Lots of news, as expected. Some of the headlines are ones I missed from yesterday.
James
Big Bend National Park News:
Texas author narrows list of his favorite hikes to 100
Just in time for nice spring weather, E. Dan Klepper has written a book outlining many of Texas' best hiking trails. It's called 100 Classic Hikes in Texas and is published by Mountaineers Books.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/...re.38c1481.html**********
Cape Hatteras National Seashore News:
Several special programs are scheduled this week at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina's coast to kick off National Park Week.
http://www.reflector.com/news/state/events-set-at-nc-seashore-for-national-park-week-554846.html**********
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Benjamin: Donation to Caverns 'priceless'
With white gloved hands, Carlsbad Caverns National Park Superintendent John Benjamin carefully drew items out of a box. Like a child at Christmas who has received that prized gift, he finds it difficult to hold back the excitement he feels each time he picks up a boxed item.
http://www.currentargus.com/ci_12175167**********
Glacier National Park News:
Parts of Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road starting to open
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park currently is open 10 miles to Lake McDonald Lodge on the park's west side, and six miles to Rising Sun on the east side, according to Glacier Park officials.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090419/NEWS01/904190307Work underway at Glacier National Park
Work is underway at Glacier National Park on part of the Going to the Sun Rehabilitation Project at Avalanche.
http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10207860**********
Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Smokies park recruiting volunteers to help visitors view elk herd
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting for its "Elk Bugle Corps" — a volunteer group that helps visitors who want to see the park's elk herd.
http://www.whnt.com/news/sns-ap-tn--smokies-elk,0,1688932.story
Magic in the mist
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which celebrates 75th anniversary this year, will leave you inspired by its distinctively beautiful and rich natural environment.
Overlapping layers of misty blue mountains fill the landscape between dense green forests and pastel skies. A persistent haze threatens to blend valleys and ridges as it hovers over the Smoky Mountains, softening rough edges into a dreamy, impressionistic vision.
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/travel/04/19/0419smoky.html**********
Misc. National Parks News:
Even one-time naysayers now back national parks
When I was a kid, with my folks working to create the North Cascades National Park, a Seattle Times editorial famously dismissed campaigners to save wild places as "mountain climbers and birdwatchers."
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/405297_joel20.html?source=mypiRetired park ranger's hobby earns award
Evidence of Erny Kuncl's hobby hangs in almost every room of his home.
http://www.standard.net/live/news/170282/Obama Administration Won’t Challenge Ruling on Guns in Parks
The Obama administration won’t challenge a court ruling that prohibits visitors at some national parks to carry loaded concealed firearms, satisfying gun control groups.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aylETgvsDpbk&refer=usWhy national parks are a great value
National parks have been called the best idea we ever had. They showcase America’s geology, history and architecture, and are a great vacation value. And according to a TripAdvisor survey, nearly three of every four Americans will visit one this year. But visitors want value for their money. Especially this year, most travelers want to feel that they are spending their money wisely.
http://www.examiner.com/x-4661-National-...e-a-great-value**********
Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Teen 'rang mum before going missing'
David Iredale's parents were sure their high-achieving teenage son would walk out of the bush unharmed after going missing in the NSW Blue Mountains.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-...90420-ac5k.htmlActivist exposed plot imperiling African park
Who: Marc Ona Essangui, 45
Where: Libreville, Gabon
Essangui, the president and founder of the environmental group Brainforest, exposed secret agreements for a Chinese mine project that threatened Gabon's equatorial rain forests.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/18/MN59172M4B.DTL**********
Rocky Mountain National Park News:
3 rock slides temporarily close highways
Portions of hillsides soaked by up to 52 inches of snow from last week's snowstorm gave way, sending mud and rocks onto three highways and forcing their closures along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains.
http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10210880Snow plows working to clear roads in Rocky Mountain National Park
Park snow plow operators have been plowing the roads in Rocky Mountain National Park since early this morning.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090418/UPDATES01/90418013/1002/NEWS01Giving species a leg up
A boreal toad's eggs look like a strand of tiny black pearls, each about size of the period at the end of this sentence, suspended in a long, clear strand of gelatin.
http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_12174455Snowstorm weakens after closing stretch of I-70
A spring storm was weakening after dumping up to 3 feet of snow on the foothills west of Denver — stranding hundreds of people in shelters and forcing the closure of an 80-mile stretch of Interstate 70.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jx20-ctHOtI0ObWtZDLFpJ3RJ_NgD97KOM100**********
Yellowstone National Park News:
Wyo. officials hopeful summer tourism stays strong
Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park tourism officials are optimistic the state's summer tourism season won't take a heavy hit from the national economic recession.
http://www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=10206788
