The National Parks Reservation System Is Off to a Bumpy Start
Many major national parks implemented new reservation systems intended to give visitors a more positive experience by decreasing gridlock, parking issues, and long lines for public services. But are they actually helping or making it more difficult to visit a park?
outsideonline.comExplosive growth of Colorado wildfire seen from space
The growth of the Colorado wildfire can be seen from the GOES-East satellite between Oct. 21 and Oct. 22, 2020. The fire's boundary is only 11 miles (17 kilometers) from the largest wildfire in Colorado history, the Cameron Peak Wildfire, which has been burning since Aug. 13. The East Troublesome Fire began Oct. 14. According to 9News, high winds and dangerous weather conditions were expected on Thursday, which could make containment of both the Cameron Peak Fire and the East Troublesome Fire difficult. All of Colorado is in drought, according to the Drought Monitor , with almost 22% of the state in the most extreme drought conditions.
space.comYosemite visitor dies after falling from Half Dome cables
(CNN) - A Yosemite National Park visitor died after falling from the cables at the Half Dome on Thursday morning, according to National Park officials. Danielle Burnett, 29, from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, fell over 500 feet down a rocky surface and was pronounced dead when the Park Rangers arrived on the scene, National Park Public Affairs Officer Scoot Gediman said in a statement to CNN. The last death on the famous Half Dome was in May of 2018, when a hiker slipped and fell during dangerous weather conditions. A guide for hikers strongly indicates caution when climbing the cables, and notes that "since 1919, relatively few people have fallen and died on the cables. The cables are only up from about May to October due to weather, and permits are required to make the hike.
On The Trail: Utah's too-popular National Parks
A summertime visit to a National Park is a tradition moving into its second century. But America's parks may have become too successful in attracting visitors from around the world. Conor Knighton takes the measure of park tourism then and now.
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