June 2008 - Posts

• Glacier National Park marking anniversary

  Updated: June 27, 2008 11:20 AM CDT Montana's News Station.com   Friday marks the 75th Anniversary of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Glacier National Park.   Several area residents who witnessed the 19-33 dedication of this engineering marvel will attend a commemoration ceremony, which is set for 2:00 p.m.   Meanwhile, hundreds of other people are expected to attend the ceremony at Lake McDonald Lodge, including Governor Brian Schweitzer, Blackfeet Tribal official Earl Old Person, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Chairman James Steele, Jr., and Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester.   Meanwhile, the Hockady Museum of Art in Kalispell is showcasing hundreds of pieces of art in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Going to the Sun Road.   "Today we still have many, many, over 2,000 artists (who) literally live and work in the Flathead Valley today, and so many of them go to the park, photograph it, write about it, paint it, sculpt it, you name it, it's definitely a call of the mountains" explains Hockady Executive Director Linda Engh-Grady.   The museum brought down a 1937 bus from Glacier National Park for Thursday night's debut and Enh-Grady said the paintings came from across the country.   The exhibit has many facts and trivia and one artist who lived in the Flathead for 30 years has four paintings on display.   "The road is so perfectly placed and engineered that it belongs there, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, it is part of the raw landscape, so that's probably the biggest reason that I like painting the road" says Linda Tippetts.   The Rails, Trails to Road exhibit will be open until October 18th. Posted Jun 30 2008, 09:00 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Glacier National Park

• Transplant recipient completes Yosemite ascent

  By BRENDAN RILEY   YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — A heart transplant survivor has added another first to her long string of mountaineering feats since getting a new heart 13 years ago — a dangerous 2 1/2-day climb up the sheer, 2,000-foot face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park's famed granite monolith. Kelly Perkins, 46, and her husband, Craig, led by [ more ] Yosemite National Park Page photo by Kelly Perkins & Serac Adventure Films  Posted Jun 29 2008, 01:58 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Yosemite National park, half dome, climbing, heart transplant

• Grizzly attacks teen bicycle racer in Bicentennial Park

  A teenage girl riding in an all-night bicycle race suffered severe injuries early this morning when a bear attacked her on a trail in Far North Bicentennial Park, authorities said. Police officers with shotguns escorted medics into dark woods to retrieve the girl, who was to undergo surgery at Providence Alaska Medical Center. [ more ] A beaver pond in Bicentennial Park, Anchorage, AK photo from www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_lee Posted Jun 29 2008, 01:37 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Alaska, wildlife, bicycling., attack

• Study: Dry Tortugas has signs of recovery

  From UPI.com MIAMI, June 25 (UPI) -- A team of 38 U.S. research divers has completed a 20-day biennial census, measuring how the protected status of the Dry Tortugas is working.   In what is called an unprecedented collaboration, researchers from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Park Service, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington conducted more than 1,700 scientific dives in the Dry Tortugas -- a small group of islands at the tip of the Florida Keys, about 70 miles west of Key West.   The dives at the Tortugas Ecological Reserve and Dry Tortugas National Park's Research Natural Area were designed to determine how the region's ecosystem is rebounding from decades of overfishing and environmental changes.   "We are very encouraged to see stocks have slowly begun to recuperate since the implementation of 'no-take' marine protected areas in the region," said the expedition's chief scientist, Rosenstiel Professor Jerry Ault. "We noted particular improvements in the numbers of snapper, grouper, and coral recruits."   A full report is expected to be issued in September. Posted Jun 29 2008, 01:01 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Dry Tortugas National Park

• Activist writer's one-sided view of a Sugar vs Everglades deal.

  By Micheal Grunwald Florida Governor Charlie Crist could be turning his constituents into sugar barons. And he's about to set the stage for the Everglades to come back from the dead. photo by Adventure-Crew & PicasaWeb At a news conference Tuesday morning near the imperiled "River of Grass", Governor Crist announced a $1.75 billion deal to buy the U.S. Sugar Corporation, including 187,000 acres of farmland that once sat in the northern Everglades. If the deal goes through, it will extinguish a powerful 77-year-old company with 1,700 employees and deep roots in South Florida's coal-black organic soil. It will also resurrect and reconfigure a moribund 8-year-old Everglades replumbing effort that is supposed to be the most ambitious ecosystem restoration project in the history of the planet. [ more ] Posted Jun 29 2008, 12:05 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Everglades National Park, florida

• 11 missing hikers are found safe

  I guess you can get lost even with an experienced guide group. At least these were all safe and sound. Another reason to always be prepared for anything. The nine teenagers and two adult guides were on an Outward Bound backpacking trip northwest of Kings Canyon National Park.   By Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer June 26, 2008   Nine teenagers and two adults on an Outward Bound backpacking trip were found safe Wednesday afternoon, two days after searchers began looking for them in rugged terrain northwest of Kings Canyon National Park in Fresno County, authorities said.   The search began after another adult guide who had gone ahead to scout for the group told authorities that they had failed to meet up with him as planned.   The man already had searched for two days on his own before contacting Outward Bound officials with the group's only satellite phone, which he had taken with him, said Deputy Chris Curtice, a spokesman for the Fresno County Sheriff's Department.   The mystery of where they had gone ended when someone from the group called Outward Bound officials shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday to say they were fine. The organization's executive director then notified Fresno County sheriff's officials, Curtice said.   They said "they were all OK, that they were not hungry, weren't in any danger and they were at Florence Lake at a small general store," Curtice said. The lake is a popular jumping-off point for many groups hiking into the Sierra wilderness, he said.   A sheriff's search and rescue helicopter was sent to the store and confirmed that everyone was "accounted for and everyone was all right," Curtice said.   About 35 searchers, including mountaineers, people on horseback and spotters from a helicopter, had canvassed 90 square miles at elevations of 9,000 to 10,000 feet searching for the group, which included the two experienced guides, both 30 years old, and the nine teenagers, ages 13 to 16. Florence Lake is about 10 miles outside of the search area, Curtice said.   The group had set out on a two-week hiking and climbing trip from Maxon Trailhead near the Courtright Reservoir area June 14, Curtice said.   Before calling from the general store, the group was last seen Sunday at Burnt Corral Meadow area. At the time, the hikers planned to climb Mt. Shinn, a few miles away.   The guide who later reported the group missing left the others to check on climbing conditions, planning to meet with the group later that day at Red Rock Basin. But when the guide returned from checking Mt. Shinn, the group was not at the basin.   They had planned to conclude the hike Friday. Officials said they had sufficient provisions to stay out until them. But they were not believed to have a satellite phone with them because the guide who separated from the group had taken it, Curtice said. They did have maps and compasses, he said.   "They had one satellite phone between all of them, and I guess the guy who went to check on the mountain took it with him, which probably actually makes some sense," Curtice said.   He said he did not know if the group had a second satellite phone or had used the general store's phone to call for help.   The teenagers were from across the country, Curtice said.   "They're making arrangements right now to figure out how they're going to transport everybody to where they need to go," he said.   tami.abdollah@latimes.com     Posted Jun 28 2008, 01:36 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: backpacking, Kings Canyon National Park

• First Lady Laura Bush Visits Acadia National Park

  WOODSTOCK, Vt. (AP) -- First Lady Laura Bush was off to Maine after hiking some of the trails at Vermont's Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Sunday. More… Posted Jun 25 2008, 11:03 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Acadia National Park

• Yosemite National Park: plan ahead for 2009 Chefs' Holidays

  This for all of you who enjoy the culinary arts AND the outdoors. This sounds like something you won’t want to miss!   Forward planners (yes, those of you who bought Christmas gifts at the Memorial Day sales), take note: Reservations are available for the next Chefs’ Holidays at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park. The annual event, which will be held Jan. 11 to Feb. 5, 2009, will feature some of the country’s most reputable chefs. Each two- or three-day session in the series will highlight three chefs, and with the purchase of a two- or three-night stay, you’ll get to see them –- in and out of action –- through a “Meet the Chefs” reception, cooking demonstrations and classes, kitchen tours and a five-course dinner.   Just to give you a taste of the incredible sensory possibilities that await: Lined up for “The City by the Bay” session, on Jan. 14 and 15, 2009, are San Francisco-based chefs Traci Des Jardins of Jardiniere, Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake and Orson, and Scott Youkilis of Maverick. Scheduled for the last session, Feb. 4-5, 2008, entitled “Food Network’s Next Iron Chef Competitors,” are Chris Cosentino of San Francisco’s Incanto as well as Aaron Sanchez of Paladar and Gavin Kaysen of Café Boloud, both in New York City.   It’s not a boring crowd. Falkner’s Orson dessert menu includes culinary concoctions entitled “Are you chocolate experienced” and “Heat of the night.” And Kaysen thinks that pimente d’Espelette on whitefish looks sexy.   Hotel packages: Packages at the Ahwahnee start at $852 for two nights and $1,109 for three nights, based on double occupancy. For a Yosemite Lodge at the Falls stay, rates begin at $548 for two nights and $653 for three nights. Prices are excluding taxes. The aforementioned gala dinner that is included will be held in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. You’ll also receive admission to presentations, the series reception, a split of wine and two keepsake glasses, and a guest chef’s cookbook.   Contact: Yosemite National Park, (801) 559-4884 — Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times Posted Jun 17 2008, 02:36 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Yosemite National park

• Yosemite National Park: Backpacking with baby

  This is a great article for those of you that have small children and love to backpack. As the article says there is no reason to curtail your love of the outdoors just because you have kids.     YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- It had been at least 24 hours since we'd seen other humans, and the trail seemed ours alone -- gleaming granite slabs, scrabbly switchbacks, glorious glimpses of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, and jagged Sierra spires under cloudless skies.   More… Posted Jun 16 2008, 12:53 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: backpacking, Yosemite National park

• Half of Badlands park may go back to Sioux

  This land was used for artillery testing and the spent shells still remain. You can read more about it on our park page for Badlands National Park.   From USA Today blogs   The National Park Service is considering a plan to return a 133,000-acre section of South Dakota's Badlands National Park back to the Oglala Sioux, the Los Angeles Times reports.   The plan calls for the northern half of the park, which includes paved roads and a visitor center, to remain with the park system, the newspaper says.   If Congress approves the plan, tribal members must decide whether the southern half should be used for homes, tourist attractions or a pristine nature preserve.   The federal government confiscated the acreage from the tribe during World War II for use as an artillery range.   "It's really exciting for us to think about walking down this road," Sandra Washington, head of planning for the Park Service's Omaha office, tells the Times. "The intention is to be as honorable as possible." Posted Jun 16 2008, 09:22 AM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Badlands National Park, Oglala Sioux

• Day hike turns deadly on Rainier snowfield

  This unfortunate incident shows just how important it is to be prepared for any weather conditions, especially in a transitional season in the mountains. Know the insides and outs of the area you will be hiking in and be prepared for the worst. Even experienced people need to be prepared.       2 frostbitten, hypothermic hikers stuck; 1 man dies   By CASEY MCNERTHNEY AND MOISES MENDOZA P-I REPORTERS Seattlepi.com   MOUNT RAINIER -- A Bellevue man who intended to spend only the day hiking on the slopes of Mount Rainier died Tuesday after being caught in a blizzard that injured two others in his party, including his wife.   Park rangers said the three had previous experience on the mountain and had set out Monday for a day hike to Camp Muir at 10,188 feet, but were trapped in the blizzard on the way back down.   Rangers wanted to call in helicopters to bring the survivors down from Camp Muir, but decided that snow and strong winds would delay the rescue until Wednesday morning at the earliest.   Park rangers learned of the emergency at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when the hikers were able to get through on an emergency call. By then, they were "stuck in a blizzard with 70-mph winds and 5-foot snowdrifts," Mount Rainier National Park spokesman Kevin Bacher said.   Bacher said the three -- a husband and wife and a second man, all in their 30s from Bellevue -- were able to descend about 600 feet to Anvil Rock before conditions kept them from going down the mountain farther.   "They let us know they were trapped in the snow ... we contacted two rangers at Camp Muir by radio," Bacher said.   But the weather was too dangerous for the park rangers to leave in the middle of the night from Camp Muir.   At 7:15 a.m. one of the distressed hikers made it through the blizzard to Camp Muir. He was suffering from hypothermia and frostbite, Bacher said. But the man told rangers: "I think I can lead you back to where we were."   The man and the rangers found the woman and the other man. The woman, who is a physician, was frostbitten and hypothermic, and the man was unconscious.   Rangers were able to get the party back to Camp Muir, and a shelter there. The unconscious man died, however.   Bacher said there are three doctors at Camp Muir who were with a guide service and were treating the survivors in a climbing cabin.   "They're helping out on the mountain, talking to us by radio. ... The doctor's assessment is it would be better to wait until their conditions improve before moving them," he said.   "We don't want to re-expose those folks to hypothermia and frostbite by exposing them to the snowfields. ... Their condition is stable enough for them to stay the night at Camp Muir if need be."   Bacher said the identities of the hikers wouldn't be released until all of their families had been contacted.   The 10-mile round-trip hike up to Camp Muir and back is a popular day trip at Mount Rainier.   "But it's a pretty brutal 10 miles," Bacher said. "This time of year it's all snow."   Bacher said not much more is known about what happened to the climbers.   "Right now our goal is to get them down safely," he said. "We know that they got to Camp Muir."   Snow showers were forecast to decrease at the mountain Tuesday night, the National Weather Service said. At Camp Muir, 30-mph winds were expected to drop to 20 mph Tuesday night, then become calm Wednesday, with partly sunny skies.   Guides for local climbing companies have been assisting park rangers with the rescue.   International Mountain Guides had eight climbing clients and four guides at Camp Muir, while Rainier Mountaineering Inc. had 15 clients and a handful of guides there Tuesday. Both companies said their employees and clients were doing well, but were hunkered down to await better weather.   "I do know it was a tough night up there for the weather, just because of what they were forecasting -- high winds and low visibility and snow," said Jeff Martin, RMI operations manager.   "Definitely not your typical June weather," Martin said.   Regardless of the season, hikers heading into the mountains should carry the necessities for surviving a night in the woods, said Richard Barringer, spokesman for The Mountaineers, a Seattle outdoors club.   Without passing judgment on the stranded hikers, Barringer said hikers sometimes forgo packing extra clothing and food when the weather appears to be mild.   At elevation, though, changes come quickly and hikers should carry supplies needed to make it through the night.   "Weather can change. Your situation can change," Barringer said. "Basically, it's expecting the unexpected."     10 ESSENTIALS Hiking experts suggest that, regardless of the season, those heading for the hills pack these items in case they become stranded or lost:     Navigation equipment   Sun protection   Extra clothing   Illumination   First-aid supplies   Fire   Repair tools   Extra food   Extra water   Emergency shelter   Hiking safety information is available online at mountaineers.org. Posted Jun 13 2008, 06:59 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: backpacking, day hiking, mountaineering

• New National Recreation Trails Open to Explorers

  Here is a great many new trails to keep you busy all summer whether your preference is canoeing, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding or bicycling.   WASHINGTON, DC, June 9, 2008 (ENS) - Hikers, cyclists, skaters, equestrians and paddlers will have more territory to explore this season. To mark the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has designated 24 trails in 16 states as new National Recreation Trails, adding more than 1,100 miles of trails to the National Trails System. more... Posted Jun 10 2008, 04:12 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, bicycling.

• Going to see Big Lady Liberty in New York? Start online Says Park Officials

  photo from AP Images According to a story on Crain’s New York Business online, the continuing problem of long lines at the ticket counter and up to several hours waiting to get aboard, problems that should have been alleviated by the recent privatization of the ferry service, are the patron’s fault. [GOTO Story]   Posted Jun 06 2008, 02:46 PM by Stu Marks with no comments Filed under: Adventure, New York, Statute of Liberty

• Big Bend National Park, a Rare Jewel

  If you haven’t visited Big Bend National Park in south-west Texas you have been missing a great treasure of the lower 48. Situated alongside the Rio Grande River, it offers tremendous outdoor adventure options as well as a true wilderness experience.   The river presents many boating opportunities such as kayaking, motor boating and whitewater rafting as well as fishing. The river is a free-flowing river with a sufficient volume of water during normal years to permit full enjoyment of river recreational activities. You will also be able to enjoy the spectacular canyon scenery as you glide along the river. Camping is available alongside the river. There are commercial companies that offer guided tours or you may take your own craft.   For the rock climber there are also interesting selections awaiting you. The majority of the park’s exposed vertical rock is composed of unstable igneous rock (rhyolite) and sharply fluted limestone. River canyon routes, Dog Canyon, and Mesa de Anguila routes are generally composed of limestone. Routes in the Chisos, Grapevine Hills, and Pine Canyon are generally composed of igneous rock. Don’t let this discourage you too much; there are relatively solid climbs on igneous rock. As stated by Roger Sigland, a ranger in 1969 who authored many first ascents in the park, in his informal guide, “On any climb expect rotten rock and few good cracks for pitons.” Dog Canyon offers Big Bend’s only sport climbs. Drive north from Panther Junction for about 25 miles and park in the Dog Canyon trailhead parking area. The approach is a flat 2-mile walk to the canyon.   The park has also been enjoyed by the famous Herb and Jan Conn, a couple who recorded Big Bend’s first technical climbs from 1946 to 1948. They have many first ascents to their credit, notably Dutch Girl, a beautiful crack climb up a scenic spire at the end of the Lost Mine Trail, Ice Cream Cone, a pinnacle off the north-west flank of Emory Peak, and a steep route on the north face of Casa Grande. To the best of the park’s knowledge, the route on Casa Grande has yet to see a second ascent.   If you are like us and prefer bicycling, Big Bend is the place for you as there are not as many parks providing bike trails as there are hiking trails. Lightly traveled roads and varied terrain make Big Bend a premier bicycling location. Over 100 miles of paved roads, and 160 miles of backcountry dirt roads provide challenges for riders of all types and abilities. Bicyclists must be extremely cautious and well-prepared, but bicycling allows outstanding panoramic views, unobstructed by a windshield. It also allows the bicyclist to see and hear some of the smaller wonders of Big Bend from a more intimate viewpoint. All park roads are open to cyclists. Always be prepared with a good map, plenty of water, and repair materials. The Road Guide to Backcountry Dirt Roads of Big Bend National Park and the Road Guide to Paved and Improved Dirt Roads of Big Bend National Park have good descriptions of the roads and points of interest (available at the BBNHA Web Page Book Store).   Now hiking and backpacking choices abound in this vast park, making it a hiker’s paradise. Over 801,000 acres await your exploration and enjoyment. More than 150 miles of trails offer opportunities for day hikes or backpacking trips. About 30 miles of park trails are developed and heavily used. These include short nature trails and the trails in the Chisos Mountains. Most other trails are primitive, difficult to follow, and in some instances no more than a route up a dry wash. Because they receive more precipitation than the rest of the park, the Chisos are often referred to as a temperate island in a desert sea. Since the Chisos are the most popular hiking area in the park, designated campsites help reduce damage to this delicate environment. The scenery varies widely ranging from the Rio Grande floodplain to arid badlands to sotol grasslands to rugged volcanic peaks. The desert provides virtually any backcountry experience sought by a hiker. Some areas are often used; others, more isolated, are seldom used and reflect a true wilderness setting. Mesa de Anguila and Dead Horse Mountains are the most remote areas, these magnificent limestone uplifts are best left to experienced backpackers. In the oven of summer they are particularly dangerous. Each year, park rangers respond to desert emergencies where hikers are not prepared for the heat and extreme conditions of the Big Bend Desert. So your best bet for wilderness backpacking will be in the fall. Due to the complex topography and vague trails, detailed 7.5 minute topographic maps and a compass are necessary for most hikes. All overnight backpackers must obtain a free Backcountry Use Permit.   There are ample campsites for those looking to camp during their vacation. The park has three established campgrounds and numerous backcountry sites. For those that would like the backcountry experience without backpacking out to an area, there are several sites along back roads that you can drive to. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape. Be sure that you are prepared for any contingency when traveling down the back roads as water will be scarce, especially in the summer, and temperatures can be extreme. There is also a concession-operated trailer park for RV campsites, and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.   The park also has giant fossils from long dead creatures that have been discovered and are on display in the Panther Junction Visitor Center at Big Bend National Park. Over 20 dinosaur species have been found in the Javelina Formation, giving us a rich glimpse into the last days of the ruling reptiles. Two major discoveries were made by college students in 1971 and 1999; a Quetzalcoatlus and an Alamosaurus were uncovered. The fossilized remains of gigantic crocodiles have been discovered in the Aguja Formation in the south-central part of the Big Bend National Park. These are among the largest crocodiles ever known. With lengths of 40-50 feet and jaws studded with 6-inch teeth, these powerful predators were extraordinarily equipped to feed upon a variety of dinosaurs.   Along a stretch beginning upstream of Rio Grande Village, a series of thermal springs emerge adjacent to the Rio Grande. All of the hot springs in this region are believed to be related to normal faults. The most famous of the thermal features along the Big Bend of the Rio Grande is the Langford Hot Springs. It is located where Tornillo Creek enters the Rio Grande, some four miles upriver from Boquillas Canyon and the Mexican village of Boquillas. The year-round water temperature of 105°F and the mineral content made this a draw for those seeking the health benefits of the springs.   Big Bend National Park is located at the northern end of the Chihuahuan desert which offers its own unique beauty and areas of interest. The park boasts more types of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the United States. Please check out our Big Bend park page for further great information about this unique park and plan your trip to one of the largest and least visited of America’s national parks to experience this rare jewel.     By Corie Marks, Staff Writer  Posted Jun 06 2008, 01:48 PM by accorie with no comments Filed under: Fishing, Boating, Rock climbing, camping, Big Bend National Park, kayaking, bicycling, whitewater rafting

• Canyonlands loaner backpack program

  Island in the Sky sector of Canyonlands National Park