I am sure many of you have read about the tragic event that occurred this past weekend, when a hiker fell to his death on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. The steep granite slab is one of the most popular attractions in Yosemite; every year about 50,000 people climb the cables on Half Dome,…
Monthly Archives: June 2009
New Food Storage Requirements in Olympic National Park
We recently found out about the new requirements of bear canisters in Olympic National Park. If you are planning a trek in the park this summer, here are new rules, from the National Park Service website: Bear canisters are now required in the Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin area to include all camps adjacent to and…
3rd Annual Rainier Independent Film Festival
This weekend marks the 3rd Annual Rainier Independent Film Festival, where documentary, animated, narrative, and feature films will be screened in the Nisqually Valley near Ashford, Washington. In addition to the films being screened in the foothills of Mount Rainier, there are workshops, panels, and gatherings for those attending. Over 30 films in varying lengths…
TripAdvisor’s Top Ten National Parks
Recently, TripAdvisor released a list of the top National Parks, but it appears as though the list was compiled by people who have never visited our National Parks. To add insult to injury, not all of the listed are even national parks! Read more to see the list.
Review: Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe
We recently acquired one of Mountainsmith’s Modular Haulers, and find the versatility and functionality exactly what we were looking for. Mountainsmith offers five sizes to choose from of the Modular Hauler system, ranging from 3200 to 7500 cubic inches in storage space. The Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe model that we selected has a capacity…
Review: AquaSeal Map Seal
Last month we featured AquaSeal Map Seal as one of our ‘cool products.’ We finally had the chance to try it out and have to say that it definitely holds up to its’ claims of providing a permanent waterproof and durable coating. While the process to seal each map is a bit time consuming (repeated…
Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009
Photo Credit: NPCA/Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia We recently found out about the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009, HR 1612, which if passed, would help fund thousands of new jobs to help support the national parks system. These Service Corps would help educate and restore the national parks by rehabilitating campgrounds, removing…
National Trails Day
Tomorrow, Saturday, June 6th, is National Trails Day around the country. This nationwide celebration of trails began in 1993 and was launched by the American Hiking Society. With events in all 50 states, and over 200,000 miles of trails, there is sure to be an activity that suits you, ranging from educational exhibits, to trail…
Oil Derricks: Coming to a park near you
Many states in the US are facing huge budget shortages and are currently looking for ways to fill the gaps. As we covered previously, California may be shutting down all parks that don’t run at a profit. This amounts to approximately 80% of the parks in the state.
NPS waiving entrance fees three weekends this summer
Just in time for summer vacation planning, the National Park Service will be waiving entrance fees in 147 national parks and monuments. An effort to draw tourism, the fee-free weekends will be June 20-21 (Father’s Day weekend), July 18-19, and August 15-16. While these weekends might be considerably busier, the opportunity for savings is worth…