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  • It’s National Park Week 2013… April 20-28

    Posted at 5:00 am by Curt Mekemson
    Apr 26th
    Bryce Canyon

    Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

    It’s National Park Week. One of my blogging friends reminded me. Somehow I lost track of time and became so wrapped up in the minutia of life that the week had arrived before I realized it was happening. Shame on me.

    The United States and many other nations around the world have done a magnificent job of setting aside national parks. We owe it to ourselves to go out and explore these treasures. And, we owe it to our great, great, great, great-grandchildren to protect these sites of rare natural beauty for future generations.

    It won’t be easy. There will always be people who believe financial gain outweighs any other consideration. Why save thousand-year-old redwood trees when they can be turned into highly profitable redwood decks?

    Redwood

    This 1500 year old redwood is located in Redwoods National Park on the northern coast of California.

    Several years ago, Peggy and I set a goal to visit all of America’s National Parks. With the exception of Kobuk Valley and Lake Clark in Alaska, we’ve succeeded. It has been an incredible journey. Our travels have taken us from Denali National Park in Alaska to the Dry Tortugas National Park off the Florida Keys.

    In addition to driving through and hiking in these parks, I have also backpacked in 13, biked through five, and kayaked or rafted in three. Once I even organized a winter ski trek into Denali National Park where we slept out in minus 30-degree weather and listened to wolves howl. That was a learning experience…

    Since I couldn’t escape to a national park this week, I did the next best thing; I went through photos of parks Peggy and I have taken. All I could think of was wow– what incredible beauty!

    Rocky National Park in Colorado.

    Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

    Hawaii Volcanos National Park.

    An active volcano in Hawaii Volcanos National Park on the Island of Hawaii.

    Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming.

    Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. A sign warned us to look out for an active grizzly bear.

    Arches National Park, Utah

    Arches National Park, Utah

    Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California

    Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California. I once woke up near here with a bear standing on top of me.

    Fall colors of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia

    Fall colors of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

    Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park.

    Sand dunes in Death Valley National Park.

    The green of Olympic National Park in Washington.

    The green of Olympic National Park in Washington.

    Lesser known National Parks such as Great Basin in Nevada also hold great charm and beauty. This photo features the van Peggy  and I travelled in for four years as we travelled around North America.

    Lesser known national parks such as Great Basin in Nevada also hold great charm and beauty. This photo features the van Peggy and I travelled in for four years as we wandered around North America.

    Spectacular scenery is only part of the national park story. Wildlife, birds, insects, reptiles, flowers and history add to the experience.

    Peggy and I found this beauty swimming through the water at Everglades National Park in Florida.

    Peggy and I found this beauty swimming through the water at Everglades National Park in Florida.

    And this striking Black Buzzard was another Everglades resident.

    And this striking Black Buzzard was another Everglades resident.

    We found this Luna Moth on the Natchez National Parkway.

    We found this Luna Moth on the Natchez Trace National Parkway.

    Brown Pelicans are a common visitor at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.

    Brown Pelicans are common visitors at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.

    Peggy and I are great fans of Native America rock art, much of which is protected in National Parks and at National Monuments. This man with his big hands and fat little dogs has always been one of my favorites.

    Peggy and I are great fans of Native America rock art, much of which is protected in national parks and at national monuments. We have several thousand photos from different sites. This one from Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado/Utah has always been a favorite because of the big hands and fat little dogs.

    It never hurts to complete a blog with a pretty flower. We found this Foxglove growing in Olympic National Park.

    It never hurts to complete a blog with a pretty flower, even if it goes on and on. (grin) We found this Foxglove growing in Olympic National Park.

    NEXT BLOG: I hope you have enjoyed my two diversions over the past week because of Earth Day and National Park Week. On Monday I will return to Europe and Rome’s historic Colosseum.

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    Author: Curt Mekemson

    Wanderer, writer, photographer and activist. I've now settled in Southern Oregon. 1.8 million acres of national forest are out the backdoor and the beautiful Applegate River is out the front door. I like travel, reading, history and wild places. I am married to the lovely, funny, bright Peggy.
    Posted in National Parks | Tagged Arches National Park, Bryce National Park, Death Valley National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Everglades National Park, Grand Tetons National Park, Great Basin National Park, Hawaii Volcanos National Park, National Park Week, Olympic National Park, Pt. Reyes national Sea Shore, Redwoods National Park, Rocky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Yosemite National Park |

    16 thoughts on “It’s National Park Week 2013… April 20-28”

    • biljanazovkic

      April 26, 2013 at 5:30 am

      I like this very much…going to dare to paint those beautiful colors of Grand Canyon today ….great idea and inspiration 🙂

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 26, 2013 at 9:34 am

        Thanks Biljana. I look forward to seeing the painting!

        Reply
    • Peggy Mekemson

      April 26, 2013 at 11:04 am

      I am always intrigued by which photos you select to feature to capture the theme of the blog. I am entranced by dramatic colors and shapes. I can understand why artists and photographers are motivated and challenged by the richness of all found in the national parks. Yes, we are fortunate that many had the vision to protect the gift of nature.

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 26, 2013 at 3:03 pm

        Choosing photos often takes longer than writing the blog. (grin)

        Reply
    • hillbillyzen13

      April 28, 2013 at 8:46 pm

      Curt, you’re one of the few people I know who can make a buzzard downright photogenic. Breathtaking photos – thanks for sharing them.

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 28, 2013 at 8:54 pm

        Thanks… I swear, that buzzard wanted his photo taken. I’ve never had a bird that poset the way he did.

        Reply
    • free penny press

      April 29, 2013 at 3:00 pm

      I have kicked my behind a million times over..when I left the Army, hubby(then, now an ex) drove across country taking a month to travel. he wanted to see the Grand Canyon but with 3 small children I just knew one would fall over the side.. Mother’s Panic.. needless to say never saw it and boy do I wish I had of..
      Hard lesson to learn..
      Beautiful pictures Curt!

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 29, 2013 at 3:20 pm

        Thanks Lynne. And the canyon is still there. (grin) Probably will be for at least another hundred million years.

        Reply
        • free penny press

          April 29, 2013 at 3:23 pm

          Yeah but by the time get there my legs will be too old..I’ll need one of them donkeys to tote me around 😉

        • Curt Mekemson

          April 29, 2013 at 3:47 pm

          In my youth, I rode down on a mule. Couldn’t walk for a day! (grin)

    • FeyGirl

      April 29, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      What a BEAUTIFUL post…. Such gorgeous shots, wow. Really shows the utter beauty and variety of our landscapes and land. Doesn’t it behoove us to protect it all the more…?

      Love that Olympic shot, though. Just perfect.

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 29, 2013 at 3:22 pm

        And to think, those photos represent such a small part of what is out there… Thanks.

        Reply
    • OurBoler

      April 29, 2013 at 5:04 pm

      So many beautiful places, and great pictures, makes me want to hit the road.

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        April 30, 2013 at 8:48 am

        Yeah, I am getting the road trip itch, myself. The photos did it to me as well.

        Reply
    • Alice Davis

      May 2, 2013 at 10:56 am

      Love ’em. You and Peggy are my kind of folks. Would love to trek with you. The buzzards I can take or leave, and I believe your lovely flowers may be the deadly digitalis???? or foxglove??? Fill me in, I’d love to know.

      Reply
      • Curt Mekemson

        May 2, 2013 at 9:13 pm

        Foxglove for sure, Alice. Let’s go trekking. Included you in my next blog, BTW. (grin)

        Reply

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