Starting next month, the United States Mint will issue the first of 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites. The first coin to be released is Hot Springs National Park, which was set aside by Congress in 1832. Four other coins will be placed into circulation this year—Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. (via Joel S.'s OhRanger! blog)
14 New National Monuments?
Obama's administration is considering 14 potential national monuments in 9 states, according to a leaked Department Of The Interior document. And whenever there's talk of turning a place into a federally protected national monument, there's going to be debate. Some are happy with the idea of federal protection, thus helping to save these beautiful places for our kids, but with national monument status comes more regulation as to what types of activities are allowed in the area.In addition, government officials in Utah are angry because they claim that no state or local officials were contacted about the proposal. Utah Governor Gary Herbert claims, "I will challenge federal officials to explain to me how they could possibly be in a better position to know what’s best for our rural lands than those of us here on the ground in this state.” Below are the areas being considered for national monument status.San Rafael Swell, UTMontana’s Northern Prairie, MTLesser Prairie Chicken Preserve, NMBerryessa Snow Mountains, CAHeart of the Great Basin, NVOtero Mesa, NMNorthwest Sonoran Desert, AZOwyhee Desert, OR/NVCascade-Siskiyou National Monument, CA (expansion)Vermillion Basin, CO (pictured above)Bodie Hills, CAThe Modoc Plateau, CACedar Mesa region, UTSan Juan Islands, WAMore info at The Adventure Life.
Half Dome Permits
In an effort to be better regulate the number of hikers using the Half Dome cable system, Yosemite will begin requiring day-use permits when the cables are put back in May. Last year, Manoj Kumar, 40, of San Ramon, Calif., fell to his death from the cables, and the following weekend, a woman fell during a rainstorm and sustained serious injury.The Half Dome day-use permits (they're "free" with a 1.50 service charge) will only be required on weekends, including Fridays, as well as holidays. Four hundred will be issued per day, with 100 of those to be included in wilderness permits. Last summer, the daily visitor numbers on peak days were around 1,100.*At least people are getting out of their cars...MP3: Allen Toussaint - The Chokin' Kind