Lost in the Fires
I am haunted by a scene from about a week ago of young U.S. Forest Service firefighters taking a break at The Mazama Store, which I consider the best βhangβ in the Methow Valley, just across the Cascades in central Washington state. They were such...
More Wildfires?
(NOTE: This story, originally published on June 25, was updated on Aug. 12). by Glenn Nelson Many national parks in the West opened access and facilities much earlier than usual this year because of record-low snowpack, widely attributed to climate change. (NOTE: Clicking on an...
More History Preserved
One of the oldest, largest and best preserved bison cliff jump locations in North America and one of the earliest planned and most fully-realized urban renewal projects of the mid-twentieth century are two of four sites designated today as national historic landmarks. First Peoples Buffalo...
Washington II Washington
Please consider supporting the Washington II Washington outing, described below. The journey some 32 kids will be taking from inner-city Washington, D.C., Detroit and New Orleans to the outdoors for a sixth straight year started on a basketball court. Itβs no surprise to Davy Rothbart....
The Muir Discussion
Above Photo: The Tunnel View overlook of Yosemite Valley (by Trey Ratcliff via Flickr Creative Commons) This video, by The Muir Project, highlights the messages and basis of the Muir Campfire Discussion on Diversity, Inclusion and Relevancy, held at the Yellow Campgrounds of Yosemite National...
Civil Rights Courthouses
Three courthouses in the South that helped galvanize the civil rights movement after Brown v Board of Education began the dismantling of the Jim Crow era were designated as national historic landmarks this week. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals courthouses join more than 2,500...
Mountaintop Chill
A key member of the first all-African-American ascent of Denali, Adina Scott also goes against type as a scientist and musician Almost as soon as their grand destination first came into focus, one of the most significant mountaineering expeditions in recent years was greeted, not...
Fee Waivers for NPS?
by Glenn Nelson In my op-ed piece for The New York Times this past weekend, Iβd originally floated the idea of entrance fee waivers as a means of attracting more people of color to national parks. The waiver would be triggered if a specific National...
NPS: No Confederate Flags
National Park Service Release WASHINGTON β Confederate Battle Flag sales items are being removed from national park bookstores and gift shops. βWe strive to tell the complete story of America,β National Park Service Director Jonathan B. J arvis said of the agencyβs reputation for telling...
New Book on AAPI Heritage
Even after a bullet skimmed his head, Private Edward Day Cohota fought valiantly during the Civil War’s Battle of Cold Harbor and carried a wounded comrade to safety. His remarkable story is one of many recounted in the new National Park Service book, βAsians and...
Bad Marks Against Parks
The sight is jarring and seems completely out of context. Itβs akin to, I donβt know, seeing an elephant walking down a city street. That unexpected, at least to me. This is how I saw what I saw, leading me to break this story at...
