Infos querbeet zu NPs, NMs, SPs, etc.

Great Smoky Montains
US-Nationalpark: Bär frisst Mann auf Campingplatz

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Wanderer haben bei einer Tour durch den Great Smoky Nationalpark in den USA zerfetzte Körperteile entdeckt. Ein Bär soll einen Mann getötet haben. Das Tier wurde vorsorglich eingeschläfert.

Bei einem Spaziergang am North-Carolina-Arm des Hazel-Creek-Trails, nur wenige Kilometer von der Grenze zu Tennessee entfernt, ist eine Gruppe Wanderer an einem scheinbar verlassenen Campingplatz vorbeigekommen. Dort stieß sie auf verstreute Körperteile. Die Gruppe informierte daraufhin den Parkranger.
In der Nähe wurde auch ein Bär gesichtet, der "das Gebiet durchkämmte", wie es in einer Pressemitteilung des Parks hieß. Die Überreste konnten identifiziert werden – es handelte sich um einen Mann aus Illinois.Der Bär suchte offenbar nach Überresten des Mannes. Obwohl nicht geklärt werden konnte, ob der Bär ihn auch wirklich getötet hatte, wurde das Tier eingeschläfert.

Die Website der Great Smoky Mountains warnt Parkbesucher davor, sich den Schwarzbären, die in der Region heimisch sind, bis auf 15 Meter zu nähern. "Wenn ein Schwarzbär auf Sie zu läuft, laute Geräusche macht oder auf den Boden knallt, laufen Sie nicht weg, sondern gehen Sie langsam zurück und beobachten Sie den Bären", heißt es auf der Website. "Vergrößern Sie den Abstand zwischen Ihnen und dem Bären. Der Bär wird wahrscheinlich dasselbe tun." Ob der Mann dem Bären zu nahe kam oder an einer anderen Ursache verstorben ist, bleibt ungeklärt.

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Bandelier National Monument: It’s Tarantula Time Again

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BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT

About this time of year, tarantulas start making themselves known in Bandelier and other parts of New Mexico. Every autumn, mature male tarantulas start out on their quest to find a mate. This exposes them to many dangers, from hawks and skunks, which want to eat them, to fast-moving cars, to people who just find them creepy and may think they should be squashed.
Tarantulas have been around for more than 16 million years and comprise more than 900 species found across the world. They do have venom, but for the ones around here, it is about equivalent to a wasp sting. New world tarantulas also have barbed urticating (stinging) bristles which they can brush from their abdomens in self-defense; these are particularly harmful if breathed into the lungs and can do permanent damage to eyes But generally, they are easy-going creatures.

They are spiders, with eight legs, even though they have two other sets of appendages that sometimes make it look like they have 12 legs. arantulas are hunters, preying on such creatures as centipedes, millipedes, beetles, and even smaller types of spiders. In turn, they are considered food by predators including hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, and snakes. hey are very long lived; given the chance; females may live 30-40 years, spending most of that time in their burrow when they’re not hunting. Males mature in 2-5 years and seldom live more than a year or so after that, partly because of having to go out into the world to find a female.
The wandering individuals seen in fall on the roads and elsewhere are almost certainly males, trying to reproduce in the short time available to them. The females stay at their burrows and the males follow hormone scents to try to find them. f you see one of these males, be kind. f he’s in a threatening location like a road or trail, and it’s feasible, consider helping him across with a piece of carboard or a magazine for them to crawl onto. e aware for your own safety in that location! Place him off the road or trail in the direction he was traveling. Certainly, don’t squash him. Let him proceed on his mission to provide future generations of arantulas. Hopefully these big hairy spiders will share the earth with us for another 16 million years.

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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Grizzly bear kills hunter in largest U.S. national park, first-of-its-kind attack

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A grizzly bear mauled and killed a hunter at an Alaska park Sunday, the National Park Service (NPS) confirmed,
The fatal attack occurred in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, America's largest national park, while the hunter was on a 10-day moose hunt with a friend.
Only the deceased hunter was injured in the attack. The exact injuries have not been released — and the hunter's identity is currently being withheld, pending investigation.
"The incident is the first known bear mauling fatality recorded in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve since the park was established in 1980," wrote NPS in a statement.
"Visitors are encouraged to be Bear Aware when traveling in the backcountry and take precautions such as carrying bear spray and using Bear Resistant Food Containers."
At 13.2 million acres (20,625 square miles), Wrangell-St. Elias is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and the country of Switzerland combined.
Even outside of Wrangell-St. Elias, fatal bear attacks are very rare. According to Alaska News Source, on average, there are 2.56 bear attack deaths in the continent of North America each year.

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Ein netter, kleiner Bericht über die Anasazi, die auch in Parks im Südwesten gelebt haben. Darun habe ich es hier mal eingestellt.

Plötzlich weg

Die altindianischen Anasazi im Südwesten der späteren USA verschwanden im 13. Jahrhundert. Bis heute wird in der Forschung über die Gründe spekuliert.

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Wer das erste Mal Cliff Palace im Mesa Verde National Park im Südwesten des US-Bundesstaats Colorado erblickt, möchte an eine Vision glauben, eine Traumprojektion. So unwirklich, unbedingt geheimnisvoll und zugleich anziehend wirken die hellen steinernen Türme, mehrstöckigen Häuser und rituellen Kreisvertiefungen der sogenannten Kivas, die altindianische Baumeister vor 1000 Jahren kühn und raffiniert unter den gewaltigen Felsüberhang einpassten.
Mesa Verde ist insgesamt ein von Klüften durchzogener, mächtiger und dicht bewaldeter Tafelberg, der bis zu 2600 Meter Höhe erreicht, und Cliff Palace ist eines der berühmtesten archäologischen Monumente überhaupt in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika.
Insgesamt schützt der Mesa Verde National Park aber mehr als 4000 Fundstätten, von denen die wichtigsten und eindrucksvollsten von Indianern errichtet wurden und als Ruinen heute geradezu magisch wirken. Denn Ende des 13. Jahrhunderts verließen die Bewohner plötzlich ihre Stätten und Siedlungsräume, in die sie schon in vorchristlicher Zeit gekommen waren.
Die Architekten waren die Ancestral Puebloans oder auch Chacoans oder Hisatsinom, wie sie von ihren Nachfahren, den Hopi, Zuni und anderen heute hier lebenden Pueblo-Indianervölkern, genannt werden - im Gegensatz zu der 1936 von Alfred V. Kidder, dem Vater der amerikanischen Archäologie gerade im Südwesten, vorgeschlagenen und dann geläufig gewordenen Bezeichnung "Anasazi". Die stammt aus der Navajo-Sprache und bedeutet wenig freundlich "Feinde unserer Vorfahren". Dabei ist es keinesfalls gesichert, dass sich diese frühen Indianer überhaupt als eine Völkerschaft verstanden oder eine gemeinsame Sprache benutzten.
Schon Jahrhunderte vor der Ankunft spanischer Weißer und auch der Apachen und Navajos aus dem Norden sind hier im Vierländereck, der "Four Corners", wo Utah und Colorado an Arizona und New Mexico grenzen, die Anasazi eingewandert. Sie haben sich von halbnomadischen Korbflechtern zu jenen souveränen Baumeistern entwickelt, deren Hinterlassenschaften zu den großen Schätzen im Südwesten der USA gehören.
Die Zentren dieser Kultur, die zwar keine Schrift hervorbrachte, aber neben der Architektur auch viele Felsenbilder und Petroglyphen schuf, lagen vor allem im Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, in Mesa Verde in Colorado, auch im Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. Dazu sind in Utah und in weiteren Canyons in Colorado bedeutende Spuren dieser trotz aller Ausgrabungen weiterhin mysteriösen Kultur zu finden.

Die klimatischen Verhältnisse waren nicht gerade einladend
Über den Bauten liegt eine rätselhafte Melancholie. Warum verließen die Ancestral Puebloans in der Hochblüte ihrer Kultur so gut wie auf einen Schlag ihre Zentren und verschwanden im Dunkel der Geschichte. Das Warum hat bisher so wenig erschöpfende Antworten zur Rätsellösung gebracht wie die Frage, wohin sie entschwunden sind.
Für viele Experten sind die heutigen Völker der Hopi, Zuni und andere wohl Nachfahren der Ancestral Puebloans. Hopi und Zuni sehen das selbst so. Darüberhinaus wird vermutet, dass Anasazi auch nach Mexico gezogen sind. Mit den Tolteken dort betrieben sie Türkishandel. Umgekehrt fanden Archäologen in Anasazi-Stätten Perlmuttschmuck, der nur von Muscheln von Mexikos Küste stammen kann, ebenso Papageienfedern und seltene Kupferglöckchen.
Erstaunlich bleibt auch, dass weder Chaco Canyon, dessen Bauten als Höhepunkt der Anasazi-Kultur gelten, noch Mesa Verde und andere Siedlungsorte besonders einladend gewesen wären. Selbst zu jener frühen Zeit herrschten im Sommer auf den Hochebenen bis zu 35 Grad Celsius und mehr, im Winter konnten die Temperaturen bis 30 Grad Minus sinken.
Das Bauholz für die mehrstöckigen Großhäuser im Chaco Canyon holten sie aus den westlich gelegenen, 75 Kilometer entfernten Chuska-Bergen. Dafür könnte das etwa 600 Kilometer umfassende Wege- und Straßennetz der Anasazi gedient haben. Manche Straßen waren neun Meter breit, gut für Holztransporte. Auch die Ernährung haben sie wohl durch importierten Mais aus den Chuska-Bergen gedeckt, vermutet Larry Benson von der University of Boulder.
Denn die Böden in Chaco Canyon und Umgebung waren viel zu mager, trocken und salzig, um auf ihnen erfolgreich für etliche Tausend Menschen Ackerbau zu betreiben. Doch am Fuß der schneereichen Chuska-Berge könnten sie mit Bewässerungsanlagen genug Mais, Bohnen, Kürbis und Baumwolle geerntet haben. Manche Forscher nehmen wegen dieser Nahrungsproblematik an, dass Chaco Canyon nicht durchgehend bewohnt war, sondern als zeremoniales Zentrum diente, zu dem man bei wichtigen Anlässen hinpilgerte.
Doch die plötzliche Aufgabe der Siedlungen, Dörfer und Großhäuser kann keine der vielen Theorien wirklich erklären. Einige sehen in lang anhaltenden Dürren den Grund, andere meinen, es könnten ökologische Probleme wie Auspowerung der Böden, kriegerische Auseinandersetzungen und Überbevölkerung dazu beigetragen haben, das alte Leben zu verlassen.
Die wohl tiefsinnigste Hypothese hat der indigene Anthropologe Professor Alfonso Ortiz 1990 in einem Film der Reihe "Terra X" formuliert: "Es könnte sein, dass sie sahen, dass ihre bisherige Lebensweise in Chaco Canyon und den anderen Zentren einfach nicht mehr aufging im Zusammenklang mit der Natur, dass sie also das Scheitern ihres bisherigen Daseins ahnten und sich deshalb zurückzogen als Konsequenz aus dem drohenden Kollaps ihrer bis dahin so erfolgreichen Kultur."

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Interior Department Finalizes eBike Regulations For National Parks

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Thirteen months after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt ordered the National Park Service to grant eBike riders the same access in parks as muscle-powered cyclists enjoyed, the Interior Department on Friday finalized the regulations that allow that access.
“Enhancing access to our public lands and expanding recreational opportunities to all Americans is a priority for the Trump administration,” the secretary said in a release. “The new regulations allow our public land managers to provide eBike access to bike trails, enhancing the opportunities to utilize our public lands to create life-long memories.”
The policy change towards the end of August 2019 came without public disclosure and without an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal before it was implemented, moves that appear in conflict with the Code of Federal Regulations. The secretarial order called for the policy to be adopted "unless otherwise prohibited by law or regulation" within two weeks. It also called for public comment, after the fact, some time in the future.
That call for public comment came in April.
In December 2019 Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed a lawsuit to overturn the Interior Department's move to expand eBike access in the National Park System. The 31-page filing, made by PEER with three other conservation groups and two individuals, charged that the decision-making process was flawed in that it violated not only the Administrative Procedures Act but also the National Environmental Policy Act. The plaintiffs also argued that an advisory committee comprised of industry friendly representatives met regularly with Interior officials to lobby for the increased access and helped develop the new policy.
Officials with PEER said Friday that Interior's announcement that it had finalized eBike rules for the Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation would not derail the lawsuit. Concerns ranging from the risks of high-speed eBikes to visitors and wildlife, spooking horses on mixed-use trails, and degradng the quality of the backcountry experience have not been addressed, the organization said.
“The Park Service’s undue haste resembles an eBike whizzing by with an irresponsible teenager on the throttle,” said PEER Senior Counsel Peter Jenkins. “Interior and the Park Service realized they were caught with their legal pants down and are scrambling for cover.
“This rule is the product of industry influence having nothing to do with improving the park experience – a topic on which the Park Service has yet to even do a preliminary assessment,” added Jenkins. “Given the major challenges facing a Park Service in the grip of a pandemic, this is a questionable use of its limited regulatory resources.”

There are three "classes" of eBikes:
* Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
* Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.
* Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.

Part of the secretary's directive called for public land managers to bring their eBike experience more in line with state rules. The National Park Service policy adopted over a year ago has already resulted in more than 385 national parks evaluating e-bike use.
The final rules in large part adopt the existing federal definition of eBikes as a two- or three-wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of not more than 750 watts (1 horsepower). The rules look to the classification system developed by a majority of states to differentiate between different types of eBikes. These new regulations clarify the authority of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation to increase recreational opportunities for those who enjoy the peddling assistance eBikes can provide. The regulations make clear the agencies can allow eBikes on roads and trails that are open to traditional bicycles through the issuance of site-specific decisions.
Park superintendents have discretion to decide which classes of eBikes are allowed on trails.
Public lands designated by Congress as “wilderness areas” will remain off-limits to both traditional bicycles and eBikes.

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The Spookiest National Park Sites

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A pandemic amidst spooky season? What’s a ghoul to do? Many of us have been getting out and exploring more during this time—socially distancing while soaking up the sights and sounds of nature. Let’s keep that up—with an October twist—and discover five of the most mysterious and eerie places to visit in U.S. National Parks!

Skidoo, Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park has its share of foreboding destinations, like Dante’s View, Devil’s Cornfield, even Coffin Peak and the Funeral Mountains, but the area also features an abundance of ghost towns! In one Old West mining settlement, a saloon owner named Joe “Hootch” Simpson allegedly shot a banker over a $20 debt in a drunken rage in 1908. The townspeople formed a lynch mob and hanged Simpson. He was buried, but exhumed, and re-hanged for the media. It doesn’t end there. Next, the town doctor beheaded him. Legend goes that Simpson’s headless ghost continues to haunt the area—though nothing remains of the town—to this day.

Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park
This geothermal hotspot may seem like a spooky bubbling cauldron all on its own, but this area of Lassen Volcanic National Park became known as a “hell” after explorer, Kendall Bumpass, fell into a pool of boiling-hot water. It also contains one of the hottest fumaroles in the world, Big Boiler—clocking temperatures as high as 322 degrees Fahrenheit—a true hellish flaming inferno.

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve is the country’s first national reserve. Protecting more than a million acres, it is home to many different and rare flora and fauna. One animal rumored to live in the park’s forest has yet to be confirmed, but it is haunting—the Jersey Devil. Reported by thousands of park-goers, the Devil is described as a flying creature with glowing eyes, a dog or goat-like face, a forked tail, and, of course, cloven hooves.

Slaughter Canyon Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns’ 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats are a sight to be seen. They leave the cave at sunset nightly, looking like a scene right out of your favorite vampire movie. Well, kind of. The park’s bat population migrates just before Halloween and doesn’t return until the spring. Fortunately, visitors can still enjoy a spooky sight—the underground passageways of Slaughter Canyon Cave. With no lighting and minimal pathways, adventurous guests must explore this dark and humid underworld of curious rock formations without all of their senses.

Kennecott Copper Mines, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias is equivalent to six Yellowstone Parks. Within the park is the abandoned mining town of Kennecott. A century ago, Kennecott was bustling and even had its own 200-mile railroad to transport the area’s ore. Built over treacherous terrain, many workers perished during the construction and even more died in the mines. Eventually, natural resources ran out and Kennecott became a ghost town—emphasis on the ghost. Stories of construction workers as recent as the ’90s cite work stopping in that area of the park due to strange sightings and activity. Some even reported losing tools right out of their work belts to the spirits of Kennecott.

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More than a bridge: National Park Service completes full rehabilitation of Washington’s ceremonial entrance

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Today, the National Park Service (NPS) will completely reopen the rehabilitated Arlington Memorial Bridge to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The $227 million rehabilitation project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in NPS history, is a momentous accomplishment for the Department of the Interior and its federal partners that will extend the bridge’s useful life for 75 years.

"The rehabilitation of the Arlington Memorial Bridge honors the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans," U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt, said. "The completion of this project marks one of the largest infrastructure projects in National Park Service history, which was done on time and on budget. I hope that all Americans are brought together to remember and honor our veterans every time they cross this bridge into the capital of our nation."

Throughout construction, the NPS took special care to protect Arlington Memorial Bridge’s historic architecture while enhancing its iconic appearance. Since work began in fall 2018, construction workers methodically removed, cleaned, repaired and reinstalled more than 4,500 pieces of granite and rehabilitated the bridge’s historic structure.

“I am sure the commuters of this region are gratified to learn of the completion of renovations to the beautiful and iconic Arlington Memorial Bridge - thanks to the Federal Highway Administration and our federal partners for all their work!” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said.

During construction, workers repaired or replaced the bridge’s foundations, concrete supports, deck and sidewalks. They also installed new, fixed steel beams over the bridge span formerly occupied by a bascule (drawbridge) in the middle of the structure and installed more than 450 pre-cast concrete panels. Engineers at the Federal Highway Administration worked with the project contractor to use innovative methods that sped up construction and lowered costs.

“Collaboration with elected officials and departments of transportation on both sides of the Potomac was key to this project’s success,” Charles Cuvelier, George Washington Memorial Parkway superintendent said. “We were able to complete the project more efficiently by leveraging a federal grant and matching funds with the support of Members of Congress and local elected officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.”

In addition to completing Arlington Memorial Bridge’s first ever total rehabilitation, the NPS implemented recommendations from a safety study of Memorial Circle by repaving, improving crossings, adding new signs and making the area easier and safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to navigate.

In the months ahead, workers will put finishing touches on the bridge and Memorial Circle areas. Workers will replant the projects’ staging areas and complete small projects on the bridge’s deck and install bird netting from boats in the water.

More than a bridge
Arlington Memorial Bridge has served as a monument to the sacrifices and valor of our nation’s military personnel since its dedication in 1932. Now that it is nearly 90 years old, the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration have rehabilitated the bridge for service in its second century. As one of the largest transportation projects in National Park Service history, the rehabilitation of Arlington Memorial Bridge gives new life to our capital’s ceremonial entrance while respecting its character, history and national significance.

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New River Gorge on its way to national park, preserve designation

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The New River Gorge in Fayette and Raleigh counties will become the 63rd National Park in year-end funding legislation that was passed by Congress Monday night.
The redesignation language which creates the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said.
“This, I think, is going to be such a major investment in tourism in West Virginia,” Capito said Monday. “Being a national park is so much of a gold standard of approval and excellence.”
Capito and fellow U.S. Senator Joe Manchin introduced the New River Gorge Park and Preserve Designation Act last year. Third District Congresswoman Carol Miller introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House. Discussion about the redesignation began in 2018.
Capito said the renaming is projected to raise visitorship to the area by approximately 20% and will boost economic growth in an area that’s ready for growth.
“I think what it’s going to mean is a lot of people come to this country and a lot of people in this country plan their summers traveling around visiting national parks,” Capito said.
Dave Arnold, co-founder of Adventures on the Gorge reacted to the news directly to MetroNews. He said officials are excited.
“We are now in the best of the best category. It’s very rare for a national park to be named. There’s only 62 in the United States and the parks have been around for over 100 years,” Arnold said.
He said they expect some type of growth, whether large or small but there is no doubt there will be a lasting impact.
“They are very rare,” Arnold said of the designation. “There is no other state getting a national park right now. So every state in the union, people in the outdoor business, are going to turn their head and take a look.”
The proposal has faced some opposition from hunters and fishermen. Capito, Manchin and Miller held several town hall meetings.
The language that moved through Congress creates a 65,165-acre preserve where hunting and fishing will be allowed and a 7,021-acre park. It keeps 301 acres of the Lower Gorge open for hunting and opens up 368 acres in Grandview for the first time.
“There are some areas that were not previously open and there are some that are going to be narrowed,” Capito said.
Capito said the National Park Service will acquire up to 100 acres for parking only. She said besides that there won’t be a lot of physical changes. Also there will be no admission charge like there is at some national parks.
The New River Gorge is truly one of West Virginia’s most treasured playgrounds and largest tourist attractions because of its whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, outdoor sports and natural beauty. This designation will increase the international recognition by highlighting West Virginia’s world-class beauty and resources. Over the last two years we have met with outdoorsmen, businesses and local leaders and other interested groups to ensure this designation will promote the beauty and rich history of the New River Gorge, while ensuring that the longstanding traditions of hunting and fishing are protected for generations to come,” Manchin said.
Miller called the redesignation exciting news.
“The New River Gorge is home to all West Virginia has to offer – our beauty, small businesses, and adventurous tourism opportunities. This legislation will preserve and protect the New River Gorge for generations to come and make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family,” Miller said.

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Horseshoe Bend rockslide caught on video by hiker
Link zum Video

Ein paar nette Winterbilder

Top Winter Attractions In America's National Parks
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Gorgeous Photos of National Parks in Winter
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Federal government triples daily number of hikers allowed at the Wave formation on Utah-AZ border

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Outdoor enthusiasts and landscape photographers hoping to land one of the elusive permits needed to explore the colorful, contoured landscape of a U.S. Southwestern hike called the Wave will now have a better chance under a new plan announced Monday that allows more than three times the previous number of daily visitors.
The plan takes effect Feb. 1 and will allow as many as 64 people per day to hike the popular rock formation near the Utah-Arizona border — up from the previous limit of 20 people per day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said in a news release.
More than 200,000 people requested permits for the hike in 2018, with less than 4% approved through online and in-person lotteries, the most recent government stats available show.
Conservation groups decried the decision as a mistake that will damage the fragile desert landscape and cut into the solitude of the hikers' experience.
BLM officials called it a balance between providing more access to the iconic trail while also preserving the landscape. Another proposal would have quadrupled the daily limit to 96 people.
"The Wave is one of the world's most incredible and visually stunning natural wonders," said Assistant Interior Secretary of the Casey Hammond in a news release. "We're pleased to be able to expand options for public viewing of this amazing landscape in a way that's consistent with its preservation."
The Wave's wide, sloping basin of searing reds, oranges and yellows in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is one of the most photographed landscapes in North America. Visitors walk a 6-mile round-trip hike through tall sandstone buttes and sage brush to get to the spectacular rock formation.
The decision will mar the unique landscape for future generations as hikers damage the delicate sandstone, said Taylor McKinnon, a senior campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity. Visitors also won't enjoy the same solitude the previous daily limit provided, he said
"It is going to damage the unique geology there. There are going to be bigger crowds. It is going to be harder to get a picture without somebody else in it," McKinnon said. "It really reflects the Trump administration's general disdain for preserving the quality and ecological health of America's public lands."
Government officials under the Trump administration have remove protections for millions of miles of waterways and wetlands, narrowed protections for wildlife species facing extinction and opened more of the hundreds of millions of acres of public land to oil and gas drilling.
The Center for Biological Diversity plans to consider a lawsuit in U.S. court to challenge the decision, McKinnon said.
He is also hopeful the incoming administration of Joe Biden will reverse course. The decision allows the bureau to adjust the daily limit based on conditions at the hike.

How to apply for a Wave permit
Daily permits are issued via lottery and in person. To find out the process and costs for each method, go to https://www.blm.gov.

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Access to 10,000 miles of US national park trails has been restored

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A three-year project to restore access to 10,000 miles of national park trails has been completed in the US. Its aims include encouraging people to get outdoors and benefiting the 330 million people who visit national parks each year.

The initiative is a collaboration between the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit partner to the National Park Service, and food company Nature Valley, which donated $3m (€2.46m) to the three-year project. It has supported service corps crews removing invasive species, clearing corridors, repairing structures, building boardwalks and managing other repair projects to make trails in 19 parks across 16 states more accessible to visitors.

One project centred on Bridalveil Fall, one of the most striking landmarks in Yosemite National Park, by improving the visitor experience and helping to protect the natural resources of the area. Another helped rehabilitate picturesque trails and preserve historical sites at Glacier National Park, and supported invasive plant control and native plant restoration at Lunch Beach in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail was restored at Grand Canyon National Park, and five miles of degraded trails that serve as key access points to the Appalachian Trail were repaired at Shenandoah National Park.

Nature Valley is extending the partnership for three more years and has committed an additional $3 million to restore access to 10,000 more miles of trails and to support outdoor exploration grants. To access the complete list of national park locations with restored trails, please visit the website here.

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President Biden to Review Bears Ears National Monument

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Newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden has signed an Executive Order to review the boundaries and restore protections of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Bears Ears contains areas of historical and cultural importance, significant natural resources and is home to popular climbing areas including Indian Creek. Bears Ears was designated Monument status by President Barack Obama in December 2016 as a parting legacy, but its boundaries were reduced by 85% under President Trump's proclamation in December 2016.

President Trump's reduction of Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase Escalante Monument is the largest rollback of federal land protection in US history. The loss of protection opened the areas up to potential oil and gas extraction and uranium mining, while "rock climbing" as a valued activity was not acknowledged in Trump's revised proclamation.
Under the proclamation, around two million acres of public lands would lose their protected status and nearly 40% of the climbing areas within Bears Ears would become vulnerable. Climbing and walking areas that fall outwith the Trump Administration's boundaries include Hart's Draw and Valley of the Gods and some sectors at Indian Creek (including the popular Cliffs of Insanity and The Wall).
Access Fund, Native American tribes and conservation groups have been involved in a two-year-long litigation process to sue the Trump Administration and protect the implicated public lands. 'Access Fund does not believe that President Trump has the authority to modify a National Monument. His proclamation violates the Antiquities Act and the US Constitution,' a statement on their website reads. The case is pending in federal court.
In a rushed attempt to secure the reduction, the Trump Administration fast-tracked a Monument Management Plan for the reduced monument boundaries. 'This premature management plan failed both climbers and tribes, postponing for years critical recreation management that is needed now to protect and uphold the values of the monument,' the Access Fund states.
The organisation is lobbying the Biden Administration 'to develop a new, landscape-scale monument management plan, giving the Native American community a more meaningful role in its development and better reflecting stakeholders, including climbers.'
The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition has called for the Biden Administration to restore the Monument to its original size, with a view to expanding it further at a later date to a larger area initially requested by tribes.
Conservation issues featured prominently in President Biden's campaign pledges in a bid to reverse the "harmful policies" implemented by the Trump Administration, as explained in a fact sheet issued on the President's inauguration day. In addition to rejoining the Paris Agreement, issues threatening marine and Arctic conservation are also under review alongside vehicle emission standards and Trump's approval of the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.
In May 2017, an advocacy event named 'Climb the Hill' took place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where a select few top US climbers met with Congress representatives to discuss public lands currently under threat by the Trump Administration and lobby members of Utah's congressional delegation.

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Tofino links Multi-Use Path to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

New addition connects Tofino to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s northern border.

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Tofino cheered the official opening of its newest Multi-Use Path extension last week.
The 2.8 kilometre addition to the path’s existing 6-kilometre pedestrian, jogger and bicyclist haven spans from Tofino’s visitor centre at Cox Bay to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s northern border.
“The multi-use path extension intimately connects locals and visitors to experience Tofino’s stunning beauty,” said Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA and Tofino’s former mayor Josie Osborne.“Through our CleanBC plan, the province is committed to making active transportation safe, easy and convenient for all people— and we are a proud contributor to this project. I’ll be on my bike using this trail to commute around town as much as possible, I hope to see you out there!”
The $3.9 million project was paid for with support from the provincial and federal governments, Island Coastal Economic Trust and Resort Municipality Initiative funding.
“This has been a highly anticipated project that will transform how visitors and locals travel and experience Pacific Rim Park and the region,” said ICET Chair Aaron Stone. “This new year-round outdoor tourism and community amenity will enable visitors and locals to leave their vehicles behind and experience a closer, cleaner and more sustainable connection to the region’s amazing offerings.”
Work on the extension began back in 2019 after the Park Reserve announced an ambitious plan to build a 22-kilometre trail between its northern and southern borders and local leaders raised concern over the safety of cyclists and pedestrians attempting to navigate through a then-treacherous stretch of shoulderless highway to access that trail from Tofino.
“Tofino’s Council and residents are excited to see the extension of Tofino’s Multi-Use Path completed. Having a safe, non-motorized connection to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve—and eventually to Ucluelet—not only enhances the quality of life for our region’s residents, but also brings benefits to those who visit us from across Canada and around the world,” said Tofino’s acting mayor Coun. Duncan McMaster. “Projects like these can only happen with partnerships between all levels of government and we’re very appreciative of the collaboration that has brought us to completion.”

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Mato Tipila oder Devil’s Tower – Namensstreit um erstes National-Denkmal der USA

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Eines der größten Heiligtümer der Ureinwohner von Amerika trägt heute offiziell einen Namen, der vermutlich nur aufgrund eines Übersetzungsfehlers zustande kam - und durch den sich die Indigenen beleidigt fühlen. TRAVELBOOK erzählt die Geschichte des Berges Mato Tipila, der heute bekannt ist als Devil's Tower.

Im Nordosten des US-Bundesstaates Wyoming erhebt sich am Rand der Bear Lodge Mountains ein skurriler Berg. Einsam steht er in der Prärie, ragt 265 Meter hoch in den Himmel, eine sprichwörtliche Naturerscheinung. Es fällt leicht zu verstehen, warum der Devil’s Tower auch heute noch zahlreichen indigenen Völkern der USA als heiliger Ort gilt. Die Ureinwohner nennen ihn Mato Tipila, was übersetzt so viel bedeutet wie „Haus des Bären”.
Heute ist der Berg, den Präsident Theodore Roosevelt 1906 zum ersten National-Denkmal der USA erklärte, allerdings nicht unter Mato Tipila bekannt, wie die amerikanische Nationalpark-Verwaltung auf ihrer Webseite erklärt. Er wird offiziell, zum Beispiel auf Landkarten, Devil’s Tower genannt, also der Turm des Teufels. Um diese Bezeichnung gibt es bereits seit langem Streit, denn die Indigenen finden sie für eines ihrer größten Heiligtümer verletzend.

Übersetzungsfehler oder Absicht?
Zumal Devil’s Tower wohl durch einen Übersetzungsfehler zustande kam, wie auf der Nationalpark-Webseite nachzulesen ist. Demnach unternahm der Armee-Angehörige Colonel Richard Irving Dodge 1875 eine geologische Expedition zu dem Berg, da in der Gegend angeblich Gold gefunden worden war. Seine Truppe untersuchte auch den Mato Tipila. Sie übersetzten seine Bedeutung statt mit „Haus des Bären” jedoch fälschlicherweise mit „Haus des bösen Gottes”. Daraus wurde dann bald schon der Name Devil’s Tower. Denn Dogde schrieb nach seiner Rückkehr ein überaus erfolgreiches Buch über die Expedition, in dem er den falschen Begriff verwendete. Es gibt allerdings auch Stimmen, die behaupten, Dogde habe den Namen absichtlich verändert. Dafür spricht, dass bis 1901 auf offiziellen Karten für den Berg der Name „Bear Lodge”, also „Haus des Bären”, verwendet wurde. Doch spätestens mit der Ernennung zum National-Monument verschwand diese Bezeichnung. Ein Umstand, gegen den zahlreiche indigene Stämme, denen der Berg heilig ist, stets protestiert haben. Die Webseite „Indianz”, die Nachrichten mit Bezug auf die indigene Bevölkerung Amerikas veröffentlicht, berichtet unter anderem von einem 2015 offiziell gestellten Antrag der Ureinwohner, den Berg wieder in Mato Tipila umzubenennen.

Mato Tipila – noch immer ein heiliger Ort
Dieser fiel noch in die Amtszeit von Ex-US-Präsident Barack Obama. Er hatte auch verfügt, der Mount McKinley in Alaska (USA), Nordamerikas höchster Berg, solle fortan wieder offiziell Denali genannt werden. Der Name, den er einst von den Ureinwohnern bekam. Jedoch unternahmen weder Obama noch sein Nachfolger Donald Trump Bestrebungen, dem Antrag in Bezug auf den Mato Tipila oder Devil’s Tower stattzugeben, was viele Indigene enttäuschte. Denn noch heute ist der Ort Schauplatz für zahlreiche heilige Zeremonien, die sie dort seit Urzeiten abhalten.
Aus deren Glauben erklärt sich auch, wie der Name Mato Tipila entstanden sein soll. So ist eine Legende überliefert, die die verschiedenen Stämme leicht abgewandelt erzählen, wie auf der Webseite der dem Berg nahen Stadt Rapid City nachzulesen ist. Demnach glauben beispielsweise die Sioux, dass eines Tages zwei Jungen von einem riesigen Bären (Mato) verfolgt wurden. Sie knieten nieder und flehten den Großen Geist an, sie zu retten. Daraufhin schoss der Berg mit ihnen darauf in die Höhe, der heute Mato Tipila genannt wird. Unfähig, sie zu erreichen, kratzte der wütende Bär mit seinen gewaltigen Krallen Risse bzw. Spalten in den Berg, die heute sein Äußeres kennzeichnen.

Devil’s Tower – ein Berg als Hollywood-Star
In der Folklore der Kiowa verfolgte der Bär sieben Schwestern, die vor ihm gerettet wurden, als der Berg dank ihres Gebetes in die Höhe schoss. Die Mädchen stiegen in den Himmel auf, wo sie sich in das Sternbild der Plejaden verwandelten. Das kann man heute im Herbst nachts über dem Berg beobachten. Es gibt noch weitere Abwandlungen der Legende, doch in ihnen allen spielt ein großer Bär eine wichtige Rolle, so dass die Ureinwohner den Namen Mato Tipila prägten.
Die amerikanische Nationalpark-Verwaltung liefert zur Entstehung des Berges gleich mehrere mögliche Erklärungen. Dort steht: Der Berg entstand vor 50-60 Millionen Jahren, lag aber zunächst mehrere Kilometer unter der Erdoberfläche, wo er sich aus erkalteter Magma gebildet hatte. Vor fünf bis zehn Millionen Jahren schließlich wurde er langsam durch die Erosionskräfte von Wasser und später auch Wind freigelegt, ein Prozess, der bis heute andauert.
Der Berg wächst und erodiert also quasi noch immer, wovon riesige Halden von Geröll an seinem Fuß zeugen, die einst Teil seiner Gesteinsmasse waren. Vom Mato Tipila geht eine derartige Faszination aus, dass er sogar zum Filmstar wurde: 1977 wählte Star-Regisseur Steven Spielberg ihn als Landeplatz seiner Außerirdischen in dem Film „Unheimliche Begegnung der Dritten Art”. Joe Alves, der damals die Location für Spielberg sichtete, sagte der Seite „Travel Wyoming”: „Ich hatte das Glück, an vielen Filmen zu arbeiten, und zahlreiche Locations dafür auszusuchen. Ich glaube nicht, dass es einen vergleichbaren Ort wie diesen Berg gibt.”

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Mother Nature wasn’t the only one hard at work.

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America’s National Parks are, rightfully, famous for their plethora of majestic natural wonders. But there are several manmade structures that offer a unique way to interact with these parks’ history, culture, and natural beauty. From ancient dwellings to rugged homesteads, here are 10 manmade structures you’ll find in America’s National Parks.

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Epic glaciers, giant trees and wildernesses that time forgot: Jaw-dropping pictures of all 63 of America's stunning national parks
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Two Florida National Parks notch top spots on the list of “Quietest Parks” in the U.S.

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According to the National Park Service, there are 62 registered and recognized national parks in the U.S. While not every state has a national park; some have multiple parks to make up for those that don’t. Fortunately, Florida is one of the few states that have more than one.
ESTA-America.com has released a comprehensive list of all national parks ranked area size (km2) and the number of visitors over the course of a year to estimate noise levels and determine the quietest national parks in the country.
Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Park notched spots in the top-15 of the list, joining Alaska as one of two states with multiple national parks in the top-15.
It is estimated that roughly 210,000 square kilometers of U.S. land are protected by national parks, with just over 6,300 square kilometers spread between the Everglades and Dry Tortugas.
The pandemic foiled many travel plans for millions across the country and abroad, hampering the amount of travel that could have been done, but also allowed the national parks to breathe and regrow during that span of time.
Visiting national parks is a great way to experience the frontier and outdoor scenery that the country has to offer. National parks have much more to offer than meets the eye. And while most people associate the parks with adventurers, that’s not the case. National parks serve as a reminder that nature and our surrounding environment are to be protected and preserved for years to come so that the people who come after us can witness the grace and peacefulness it offers.
“As the world slowly opens up to travel once more, and we start looking forward to our next trip, it’s safe to say that many people will be itching to tick a few dream destinations from their bucket list off – such as a US national park,” said Jayne Forrester, Director of International Development at ESTA-America.com.
Taking a look at the Rankings
Florida Everglades – Coming in at number 13 on the list, Everglades National Park is Florida’s most recognized park. With thousands of wildlife species and plants, it is one of the most visited parks in the country. According to ESTA’s research, the Everglades occupies an estimated 6,106.5 (km2) and attracts over 1.1 million visitors per year, meaning the park has an estimated total of 183 visitors per (km2). It may seem like a small amount, but when compared with the top-five parks on the list, which have a combined visitors per (km2) of 12, it isn’t so quiet after all.
Dry Tortugas – Coming in at number 15, Dry Tortugas National Park is a bit of a surprise considering how remote it is. Located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, this park sits largely underwater. ESTA data revealed that Dry Tortugas occupies a measly 261.8 (km2) but attracted 79,200 visitors in 2019, bringing the visitors per square kilometer to 303. The reason for this is simply because there is a smaller landmass: visitor ratio when compared to the Everglades, making it seem less quiet than it really is.
Florida’s third national park, Biscayne National Park, came in at number 30 on the overall list for quietest parks with a visitors per kilometer squared rating of 1012. This number can be attributed to the proximity it has to the bay in Miami and the activities offered for beach-goers.

Other Lists
While Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas notched top spots on the quiet list, they also were recently revealed to be some of the deadliest parks in the nation, citing transportation and swimming-related deaths as the major causes for their ranking.
Hiking, kayaking, climbing, camping, fishing, and so much more can be done at these parks. If that doesn’t interest you, a simple road trip to sightsee will suffice.
“We know that traveling again may come with some new deal-breakers, such as being able to socially distance,” added Forrester. “With this top list of the quietest national parks to choose from, you not only get to enjoy a tranquil and once-in-a-lifetime trip, but you don’t need to worry about overcrowding as the majority have less than 20 visitors per km2 each year.”

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You Can Sleep in a UFO in the Middle of Joshua Tree National Park

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Unless you know something we don’t, your chances of coming across an actual alien spacecraft in the middle of the desert are pretty slim. But thanks to Airbnb, you can at least pretend to.
The Area 55 Futuro house is a 520-square-foot red ellipsoid located in the middle of California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Though it’s not the only one of its kind, it’s the only one in the U.S. that you can rent for a few nights’ stay. According to Thrillist, Futuro houses were conceived and constructed by a Finnish architect named Matti Suuronen in 1968, when the world was captivated by the space race and futuristic architecture was all the rage. Suuronen originally intended his innovation to function as a skiers’ hut that could easily sit on a mountain and avoid snow pileup on its round roof. While one Futuro house in Dombay, Russia, is occupied by visiting skiers to this day, the other 80 or so are scattered in random locations and used for random purposes (or no purpose at all).
Before Area 55 became a rentable desert cottage, it belonged to Hugh Hefner, who installed it at the original Playboy Club Hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, back in 1968. The pod passed through several other owners and eventually landed in the hands of music producer Ronald Jackson, who converted it into a glamper’s dream home and opened it for business in October 2019. Right now, Area 55 is listed on Airbnb for $218 a night, but there aren’t any available dates until spring 2022.
The UFO theme no doubt factors into its popularity. There are even old VHS copies of sci-fi classics like Alien (1979) and the original Star Wars trilogy inside, as well as some retro-futuristic chairs and other decorations. But it also boasts amenities that would appeal to any kind of camper—a beautiful outdoor kitchen with a propane grill, lots of natural light, an envious collection of board games, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi.

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