Thursday, April 23, 2026

Biologists set to begin 2026 grizzly bear captures for research purposes in Yellowstone National Park

As part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within Yellowstone National Park. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures May 1 and continue through Oct. 15. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.

Monitoring of the grizzly bear population is vital to ongoing research and management of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. To attract bears, biologists use natural food sources such as recently road-killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares are used to capture bears. Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST and approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Whenever bear capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with brightly colored warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the capture site. It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted. For more information regarding grizzly bear capture efforts call the IGBST trapping hotline at 406-994-6675. Information about the grizzly bear research and monitoring is available from the IGBST website.



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Wednesday, April 22, 2026

The Early Days of Appalachian Trail Construction

Several years ago, the Appalachian Trail Museum published this historic instructional trail construction footage from the early 1930s. The video was taken by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, likely within the boundaries of the future Shenandoah National Park. It shows how the trail was marked, cleared, measured, signed and blazed. It also shows the construction of the Sexton Shelter. The AT Museum published the video in a three-part series.












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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Glacier National Park Remind Visitors About 2026 Shuttle System and Logan Pass Access Changes

As the summer season approaches, Glacier National Park is reminding visitors about important changes taking effect for the 2026 season. These changes, first announced in February, include the elimination of vehicle reservations anywhere in the park this year, as well as a new reservation-only shuttle system and three-hour parking limits at Logan Pass.  

To help visitors plan ahead, Glacier has created a dedicated page with everything you need to know about 2026 access and shuttle changes: Visiting Logan Pass in 2026 - Glacier National Park.   Here are key highlights to expect for a summer visit to visits to Glacier this year: 

What’s New for 2026: 

* Glacier’s shuttles on the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass will run on a reservation-only system during the summer season. 

* Shuttle tickets will be available on Recreation.gov. Tickets will be released during two booking windows. A portion of tickets will be available 60 days in advance beginning May 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. MDT, on a rolling basis. The remaining tickets will be released daily at 7 p.m. MDT, beginning June 30, for next-day shuttles.

* No vehicle reservations are required anywhere in the park this year. 

* Parking at Logan Pass is limited to three hours starting July 1 (weather permitting). 

* There will not be a Glacier National Park operated hiker/biker shuttle this spring, but local commercial operators with park permits will offer bicycle rental and transportation services during the hiker/biker season.

* All Sun Tours and Red Bus tours that previously departed from the Apgar Visitor Center will now depart from the newly designated Quarter Circle Parking Lot. 



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Monday, April 20, 2026

The Father of Rocky Mountain National Park

Mills Lake is among the most popular hiking destinations in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. It's named for Enos Mills, the man commonly referred to as the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park." Mills became the area's first naturalist, and made great contributions to the field that would eventually lead to the profession of interpretive park rangers. He also established a guide service that led tourists to the summit of Longs Peak. At the age of 15 he made his first ascent of the park's highest peak, and over the course of his life, would make the trip 40 times by himself, and nearly 300 times as a guide. The photo below shows a very young Mills (on the right) making his first ascent in 1885.

Mills most significant contribution, however, was spending numerous years lecturing across the nation, lobbying Congress, and writing thousands of letters and articles that would eventually lead to the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. By the early 1900s, Mills was beginning to worry about the increasing number of visitors in the Rocky Mountains, many of whom were not respecting the natural environment. His advocacy for protection of nature and wilderness eventually caught the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who appointed him to the position of Government Lecturer on Forestry. During his tenure in this position, between 1907 to 1909, he gave 2118 addresses!

Although he advocated for a national park that would extend from Wyoming to Pikes Peak, covering roughly 1000 square miles, the original park that was authorized on January 26, 1915, protected only 358 square miles. Today, the park protects roughly 415 square miles.




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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.


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Saturday, April 18, 2026

Mountains 101

Okay, this might not be for everyone, but I took this online course almost a decade ago and thought it was outstanding. In my view, it definitely enhanced my visits to the mountains. The really great part about it is that it’s totally free!

The twelve 60-minute lessons in this course are provided by the University of Alberta, in partnership with Parks Canada, The Alpine Club of Canada and the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC).

The courses focus on the physical, biological, and human dimensions of mountain places in Alberta and other ranges around the world. More specifically, you’ll learn about the origins of mountains, climate and weather, flora and fauna, the effects of altitude on humans, and hazards, among many other topics. According to the University of Alberta, “We’ll be delivering your lessons from valley bottoms to mountaintops, from museums and labs, to alpine huts and other spectacular alpine sites, and we’ll do so with the help of a whole host of experts.”

“This class consists of twelve 60-minute lessons, each with a series interactive lecture videos, a set of course notes and course glossary, and recommended readings and additional resources. Each lesson also includes a short summative quiz to test your understanding.”

Moreover, you can take the lessons at your own leisure. Here’s a short overview video:



For more information, please click here.



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