Heather Hansen's Blog, page 2
April 20, 2016
Happy Birthday, John of the Mountains
April 21 marks the birthday of a guywho’sarguably the nation’s most famous tree hugger.
John Muir was a sheepherder, storyteller, fruit rancher,citizenscientist, tinkerer, philosopher, conservationist, and first-class wanderer.
He first saw what later became Yosemite National Park at age 29 or 30 in 1868 and, since then, the two have been inseparable. Muir fought for, and secured, Yosemite’s protection and agitated for the protection of other lands now part of the national park system.
The pa...
April 16, 2016
Free mountains, sequoias during National Park Week
Want a free mountain? How about acanyon for nothing?
Well these are your lucky days: National Park Week lasts through April 24–that’s 410 national park units from coast-to-coast (and more) completely free for visitors.
All week I’ve been thinking about the mountains, rivers and wildlifewe have in my home state, Colorado. And the dinosaur bones, fossils and dunes. I’ve been playing hooky (at least in my mind); daydreaming about hiking in Rocky Mountain and Great Sand Dunes national parks, and...
April 12, 2016
New park honors women’s struggle for equality
On the occasion of Equal Pay Day, the National Park Service has announced a new national monument: the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.
From the NPS:
“Tucked behind the U.S. Capitol building is a 200-year-old house that stands as a testament to our nation’s continued struggle for equality. Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument (NM) tells the compelling story of a community of women who dedicated their lives to the fight for women’s rights. The in...
April 8, 2016
7 TIPS FOR CELEBRATING AN EPIC YEAR IN PARKS – TIP #4
It’s certainly possible to spend time in national parks without ever talking to a ranger (except maybe at the entrance gate). But why would you? National Park Service rangers are some of the most dedicated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable people you’ll ever meet. Consider it part of your entrance fee to tap them for their diverse expertise and sheer entertainment value.
Tip #4. Go on a ranger-led activity.
Some of the most fun I had as a kid was at sunsetranger talks on the beach at Cape Cod N...
USPS putting their stamp(s) on national parks
Over the next few weeks the US Postal Service is offeringa sneak peek at the 16 forever stamps (intended to represent the diversity of areas in thenational park system) they’ll be releasing during this NPS centennial year.
Seen so far:
Acadia National Park, Maine(ofBass Harbor Head Light)
Arches National Park, Utah(of Delicate Arch)
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia (of wild horses)
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico (of Frijoles Canyon Visitor Center)
C...
‘Kelp Cam’, cooler than you think
I already posted about spying on the eagles in Channel Islands National Park (check it out the eaglets are thriving!).
Alerted by a recent tweet from the Department of the Interior, I’ve added a new wildlife cam to my guilty pleasures: the Channel Islands Kelp Cam.
The live feed offers a visual tour of a giant kelp forest off Anacapa Island in Southern California. Keep an eye out for anemones, sea urchins, sponges and, of course, fish among the hypnosis-inducing swaying of the kelp. The Natio...
March 18, 2016
Pip, pip, hooray!
Two bald eagles have hatched in Sauces Canyon on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. According to the NPS, this is the first successful hatch for this nest after three years of attempts by theadult bald eagle pair.
The first chick hatched March 12 and the second chick “pipped outof the egg shell” on March 14, the NPS said (in the tenor ofa proud parent).
Eagles vanished from the islands by the 1960s, victims of the chemical DDT. They were reintroduced in 2005 (a male) and 2006...
Fee free days for National Park Week
From April 16 to 24 all national parks are free! All 400+ of them: gratis. Learn more at the NPS site.
Want to do more than just visit? Learn about other opportunitiesfor getting involved in parks.
March 13, 2016
Cherry blossoms ready to pop
I love how excited people get about the famed cherry blossoms in Washington, DC. News outlets cross the country update the ‘peak blooming’ schedule alongside the NPS status reports.
What captivates us so? For me it’s spring renewal, the potential for growth, and the sheer pageantry of those pinkish-white trees surroundingthe Tidal Basin. They are also a symbol of friendship, of the capacity to overcome ethnic differences with beauty and dignity.
The Yoshiro cherry trees were a gift from Japan...
February 23, 2016
It’s official: 307M park visits in 2015
This just in from the National Park Service:
President Theodore Roosevelt was reelected in 1904, the same year rangers started counting national park visitors.
There were more than 120,000 visits to America’s 11 national parks in the first year of counting. This week, the National Park Service (NPS) certified 2015 national park visitation at more than 307 million. It also released its popular Top 10 list of the most visited nationalpark sites.
“The popularity of national parks is well known,...
