Parkography

In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

In this episode: National park entrance is about to get much more expensive for foreign visitors, plus digital passes are here, and more.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s  

This week: National parks reopen after the government shutdown — but not before one of them gets hit with a rash of graffiti. Winter closures are rolling in across the park system, including some big changes at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The Park Service is trying to hire 500 new law enforcement rangers with an eye-popping $70,000 bonus… while a new academic study shows national parks are still some of the safest places you can visit. We’ll also look at the Justice Department’s renewed crackdown on marijuana use on federal land, the controversy surrounding the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Plus — a presidential pardon for a record-setting trail runner, and the unbelievable moment a man walked straight toward a pack of wolves in Yellowstone. The full video of the man approaching wolves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPfVXr4Ap4S/ The National Parks Traveler Article: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/11/national-parks-are-overwhelmingly-safe-spaces-says-study Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 National Parks Reopen After Shutdown02:36 Winter Closures and Changes in Major Parks04:53 Recruitment Drive for Law Enforcement Rangers07:09 Safety in National Parks: New Study Insights08:22 Federal Cannabis Law Enforcement in Parks09:12 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management10:30 Call for Restoration of National Park Funding11:36 Presidential Pardon for Trail Runner12:16 Man's Close Encounter with Wolves in Yellowstone13:14 Conclusion and Thanksgiving Wishes

In this episode, I'll break down the various types of passes available for national parks and other federal recreation areas. I'll explain the America the Beautiful Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Military Pass, detailing their benefits and eligibility criteria. Learn which pass is right for you, how to obtain it, and how to maximize your visits to federal lands.  Order your passes online here: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes Get the Every Kid Outdoors 4th & 5th Grade Pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htmFind the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction to National Park Passes01:29 Annual Pass: The Basics04:03 Special Passes for Kids and Volunteers05:07 Sponsored Message: Slinky Stove05:46 Senior Pass: Benefits and Discounts08:14 Access Pass for Disabled Individuals09:39 Military Pass: Recent Changes10:38 How to Obtain Your Pass12:39 Frequently Asked Questions15:33 Conclusion

Highlights include the National Park Service prosecuting BASE jumping cases in Yosemite, the Trump administration reopening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas leasing, and closures in the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Mobile District campgrounds. We'll also cover the reopening of the Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground in the Grand Canyon, a new federal coal leasing plan, the loss of the National Park Service's only petroleum engineer, and a controversial owl culling plan.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction00:21 Yosemite Base Jumping Incidents03:10 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil and Gas Leasing03:57 Sponsored Message: Slinky Stove04:34 US Army Corps of Engineers Campground Closures05:29 Grand Canyon Reopenings and Waterline Project06:34 Coal Leasing Near National Parks07:13 National Park Service Loses Petroleum Engineer07:58 Controversial Barred Owl Culling Plan08:51 Utah State University's Beaver Relocation Program09:42 Managing Feral Hogs in National Parks10:25 Wyoming Corner Crossing Legislation11:17 Conclusion