Lend a Hand on National Public Lands Day

September 28th is your chance to be a part of the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways.

America’s public lands aren’t the only ones that benefits from National Public Lands Day. Nature offers one of the most reliable boosts to mental and physical well-being. Spending time in the outdoors has been found to improve short-term memory, concentration and creativity—while reducing the effects of stress and anxiety. Volunteering on NPLD is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the many benefits that come from connecting with nature.

In celebration of the annual National Public Lands Day celebration, September 28, 2019 has been designed as a Free Entrance Day for most National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas and other participating federal sites. If you volunteer on this day, you will receive a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date.

Click here to check out the official National Public Lands Day event map, which makes it easy to find all of the events that will be available later this month.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Montana State Parks Announces 2020 Summer Reservation Season Opening

Montana State Parks have announced that the 2020 summer reservation season will open on November 15th. The summer reservation season runs from the third Friday in May through the third Sunday in September and campsites may be booked up to 6 months in advance of arrival.

In recent years, reservations were available up to 9 months in advance, however in 2019, State Parks reduced the booking window to six months. This change allows Montana State Parks more time to make decisions for changes that benefit visitors for the next season. Additionally, reservations at Beavertail Hill, Black Sandy, Lewis & Clark Caverns, Placid Lake, Salmon Lake, Tongue River Reservoir, and Whitefish Lake State Parks are now available as little as one day before arrival. These decisions were made to give campers at Montana State Parks more flexibility when making campsite reservations.

To reserve your campsite, cabin, tipi, or yurt, visit stateparks.mt.gov or call 855-922-6768.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Telecommunications Infrastructure Decision Signed

The National Park Service has signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Telecommunications Infrastructure Plan/Environmental Assessment at Grand Teton National Park. The decision allows the National Park Service to issue a right-of-way permit for telecommunications infrastructure improvements, including cellular and broadband services at strategic locations in the developed areas of the park that currently have significant park staff presence and/or see a high volume of visitors. The decision also includes upgrades with the National Park Service radio system. The decision document is available at parkplanning.nps.gov/telecommunications.

Work performed by the permit requester will not be implemented until the right-of-way permit is finalized. The permit is anticipated to be issued this fall.

Park management, concessioners, and partners are increasingly relying on modern communications technology for daily operations; however, existing telecommunications services in the park are limited or nonexistent, inadequate and outdated. Grand Teton National Park Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said, “This plan will allow us to meet mission-critical park operations, as well as those of our partners in the park. These services are vital for recruiting and retaining employees and will provide connectivity for park visitors at strategic developed locations.”

The decision allows for 62.5 miles of fiber optic main line and 21.4 miles of lateral line that will be installed underground in conduit within road corridors, previously disturbed areas or other utility rights-of-way. This will allow for reliable high-speed internet access in developed areas, as well as a connection to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

The decision also includes installation of wireless telecommunications facilities and associated infrastructure at nine developed areas in the park that currently support critical operations and/have a high volume of park visitors. The decision allows for 4G technology and does not include 5G technology.

The wireless infrastructure locations are Flagg Ranch, Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain, North Jenny Lake, South Jenny Lake, Beaver Creek, Moose, and Kelly. The facilities will be constructed in a manner compatible with the character of the surrounding structures, or otherwise made unobtrusive with best available technologies, screening with vegetation or existing topography and/or other means These services will be designed to be available in the developed areas of the park, although some spillover of wireless signals may extend into backcountry/wilderness areas. The plan is not intended to provide coverage to all road sections within the park.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Concessioner selected for operation of guided interpretive boat tours and small watercraft rental services

National Park Service (NPS) Acting Intermountain Regional Director Palmer Jenkins recently announced the selection of Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., as the concessioner for interpretive boat tours and small watercraft rental services in Glacier National Park. The new 10-year concession contract is anticipated to commence January 1, 2020.

Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., is based in Columbia Falls, Montana. The family-owned-and-operated business has been providing interpretive boat tours on the lakes in Glacier National Park since 1938.

The NPS Intermountain Region solicited proposals for this business opportunity from February 12, 2019, through April 30, 2019.

Proposals are evaluated and selected under the provisions of the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act by a panel of NPS representatives outside of Glacier National Park.

For more information about Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., contact them at 406-257-2426, or visit their website.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

How to Climb (hike) a Mountain

Below is a short video that was featured on Outside Today a few years ago. Although the title of the video was "How to Climb a Mountain", the skills discussed in this video are actually basic mountain climbing skills that most hikers will benefit from, and should have an understanding for safer passage through the mountains. The video features Rainbow Weinstock from the Colorado Mountain School:





Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking