Infos querbeet zu NPs, NMs, SPs, etc.

25 Rare Vintage Photos of America’s National Parks

Take a look back in time to see how much America’s National Parks have changed over the years.
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Schwarzbär muss sterben, weil Touristen Selfies mit ihm machten

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Ein junger Schwarzbär in einem Nationalpark in Oregon wurde so zutraulich, dass Touristen ihn fütterten und Selfies mit ihm machten. Doch weil die Menschen die Aufforderung der Parkverantwortlichen ("Bitte nicht den Bären füttern") ignorierten, nahm die Geschichte des kleinen Bären ein trauriges Ende.

Touristen ignorierten die Warnhinweise
Im US-amerikanischen Nationalpark Henry Hagg Lake in der Nähe von Portland, Oregon, lebte ein kleiner, zutraulicher Schwarzbar, der sich immer wieder den Touristen näherte. Der kleine Bär wurde zur Social-Media-Attraktion: Menschen fütterten ihn mit Studentenfutter und machten sogar Selfies mit ihm. Doch seine Zutraulichkeit wurde ihm zum Verhängnis und die Beamten des Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife mussten eine harte Entscheidung treffen.

„Der Bär wäre zu einer Gefahr für die Menschen geworden“
Weil die Touristen mehrfach die Aufforderungen ignorierten, den Bären nicht zu nahe zu kommen, da es sich um ein Wildtier handelt, wurde das Jungtier erschossen. Zuvor versuchten die Park-Ranger, Polizisten und Biologen den Schwarzbären in die Wildnis zu vertreiben, doch der Bär kam aus Gewohnheit immer wieder zurück in die Nähe der Menschen.
"Der Bär wäre zu einer echten Gefahr für die Menschen geworden", erklärt Biologe Kurt Licence von der Behörde gegenüber dem Nachrichtenportal "The Oregonian". "Die Parkgäste hatten wahrscheinlich keine böse Absicht, aber Bären dürfen niemals gefüttert werden! Denn Wildtiere können vom mitgebrachtem Futter nicht nur krank werden, wie Kurt Licence erklärt: "Sie sind dazu imstande, sich zu wehren, und es ist immer besser, sie in Ruhe zu lassen und sie aus sicherer Entfernung zu beobachten."

User sind empört über das Todes-Urteil
Auf die Nachricht, dass der Bär erschossen wurde, bekam das Washington County Sheriff's Office (WSCO) einen regelrechten Shitstorm auf seinem Twitter-Account. Im Dialog mit den Usern rechtfertigte das WSCO seine Entscheidung: "Eine Umsiedlung war in diesem Fall keine Option. Menschen sollten Bären nicht füttern. Es ist eine sehr traurige Situation."

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Glacier's Premier Road Opens After Late-Season Snow
Going-to-the-Sun road reopens in Montana's Glacier National Park.

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Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road has opened for the season after delays caused by snowfall.
The National Weather Service advised motorists on the 50-mile (80-kilometer) road Sunday to drive carefully due to fog.
The Daily Inter Lake reports travelers on the Going-to-the-Sun Road also should be aware of possible rock falls, especially west of Logan Pass.
Late-season high-altitude snow has closed the Beartooth Highway south of Red Lodge into Wyoming.

In Colorado, icy conditions and snow drifts up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) closed Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park officials say they're not sure when the road might open.

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Stunning photos show the 23 beautiful UNESCO world heritage sites in the US

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UNESCO lists stunning natural and man-made sites around the world that it considers worth protecting for their cultural, historic or scientific significance.
The storied list includes world-famous locations such like India's Taj Mahal and Peru's Machu Picchu, but it also includes many sites across the US.
Some are already widely-known and act as big tourist attractions, while others are not as celebrated.
UNESCO sites can suffer from over-tourism, and the organization has backed the idea of "sustainable tourism," encouraging those that visit to sites to leave them untouched.
They also urge visitors to listen to those that manage the sites if they express concerns about overcrowding or ask people to stay in certain areas.
There are 23 UNESCO sites in the US, including in Hawaii and Alaska.

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Wolves are making a comeback. Here’s where to see them
Grab your binoculars and track thriving populations in Yellowstone, Denali, and beyond.

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You might say that National Geographic Explorer Doug Smith is obsessed with wolves. After all, he’s spent his entire career studying them. A wildlife biologist, he leads the Wolf Restoration project in Yellowstone National Park, trekking on foot, riding horseback, and leaping from helicopters to research and protect these native canines.
Though several scientists argue the animal’s recovery is not yet complete, gray wolves are no longer considered endangered in some states, and a 40-year conservation effort has seen their numbers boom - meaning there’s no better time to encounter them in their native habitats.
“The wolf is the poster child of wilderness,” says Smith. “When you see one in the wild, it awakens the senses and everything feels right.” Here are a few of his favorite places to spot them in the United States.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
If you explore these majestic landscapes for three or four days, “you’ll be rewarded with more than just a glimpse,” Smith says. For the best wolf sightings, visit in summer or midwinter and search during the early morning. In Yellowstone, look for packs living in the Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, and Blacktail Deer Plateau. In Grand Teton, head to Willow Flats. (Learn how the Yellowstone we don’t see is a struggle for life and death.)
Trip tips: Drive the Great Loop Road to pass through Lamar Valley for a chance to glimpse its local wolf pack, then head southwest to the Mount Washburn Trail, a six-mile loop to a fire lookout tower that provides a sweeping, 10,000-foot vantage point over Yellowstone. Book well in advance at Old Faithful Inn (May-October) to experience the national historic landmark for yourself. At Grand Teton, be on the lookout for other wildlife from beavers to bison, then make your way to Jackson Lake to fish, sail, water ski, and windsurf.

Denali National Park & Preserve
In this remote Alaskan wilderness—at 6.1 million acres, one of the largest national parks in the U.S.—expect fewer people and more wolves. Drivers on the Denali Park Road frequently report sightings. If you spot wolves, don’t give chase. “They’ll run away,” Smith says, “and it ruins the moment for everyone.” If you’re on foot, scout river banks for clues such as paw prints. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope to zoom in on the action. (Here’s how to do wildlife tourism right.)
Trip tips: Visit in summer, when Denali Park Road is open. You can drive the first 15 miles, then hop on a shuttle or tour bus. After a day of hiking, stay the night at Wonder Lake Campground for commanding views of Denali itself, at 20,310 feet North America’s tallest peak. Pack insect repellent to ward off the persistent mosquitoes and be sure to make use of the bear-safe food lockers available in the campground

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Bundle up if you go in winter, the prime time to see wolves in this pristine part of Minnesota. Try a sled dog excursion and follow wolf tracks in the snow. During late summer, book a guided canoe trip and you may be treated to the rare sound of wolf pups learning to howl. The presence of wolves, Smith says, gives the area that “wild, north woods feeling.”
Trip tips: As its name suggests, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is best seen from the water. Reserve the required permits to enter and overnight, then strike off on your own or book a guided canoe tour. Motorboats are mostly banned in this massive, glacier-carved backcountry. In the winter, trade the boat for a dogsled, a pair of skis, or snowshoes to traverse the serene expanse.

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Construction begins today on new White House fence

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The United States Secret Service (USSS) and the National Park Service (NPS) began construction on a new White House fence on July 8 that is expected to continue into 2021.

The two agencies have been working since 2014 to develop an appropriate barrier that will keep the White House and grounds as accessible as possible to the public while ensuring the security of the White House and its occupants. Both agencies are committed to respecting the historical significance and visitor experience at the White House and President’s Park.

Construction will take place in phases, beginning in the northwest corner of the White House grounds along Pennsylvania Avenue. The second phase will move to the northeast corner. In the coming weeks, construction fencing will enclose a portion of the immediate White House sidewalk and part of Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to the work area.

The White House will remain visible from multiple views throughout the duration of this project. The NPS will continue to issue permits for demonstrations in Lafayette Park and the open areas of the White House sidewalk. Scheduled tours of the White House will continue as planned. Pedestrians and cyclists will generally have access to travel through Pennsylvania Avenue, but should expect occasional temporary closures to facilitate access for construction equipment and materials.

The project will encompass the 18-acre White House complex and involves over 3,500 feet of steel fencing. The current 6 feet 6 inch tall fence will be replaced by an approximately 13 feet tall fence with wider and stronger fence posts. The new fence incorporates anti-climb and intrusion detection technology and is designed to mitigate current and future security threats.

The design of the fence was approved in 2017 by both the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The contract for construction of a new fence and gates was awarded in June of 2018.

The design, materials and perimeter of the White House fence have evolved over the past two centuries. The first perimeter fence was a wood rail fence completed in 1803 during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. The wooden fence was replaced by a stone wall and later an iron fence. Paint analysis indicated that the earliest color of the north iron fencing may have been a deep forest green. The NPS plans to preserve sections of the current fence in its museum collection.

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- Achtung: Satire -

National Park Service Releases Detailed Guide On What Visitors Should Do Upon Encountering Squirrel

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In their latest effort to educate and prepare the public for crossing the path of the ubiquitous rodents, the U. S. National Park Service released a detailed guide Friday advising visitors on what they should do if they encounter a squirrel. “We’ve published a step-by-step guide urging guests to remain absolutely still and try to ‘make themselves appear big’ by spreading their feet if they ever happen upon a squirrel in the wild,” said Park Service Wildlife Management deputy director Dan Smith, who stressed that the Park Service had installed high-visibility signage in areas where large concentrations of the bushy-tailed animals are found. “Movies such as Ice Age would have you believe that squirrels are friendly, mischievous at worst, with absolutely no thirst for human blood or history of carrying off infants only to climb up trees with them and eat their pink little heads as if they were apples. But remember, these are feral animals, perfectly adapted to survive and thrive in a harsh environment. There are, in fact, several species of squirrels in North America, and our new materials will cover interactions with each one, although you’ll want to avoid eye contact with all of them and absolutely safeguard your food when camping. And in the event that a squirrel does sprint off with your store of nuts, for the love of God, absolutely do not chase after them.” The Park Service also announced that capsaicin-based anti-squirrel mace would be sold in all national park gift shops.

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Sneak preview of Washington Monument rocket projection to celebrate 50th anniversary of moon launch

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The nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11 starting on Tuesday -- but D.C. got a sneak preview of what's in store to celebrate the beginning of the historic trip to the moon.
FOX 5 cameras captured an impressive rehearsal along the National Mall early Monday morning when an image of a full-sized, 363-foot Saturn V rocket was projected onto the Washington Monument.

For three nights, July 16, 17 and 18 -- the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will project the rocket's image onto the east face of the monument from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. On Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20, a special 17-minute show, "Apollo 50: Go for the Moon" will combine full-motion projection-mapping artwork on the monument. Archival footage will be displayed to recreate the launch of Apollo 11 and tell the story of the first moon landing.

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U.S. government to allow off-roading at a Utah national monument

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The U.S. government has decided to allow off-road vehicles access to some archaeologically sensitive land at a Utah national monument that houses sacred tribal sites under a plan announced Friday.
The Bureau of Land Management’s plan for the Bears Ears National Monument says that certain historic sites most at risk will be off limits, but the agency chose an alternative that closes about 42 square miles (108 sq. kilometers) to off-road vehicles. That’s far less than a different option that would have closed nearly 184 square miles (476 sq. kilometers).
The plan was met by immediate criticism from environmental and tribal organizations who say it will leave sensitive lands and sites vulnerable to damage.
“It’s like seeing that your grandmother’s house has been robbed,” said Carleton Bowekaty co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, in a statement. “These lands are sacred to us and they are being destroyed — sometimes inadvertently — by people who don’t understand our culture and way of life.”
he groups also consider the year-plus spent developing the plan a waste of time since lawsuits challenging the downsizing are pending. The final plan comes after the agency took into account public comment following the release of a proposal last summer that laid out the different alternatives.
Bureau of Land Management Utah state director Ed Roberson said in a news release that the plan protects cultural resources while allowing for recreation, keeping most of the monument open for hunting, fishing and target shooting. Roberson noted that no shooting will be allowed near cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and campgrounds.
“These plans will provide a blueprint to protect the awe-inspiring natural and cultural resources that make this monument nationally significant, while enhancing recreational opportunities and ensuring access to traditional uses,” Roberson said in the release.
President Barack Obama created Bears Ears National Monument in 2016 after years of lobbying by Native American groups who asked for more protections on what they consider sacred lands that are home to ancient cliff dwellings and other artifacts.
A year later, President Donald Trump downsized it by about 85% to 315 square miles (816 sq. kilometers) following a review of 27 national monuments by then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Trump earned cheers from Republican leaders in Utah.
Trump also downsized Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah by nearly half. The final management plan for the revised monument is still pending.
Trump said scaling back the two monuments reversed federal overreach. Past presidents have trimmed national monuments 18 times, but there’s never been a court ruling on whether the Antiquities Act also lets them reduce one.
Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona were among Democrats who blasted the plan as being a waste of time since the lawsuits are pending and called it an example of the Trump administration’s “attack on public lands.” Udall was one 11 senators who urged the government to postpone the management plan until the courts resolved the lawsuits.
The Bears Ears plan’s allowance for using vehicle-dragged chains to clear some woodland areas for fire prevention and right of way roads in parts of a popular rock climbing area known as Indian Creek are examples that the plan is ill-conceived, said Heidi McIntosh, managing attorney of Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountains office. The organization is among the coalition that sued over Trump’s reduction of the monument.
“Bears Ears is not the kind of place for chaining thousands of acres of forest or stringing up utility lines,” McIntosh said in a statement. “These are wild, sweeping monument lands.”

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Glacier National Park

14-Jährige wird in US-Nationalpark von Steinschlag getötet

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Im Glacier Nationalpark im US-Bundesstaat Montana ist ein Teenager von herabstürzenden Felsbrocken erschlagen worden. Das Mädchen saß mit ihrer Familie im Auto, als sich die Steine lösten und auf das Dach des Pkw stürzte.

Es sollte ein schöner Familienausflug werden, doch für eine 14-Jährige endete er tödlich. Im Glacier Nationalpark im US-Bundesstaat Montana haben sich mehrere Felsbrocken aus großer Höhe gelöst und sind auf das Dach eines fahrenden Autos gefallen. Während die Eltern und die beiden Geschwister schwer verletzt überlebten, kam für den Teenager jede Hilfe zu spät.
Wie "CNN" berichtet, sollen einige der Brocken faustgroß, andere wiederum rund 30 Zentimeter groß gewesen sein. Zusammen mit Schutt hätte die Menge die Ladefläche eines Pick-up füllen können, heißt es. Sie fielen auf das Dach und durchschlugen die Heckscheibe des Wagens. Der Vorfall geschah am Montagabend gegen 19 Uhr in der Nähe des Osttunnels auf der beliebten und bergigen Going-to-the-Sun-Road. Die Straße musste nach dem Unfall für rund drei Stunden für Aufräumarbeiten gesperrt werden.

Zwei Todesfälle innerhalb einer Woche
Die Eltern erlitten bei dem Steinschlag zahlreiche Blutergüsse, die beiden Geschwister wurden leicht verletzt. Sie wurden in Krankenhäuser gebracht. Die 14-Jährige konnte wegen ihres instabilen Zustands aufgrund ihrer schweren Verletzungen nicht in einem Helikopter transportiert werden. Flugsanitäter begleiteten sie schließlich in einem Krankenwagen, doch sie verstarb auf dem Weg in eine örtliche Klinik. Die Familie soll aus Utah zu Besuch gewesen sein, wie es heißt.
Ein solcher Vorfall, bei dem ein Auto von einem Steinschlag getroffen wurde und der ebenfalls tödliche Folgen hatte, ereignete sich laut Angaben eines Parksprechers auf derselben Straße zuletzt im Jahr 1996.
Es ist der zweite tödliche Zwischenfall in dem Park innerhalb einer Woche. Vergangenen Dienstag ertrank dort ein 64-Jähriger in einem See, bei dem Versuch, seinen Hund aus dem Wasser zu ziehen. Der Mann war mit seiner Familie aus Kanada zu Besuch. Laut Angaben des Parks kam auch für das Tier jede Hilfe zu spät.

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Von Wolfs-Attacken auf Menschen habe ich selten gehört.
Zumal wir am Niederrhein ja mittlerweile auch ein „Wolfsproblem“ haben.

Wolf attacks family camping in Canada national park

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An American family camping in one of Canada's national park has escaped an attack by a wild wolf.
Matt Rispoli was camping with his wife and two young boys in Banff National Park in Alberta when a wolf attacked them in the middle of the night.
Parks Canada says wolf attacks are very rare - wild wolves generally avoid humans altogether.
A stranger in a nearby tent helped Mr Rispoli fight off the wolf, and the family was able to flee.
Mr Rispoli's wife Elisa recounted the terrifying incident on Facebook.
"It was like something out of a horror movie. Matt literally threw his body in front of me and the boys, and fought the Wolf as it ripped apart our tent and his arms and hands," she wrote.
From his own campsite next door, Russ Fee said he heard a woman scream. He ran outside with a lantern and saw the wolf trying to drag something of the the Rispolis' tent that turned out to be Mr Rispoli, by the leg.
In a split second, Mr Fee charged into action.
"It was just so quick and the screams were so intense, that I knew it was obviously a terrible situation, so I just kind of kept running at it and I just kicked it sort of in the back hip area," he told the CBC.
The wolf let go of Mr Rispoli's leg, but stood there. The two men continued to shout at the animal and threw rocks, until they were able to escape to Mr Fee's campsite. Mr Rispoli was treated for his injuries the next day in hospital.
The campsite was evacuated and Parks Canada tracked and captured the wolf. The agency said the Rispolis' campsite did not have any "significant wildlife attractants or food" that might have lured the wolf.
A subsequent veterinary exam determined the wolf was in "poor condition", the government agency said in a news release.
"The wolf's condition was likely a contributing factor for its unusual behaviour and this remains a very rare incident."

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Es macht wieder auf - mit etwas Verspätung:

Washington Monument to reopen next month following 3-year closure

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The Washington Monument will reopen to the public next month for the first time in more than three years, the U.S. National Park Service announced Friday.
Public tours of 555-foot-tall landmark will resume Sept. 19, the NPS said in a statement.
The world’s tallest building at the time of its completion in 1889, the Washington Monument was indefinitely shuttered in August 2016 due to issues with its elevator system.
Millions of dollars have since been invested in modernizing the monument’s elevator system and constructing a new security screening facility for visitors.
The monument had been previously slated to reopen this spring, but the NPS said in April that construction of the security facility had been delayed due to the presence of potentially contaminated soil in the area. The soil was found below the ground surface and poses no risk to public health, the Park Service said at the time.
Upgrades to the monument’s elevator system were made possible by a $3 million private donation pledged in 2016 from philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, the NPS said then. The funds were slated to be spent on correcting mechanical, electrical and computer issues that promoted the monument’s closure, the agency said when the donation was announced.
The screening facility was built with $7.785 million in funds appropriated from the NPS budget for fiscal year 2017, the NPS said previously.
The NPS nonetheless credited President Trump’s administration for the monument’s reopening.
“The re-opening of the Washington Monument is another example of how the Trump Administration is enhancing visitors’ experiences at national parks and public lands by better meeting critical infrastructure and maintenance needs,” the NPS said in a statement.
The Washington Monument is scheduled to be open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., said NPS. Same-day tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis when it re-opens Sept. 19, though tickets will be able to be ordered online in advance starting in October.

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Crater of Diamonds NP

3.72 Karat: Spaziergängerin entdeckt großen Diamanten in US-Nationalpark

Eine 27-Jährige besuchte mit ihrer Familie den Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas. Hier befindet sich die achtgrößte Diamantenmine der Welt, und Besucher, die Edelsteine finden, dürfen sie behalten. Oft kommt das nicht vor – doch Miranda hatte Riesenglück.

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Eigentlich stand der Trip in den Nationalpark gar nicht auf dem ursprünglichen Tagesplan von Miranda Hollingshead und ihrer Familie. Mit ihrer Mutter, ihren Geschwistern und ihrem kleinen Kind war die 27-Jährige auf einem Ausflug in Arkansas unterwegs. Die Familie, die ursprünglich aus Texas kommt, entschied sich spontan, einen kleinen Umweg zu machen und sich den Crater of Diamonds anzuschauen – eine schicksalshafte Fügung.
Der Crater of Diamonds ist ein Nationalpark, in dem die achtgrößte Diamantenmine der Welt liegt. Besucher dürfen sie nach dem Kauf einer Eintrittskarte für 10 Dollar besichtigen und alle Edelsteine, die sie finden, behalten. Oft kommt das allerdings nicht vor – zumindest Diamanten von signifikanter Größe finden Amateursucher selten. Zuletzt entdeckte immerhin ein Teenager 2017 hier einen 7.44 Karat großen, braunen Diamanten.

Gelegentlich gibt es spektakuläre Funde
Für Miranda Hollingshead und ihre Familie war der Besuch des Parks eher ein abenteuerlicher Spaß. Niemand rechnete damit, wirklich etwas zu finden. Die Gruppe spazierte über das Gelände, besichtigte die Mine und rastete schließlich im Schatten. Miranda sah sich auf ihrem Handy ein Youtube-Video darüber an, wie man Diamanten überhaupt erkennt. Als sie einmal kurz aufblickte, um nach ihrem Kleinkind zu schauen, blieb ihr Blick an etwas hängen, das fast vor ihren Füßen lag: ein auffälliger Stein.
Ich habe zu meinem Kleinen hinübergeschaut, nur eine Sekunde, und als ich wieder heruntersah, entdeckte ich ihn zwischen den anderen Steinen", berichtet Hollingshead. Sie war allerdings nicht völlig sicher, ob es sich wirklich um einen Diamanten handelte – die Ungewissheit nahmen ihr die Experten im Nationalpark aber schnell. Traditionell lassen glückliche Finder ihre Steine von den Rangern wiegen und vermessen, dann dürfen sie sie offiziell taufen. Der größte je in den USA gefundene Diamant war 1972 der sogenannte Uncle Sam, der ebenfalls aus dem Crater of Diamonds stammt. Miranda und ihr Sohn haben ihrerseits einen guten Namen für den wertvollen Stein gefunden.

Vielleicht wird aus dem Stein ein Ring
Der 3.72 Karat große, gelbe Diamant, den Miranda Hollingshead fand, heißt jetzt Caro Avenger. Den ersten Teil des Namens durfte Mirandas Sohn beisteuern, der ihn nach einer Freundin benennen wollte, der zweite Teil stammt von Miranda, die Superhelden-Filme liebt. Die junge Mutter weiß noch nicht, was sie mit ihrem Fund machen will – sie denkt darüber nach, ihn für einen Ring fassen zu lassen. Aber auch ein Verkauf steht vielleicht im Raum, denn der könnte ihr einen fünfstelligen Betrag aufs Konto spülen.

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10 US Campgrounds For Only The Most Adventurous Campers

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Some love to see the city lights, but others of us travel to immerse ourselves in the natural world. Our hobbies are geared for adventure and provide us with a thrill, as well as the opportunity to see things only found in the depths of nature. People may not understand this passion we fail to contain, but we crave to find new places that have yet to be explored.
Luckily, we understand this need for adventure, and it is the reason why we created this specific list. You deserve to go on the trip of a lifetime, and there is somewhere for people of every taste. Keep reading to learn about ten U.S. campgrounds for only the most adventurous campers.

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The route to Hell is open again in Northern California

Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park has opened after two years

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The route to hell is open again.
While theologians might argue it’s never closed, we’re being a little more literal here: The main trail to Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park reopened earlier this month after being closed for the last two years.

The 1.5-mile path to the geothermal basin was first constructed in 1935 by the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.
The trek is the most popular in the park, and as you might expect, the 84-year-old trail suffered from the affection.
o the trail was closed down late in 2017 for renovation that included construction of some impressive retaining walls, backfilled with gravel and crushed rock.
The new trail is wider, wide enough for traffic to pass in both directions in many places. Pulling over for large oncoming groups is a good operative rule however.
The surface is also much more regular, with a steady grade and surface. The abrupt changes on the old trail up and down, and from rock to root to gravel are gone.
The walk seems much easier than it used to be. The new surface isn’t packed down yet, so you don’t get the clean push off with every step, but the regular grade is a big improvement.
Lassen Park spokesman Kevin Sweeney said the new path doesn’t meet the criteria for handicapped accessibility, but the work was done to make it more friendly for people with mobility issues.
“It’s the most popular hike in the park,” he said. “We wanted to make it available for more people.”
The path down into the geothermal basin has been revamped with a number of stone steps that make that part of the hike easier too.
In the basin itself, the boardwalk through has been reduced to a single path, with the option of looping back on a side trail if you don’t want to retrace your steps. The wood boardwalk has been replaced with plastic timbers, better able to withstand the acidic environment there.
Bumpass Hell still stinks of sulphur. Pools boil and simmer, and steam vents into the sky here and there. One mud pot was enthusiastic Saturday, shooting black gunk several feet into the air.
A historic trail to a western overlook remains to be reconstructed. Work on a number of overlooks along the way is also planned.
The additional projects may be completed by fall 2020, if the weather is agreeable. “It depends if we get 30 feet of snow or 15 feet,” Sweeney said.
The cost of the work has been about $1 million so far, he said. The work was done by Lassen Park staff.
The bill has been paid by user fees, the $30 you pay to drive a vehicle the park. There are different fees for motorcycles, hikers and bicyclists, and a range of passes that are available.
Admission will be free on Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day, and on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11.
If you go on the weekends, you might want to plan to get there early. Last Saturday, the parking lot was fairly empty at 9 a.m., but by 11 a.m., it had turned into an unhappy circus of circling cars, waiting for someone to leave.
Take plenty of water. And if you’re taking in small children, make sure there are enough adults to carry some of them out. The 3-mile round trip is considered a moderate hike for an adult, but it’s a challenge for youngsters unfamiliar with the idea of pacing themselves.
The geothermal area is named for Kendall Bumpass, who began running sheep in Battle Creek Meadows in 1862.
through the area in 1865 during a junket of eastern Tehama County to promote to would-be settlers the virtues of the area, recently “cleared” of hostile Indians.
Bumpass offered to guide the newsman to the geothermal area he had discovered the previous year.
While there, Bumpass broke through a seemingly solid surface and plunged a leg into the red hot liquid below.
He was placed on a horse and taken to Red Bluff, where the leg was amputated. He suffered the ride in stoic silence, according to the editor.

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Hiker airlifted to hospital after bison attack at Utah park, was reportedly trying to warn friend

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A 22-year-old woman had to be airlifted to a hospital on Friday after she was charged by bison at a state park in Utah and sustained multiple injuries to her legs, according to officials.
The incident happened at Antelope Island State Park around 7:30 p.m., located northwest of Salt Lake City.
Utah State Parks Lt. Eric Stucki said the woman sustained a broken leg and laceration to her other leg, possibly due to being gored, after she was charged and thrown into the air by the animal.
The woman, who has not been identified, was on a trail and heading toward a companion when the incident took place.
Stucki told KSL-TV the woman was hiking when she spotted the bison about 50 yards away and tried to warn her friend about the animal because she knew her companion was uncomfortable around them.
The bison, however, charged the woman and threw her into the air. The animal then nudged the woman with its nose as she remained still on the ground before moving off, according to Stucki.
Stucki told FOX13 the woman was flown to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, but her injuries are not life-threatening.
Officials are warning visitors who visit the park that bison roam freely, and they should keep their distance as the animals can be aggressive.
Wildlife on Antelope Island include hundreds of bison. The state park is connected to the Great Salt Lake's southeastern shore by a 7-mile-long causeway.

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ATVs to Be Allowed on Some Roads in Utah's 5 National Parks

ATVs will be allowed on certain roads in the five national parks in Utah under a new rule from the National Park Service that went through without public comment.

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ATVs will be allowed on certain roads in the five national parks in Utah under a new rule from the National Park Service that went through without public comment.
The rule takes effect Nov. 1 and only applies to national parks in Utah to conform with a state law passed 2008 that allows any "street-legal" vehicle on state and county roads, The Salt Lake Tribune reported .
The National Park Service's acting regional director, Palmer "Chip" Jenkins, informed park administrators last week in a memo about a policy change that allows ATVs and so-called utility terrain vehicles (or UTVs) on main access roads and back roads if they have standard safety equipment and are registered and insured.
The agency had previously opted not to align with the state law because it feared it would be too easy for ATVs to drive off roads if they were allowed anywhere in the park.
But National Park Service spokeswoman Vanessa Lacayo said off-roading won't be allowed.
"This alignment with state law isn't carte blanche to take their ATVs off road," Lacayo said. "If people (drive) off road, they will be cited. Protection of these resources is paramount."
The rule changed triggered criticism from conservation groups that contend it will worsen traffic congestion and parking issues in the state's national parks that are already overcrowded.
Allowing noisy ATVs in the parks will disrupt wildlife and pierce the solitude for visitors, said Kristen Brengel, the National Parks Conservation Association's vice president of government affairs. Her organization is weighing options to block the rule's implementation.
"These are national parks that have incredible resources, cultural resources, natural resources, and so by allowing these vehicles that are tailored to go anywhere, you're potentially putting these resources at risk," Brengel said. "The park service should be going through a public process, doing an analysis and making sure they can adequately protect the park and its resources and visitors. They haven't done that."
The rule applies to the five national parks in Utah: Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.
The policy change will allow the off-road vehicles to drive on well-known roads such as Canyonlands National Park's White Rim and Arches' entry points from Salt Valley and Willow Springs.
Off-highway vehicle advocacy groups and many southern Utah county commissioners pushed U.S. government officials to make the change.
Newell Harward, a Wayne County commissioner, applauded the change.
"We are happy with it," said Harward, whose county includes Capitol Reef National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. "It will increase some tourism issues with folks who want to use some of these roads with street-legal UTVs."
He added: "I'm hoping people will pay attention to the laws and stay on roads. If they don't, then this is going to get backed up."
Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman, who led an ATV protest ride through a southern Utah canyon off-limits to the vehicles several years ago when he was a county commissioner, also sent a letter to the Interior Department to alter the rule.
He said in the Sept. 2 letter he was "offended" that off-highway vehicles weren't allowed in the parks since most of them are accessed by state and county roads.

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Biggest, Hottest, Deadliest: The Most Extreme U.S. National Parks

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Journey with us as we visit some superlative U.S. National Park Service sites.

The U.S. national parks come in all shapes and sizes, from Alaskan parks whose enormity defies comprehension to petite historical parks along the East Coast, with plenty in between. Though it’s not only size where we see interesting extremities—there are other dynamic elements that push the limits of comfort, endurance, and astonishing, surreal variations of beauty, like temperature, weather, remoteness, most trails, most frigid cold, most swelteringly hot, most bone dry…

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Glacier National Park

Alpine Areas of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Closed for the Season

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Due to continued winter weather, Glacier National Park has determined that the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road will not reopen to vehicles this season.

The road typically closes between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook on or before the third Monday in October, weather and road condition dependent.

Visitors are reminded that hiker and biker access is permitted on most closed roads in Glacier National Park though risks include falling ice or rocks, and ice-covered or snowy road conditions.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass was closed on September 16 to allow for the completion of an ongoing pavement preservation project. The park intended to reopen the alpine section of the road after September 29, however the area was impacted by a significant snowstorm the day after the pavement preservation work was completed. Efforts to plow the alpine section of the road were hampered due to continued snowfall and avalanche activity.

Subsequent snowfall throughout the park on October 8 further delayed the opening of the alpine section of the road as crews focused on plowing needs throughout the park. The park’s road crew has successfully reopened Many Glacier Road, the Camas Road, and the portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between the foot of St. Mary Lake and Rising Sun. The Two Medicine Road remains closed due to ice and snow.

Due to prolonged freezing temperatures forecasted for this week and the possibility of additional snow next weekend, the park will prioritize winter road preparations, including: removing guardrails in avalanche prone areas, winterizing the Logan Pass Visitor Center, and installing snow poles to aid plowing next spring.

Crews will begin removing 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 and potentially delay the opening of the road in the spring. 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.

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