Outside Gives Us 100 Reasons to Love the National Parks

As most of you probably know, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service here in the U.S. To celebrate, the NPS is holding a number of special events throughout the year, and visitors to the parks throughout the summer will likely see all kinds of signs reminding them of the centennial year.

A few months back I wrote a piece that offered 100 Reasons the National Parks Remain America's Best Idea.  Well, it seems I'm not the only one who had that idea, as Outside magazine has also published a similar piece, this time giving us 100 Reasons to Love the National Parks. Their list includes some of the same things that mine did as well, but there are plenty of unique items as well.

Amongst the reasons that Outside says we should love the parks is the way they inspire us to get outside and seek adventure. But other reasons range from the fact that there is an oasis to be found in the heart of Death Valley to the otherworldly views that can be had in the Badlands. The list goes on to highlight hikes, activities, locations, and a wide variety of other things that are linked to the National Parks in some way, giving us a good idea of just how important and influential these iconic places actually are.

Now that summer is here, the parks tend to get extremely busy. In fact, President Obama and his family are planning to visit Yellowstone next week. This will no doubt bring some complications for travelers, in a park that is already crowded. But despite those challenges, the national parks are well worth the effort. There are few places that can compare to these beautiful and wild places, and we should all be lucky enough to visit as many as we can. 

Video: Yosemite Half Dome in 360º

One of the more exciting innovations in technology over the past year or two has been the rise of 360º videos. These clips are made with special camera set-ups that can shoot footage in every direction at once. Than, when viewed in a supported browser, the viewer can actually pan around the video to get a look at the scene from different angles. The effect is even more enhanced if viewed with a set of virtual reality goggles, such as the Oculus Rift.

The video below is a good example of this type of technology, as it takes us on a climb up Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. The result is quite an experience, particularly if you view it in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Opera. Enjoy!

Hillary Clinton Wants to Expand Outdoor Opportunities with "American Parks Trust Fund"

I don't wade into the world of politics all that often, but on occasion there are some stories that are likely to be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts and travelers that are worth sharing. For instance, recently Hillary Clinton – who is running for president in the U.S. – announced her plan for the environment, which includes provisions for encouraging more people to get outside and enjoy the world around us.
At the heart of Clinton's plan is the formation of an "American Parks Trust Fund," which is designed to help expand the outdoor economy while also revitalizing local, state, and national parks across the U.S. The plan would also involve expanding the possibilities for Americans to get outdoors, with new trails initiatives, expanded park systems, and other options for creating outdoor spaces for everyone to take advantage of.

In the six-point plan that was released last week it is explained that the U.S. National Park System has a $11.5 billion backlog of work that needs to be done, including updating infrastructure, modernizing facilities, and repairing worn out equipment. Clinton's plan would address that shortfall, while also doubling the Land and Water Conservation Fund allocations to expand outdoors opportunities and to support the National Parks.


Additionally, the Clinton plan would add new units to the parky system as well, expanding the monuments and protected areas that fall under the Park Service's purview. While no specific sites are named in the brief, the new sites are expected to help celebrate under-represented cultures and people, with historically and culturally significant places beings pulled into the system.

Voting for someone on a single platform isn't really a great idea, but this plan is certainly an interesting one. It now looks like Clinton will be running against Donald Trump this fall, and it will be interesting to see if he has any plans that are similar. It'll also be interesting to see how either one of them plans to pay for these initiatives as well. Erasing the $11+ billion Park Service shortfall will be a challenge in and of itself, but doubling the money for the cause will be a significant hurdle to say the least. Of course, we're in the phase where candidates promise the moon and figure out how to pay for them later. Still, it is great to see that outdoor issues are being addressed ahead of the November elections.

Summer Travel: Outside Takes Us Beyond the National Parks

Everyone knows that America's National Parks are amazing destinations, but those 59 places aren't the only great places to visit inside the U.S. national park system. In fact, there are 351 other "units" that fall under the care of the National Park Service, and Outside magazine shares their favorites in a new article entailed 351 Amazing Places that Aren't National Parks.

The article looks at some of the best national monuments – such at Mt. Rushmore and George Washington's birthplace – as well as other destinations that include national coastlines, historic battlefields, and numerous other places that are part of NPS but haven't been given the title of "national park."

Outside even has some suggestions on places to go if you want to avoid the crowds. For example, rather than visit the wildly popular Grand Canyon, the magazine's editors suggest going to Canyon De Chelly ­National Monument instead. Want to examine impressive fossils? Skip Petrified Forest National Park and go to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah to get your fix. The point is, there are some good alternatives to the more crowded parks that offer similar experiences without having to battle lots of other visitors, which can make the experience a much better one.

Check out the entire list of Outside's suggestions here. Then, start making your summer travel plans.

Yellowstone Bison Calf Euthanized Following Tourist Abduction

One of the top stories on social media over the past few days has been the news that a father and son duo traveling through Yellowstone National Park put a bison calf into their car because they worried that it was too cold and might die. They took the calf to a ranger station at Lamar Buffalo Ranch, where the animal was taken back into custody and returned to its herd. Unfortunately, the news came yesterday that the young bison had to be euthanized, as the herd wouldn't accept it back into the group.

It should be noted that the man and his son who took the calf were foreign visitors, and it was their first time in Yellowstone. But they ignored Park Service warnings to stay away from the animals, and they obviously had little knowledge of how the creatures in the park survive in much harsher conditions than what are currently found in the park. They were cited for transporting the animal, and park rangers are once again reminding visitors to leave the animals alone. Usually that warning is to keep the humans safe more than the animals, as in recent years there have been some high profile wildlife encounters that have turned tragic. Most of those incidences have occurred between humans and bisons.

Apparently, the calf had been returned to its herd, but the other animals wouldn't accept it back. But having been exposed to humans, the calf was then approaching other visitors to the park and wandering up to cars. That is once again a very dangerous situation for everyone involved, so rangers made the tough decision to put the calf down.

If you're reading this blog, you probably don't need the reminder, but when you're in the wild, leave the animals alone people. That is advice that might just save your life. This story is also a good reminder that not everyone has the same experience and knowledge that most of us take for granted. It's just incredibly sad that this newborn bison had to suffer for that.

Video: Yellowstone as You've Never Seen it Before

As I've mentioned before, National Geographic has dedicated its entire May issue to Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the entire world. Nat Geo has also been releasing a series of great videos centered around the park, with one of the latest posted below. It takes us into Yellowstone with six NG photographers who give us a look at this breathtaking place that we've never seen before. Their photos are simply incredible, and remind us of why this is such a special place.

Video: More Than Just Parks Takes Us to the Badlands

The filmmaking brothers of Will and Jim Pattiz have returned with the latest edition in their More Than Just Parks series. This time, the subject of their lenses is Badlands National Park in South Dakota, which is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes you could ever hope to see. As usual, this video lives up to the high level of quality that this video series has set for itself, almost transporting us to this fantastic designation. If you're ever in western South Dakota, this is a must see destination for sure.

BADLANDS 8K from More Than Just Parks on Vimeo.