a plan to limit crowds in Yosemite Valley, National Park Service officials are starting over again.
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2019139.html
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Zion National Park News:
Zion Park blaze continues to burn
The lightning caused Horse Fire continues to burn in Zion National Park.
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090711/NEWS01/907110320/Zion+Park+blaze+continues+to+burn

Badlands National Park News:
Badlands National Park sprays thistles from air
Badlands National Park is using a helicopter to spray Canada thistles.
http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10714635
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Helicopter rescue in Grand Teton Nat'l Park
Twenty-two year-old, Sam Russell, from Jackson, sustained serious injuries as he was coming down the north west side.
He slipped on snow and tumbled about 2-hundred feet, before landing on a break between 2 snow patches. Russell's group was able to call and get a rescue crew quickly. A helicopter gave Russell emergency care, then took him to St. John's Medical Center.
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=24311&Main=24075#Post24311
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Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite Valley protection plan back to square one
Nine years after creating a plan to limit crowds in Yosemite Valley, National Park Service officials are starting over.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/778950.html

Badlands National Park News:
Herbicide spraying starts at Badlands National Park
Aerial spraying of a herbicide for management of Canada thistle has begun at Badlands National Park, and spraying is expected to be completed by July 20.
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090712/NEWS/907120338/1001/news
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Denali National Park News:
Strike continues at Denali Park and Preserve
A spokeswoman for IBEW Local 1547 said Monday that 17 workers at Denali National Park and Preserve remain on strike.
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/14/strike-continues-denali-park-and-preserve/
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Man killed when car plunges into Grand Canyon
A man died after his car plunged 600 feet off the edge of the Grand Canyon's South Rim, authorities said Tuesday.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/14/arizona.grand.canyon.death/index.html
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Storms ignite Smurf House Fire, 2 others
Storms that produced roughly 500 lightning strikes in a 24-hour period in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest have ignited three fires in the park.
http://www.jhguide.com/article.php?art_id=4817
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Finding art in Yellowstone
Most people decide to vacation in Yellowstone National Park because of its scenic beauty and the abundant wildlife there. However, when local art teacher, Marsha Lott, spent a week there recently, she was on the lookout for art.
http://www.effinghamherald.net/news/article/7815/


Yosemite National Park News:
Alone in a Crowd: Hiking Yosemite's North Rim
Yosemite Valley may be popular–rightfully so–but it still holds secrets. Hike this long-forgotten trail on the North Rim, and you'll have the granite icons to yourself.
http://www.backpacker.com/june_09_alone_in_a_crowd_hiking_yellowstones_north_rim/destinations/13134
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Denali National Park News:
Wind blows smoke from wildfires to Fairbanks
What a difference a day makes.
A day after one of the hottest, sunniest days of the summer, a change in wind direction left a thick blanket of smoke over Fairbanks on Tuesday as wind pushed smoke from several wildfires into Alaska’s second-largest city.
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/15/wind-blows-smoke-wildfires-fairbanks/
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Glacier National Park News:
Canoeist apparently drowns in Glacier park
Glacier National Park officials have recovered the body of a Pennsylvania man who apparently drowned when the canoe he was in capsized on Swiftcurrent Lake.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D99EEOMG2.html
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Park Service seeks Smokies memories
The National Park Service hopes people who have firsthand accounts of living in the Smokies or attending the national park dedication will share those memories.
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_12833590
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park News:
A Regulated Elk Hunt: Senator Dorgan’s View (Letter to the Editor)
Your editorial against my proposal to thin the elk herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (“Elk Hunting in the Badlands,” July 8) missed the mark in several key respects.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/opinion/l15elk.html
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Acadia National Park News:
Woman hurt in fall at Acadia National Park
A woman from New York was rescued from the bottom of Otter Cliffs Thursday morning after she fell while rock climbing and hit her head, according to a park ranger.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/110827.html
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Rangers Investigate Report of Possible Abduction in Grand Canyon National Park
Rangers in Grand Canyon National Park are investigating the possible abduction of a woman from a residential area within the park.
http://www.naztoday.com/news/top-stories...-national-park/
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Olympic National Park News:
Olympic National Park entry fees waived this weekend
All entry fees at Olympic National Park will be waived Saturday and Sunday.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090717/NEWS/307179983
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
National parks not always refuges for Kenyan wildlife
Most of us tend to think of national parks as places that provide abundant protection for wildlife. But that’s not necessarily so.
http://features.csmonitor.com/environmen...enyan-wildlife/
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Yellowstone National Park News:
MSU study: Wolves affecting Yellowstone elk
Elk that have to contend with wolves have a harder time surviving according to a new study conducted by Montana State University researchers.
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=10740691

Authorities crack down on Yellowstone poaching -- eggs, that is
When there are discussions of poaching in Yellowstone National Park, the talk usually involves animals of some sort, but earlier this month scofflaws were stopped from poaching eggs in a thermal feature in Biscuit Basin.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/200907...ggs-that-is.php

Acadia National Park News:
CG Assists in Rescue of Rock Climber
A Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor 25-foot response boat rescued an injured rock climber at Acadia National Park, Maine.
http://www.military.com/news/article/coa...l=1186032366581


Bryce Canyon National Park News:
Growing fire delays reopening of road in Bryce Canyon
The Bridge Fire has grown another 400 acres, delaying plans to reopen a road.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70531...yce-Canyon.html
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Man's drive over Grand Canyon edge ruled suicide
National Park Service investigators have ruled the death of a man who drove his car over the edge of the Grand Canyon a suicide.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12861043?source=sphere_article
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Kayaker rescued after night on Snake River sandbar
An Indiana woman spent the night on a sandbar in the Snake River after she missed her pullout site while kayaking.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wy-kaykerrescue,0,4757863.story

Wildfire watch
Forest Service and National Park officials hope early summer rains and a wetter-than-normal winter may have curbed the potential for a severe fire season this year.
http://www.planetjh.com/news/A_105226.aspx
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Great Basin National Park News:
Remote Great Basin National Park amazes visitors
Listening to young visitors who managed to discover the least-visited national park in the lower 48 states, it's easy to get a picture of this surprising alpine oasis.
http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_12845054
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Misc. National Park News:
Nominee to lead National Park Service has deep roots in West
As superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park outside Seattle, Jon Jarvis twice climbed the 14,411-foot peak. As director of the National Park Service's Pacific West Region, he ordered that his 56 parks be carbon neutral by 2016, when the agency celebrates its centennial.
http://www.kansascity.com/437/story/1332954.html

Please, leave it as you find it when visiting parks
Picture this: you're walking along a trail through a forest of smooth-barked aspen trees. Tall grasses wave along the trail's edge and glimpses of rocky ridgelines emerge through scattered openings. As you drop into a small hollow, you notice something on the trunk of one of the trees. Carved into the trunk is "Bill was here 7/09."
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/...e=0&fpart=2
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North Cascades National Park News:
North Cascades National Park will get $55,000 for projects
North Cascades National Park will receive $55,000, thanks to a fundraising effort from Washington's National Park Fund.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/992760.html
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Greater Yellowstone Elk-wolf Study Shows Elk Having Fewer Calves Due To Changes In Nutrition
Wolves have caused elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to change their behavior and foraging habits so much so that herds are having fewer calves, mainly due to changes in their nutrition, according to a new study published by Montana State University researchers.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090717121424.htm

CNN's Reynolds Wolf talks with geologists about recent volcanic activity at Yellowstone National Park (CNN Video...no text...one short ad first).
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/07/18/wolf.yellowstone.quakes.cnn
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Crater Lake National Park News:
Whitney Fire burns in Crater Lake National Park
A portion of the trail around Diamond Lake is closed because of a wildfire burning in Crater Lake National Park.
http://kdrv.com/page/134747
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Everglades National Park:
Snakes on the glades – Florida launches mass python hunt
The death of a Florida toddler in the coils of an 8ft (2.5 metre) Burmese python has sparked an official crackdown to eradicate a menacing population of slithering predators in the sun-drenched holiday state.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/19/florida-santions-mass-python-hunt
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Longs Peak hiker dies in Rocky Mountain National Park
A Durango man hiking with a family member died from a "cardiac emergency" near the top of the14,259-foot-high Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park this morning, a park spokeswoman said.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/200907...n+National+Park
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Sequoia National Park News:
Thirteen-year-old girl drowns in swift-moving Sequoia National Park river
A 13-year-old Tulare girl drowned while swimming with family members at Sequoia National Park, officials said today.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/20...park-river.html
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Yellowstone National Park
Wolves Driving Down Yellowstone Elk Numbers: Study (Note: I know this has been reported earlier, but I keep finding out new items in the articles that I think make them worth publishing).
A new study shows that the wolves of Yellowstone are affecting elk populations in very surprising ways. Since 1995, elk populations have been declining. It was estimated in 1995 that elk populations in the northern range numbered somewhere between 17,000 and 19,000. In the three winters prior to 2008, the estimated elk population has dropped to somewhere between 6,279 and 6,738.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/200907...mbers-study.php
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Yosemite National Park:
Yosemite National Park Reports Increase in Bear Encounters - July 19, 2009
When you visit Yosemite National Park one thing you expect to see, hopefully from a distance is the presence of bears. Many campers would consider it a successful trip if they manage to get a snap-shot or two of a mother bear and her cubs forging for a mid-afternoon snack.
http://www.extranomical.com/NEWS/YOSEMIT...unters_339.html
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Zion National Park News:
Fire in Zion National Park burns 900 acres
Zion National Park » A fire that has burned 900 acres in Zion National Park has forced more trail closures.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12876692
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Bryce Canyon National Park News:
Wildfires close road, trail in Utah County
A road and a trail were closed Tuesday after the Lake Forest fire grew to 600 acres.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705318324,00.html
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Denali National Park News:
Man dies on tour bus in Denali Park
A 59 year old New Mexico man died of apparent natural causes on a Denali Natural History Tour bus near the Savage River Campground on Thursday.
http://ktna.org/2009/07/20/man-dies-on-tour-bus-in-denali-park/
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Everglades National Park News:
Heat may have killed fish in Florida Bay
Thousands of fish popped up dead this week in Florida Bay -- possible victims of what might be described as a marine version of heat stroke.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1153596.html

Too Late to Quell Python Invasion? (Editorial)
I can't escape the feeling that the just-announced "python-hunting" campaign in South Florida will be a bust.
http://www.theledger.com/article/2009072...ython-Invasion-
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Appeals Court Rejects Suit Against Motorized Rafts in Grand Canyon
A federal appeals court yesterday upheld a decision rejecting attempts by environmental groups to stop rafters from using motors and helicopters in Grand Canyon National Park.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/22/...ed-r-20848.html

Interior efforts protect public (Editorial)
We have 25 million reasons to avoid the risk of putting uranium mines near the Grand Canyon
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2009/07/22/20090722wed1-22.html

BASE jumper lands photographer in trouble
A 2007 BASE jump at Grand Canyon National Park landed a South Lake Tahoe photographer in federal court in Arizona last week.
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20090722/NEWS/907219984/1007/NONE&parentprofile=1056
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Grand Teton National Park News:
Whitebark pine cone crop looking good
High-protein food could help reduce conflicts between grizzlies, hunters this fall.
http://www.jacksonholenews.com/article.php?art_id=4852
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone visitor gored by bison
A bull bison at Yellowstone National Park gored a 55-year-old tourist after the man got within 10 feet of the animal in a campground.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-07-22-yellowstone-bison-gores-visitor_N.htm

First Noticeable Fire of Season Hits Yellowstone
The first noticeable fire of the 2009 summer season has been spotted in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley, as a small burn on the southwest slope of Druid Peak is now large enough to be noticed.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/200907...yellowstone.php

Things At Yellowstone Aren't As Calm As Once Thought
This month’s copy of National Geographic has some great reading for those headed out to Yellowstone National Park this summer. However, it’s the kind of information that you may not want to hear if you’re a worrywart. Apparently the volcano supervolcano that created one of the country’s best national parks isn’t as sleepy as researchers once thought.
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/21/7...As+Once+Thought

Talks Over Grizzly Protection Break Down
A court-ordered discussion between parties to lawsuits challenging a decision by the U.S. Government to remove the Yellowstone grizzly from the Endangered Species list ended with no agreement, ensuring two judges will hear challenges.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/200907...-break-down.php
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Zion National Park News:
Zion National Park sets ceremony for 100th anniversary
Ecuadorean officials say there's new hope that famed Galapagos giant tortoise Lonesome George, believed to be the last of his species, could soon be a father.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12882583

Grand Teton National Park News:
Local man falls 200 feet from Wyoming mountain
A local man remains hospitalized in Wyoming after a 200 foot fall from a mountain on Saturday July, 11.
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/s...ain-217738.html
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Olympic National Park News:
Lightning Cause Of 2 Olympic National Park Fires
Two fires are burning deep in the Olympic National Park within the park boundary and the designated wilderness. One is located in the upper Duckabush and the other in the Dosewallips River valley said Olympic National Park officials.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20160960/detail.html
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Obama Administration Aims to Cut Yellowstone Snowmobiles By More than Half
According to reports, a proposed rule change issued by the National Park Service would allow up to 318 snowmobiles per day into Yellowstone National Park for the next two winters. The rule would cut by more than half the 720 allowed last winter by the Bush administration. In a notice to be published tomorrow in the Federal Register, the National Park Service says it is reopening a public comment period on the 318-per-day plan that never went into effect.
http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/07/23/ob...more-than-half/

Minnesotans find new life in Yellowstone
Like many of this nation's pioneers, two former newspaper workers ventured west and found a new life. And the great outdoors has been kind to them.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoo...3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

Commission weighs cuts to elk licenses near Cody
Some outfitters in the Cody area who rely heavily on out-of-state hunters for business say they are opposed to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department proposal to cut the number of general elk hunting licenses issued in key areas near Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.newsday.com/commission-weighs-cuts-to-elk-licenses-near-cody-1.1323350

Denali National Park News:
Kreutzer leaves Talkeetna Ranger Station for Yellowstone:
Longtime National Park Service employee Dave Kreutzer has resigned his position at the Talkeetna Ranger Station.
http://ktna.org/2009/07/24/kreutzer-leaves-talkeetna-ranger-station-for-yellowstone/
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
NAU student missing after Grand Canyon hike
Authorities are searching for a Northern Arizona University student who's been reported missing after a hiking trip in Grand Canyon National Park.
http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10781110&nav=menu613_2_13
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News
Citizen's Voice: Apology made in incident at Cades Cove (Now this, you don't see every day...LOL...it made the news only because it is so rare)
I am president of National and State Park Concessions Riding Stables Inc. Our company is one of the authorized concessioners of the National Park Service that provides commercial visitor services in Cades Cove.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/25/apology-made-in-incident-at-cades-cove/
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Lake Clark National Park News:
Lake Clark in Alaska threatened by mineral mining operations (Editorial)
What’s the first thing you would do in one of the most pristine, unspoiled national parks in the nation’s last great wilderness?
http://www.examiner.com/x-682-National-P...ning-operations
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
South Africa declares war on rhino poachers
27 rhinos killed in Kruger National Park so far this year
South Africa announced sweeping new anti-poaching measures Friday, requiring an ID microchip for all rhinos and rhino horns and bringing in the military to guard the porous border near Kruger National Park.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32126816/ns/world_news-world_environment/
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Wildflower season in full bloom
With all the recent rain in Colorado, the wildflower season is going to be better than usual. This month is the best time to view wildflowers, especially since there seems to have been a late bloom with many flowers. Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful place to view wildflowers, especially framed against the Rockies themselves.
http://www.examiner.com/x-4483-Rocky-Mou...n-in-full-bloom
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Utah National Parks News (Misc. Non-Specific)
Wildfires cause new closures despite rains
A planned fire has moved outside of its perimeter, leading to multiple road and trail closures in two national forests.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705318779,00.html
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Wyo. wants more snowmobiles allowed in Yellowstone
The state of Wyoming on Friday asked a federal judge to force Yellowstone National Park to allow up to 740 snowmobiles daily during winter — more than twice what the Obama administration wants.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j5DF5sUdbqH9uqEW-ymTAK7hjtZAD99L64480

Seems like news has been very slow recently. Here are some of today's (and yesterday's headlines).

James


Acadia National Park News:
MDI bus system passes 3 million passenger mark
Ten years after it first started providing free rides to help ease the summertime congestion on Mount Desert Island, the Island Explorer celebrated the milestone of its 3 millionth passenger on Monday.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/111574.html

This and That - Acadia National Park (Opinion Piece)
One of my favorite songs is “America the Beautiful”. As I recite the words, I can picture in my mind some of our beautiful places in this great country of ours.
http://www.delphosherald.com/2009/07/27/this-and-that-83/
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Hellbenders collected to test for fungus linked to amphibian decline
It would be several hours before the first wave of tubers floated by.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/27/hunting-for-hellbenders/

Scripps grant to help maintain Smokies trails
Funds to also help meet matching gift challenge
A $25,000 grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation will help maintain trails through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for years to come.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/27/scripps-grant-to-help-maintain-smokies-trails/
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Acadia National Park News:
Taking the Classroom to Acadia National Park this Fall
School will be back in session soon and, this fall, some middle-school students will be leaving their more traditional, indoor classrooms to explore and learn in a different setting - the great outdoors.
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/9921-1
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Body of missing backpacker found in Grand Canyon National Park
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, search teams found a body believed to be that of overdue backpacker Bryce Gillies in the Bonita Creek drainage on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
http://readitnews.com/get-out-there-ariz...n-national-park
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Lassen Volcanic National Park News:
Boy dead, teen girl injured in Calif. rock slide
The California Highway Patrol says a 10-year-old boy has been killed and a 13-year-old girl has been injured in a rock slide at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12944136?nclick_check=1
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Volcanoes National Park News:
Volcanoes National Park to build new $6M center
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials say a $7.8 million federal stimulus grant will go toward building a new visitor emergency operations center there.
http://www.newsday.com/volcanoes-national-park-to-build-new-6m-center-1.1335088
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Yosemite National Park News:
USGS: large tree population declining in Yosemite
Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey said Wednesday there are fewer large-diameter trees growing in Yosemite National Park than in years past, most likely because of climate change.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hq_O2OO8RxK15PVTFU1NaLUVUCLQD99OGH581
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Zion National Park News:
Fire forces large closure in Zion National Park
A wildfire has forced the closure of a large section of Zion National Park.
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10819803&nav=menu554_2_3

Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Documentary about bears in the Smokies wins international award
A black bear documentary filmed in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has won its second international film award.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/31/films-bearing-fruit/
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Estes Park Museum to offer historic RMNP tour
Join historian and author Ken Jessen as he guides a tour of historic lodge and homestead sites in Rocky Mountain National Park.
http://www.eptrail.com/ci_12948557
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone Winter Use Comment Period Reopened
The National Park Service has announced an additional 45-day comment period concerning its rule to manage snowmobile and snowcoach access to Yellowstone National Park. The current rule, adopted in 2008, limits daily access to 318 commercially guided, best-available-technology snowmobiles; and 78 commercially guided snowcoaches.
http://www.crosscountryskier.com/ccsnews/news.php?newsid=909

Contaminated tank sites in Yellowstone to be cleaned
Seven contaminated underground storage tank sites in Yellowstone National Park are to be cleaned up starting this fall, under a partnership between the park and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12964546

Yellowstone offers free photography workshops
Canon and American Park Network will offer free digital photography workshops at Yellowstone National Park in which participants will learn from professional photographers and use Canon's top-of-the-line equipment to capture the picture-perfect sights.
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=24598&Main=24075#Post24598
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Zion National Park News:
Lightning fire closes part of Zion National Park
The Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park remained closed Thursday due to a wildland fire that could pose a threat to visitors.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12947358