RenoVous

  Father Crowley Vista Point before you start driving down, down, down. You hit sea level at Stovepipe Wells. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. We turned into the Harmony Borax Works site. Now below sea level. The mountains were seriously mosaic.

 On this day in 1863, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. The Civil War was still ongoing, and the Battle of Gettysburg had been one of the bloodiest battles. It was a dedication to a military cemetery on the site. "Four score and seven years ago...." Full Text As I stated with regards to FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech, this is one of the most famous openers in American history.  In fact, it's considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. While Lincoln supposed "the world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here," there is a particular sentiment that resonates to this day, and is certainly worth remembering: "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." A Pennsylvania attorney, tasked by the governor, had purchased 17 acres of pasture to bury the more than 7,500 who fell in battle. The Soldiers' Cemetery is now a National Park.

  Meet the Denali Sled Dog Pups! They were born on May 3 of this year through the National Park Service.  They provide the most effective means of patrol for the vast areas of wilderness during the winter season. Mushing is a cultural tradition across Alaska, and the Denali kennels date back to 1922. There is a  Puppy Cam  live through the site, and feeding time is at 11:45 AKST.

  Created on this day in 1929. The mountain range was named by French-Canadian fur trappers, meaning "big breasts." The valley at its base, Jackson Hole, was settled in 1887, ideal for grazing cattle.  Ranches drew tourism, eastern "tenderfoots" who wanted a taste of the Old West, and the growing numbers led to concerns about preserving the natural beauty of the region. In 1916, Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, suggested incorporating the land into Yellowstone National Park.  The ranchers and business owners disagreed, and when the park was established, it excluded Jackson Hole, encompassing only the mountains and a narrow strip at the base. Albright persuaded John Rockefeller to buy up land in the Jackson Hole area for possible future incorporation.  This angered the landowners more, complaining of "eastern money interests" dictating the future of the west. In 1949, Rockefeller donated his land to the federal government, and now Jac...

  The "Wooly Devil" is the first new plant genus to be discovered in a US national park since 1976. It was confirmed last year in Big Bend National Park, Texas. It was initially found near an area known as the Devil's Den.  It's scientific name is Ovicula biradial. Turns out, it's a member of the sunflower family. It blooms after rain, so "as climate change pushes deserts to become hotter and drier, highly specialized plants like the wooly devil face extinction," said Dr. Isaac Lichter Marck. It has so far been documented in three narrow locations across the northernmost corner of the park.

Bryce Canyon National Park   It was wow.

  The famous tunnel view from Yosemite. On this day of National Parks Week, we learn about the innovative projects happening in the parks. When we visited in 2015, they were restoring the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.  This year they are working on traffic flow and shuttle stops as well as campground rehabilitation. Conservancy will be done surrounding Bridalveil Falls, to reduce crowding and protect natural resources.  (It wasn't flowing on our trip). The park is also establishing a new welcome center, but here is their first. Built by the Sierra Club in 1903-04 to honor charter member, Joseph LeConte, the memorial served as an information center at the northern terminus of the John Muir Trail. "It demands of those seeing it for that first time that they reorganize their sense of proportion about the real world."

  On this day in 1872, President Grant signed the bill creating our first National Park: Yellowstone This was 18 years before Wyoming, Idaho and Montana even became states. Archaeological evidence shows that people began traveling through the area more than 11,000 years ago. A Clovis-type spear was found near the north entrance in Gardiner, Montana, made from obsidian.  It was the Native Americans who gave the name Yellowstone, for the yellow sandstone that lines the river. There are 45 named waterfalls in the park, and hundreds more exist throughout. But the hot springs and thermophiles are what make the park stand out. It is the thermophiles that create the vibrant colors we see around the hot, acidic pools. Of course, most famous is the geyser, Old Faithful.  It erupts 17 times a day and can reach heights of 184 feet, lasting about 90 seconds. Magma is estimated to be a mere three miles below the surface of the park.  It is one of the most seismically active areas...

 Last week I mentioned we'd be camping near Lassen - turns out, the campsite was in the park! We had a pretty nice spot right near Summit Lake. Driving out past Lassen Peak, Lake Helen. We also passed by Sulphur Works, which you smell before you see.  We didn't walk up to the Ridge Lakes but I could hear the water flowing all around us. So that's National Park #3 that we've been to.

  Becoming a park in February 1919, the Grand Canyon is a Wonder of the World as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scientists estimate the canyon formed 5-6 million years ago, as the Colorado River carved its way through the rock.  The Vishnu Basement Rocks, found near the bottom of the inner gorge, formed 1.7 billion years ago when magma hardened and joined the region.  According to tribal history, the Havasupai have lived in and around the canyon for more than 800 years.  Much of their land was taken with the creation of the park, but in 1975 they regained a large portion.  They make money from tourists, especially from Havasu Falls. Now, on this day in history (2013), Nik Wallenda became the first person to walk a high wire across Little Colorado Gorge, which is near the park. History

  I've been wanting to do a kind of series on national parks and today in history helped get us on topic. It was on this day in 1913 that Howard Stuck led the first successful ascent of Denali, the highest point on the North American continent. "Denali" is the Athabascan Indian name meaning, "High One." Congress created the park in 1917 to protect Dall sheep. Over the years, the park was expanded to protect the mountain and the wilderness.  It is now larger than the state of Massachusetts. According to the park website, there is currently a closure along Pretty Rocks Landslide. It's been active since at least the 1960's.  Before 2014, it only caused small cracks in the road requiring moderate maintenance, but it's been accelerating since.  It is now a rate of road movement per hour, as opposed to per year.  Maintenance can no longer keep up. Hubby has some family in Alaska, so a visit is on our list, and this would definitely be a point of interest. ...

The Nene goose is the rarest goose in the world, and is only found in Hawaii.  Today we're taking a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the 1950's this animal was on the brink of extinction.  Park biologists have worked to help the population rebound. Listen here to the  Voices of Science It is believed that the Nene goose evolved from the Canadian goose, which likely landed in Hawaii some 500,000 years ago. I also found some  webcams  for the park. Wikipedia