Infos querbeet zu NPs, NMs, SPs, etc.

Halle der Aufzeichnungen
Der geheime Raum im Mount Rushmore

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Das Mount Rushmore National Memorial im US-Bundesstaat South Dakota ist eine beliebte Sehenswürdigkeit bei Touristen aus aller Welt. Jedoch wissen die Wenigsten, dass sich hinter den Porträtköpfen noch ein geheimer Raum befindet.

Ein Geheimraum hinter dem Mount Rushmore? Wer da gleich an den Film Richi Rich aus dem Jahre 1994 denken muss, liegt damit gar nicht so falsch. Tatsächlich befindet sich hinter dem Haar von Abraham Linclon ein Geheimraum, welcher der Öffentlichkeit nicht zugänglich ist und in den gewissen Sachen in einem Titantresor geschützt werden.
Gutzon Borglum, der Skulpteur vom Mount Rushmore, hatte diesen geheimen Raum bei der Erschaffung des Monuments mit eingeplant. Obwohl der Geheimraum den staatlichen Geldgebern eigentlich zu teuer war, segneten sie seinen Bau ab. Nachdem Borglum selbst 14 Jahre lang an den Porträtköpfen gearbeitet hatte, starb er jedoch frühzeitig im Jahr 1941 – bevor der geheime Raum mit dem Namen Hall of Records (auf deutsch: Halle der Aufzeichnungen) fertiggestellt wurde. So bliebt er Jahrzehnte unvollendet.

Was befindet sich in dem Geheimraum hinter dem Mount Rushmore?
Borglum plante in dem Raum, der eine Größe von etwa 30 mal 24 Metern besitzt, diverse Dokumente und Artefakte der US-amerikanischen Geschichte aufzubewahren. Dazu zählten zudem Listen mit wichtigen Errungenschaften aus Wissenschaft, Industrie und Kunst, welche Amerika der Weltgeschichte und der Menschheit beigetragen hat.
Der Eingangsbereich sollte über sechs Meter hoch und fast fünf Meter breit sein. Durch imposante Glastüren sollte man dann in die höher gelegenen Kammern kommen. Ein über sechs Meter große Bronze-Adler sollte über dem Eingangsbereich hängen und über ihm ein Schriftzug mit „America’s Onward March“ und „Hall of Records“.
Der Raum hinter dem Mount Rushmore wurde noch fertiggestellt. Jedoch erst am 9. August 1998. In der Halle der Aufzeichnungen, deren Zutritt der Öffentlichkeit verwehrt ist, befindet sich heute eine Truhe aus Teakholz, welche wiederrum in einem Tresor aus Titan gelagert ist.
In ihr befinden sich 16 emaillierte Porzellantafeln, auf denen beschrieben steht, wer sich Mount Rushmore ausgedacht hat und wie er geschaffen wurde. Zudem, warum man sich für genau diese vier Präsidenten entschieden hat und eine kurze Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika.
Die Truhe bzw. der Tresor dient als Zeitkapsel und soll Fragen zum Mount Rushmore von Menschen in tausenden Jahren beantworten.

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Katmai National Park, AK

Dieser Livestream zeigt Bären beim Lachsfischen

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Der Juli ist für Bären in Alaska ein großartiger Monat. Dann wandern nämlich leckere Lachse zum Laichen flussaufwärts – und die Bären müssen einfach nur entlang der Flüsse und Bäche an Stromschnellen und Wasserfällen warten, bis einer vorbeispringt.
Für Bären ist der Sommer in Alaska ein einziges Lachs-Büffett – und der Katmai National Park zeigt das im Livestream.
In dem Park leben mehr als 2000 Braunbären. Wo sich Bären vielerorts zurückziehen und vom Menschen verdrängt werden, bleibt die Population dort – in Alaskas hohem Norden – stabil.
Weil die Parkleitung weiß, wann die Bären wo jagen gehen, haben sie Livestreams aus dem Katmai National Park eingerichtet. Vor allem an den "Brooks Falls"-Wasserfällen versammeln sich täglich Dutzende Bären – und auch süße Bärenbabys – um Lachse zu jagen.

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The most beautiful vacation spot in every state
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Chimney Rock State Park closed for road repairs

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The Chimney Rock section of Chimney Rock State Park closed Monday for about 10 days while the N.C. Department of Transportation begins work to restore a one-lane washout on the main entrance road in the park.
The park was closed in late May when heavy rains from subtropical storm Alberto caused a portion of the road leading into the park and a retaining wall on the upper parking lot to collapse.
The park was closed for nearly two weeks at that time while state park rangers, Chimney Rock Management associates and contractors worked to clean up fallen trees, power lines and mudslides along the road and trails.
The park reopened to guests June 9. Since that time, staff have had to direct visitors through the one-lane area where the road collapsed.

N.C. Department of Transportation maintenance crews from Rutherford County will perform an emergency slide repair in the state park. Officials expect crews will need at least 10 days beginning Aug. 6 to rebuild the road. This project will restore both lanes of Chimney Rock Park Road when completed.
“This project is typical of repair work that we perform regularly,” Rutherford County Maintenance Engineer Matt Taylor said. “We’re essentially rebuilding a portion of the roadway slope that failed during recent storms.”
Work to fix the retaining wall on the upper parking lot is still in the planning phase. No timeline for this project has been announced. For the latest updates and news about the park reopening, visit ChimneyRockPark.com or call 828-625-9611.
The Chimney Rock section of the greater Chimney Rock State Park is US 64/74A in Chimney Rock.

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Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Volcanic activity and earthquakes keep most of park closed

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Much of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has been closed nearly three months due to hazards caused by frequent earthquakes triggered by collapse events at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano.

Although seismicity decreased over the weekend, the temblors – more than 18,000 in the last 30 days – have wreaked havoc throughout the park. Those magnitude 5.0 and higher riddle Highway 11, other park roads, overlooks and trails with dangerous sink holes and cracks. Jaggar Museum and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory buildings are damaged and stand empty. The summit crater, Halema‘uma‘u, has more than quadrupled in size as magma drains out to the lower East Rift Zone eruption outside the park. The new dimensions are staggering to those familiar with Halema‘uma‘u. Once 280 feet deep (85 meters), it is now more than 1,500 feet deep (457 meters) in places. Its volume has increased to 800,000,000 cubic meters, according to USGS, an amount equivalent to about 300,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Without lava pressure supporting the summit, large and sudden collapses reshape Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. More than 60 large collapse/explosion events have occurred since the park closed on May 11. The earthquakes also increase the risk of fire: broken waterlines have left most of the park without running water for fire suppression. Fixing them makes little sense as long as the earthquakes continue.

Scientists say the activity could last months, even years. Only when the destructive earthquakes subside will the park be able to fully assess damages, clean up the mess and develop a strategy to reopen.

“It’s impossible to say when the park can reopen, what it’s going to look like and what the visitor experience will be. We are cautiously optimistic that seismicity decreased over the weekend,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Everyone’s safety is our top priority and we are still in an unpredictable and hazardous phase of this eruption cycle. Right now, the only certainty is uncertainty,” she said.

Large sink holes and fractured asphalt on Highway 11 are being repaired by state highway workers, often necessitating one-lane closures and a reduced 25 mph speed limit. Government agencies are working together to create alternate and emergency routes should the highway fail.

But the fate of park features like Thurston Lava Tube are unknown because it’s too risky to send anyone inside to take a look.

“We miss being in the park, we miss sharing Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park with visitors from around the world and across the street. We realize the extended closure is very hard on our community and disappointing to travelers. It’s hard on all of us, and we appreciate everyone’s continued understanding and support,” Orlando said.

While scientists cannot predict exactly when the eruptive and seismic activity will end, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park invites everyone to explore how a volcanic landscape snaps back to life. In the park’s Kahuku Unit, gorgeous ‘ōhi‘a trees spring forth from Mauna Loa Volcano’s 1868 flows. Native birds, including crimson ‘apapane forage among the blooms. ‘Io, the Hawaiian hawk, and the short-eared owl, pu‘eo, are sometimes seen soaring above.

Ranger-guided hikes at Kahuku reveal the link between volcanoes and all life in Hawai‘i. On the two-mile Nature & Culture hike, visitors are inspired how hulihia (catastrophic change) and kulia (restoration) are correlated. Kahuku, which is located an hour’s drive south of the park’s main entrance, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and entrance is free.

Rangers also offer new and familiar programs at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, the Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village and other locations – free of charge.

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Glacier National Park

Lightning Ignites Several Fires in Glacier National Park

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Firefighters are responding to multiple wildfires started by lightning in Glacier National Park.
The National Park Service says at least three fires were started Saturday night. The size of the fires has not yet been determined.
One of the fires is visible from the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
A team of smoke jumpers as well have air tankers have been ordered to help fight the fires.
The fires are not threatening major tourist areas, and no evacuation orders have been issued for residents that live in the park.
Elsewhere, a rural subdivision in Madison County was evacuated because of fires in the vicinity. A Red Cross shelter was set up at nearby Ennis High School.
And lightning started seven new, small fires in the Bitterroot National Forest east-northeast of Conner.

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Evacuation Order
Evacuations are in effect for Lake McDonald Lodge, North Lake McDonald Road, and the Avalanche and Sprague Campgrounds. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed between the foot of Lake McDonald (near Apgar) and Logan Pass.

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Horseshoe Bend Undergoes Changes To Manage Growing Crowds

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A viewpoint reachable by a half-mile trail from a parking lot on U.S. 89 in northern Arizona provides a spectacular view of a dramatic bend in the Colorado River, but it has become maybe a little too popular.
Tour buses, vans, SUVs and cars disgorge thousands of visitors daily at Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so many that authorities have imposed parking restrictions for safety, The Arizona Republic reported.
There's also a newly constructed viewing deck with a railing that provides a safer alternative than the sheer-edged ledge along the rock ridge that is hundreds of feet above the river. And another parking lot is the planning stages.
Visitors come from as far as China, Germany, France and Japan. Roughly 1.5 million people ventured to the attraction last year.
Officials for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area estimate that 2 million people will visit in 2018. Precise numbers aren't available because there's no entrance station.
Large tour buses are no longer allowed to park. They can only drop off and pick up passengers, according to restrictions that went into effect in June.
Visitors can no longer park along U.S. 89, a dangerous but common practice when the lot fills up. Drivers who can't find a spot in the lot must return at another time.
Visitors wander along the unprotected rim. There no trails leading down, just a sharp edge with solid ground on one side and empty air on the other.
Accidents are rare, but they do happen. That is partly why park officials approved a $750,000 project to build a viewing deck with safety railing, as well as gently sloping, ADA-compatible trails that skirt the high point of the ridge. The new path is slightly longer but easier to navigate.
The deck opened June 19, providing a safer way to view the canyon, though visitors are free to explore the ledge as they please.
The opening of the new trail was postponed to January 2019 as construction was suspended due to the summer heat. Work will recommence in September.
A second phase of improvements starts later this year when the City of Page begins construction of a new parking lot.
The project, now in the design process, will include 310 parking stalls for cars and buses, with a potential of up to 130 additional stalls, according to Kim Johnson, the city's community development director. She said work is expected to be completed by spring 2019.
The plans also include the installation of three booths to facilitate fee collection, Johnson said. The amount has yet to be determined, though officials are considering $10 for cars, $50 per small or mid-size bus and $100 per large bus.
Revenue is expected to be split between the National Park Service and Page.

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Wildfire moves closer to Glacier National Park's scenic road

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A wildfire in Montana's Glacier National Park is forcing more evacuations and has burned within a half-mile of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Protecting the highway through the park is officials' priority, with firefighters installing hoses and sprinklers to prevent it from spreading there, The Missoulian newspaper reported Sunday.
If that happens, destabilization could lead rock and trees to fall for years, operations chief Rocky Gilbert said.

Part of the 50-mile, two-lane road is closed. The road spans the width of the park and crosses the Continental Divide, according to the Visit Montana website.
Officials evacuated the Fish Creek Campground and told residents in the small town of Apgar on Lake McDonald that they might have to leave.
Other campgrounds, the historic Lake McDonald Lodge and private cabins along Going-to-the-Sun Road are already under evacuation orders.
Brothers Craig and Sean Simpson, and their father, Henry, were evacuated from their campground Sunday, the Missoulian reported.
"It's kind of scary, being woken up and told you have to evacuate," Craig Simpson told the newspaper.
Sean Simpson commended Glacier staff for their handling of the situation. "They got us out with plenty of time to be safe, and we felt taken care of."
The Simpsons had arrived from New England on Saturday. While they had to relocate to Apgar Campground and cancel their plans to hike in the North Fork, they still planned to stay for five nights.
Businesspeople who serve tourists in the park said the fire has already hurt them.
"The smoke is what's affecting us," Glacier Outfitters co-owner Shelby Handlin Hampton told the Missoulian. The fire deterred Glacier visitors from the outdoor activities that her shop supports.
The fire in Glacier National Park comes as officials said a wildfire near California's Yosemite National Park has been fully contained following a recent weekslong closure.
Yosemite's closure came at the height of tourist season, costing the park and nearby communities millions of dollars. The park draws more than 600,000 visitors during a typical August, according to the National Park Service.

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Grand Teton NP
Gros Ventre Roundabout Update

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Construction work on the Gros Ventre Roundabout and other safety improvements continue along U.S. Highway 89/26/191 in the southern area of Grand Teton National Park. The project is planned to be completed by the end of November.

Paving of the roundabout area will take place this week, including some night work, followed by traffic restrictions on the Gros Ventre Road. Travelers should respect the speed limit in the area, be alert to changing conditions and follow the directional signing, as well as be prepared for approximately 15-minute daytime delays and 30-minute nighttime delays. These delays are in addition to any that may be encountered with typical summer traffic levels.

Vehicle traffic will be transitioning to a portion of the roundabout and left-hand turns onto and out of the Gros Ventre Road from the highway will be temporarily prohibited beginning later this week.

Access to the Gros Ventre Road, including the community of Kelly and the Gros Ventre Campground, will only be available via a right turn from the highway once traffic has partial access to the roundabout. Highway traffic south bound wishing to access the Gros Ventre Road will be encouraged to travel Antelope Flats Road, or travel through the roundabout intersection and detour approximately two miles further south at the park entrance sign pull-through area to turn around. Highway signs will alert traffic to this temporary detour and alternate route. This right-turn only restriction will be removed once the entire roundabout is accessible to traffic by late September.

The temporary pathway for bicyclists and hikers will remain available, in its current design, until the final alignment of the road and roundabout are completed. Pathway users should follow all signs and use caution in the construction area.

During this construction phase, restrictions are in place for oversized vehicles greater than 10 feet wide and more than 81 feet in length. For more information about this load restriction visit http://www.wyoroad.info.

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park prepares for partial reopening

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The National Park Service is planning to reopen sections of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park next month following the lull in activity from the Kilauea volcano.
The reopening date has been set for Sept. 22 after the May eruption prompted the Big Island park closure, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday.
The U.S. Geological Survey downgraded the volcano’s alert level to “watch” last week. It had maintained the “warning” level since May 3.
The pause in seismicity and other activity allowed staff to assess damages and repair water lines, park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said. While park hours upon reopening are expected to be limited, the Kilauea Visitor Center near the entrance will likely be among the areas, she said.
Officials are also looking for a possible viewing area for the public to be able to see the changes to Halemaumau Crater.
“We’re working really hard to determine where that will be because we know that’s what visitors will want to see,” Ferracane said. “That’s a priority.”

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America's best urban national parks

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Many travelers hear the words "national park" and immediately imagine vast expanses of land with no people around for miles.
But there's much more to America's National Parks Service than destinations such as Joshua Tree and Yellowstone.
Quite a few of the country's designated parks and historic sites are in urban sections of the USA, making them easy to fit into a city weekend break or to access without a car.
There's even a clue in the logo of the NPS -- it's shaped like an arrowhead, which is intended to represent history.

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, New York City
What better place to begin our tour of urban national parks than the home of the man who created the Parks Service as we know it?
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, America's 26th president, was born in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan.
Although the house is on the same spot where Roosevelt grew up, it has been renovated and changed several times over the years.
Luckily, many original objects and pieces of furniture are still here thanks to the family's preservation efforts, so it's possible to walk from noisy Union Square to a home in 19th-century New York in about 10 minutes.

Boston National Historical Park, Massachusetts
Commonly referred to as the Boston Freedom Trail, this park is a collection of key historic sites throughout a whopping 47 acres of the city.
Some of the sites are among the most iconic in US history, including the Old North Church (where Paul Revere hung his lights to warn that the British were coming), Faneuil Hall, the Charlestown Navy Yard and the Bunker Hill monument.
You can visit the sites separately or as one walking tour, but a word of advice: If you're looking for the Bunker Hill monument, don't try going to Bunker Hill -- the battle bearing its name was mostly fought on neighboring Breed's Hill.

Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis
Formerly known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, this silver arch swoops over St. Louis' skyline and is one of America's most recognizable symbols.
The arch, designed by Eero Saarinen, pays tribute to the United States' expansion westward.
But the days of clunky Lewis-and-Clark animatronics and enormous taxidermied bison are over.
A significant modernization of the park's museum was completed and unveiled in summer 2018, with new interpretive exhibits including Native American perspectives and new pathways making it easier for visitors to access the park on foot or by bike.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC
Welcome to "America's front yard."
The 146-acre expanse in the District of Columbia is home to some of the country's most famous and important sites, from the White House to the Capitol.
You could easily spend a week straight just exploring the Mall, both indoors and out -- favorites include the Lincoln and Washington memorials, the Smithsonian Museums (including the breathtaking National Museum of African American History and Culture) and the annual beauty of cherry blossom season.

San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is home to the only tropical rainforest in the US National Parks system (that would be El Yunque), but you don't even have to stray far from the hotels and nightclubs of Old San Juan to learn about history.
Built in the 1500s by the Spanish, the structures comprising the San Juan National Historic Site were part of a fortification for the island.
The best-known of the group is Castillo San Felipe del Morro, usually just called "El Morro." The mix of architecture, history -- it was the site of attacks by the English and Dutch, then used as a military base by the Americans in World Wars I and II -- and beauty make it an exceptional place to visit.

Independence National Park, Philadelphia
Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States, and Independence National Park is sometimes known as "America's most historic square mile."
Within that square mile is Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, as well as the famous Liberty Bell.
The fundamental principles of democracy pair nicely with an on-site tavern designed to look like a popular one where politicians such as John Adams hung out in the 18th century. We can't promise the beer recipes are historically accurate, though.

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Honolulu, Hawaii
December 7, 1941, was the day of the attack on the USS Arizona at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, which brought the United States into World War II.
Now, visitors travel by boat to the floating white memorial designed by Austria-born, Hawaii-based architect Alfred Preis, which is particularly symbolic since he was held as an "enemy combatant" by the US government because of his birth country.
The shape of the memorial is tall on the sides and lower through the middle to represent America's highs before and after the war.

Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York City
The Statue of Liberty, full name "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World," is arguably the most famous symbol of the United States.
She was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and gifted to the United States in 1886.
Now, travelers can visit Liberty Island to climb up to the top of the statue's pedestal or her crown and be inspired by the words of the poet Emma Lazarus -- "give us your poor, your weak, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" -- on a tour led by a park ranger.

Alamo Mission, San Antonio
Originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo was one of a string of missions built by the Spanish to convert the locals to Catholicism.
However, it's best known these days for being the site of a battle, where Texan soldiers -- including the famous Davy Crockett -- fought during the Mexican-American War.
Because of its historical and cultural significance, the Alamo and the surrounding missions are also a UNESCO World Heritage site -- and they're right in downtown San Antonio.

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50 Years National Trails System Hikes

These 10 National Trail System Hikes Are America’s Favorite, According to Google

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In 1968, the United States government passed the National Trails System Act, which created some of the most pristine hiking trails across North America. Now, in 2018, both the National Parks System and Google are celebrating the legislation’s 50th anniversary by encouraging people to get outside and experience the more than 50,000 miles of trails across the U.S. for themselves.
To help would-be hikers get on their way, Google compiled a list of the top 10 trending parks and trails around the country. From sea to shining sea, here are the places everyone should lace up their hiking boots for during this epic celebration.

Watkins Glen State Park, New York
Watkins Glen State Park is the place to be if you’re after a waterfall viewing adventure. Within a two-mile stretch, the park’s stream opens up and creates 19 stunning waterfalls along the way. To get even more from the water, visitors are invited to go fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek. Day passes and overnight camping are also available.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park, located just 75 miles from Washington, DC, makes for the perfect day trip to get out of the hustle and bustle of city life. There, hikers can take full advantage of the park’s trails that meander through 200,000 untouched acres of woodland. For those looking to spend even more time in the park’s gorgeous outdoor scenery, backcountry camping passes are available. Even better, Shenandoah is one of the best national parks to experience fall foliage.

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend may be one of the most easily recognizable names on this list as it’s also one of the most photographed parks in the nation as well. And really, who could blame people for wanting to snap a few photos to share on social media? On the hike to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, visitors will get a glimpse of the Colorado River’s natural bend from more than 1,000 feet above the water’s surface. Just make sure to get there as early as possible since the viewing area is a rather popular destination.

The Broadmoor Seven Falls, Colorado
Seven Falls is one of those destinations that will leave visitors in awe for days after a visit. And, with two ways to experience it, everyone can get in on the action. At the falls, visitors can choose to either hike the 224 steps to the top of the falls for an unprecedented close up of the waterfall itself or choose to take the in-mountain elevator to the Eagle's Nest for an easier viewing experience. Either way, it’s worth it.

Discovery Park, Washington
Boasting 534 acres, Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest city park. There, guests can take in the views along the Magnolia Bluff, get a glimpse of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges, run through the untouched meadowlands and more. And, because of its proximity to the city, it makes for the perfect escape any day of the week.

Stone Mountain Park, Georgia
Stone Mountain Park is the ideal family outdoor getaway as it caters to nature-lovers of all ages. At the park, visitors can explore thousands of acres of woodland on its plethora of hiking trails, and take part in several yearly events including the Yellow Daisy Festival and the Native American Festival and Pow-Wow. Overnight camping sites are available, or guests can stay onsite at the Marriott Stone Mountain Inn or Evergreen Marriott resort.

Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Hocking Hills State Park gives visitors something a little extra. That’s because it’s not just one park, but rather a grouping of seven separate areas: Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Cedar Falls, Conkle's Hollow, Old Man's Cave, Rock House and Whispering Cave. Each area offers distinct rock formations, hikes and views, making it a great place to explore for days on end. Overnight camping is available, along with glamping and even a few tree houses.

Golden Gardens, Washington
Though located close to Discovery Park in Seattle, Golden Gardens offers an experience all its own. There, guests can walk along the park’s coastline, go fishing from its own pier, or even launch their boat off the park’s 300 feet of shoreline. The best part? Golden Gardens welcomes dogs to accompany their human friends in an off-leash area in the upper part of the park as well.

Monument Valley, Utah
If you’re looking for wide open spaces with blue skies for days, Monument Valley in Utah is for you. With vast valleys and dazzling rock formations, the unique landscape of the park must be seen to be believed. There, guests can hike alone to visit some of its main interest points or work with a Navajo guide to get to know the region even deeper. Overnight campsites are available and come highly recommended so you can experience the Utah sky at night as well.

The Appalachian Trail, Georgia to Maine
The Appalachian Trail has long been a favorite among serious hikers. Though the trek from Georgia to Maine is certainly worth putting on your bucket list, you can still experience sections of the trail as single day trip.
First, hikers have to pick a state in which they’d like to journey through, pick a section, and get going. But, no matter where you decide to hike, consider joining the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to help protect the treasured hike for generations to come.

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Produces Reopening Map

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The reopening of areas in the park, which go into effect by 10:00 a.m. on September 22, are listed in a new map published by the National Park Service.

The National Park Service has produced a new map prior to the reopening of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on National Public Lands Day on September 22, 2018.
The new map shows the Halema‘uma‘u deepest subsistence area, and lists the locations and facilities that are going to be open as of 10 a.m. next Saturday.
The National Park Service also published a new Special Reopening Advisory that details the profound changes and new dangers in the park:

Park areas remain unstable and unsafe from thousands of recent earthquakes and caldera collapses, the National Park Service says, as it warns visitors:

Stay on open trails and roads! Closed trails and roads are dangerous, do not enter.
Stay away from cracks and sinkholes. Falls into cracks have seriously injured and killed people. Cracks have unstable edges, do not approach them!
Rockfalls are unpredictable. Pay attention and keep away from all cliffs.
Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, falling on lava rock is like falling on broken glass.
Do not hike after dark. Even those who know the area must be cautious due to new hazards.
“Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a wild place,” the Special Reopening Advisory states. “The dramatic landscape of Kīlauea is constantly being shaped by powerful and uncontrollable natural forces. Respect the dangers of this dynamic natural process and stay out of closed areas.”

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Glacier Park Re-Opens Scenic Roadway to Private Vehicles

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Officials in Glacier National Park have re-opened the full length of the Going-to-the-Sun Road to private vehicle traffic as crews work to contain the fire that forced the closure.
The National Park Service closed the west side of the scenic highway on Aug. 12 due to a lightning-caused fire on the northwest side of Lake McDonald.
The road from Apgar to Logan Pass was initially re-opened to shuttle traffic two weeks ago.
The Howe Ridge fire has burned nearly 23 square miles (59 square kilometers) of land and 13 homes and forced the closure of Lake McDonald Lodge for the season. Officials say up to a half inch (13 millimeters) of rain fell on the fire Sunday. It is 35 percent contained.
Park officials say access to Logan Pass will close for the season on or before Oct. 15.

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Six of the best US national trails – chosen by experts

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To mark today’s 50th anniversary of the US national trails system, six hikers and outdoor writers pick their favourite routes across the American wilderness

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Length: 3,700 miles
Route: St Louis, Missouri, north-west over the Rockies to Oregon

The Pacific Crest Trail
Length 2,650 miles
Route Mexico to Canada, through California, Oregon, and Washington

The Appalachian Trail
Length 2,190 miles
Route Running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, the Appalachian Trail spans wilderness areas and several sub-Appalachian ranges, such as the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains, through 14 states. A quarter of the trail (550 miles) is in Virginia. Its highest point is 2,025-metre Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Continental Divide Trail
Length 3,100 miles
Route The Canadian border in Glacier national park, Montana, to the Mexican border west of El Paso, through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico

Ice Age Trail
Length 1,200 miles
Route From Interstate state park on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border to Potawatomi state park on Lake Michigan

Wonderland Trail
Length 93 miles
Route A circuit around Mount Rainier, Washington, giving views of all sides of the Cascade’s highest volcano

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Going-to-the-Sun Road Closed in Logan Pass Area for Season

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Due to continued winter weather, Glacier National Park has closed the Going-to-the-Sun Road in the Logan Pass Area for the winter season.

This section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road closed on September 29 due to a snowstorm that affected multiple park areas. The road typically closes between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook on or before the third Monday in October, weather conditions dependent. Subsequent sections close as winter progresses.

Road crews successfully reopened Many Glacier Road, Chief Mountain Road, and the portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between the foot of St. Mary Lake and Jackson Glacier Overlook following the late September storm. The Two Medicine Road remained closed due to significant snow. Crews were also unable to reopen the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road due to significant ice and ongoing freezing temperatures.

Today’s snowstorm has temporarily re-closed Many Glacier Road, Chief Mountain Road, and the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Rising Sun. The weather forecast for the remainder of the week calls for rain, snow, and freezing temperatures.

Current road conditions, including closures, can be found on the park’s Road Status Webpage.

Crews are waiting for a more favorable weather window to remove 463 log railing pieces along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in advance of significant seasonal alpine avalanches. The steel backed 8-foot log sections require 12 bolts each to attach to the roadway, and must be removed by hand. Failure to remove them could result in significant avalanche damage to the railings or roadway. The railing removal project typically takes two or three weeks, however unfavorable conditions including ice coating the bolts and railings can extend that timeframe or make removal impractical.

Portions of the Howe Ridge Fire area continue to smoke, and are expected to do so into December. However, winter weather has allowed the park to lift some fire related closures, including popular trails like Rocky Point Trail, Johns Lake Trail, and the connector trail from Johns Lake to Avalanche Creek. Other areas remain closed, including North McDonald Road and associated trails, the Inside North Fork Road (not the Outside North Fork Road leading to Polebridge), and the Camas drainage area. Current trail status information can be found on the park’s Trail Status Webpage.

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Visitors Feed Black Bears: Adult Bear Euthanized and Cubs Relocated

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Two visitors to Grand Teton National Park were recently cited for illegally feeding wildlife within the park. On Thursday, October 4, visitors in two separate vehicles along the Signal Mountain Road were observed feeding fruit to three black bears. The bears, a sow and two cubs of the year, each received several food rewards during the incident and made contact with several vehicles along the road. The maximum penalty for feeding park wildlife is a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

Grand Teton National Park Deputy Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said, “Feeding wildlife in a national park is a serious offense and presents severe risks to the animal and to humans. Human carelessness doesn’t just endanger humans, it can result in an animal’s death.”

Feeding wildlife creates a safety risk for humans as animals associate people with food; bears can also become aggressive in seeking additional food, especially when preparing to den for the winter. Animals that are fed by humans also have an increased likelihood of being drawn to roadways and killed by vehicles.

Since June, these bears have been frequenting several developed areas in the Signal Mountain vicinity in very close proximity to people. Park staff and volunteers spent hundreds of hours trying to keep park visitors and these bears at safe distances from each other, near a busy park campground and lodging area. The female had three cubs born this year, but by late summer the bear was seen with only two cubs. The fate of the third cub is unknown.

In early August, two people sitting on the beach near Signal Mountain Boat Launch were startled by the bears and left a pack unattended. The sow found and ate an apple from the pack.

Due to the bears’ comfort with humans in developed areas, and, most importantly, behaviors that associated humans with food, posing an unacceptable risk to public safety, the three bears were captured and removed from the park. It was a difficult decision for park managers, who are responsible for the welfare of both wildlife and people in the park. The loss of these animals removes the opportunity for this bear family to contribute to a healthy, wild population and for visitors to enjoy them in their natural setting.

The adult female, approximately 4-5 years of age, was not a good candidate for an educational or zoo facility and was euthanized. The opportunity to place wild bears in an accredited facility is not always an option. The cubs are being relocated to Oswald Bear Ranch in Newberry, Michigan. The facility provides educational opportunities about bears and information about how to protect their natural environment. Park staff followed National Park Service policies as well as guidance from agency veterinarian to conduct all actions in a humane manner.

Grand Teton National Park educates visitors to act responsibly around wildlife to have safe and enjoyable park experiences. Information about regulations regarding safe viewing distances, not feeding wildlife, food storage and following speed limits are shared via park publications, informational signs, social media and web posts, ranger-led programs, and by the park’s wildlife brigade. Many park partners and local community organizations also communicate these messages. All park visitors are reminded to follow regulations related to human and wildlife safety.

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Joshua Tree National Park

Clean-up Continues After Heavy Rains

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Staff continues clean up of roads and facilities at the park caused by heavy rains Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning. Pinto Basin Road is closed and probably will be for the next couple of days. Cottonwood Campground and Visitor Center are closed as well as access in and out of the park through the south entrance. All dirt roads are currently closed throughout the park. While the west entrance remains open, park officials are not recommending going in or out of the west entrance while debris is being cleared in the area. Electrical power is currently off at Black Rock.

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Bears Ears National Monument

Inside the new battle for the American West
The push to cut back federally protected lands is fueling a dispute rooted in our history and culture. The big question: Whose land is it?

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Deep in a box canyon in Utah, in the heart of the fractured land known as Bears Ears National Monument, there is a cave—a swooping, mineral-streaked alcove in a sandstone cliff.
In December 1893 a rancher-explorer named Richard Wetherill pushed his way through dense reeds and discovered inside that alcove a stacked-stone ruin where a prehistoric group of Native Americans once lived. He named the site Cave Seven. Some would later condemn him as a vandal and a looter—but Cave Seven proved to be one of the most important finds in the archaeology of the American Southwest.
It’s easier to get there today than it was in Wetherill’s era, but it’s not easy. You bump along a dirt road that twists long miles through arroyos and canyons, past jagged crags and sandstone domes. Then you are on foot. You clamber through a dry watercourse clogged with bitterbrush and poison ivy; you sidle along a rock ledge. Look up: A dissolving jet contrail is the only sign of the time in which we live. Look down: What seem like stones at your feet are in fact remnants of cooking vessels. Such relics are everywhere, if you know how to look: A saltbush-covered mound conceals a ceremonial kiva; a subtle line in the earth marks a road connecting ancient villages. All around is evidence of things made, laid, and lived in centuries ago.
Wetherill excavated the surface ruin at Cave Seven, selling the artifacts to museums and collectors, leaving only a bit of masonry wall and smoke smudges. Then he kept digging. He had recently learned the novel concept of archaeological stratigraphy: the idea that prehistory is recorded in successive layers of sediment. Earlier remains lie beneath later ones—ruins under ruins, cultures under cultures. At Cave Seven, Wetherill found below the visible ruins a burial site that predated them by hundreds of years. He dug up 98 skeletons from a previously unknown Basketmaker society. Deep in this forgotten canyon, deep in time, one culture had given way to another.
Bears Ears National Monument is now a battleground in another collision of cultures. Across the American West, from the desert canyons of Utah to the towering conifers of the Pacific Northwest, and in the mountains and sagebrush basins between, Americans are engaged in bitter disputes over public lands. Nowhere has the battle been fiercer than around national monuments, particularly Bears Ears, which then President Barack Obama created in December 2016.

Last December, President Donald Trump reduced the 1.35-million-acre monument by 85 percent and divided it into two smaller units, Indian Creek and Shash Jáa. He cut nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by 46 percent. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also recommended shrinking other monuments, including Cascade Siskiyou in Oregon. He declined to be interviewed.
When Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906, authorizing the creation of such monuments, it was partly in reaction to the theft of Native American artifacts by people like Wetherill. The law gives presidents broad discretion to protect “historic landmarks … and other objects of historic or scientific interest” on federal land. Designating a monument requires no input from Congress. “A president could literally scratch something out on a bar napkin,” says University of Colorado law professor Charles Wilkinson. There is no language in the law, however, granting subsequent presidents the power to amend monuments created by their predecessors. In the days after Trump slashed the two Utah monuments, five lawsuits challenged the legality of the move. Those suits are pending too.

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