in honor of Ken Burns' National Parks (pics)

[handmade34]

I have had the awesome pleasure of visiting most of the Parks in my travels... these are pictures from my trip from west to east this past month (Yosemite, Rushmore, Badlands)... thank you John Muir and others

[petersjo02]

1. Great pictures!

Thanks for sharing.

[handmade34]

4. very lucky me

I'm not the best picture taker but the glory of the terrain makes up for it

[XOKCowboy]

2. I could do without the Mt Rushmore photos

but I agree with you. Our National Parks are national treasures.

[handmade34]

5. ...just so they don't add Reagan

hiking in the Grand Canyon (with my daughter)

[prairierose]

13. I work in the town at the base of Rushmore...

people always bring up adding another face...it will never happen. Borglum had to redesign the sculpture as he went because of the rock. The first carving of Washington had to be blasted off and the whole thing started over because of the rock. There is not enough good rock up there for any more carving to be done. So be at ease, raygun will never be on that mountain, nor anyone else.

In an aside, for the first time this year, I had people asking me why Teddy was on the mountain. I hope that some of them watch Burn's program and learn something about the national parks.

[4_TN_TITANS]

17. "why Teddy was on the mountain"???

God, Americans are so stupid.

I'm lucky enough to have been born and raised just 3 hrs. from the Smokies in Tennessee. That park is so much a part of the lives and memories of everyone in this part of the country. Teddy was one of the few republicans I thank my stars for, why can't there be more like him that actually make it into office? Someone who puts the conserve in conservative?

[XOKCowboy]

20. The idea of white men's faces being carved into the Paha Sapa has always irked me...

being of Native American descent. The Black Hills were the home of the spirits to the Lakota and sacred to many Indian tribes. Our government's history in the Black Hills is deplorable. Seeing those 4 faces towering over it has always seemed to me to be the highest form of arrogance.

OK off the soapbox. I've ridden a motorcycle through Yellowstone, Glacier, Sequoia, Redwood, Yosemite, the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon and many others. I always said thanks to John Muir and Teddy for saving them for me to see. Thanks for the pictures. They're incredible. I've got a few myself. :)

[Botany]

3. Thank you for all the pictures

n/t

[Whisp]

6. some wonderful shots but...

I would rather have viewed that show with the volumne off. All that God talk made me want to puke, especially just after the description of killing off the natives in Yosemite - and how wonderful and special america is - like no natural beauty exists elsewhere on the planet and God gave this wonderful gift to the Indiankillers.

[dbonds]

8. It was a bit much, but most times it was in reference to the majesty of nature

Sort of in the vein it was so majestic that it was divine (not christian)

[csziggy]

10. But the "God talk" is how people thought at that point in time

And part of it was the justification for creating the parks in the first place.

I didn't watch the entire show, just snippets in between other stuff I was doing. Was that the show tonight on the parks where the Indian talked about how when the white men "discovered" those places, the Indians were there going, "What are those guys doing here?" Of the parts I saw, I liked that comment best!

[handmade34]

11. there is much tragedy along with the beauty

I believe that Ken Burns is aware of our history... and he is observing the goodness that exists in us despite the destruction we have brought about. It is vital that we understand what we have done, both good and bad.

[blondeatlast]

7. The National Parks are amazing. I went to Yellowstone in August and remembered

that there is beauty and purity left in America. We need to feel humbled every once in a while and a visit to the NPs will do just that.

Incredible pics; thank you for sharing them.

[HillbillyBob]

9. I grew up in WV, the mountains are beautiful, or were until the

mountain destruction coal mining got going good. These are of the same chain as the Great Smokies that are preserved in W NC and Tn.
I lived for about a year in the Great NorthWest looking at the Cascades, Olympics to the West of Bremerton Wa and Mt St Helens smoking to the South and Mt Rainier off to the SE. The grandeur was 'heroic'. something I will remember all of my life.
I hitch hiked to Mt Rainier in late feb/early april(hey it was 30 years ago) and got snowed in and had to spend the night on a lodge floor in front of a fire place it was not so romantic as it was a night spent on a bear skin and I had no company of that sort! in front of a stone fire place. At least I was warmish as the snow blew about outside.

Since I will not likely get another such chance to see those magnificent trees and mountains I have started planting giant sequoia here in central north NC, Ca incence cedars. They may not reach the size of the Douglas fire,ponderosa and Blue spruce of there while I live, I hope that those who come along next will treasure them. The Giant Sequoia and Incense Cedar may reach 100 feet in the next 30 years, I am a long term (26yrs) I hope I can see them reach those heights.

[handmade34]

12. I worked in Lee County VA last year

and witnessed the destruction. I worked near Mt Ranier this past February but didn't get to hike it :(
Memories are made from trips like yours, even when alone.... Planting trees is one of the nicest things we can do for ourselves and others. Thanks.
1st picture is VA, near Cumberland Gap and the 2nd is the Redwoods (I think my favorite place of all)

[HillbillyBob]

14. The moutain destruction, strip mining makes me cry.

I have been anti since I was 6 years old. I have spoken out since then, to local politicians or anyone who would listen. Oh I won't go into the discussions and arguments with locals, family etc.

Thank you for that first picture. I now live about 20 miles South of Danville Va., where Uranium mining has been stopped in Chatham county, Va, mountain top removal was to be used.
It would have contaminated our local ground water.
Now we are facing a new coal powered electric power plant in Semora NC near our new home (well new to us is an older modular home on an old tobacco farm which has family ties) I and my partner moved here to have fresh air to breath and 2 years later I am asthmatic after being exposed to coal power plants and coal mines and we are furious, we moved to Mayberry to have fresh air only to find that Duke wants to put a power plant nearby that uses the local town water supply as a coolant for a coal power plant.

I am not a hypocrite in that we use more and more power. We bought a very fuel efficient car and made it even more efficient, it got 33 in town and 36 on the road it now gets 40 mpg, we have cut our houses power use by half in 2 years with out sitting in the dark or doing without, we are growing veggies in our yard, but with a coal power plant nearby we will not be able to eat from our own crops as they will be poisoned with mercury and we will not be able to afford to live here because then we will have to go back to buying food from a market that is shipped in from where?

[HillbillyBob]

15. Sorry I got off subject that first photo look similar to a place I have been

I have not been to the redwood forests so while that downed tree pic looks sort of familiar I do not know where it is.

[handmade34]

18. California, Avenue of the Giants - Founder's Grove

The Dyerville Giant fell in 1991

Dyerville Giant Facts:

•362 ft. in height
•17 ft. diameter
•52 ft. circumference
•Possibly 2,000 years old

[Hekate]

16. Just finished watching the Burns program. Thanks for adding your magnificent pix....

Ken Burns, as always, does a wonderful job.

Hekate

[ddeclue]

19. This land is YOUR land... this land is MY land

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me



As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

http://files.myopera.com/ab_kh2000/albums/227518/Male%20Painted%20Bunting,%20Everglades%20National%20Park,%20Florida.jpg

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me



The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me



As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!



In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.



http://floridanature.org/photos/Alligator_mississippiensis,_Homestead,_20020508.jpg