Superb guide on how to draft and submit an effective comment on the current (and urgent) Chaco Canyon drilling threat. #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #publiclands #chacocanyon #protectourparks

Good video from PBS SoCal about Social Media effects on Joshua Tree NP; applies to many NPS parks. Includes though full interviews with NPS Rangers. Super frustrating, maybe a topic for someone to tackle some time. #parkchat youtu.be/eCRsgoqjUO0?...

A9. If you want to get away from people, go to Horicon and Nacedah NWRs. Horicon has more visitation when there's an influx of waterfowl. Autumn in Wisconsin, with its awesome colors, puts some pressure on lodging and campsites. Other than those, you won't experience a line for anything. #ParkChat

A6. In an effort to save the world's most endangered crane, Nacedah NWR was chosen as the place to raise crane chicks, then train them to migrate with ultralight aircraft standing in for parents. It was a fascinating project. Cranes now migrate WI to FL and LA, but recovery is slow. #ParkChat

A5. Being in Wisconsin, Nacedah and Horicon NWRs are surrounded by interesting places to visit. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is not far away. Or, you can explore Aldo Leopold's farm and walk in the footsteps of John Muir. #ParkChat

This article from @sltrib.com captures the scale of the recent monument reductions. Bears Ears is now 91% smaller, while Grand Staircase-Escalante remains only 10% of what it was. Details and maps can be found here: www.sltrib.com/news/environ...

President Donald Trump gutted the Bears Ears National Monument, which was originally proposed by five tribes. He also disbanded the Bears Ears Commission, a model for tribal co-management of federal lands.

A11 Everything seemed to work ok in Yosemity but I couldn't help the feel of strained politeness from what must be stressed rangers. I would double (triple?) the number of rangers, change top NPS management & significantly increase ranger pay & bennifits. Next election, everyone! #parkchat

Q11 If you could make one thing about your park better, what would that be? #parkchat

A10 Yosemity has a full village with restaurants, stores & medical service. We only ate in camp but the store carried everything from most food to drugstore items. Gas only available at Crain Flat on Big Oak Flat entrance rd, top up before you enter! #parkchat

Q10 Amenities: Are there restaurants/cafes in the park & what's best? Or are there places nearby? Stores? Can you restock - or should you be prepared with everything you need? #parkchat

A9 (cont.) The reservation system means people overbook but cancel frequently. But they also forget to cancel. I was able to get 2 nights in one site but had to move sites for 3rd night. The site we left was empty the next morning #parkchat

A9 Res. for lodging a must; open 5 months in advance & go quickly. Everything in the park was booked. @ocparkbuilder.bsky.social told me about apps that watch for cancellations. The apps allowed us to eventally trade up from USFS campground outside the park to 3 nights in the Valley. #parkchat

Q9 Are the entrance lines long, and/or are reservations for lodging a must? Are they on Rec_gov or a private concessionair?  How early should you check availability? Any other tips? #parkchat

A8 Some Hazards in Yosemity: Spring & summer storms can catch you off guard Bears - & the rangers who check that you are complying with strick bear protocol (use the bear boxes!) The Merced River can be deadly Traffic & distracted tourists (photo from WA State) #parkchat

Q8 Are there hazards in your park? Tell us how to prepare, what to avoid #parkchat

A7 (cont) It's an easy walk to a shuttle from the campgrounds, so you can leave your vehicle. Shuttles work to get all over the valley, but are crowded. Routs are a little confusing at first, always carry a bus map. Yosemity is perfect for bicycling, rentals are available in the village #parkchat

A7 The three Yosemite Valley campgrounds, Upper, Lower & North Pines were well managed & super clean, strick on Bear Boxes use. No cell coverage in CG, but service worked in/near Yosemity Village, about a mile, a bike would help! #parkchat

Q7 Tell us about different ways to visit: How are the Lodges &/or campgrounds (tent & RV?). Is there backcountry camping? If it doesn't have hotels or camping or books up early what are there options nearby? #parkchat

A6 Many notables are associated w Yosemity; John Muir, Ansel Adams, Ranger Shelton Johnson. In the 60s writer Shirley Sargent spent yrs writing books about life in the parks. She was disabled but rode a special bike all over the valley - Bikes would best the best way to tour the valley. #parkchat

Q6 Can you tell something, even a small fact or oddity about the parks history? #parkchat

A5 I aways felt the high country, Tuolumne Meadows along Tioga Rd is the most beautiful part of the park, but typically closed untill June. Mono Lake on the east end of Tioga Pass was always my favorite, esp in fall & winter (access via Ca 395) USFS campgrounds; Diamond O, west of park #parkchat

Q5 Are there other nearby activities, sights, parks or public lands? #parkchat

A4 Even pre-Memorial Yosemity was busy, but the crowds thinned dramatically when we took meadow trails (much of the meadows themselves are closed). No one on the Valley Loop Trail from Swinging Bridge to the Chapel. Tioga Rd was open to bicycles only - if you could park. #parkchat

Q4 Is this a busy unit? Are there ways to enjoy without the crowds? Do you have a secret or less visited areas to escape to? #parkchat

A3 Favorit areas in Yosemity Valley: The meadows near Swinging Bridge. Much of the meadows were closed, but the trail was wide, people few. Best walkable view of sunset on Half Dome was from the dump station at N Pines campground. We brought chairs. Glacier Point is jaw dropping #parkchat

Q3 Tell us some must do activities (maybe not the most popular ones?) - trails to hike, sites to see, or exhibits to study in your park(s) #parkchat

A2 Our Yosemity visit started on a Monday, just before Memorial Day. Beautiful weather after spring storms. In the past I've visited in Sept when Tioga Pass (fav area) was open (usually closed until June), and Dec in the Valley - every season is an option & unique. #parkchat

Q2. When is the best time to visit your park(s)? When is it busiest? Is it possible to enjoy your park outside of the prime summer months? #parkchat

A1 I'm no way a Yosemity expert but visited in May after 42 yrs. I'd forgotten how dramatic that first view of El Cap is - you just have to pull off, wander over to Bridalvale Falls. Tips from #Parkchat folks helped make this last minute trip to a busy park a success, will share what I can.

Q1 What is the best thing about your favorite park(s)? Why should we visit? #parkchat

How to Visit Your Favorite Parks: Tonight I'm hoping you can share how to visit & enjoy your favorite parks - any type of park unit, crown jewels to remote monuments, historical parks, trails, refuges, other? Tell us things to see & do, tips and tricks, things to consider. #parkchat

You thought Trump I's shrinkage of Utah national monuments was bad? This time it's far, far worse... www.landdesk.org/p/trump-slas...

BENM GSENM

#parkchat Trump shrinks Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah share.google/owanaZyfiyXU...

The Trump administration today illegally slashed the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments by about 90%. What a travesty. Next, legal action. Press release and my quote linked here: biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...

Really good natural & human history of the Colorado River from PBS. Recommend watching on a big screen. youtu.be/MxxmCzUv6Mo?...

#parkchat bsky.app/profile/fedw...

Pileated are back for the July visit.

Time to Drain Lake Powell? youtu.be/tMsDn7NXPxA?...

Powerful words by Tracy Stone-Manning from The Wilderness Society. Worth a read: writersontherange.org/celebrate-th...

Well then there’s the Queets rain forest, which might be the most spectacular, and the way lesser known South Fork of the Hoh, which might be the wildest rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula. Lots of great stuff out there!

Great way to avoid the crowds athe Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park #parkchat Exploring Olympic National Park's other spectacular rainforest share.google/7W58MqKmEuCz...

#parkchat www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Helicopters dump 6,000 logs into rivers in the Pacific Northwest, fixing a decades-old mistake share.google/WKrfEE0uHNzq...

Tonight @babyboomersaves.bsky.social guest hosts #ParkChat as she examines: "America 250 and the National Parks" She bases the chat of their recent travels and I believe you’ll appreciate their perspective. 9 PM ET tonight of course. Here’s a hint. @naturetechfam.bsky.social

No comment. “Dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative is supreme stupidity, costing taxpayers millions of dollars and destroying a vital source of climate data,” Bipartisan pushback saves ocean buoy network off Washington, Oregon coast - MyNorthwest.com share.google/TeVpQLJqVMxe...

Forget betting on NBA trades. Now you can bet on wildfires. Online gambling platforms are quickly getting absolutely insane. Great story from @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social:

It's worth skipping ahead to the last 10 mins or so of this video where they focus on how dramatic the return of the natural canyon is & that Glen Canyon should have been a national park. #parkchat youtu.be/wbdaSdrxUao?...