Hall Fills Interim Superintendent Role

Kym Hall, a 26-year veteran of the National Park Service, has taken the roll as acting Glacier National Park Superintendent until the position is filled permanently. Hall has been at the park since July 2011 as the deputy superintendent.

Glacier National Park Chief Ranger Mark Foust and Chief of Interpretation Tracy Ammerman will share deputy superintendent responsibilities during the interim.

Prior to Glacier National Park, Hall was superintendent of three park sites in Southeastern Arizona; Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua National Monument, and Fort Bowie National Historic Site. She began her National Park Service career at Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. After a variety of positions, including dispatcher and paralegal, Hall took a position at the National Park Service headquarters in Washington D.C. where she worked on regulations across the country. While serving in the Washington Office, she was promoted to the position of Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks where she represented the National Park Service on a variety of challenging issues, including land use, concessions contracts, weapons in parks and other high-profile topics.

It's anticipated that a superintendent for the park will be selected this spring. National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels will make the selection, with concurrence by the Department of the Interior Secretary's Office.

Chas Cartwright retired at the end of December after serving four years as Glacier National Park Superintendent.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

The connection between St. Peter’s Basilica and Glacier National Park

Is there a connection between Glacier National Park and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City? You be the judge.

Last week Glacier National Park posted these photos to their Facebook page.

The first photo shows a pattern in the rocks at Sunrift Gorge that has striking resemblance to Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculpture, the Pietà (see inset):

The Pietà, sculpted in 1498 and 1499, and depicting the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion, is one of the most highly finished works by Michelangelo. The resembling rocks can be seen from the Sunrift Gorge overlook at the angle shown in this picture:

Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Weekend Snowshoe Walks Begin in Glacier

Glacier National Park will again be hosting Winter Signs Snowshoe Walks every Saturday and Sunday this winter, at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., between now and March 17th.

The public is invited to join the two-hour, ranger-led snowshoe excursions of the winter environment. The program is free. Participants are encouraged to bring snowshoes or they are available to rent for a nominal fee at the Apgar Visitor Center. It's recommended that participants wear sturdy winter boots and dress in layers for a variety of winter conditions, and bring water and snacks. The snowshoe walks are suitable for all ages and abilities.

The walks begin and conclude at the Apgar Visitor Center. There is no group size limit and no reservations are taken. In the event of severe weather or insufficient snow, individuals should contact the visitor center at 406-888-7939 on respective weekend days, between 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to confirm that day's outings. Please contact the park headquarters at 406-888-7800 for general information regarding the walks, or visit http://www.nps.gov/glac.

Park entrance fees are required. The park's winter entrance fee is $15 for vehicles and $10 for single entrants (hiker /bicyclist /motorcyclist) for a seven-day pass.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Walnut Canyon National Monument

During our tour of the southwest this past September, my wife and I visited the three National Monuments that surround Flagstaff, Arizona. One of those was Walnut Canyon, just a couple miles east of town. The canyon is culturally and historically significant due to the ancient Sinagua people that once lived here, and the pueblos they etched along the canyon walls that still stand today.

The Sinagua, a pre-Columbian cultural group that lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250, constructed several cliff dwelling rooms. The best way to get an up-close view of the ancient homes is to walk the one-mile Island Trail, which loops around a rock “island”, while hugging the cliff’s edge. From the trailhead, just outside of the visitor center, the path drops 185 feet - via 240 steps! You may want to note that you’ll have to climb those same stairs on your return. Once on the loop portion of the hike you’ll pass the remains of 25 cliff dwelling rooms, as well as several plant life zones that span the west from Mexico to Canada.

The park does a great job of interpreting the historical sites and the wide variety of plant life found along the way. Here are a few of the sights you’ll see:

Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Pinnacles Becomes Number 59

Yesterday the former Pinnacles National Monument in California received a promotion when legislation was signed, making it the 59th U.S. National Park.

Legislation to upgrade Pinnacles National Monument to a National Park was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June, before finally receiving the nod from the Senate on December 30th.

The Pinnacles National Monument was created by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The initial area designated by the president was 2,080 acres, but has since grown to its current size of 26,606 acres.

The new park is located roughly 80 miles south of the San Francisco Bay Area, and about 40 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.

The park gets its name from the massive monoliths, sheer-walled canyons, rock spires and crags that are remnants of an ancient volcano. The volcano eroded over millions of years as it moved northward along the San Andreas Fault.

Pinnacles is also home to a successful California condor re-establishment program. Every fall since 2003 captive-bred condors have been released into the wild. In 2010, for the first time in more than a century, a condor chick was successfully hatched within park boundaries. The national park now manages a population of 32 condors.

Pinnacles National Park has more than 30 miles of hiking trails. Hikes range from flat stretches of grasslands, to uphill climbs through talus caves, to the High Peaks Trail that takes hikers through the heart of the Pinnacles rock formations.

Due to extreme hot summer temperatures, Pinnacles is most popular in the cooler months. The park warns:

During the summer, extreme temperatures can make hiking uncomfortable at best, and possibly dangerous for those who are unprepared. If you plan to visit Pinnacles from late May through early September, please check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.

During the spring, when the grasses are green and a variety of wildflowers can be seen along any trail, hiking is at its best. Fall and winter are also excellent times to visit.

For more information on the park, please click here. For more information on hiking in the park, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park