Biggest National Park Stories of 2015



Old Faithful Geyser and spectators,
Yellowstone National Park, Acroterion |

This past year was big for national parks and national park system including the establishment of new park units, record visitation, and huge wildfires.  Here in no particular order, are the top national park stories of 2015.

1. New National Parks: The creation of new national park units was a top priority for the President this past year. Along with Pullman Historic Neighborhood, Browns Canyon, and the Honouliuli Internment Camp site, the federal government also created Manhattan Project National Historic Park. These parks preserve some of our most threatened landscapes, protect former slave housing, tell of the story of the world's entering the atomic age, and help us never forget the internment of some of our fellow Americans.  National Parks preserve and protect not only what we hold dear, but also some of our are hardest lessons.

2. Record Visitation: The national park system saw a record number of people coming through the park entrances. As of the start of this month, the national park service had welcomed more than 272 million people and was on pace to see more than 300 million people for the first time in its history. These numbers are up nearly 4 percent from last year. The park service broke visitation numbers despite a shaky economic recovery, terrorism threats, and the belief that they are no longer relevant. The public seemed to vote with their feet this year, that not only are parks relevant, they are more loved than ever.

3. Huge Fires: Another number that was up this year was the cost of fighting wildfires. The federal government spent more than $1.7 billion fighting fires across the country this past year. This is up more than $100 million from 2014.  Fires raged throughout much of the country including large fires in Montana, Alaska, Washington, and California. Sadly, 2015 was a deadly fire season seeing seven firefighters killed battling the blazes. Congress is responding to the crisis by proposing additional federal resources  to fight these monster blazes.

4. Politics: Like any other aspect of our lives, the national parks are no refuge from political fights and squabbles. This year, the battles over the confederate flags spilled over into our national heritage. Debates over how to correctly portray civil war history including Confederate efforts were hotly debated. Confederate memorials and Statues were removed across the south. The effort reached a crescendo with the removal of the confederate battle flag from the South Carolina state house grounds. The park service also struggled with how best to convey Civil War history, without being seen as promoting or making light of the South's complicity in the promulgation of Slavery. In response, the Park Service ordered the removal of confederate flag merchandise from its gift stores. It's likely the debate over the South's role in the civil war will continue. The flag flap is a reminder that national parks are often on the front lines on how America represents, honors, and tells its story. The park service will likely be called repeatedly to provide leadership on many socially and politically controversial issues.

5. Centennial: The national park system will turn 100 years old next year. As such, the park service is rightly making plans to celebrate the milestone. As well as, 16 free days, the park service is planning countless events, specials, parties, and celebrations to mark the centennial.

Yellowstone is the worlds first national park, and Americans can be rightly proud of the national park system they have created since then.  Park thrillers is looking forward to the next hundred and can't wait to see what's in store for our national parks.

Okay, that's our list of the top National Park Stories for 2015. What did we get right? What did we miss? Tell us in the comment section. Also, please check out the national park thrillers Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause, two of Amazon's top selling political/terrorism thrillers.

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

Lost Cause wins an Award!

Lost Cause, the National Park thriller set in civil war sites, has won an Authors'db cover contest award. Lost Cause received the Bronze medal in the terrorism thriller category.

Lost Cause is Sean Smith's second thriller to win an award. Smith's first thriller Unleashing Colter's Hell won the Reader's Favorite 2012 gold medal for the terrorism thriller category.

These park thrillers make excellent holiday gifts.  Get your copies of these award winning thrillers. here.

Star Wars Galactic Park Posters!

In 1977 I was 11 years old. That spring my father took my brother and I to see Star Wars at a theater

in Butte Montana. Like millions of other people,  the galactic soap opera made a dramatic impact upon my life. It's almost as if I went into the theater one person and came out another.  In fact, I often orient my life experiences as either BSW (before Star Wars) or ASW (after Star Wars).

One of my other loves are America's national parks.  I've worked as a ranger in 3 parks and visited more than 100 others. Like Star Wars, the National Parks made a dramatic impact upon my outlook on life. During the 1930's the federal government created a whole series of posters to promote the national parks and encourage Americans to visit their national heritage. In fact, the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) made a whole series of park posters designed to spread the message of recreation and conservation. Next year the national park system will celebrate its 100th birthday.


Star Wars and National Parks, at least for me, share a lot in common. Obviously, both represent fun,
adventure, excitement. But Star Wars and National Parks also resonate with people at a deep mythological level. Star Wars connected with a mass audience because it tapped into themes of good and evil, fall and redemption, trust and betrayal. National Parks at their core, represent America's most treasured values as well. Parks such as Gettysburg National Battlefield and Bainbridge Island National Internment Memorial represent our nation's high and low points. While Yellowstone National Park and Lewis and Clark National Historic Park represent the unknown and exploration.

In light of the release of Star Wars the Force Awakens and the upcoming National Park Centennial, I've combined two of my favorite things in WPA style Star Wars Galactic Park Posters.

What do you think? What other Star Wars Galactic Park Poster would you like to see?

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

Park Thrillers Breaking Sales Records

The Park Thrillers Black Friday Sale was a huge success. Park Thriller fans pushed Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause into Amazon's top 1000 best sellers.

Lost Cause, the Civil War/National Park thriller is #720 on Amazon's Political thriller list, while Unleashing Colter's Hell the Yellowstone thriller nearly cracked the top 500 Terrorism Thrillers!

Thanks to everyone who made this happen! In light of this success, Park Thrillers will extend the Black Friday $0.99 sale. Get your copies here.

Thanks again!

The best Park Ranger thriller?

Once again google knows its thrillers!

 

Get your copies of Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause here.

Everything you wanted to know about being a Ranger

Ever wondered how a park ranger knows all the names of every flower or animal in their park? Ever wondered why some rangers where baseball caps, while others wear the famed flat hat? Ever wondered what advice rangers really give visitors on what to do when confronted with a bear on the trail?

The following is a talk on some of the fun, adventure, crazy questions and wacky adventures I got into over my five seasons as a ranger. It also provides my behind the scenes, never before shared insight into what rangers really do and think.

Enjoy!

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

What's the best Civil War "Lost Cause" Thriller?

Just ask google, they know! Get your copy here.

President Obama and all Rangers share something in common

President Obama and all park rangers share something else in common.

We've all lived in National Parks.

As the President notes in this video, the White House is a national park. I've got the President beat on this matter, as I've lived in three parks: Glacier, the North Cascades, and Yellowstone.

Like the President, my time living in national parks underlined to me that these places belong to all Americans including those yet unborn.

National Parks are the physical manifestation of what Americans hold dear. However, they are even more, they provide a path forward to a better world.

America faces significant challenges. However, I've seen the power of national parks to break down barriers and reveal the common ground we all share. Sharing common ground and understanding is the first step in a conversation which can lead to real and lasting change.

As the President reminds us, it will take all of us to protect our parks and planet. But in the end, it shouldn't be that difficult, because by protecting our parks, we are really protecting ourselves.

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

Why I work to protect national parks!

Here's a short video I did a few years back which like my Ted Talk from last year, encapsulates why I work to protect national parks. 

Like many of you, I'm sure national parks are more than pretty place, or sites where history changing events took place. Why they resonate so much for so many people I believe is likely do to the fact that they are places where personal stories were written, places where memories were made. 

As I state in this video national parks are like the scrapbook of many of my fondest experiences. I'm sure its the same for many of you as well.

 

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

LOST CAUSE - Semi Finalist! Vote NOW!

LOST CAUSE, the latest Grayson Cole thriller is a semi-finalist in the Author's DB cover contest. Set in America's civil war national parks, LOST CAUSE is a fast paced chase to recover a relic previously owned by Robert E. Lee. A relic rumored to have the power to start a second Civil War.

Please vote for LOST CAUSE! Click here to cast your vote!

Also, pick up a copy of the fast selling National Park thriller on Amazon!

Finally, the third Grayson Cole thriller, NEED TO KNOW, is set for publication next year.  Look for it soon!

National Park's Spookiest Places

Yellowstone's burnt forests

In light of Halloween coming up, here is my list of the National Park Service's Spookiest places.

1. Yellowstone's burnt forests. The fires that roared thru Yellowstone in 1988 left nearly a third of the park charred black. A forest of dead trees, like something out of Snow White's Haunted Forest nearly overnight replaced lush and mature Lodge Pole Pine forests. At night, one's imagination can play tricks and make one see monsters behind every twisted snag.

Snow White's Haunted Forest

But a funny thing has happened over the years since these fires, the forests are coming back. In fact, fire is part of the Yellowstone ecosystem and a part of the Lodge Pole Pine forests natural So, what is seen as spooky is actually part of the fo
rest's regeneration process.



Glacier Park's Northern Lights ~ NPS

2. Glacier Park's spectral lights. Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana lies at the 49th parallel. This puts it among the northern most states in the continental United States. On clear winter nights some may witness eerie, dancing, ghostly green, yellow, blue or red lights. Some describe the light as if the entire sky is on fire.

But there is a more earthly explanation for the lights. They are actually high energy solar particles captured at the earth's pole's by its magnetic field. When these particles are captured by the magnetic field and when they collide with the earth's atmosphere produce bursts of spectacular light.

3. Hanford's B Reactor. During the height of World War II, the United States conducted a super secret program to build a weapon of unspeakable power. The United States believed it was in a race against Nazi Germany to developed the world's first atomic bomb. History tells us the United States was the first to unlock the cosmic power of the atom.



Hanford B Reactor ~ DOE

At Hanford Washington, the federal government found the perfect site to manufacturer plutonium, the fuel for a high power bomb. Hanford had large tracts of undeveloped land, unlimited water from the nearby Columbia River, and cheap and limitless power from the recently completed Grand Coulee dam. In 1943 the federal government acquired the Hanford district, a site larger than the city of Los Angeles. It built the world's first large scale nuclear reactor and was the birthplace of the atomic age. The Hanford B reactor as it is known produced nuclear fuel until 1968.

The production of nuclear fuel produces millions of gallons of radioactive, mixed radioactive, and highly dangerous hazardous waste. Much of it was pour directly on the ground, millions of gallons more are now stored in leaking underground tanks.

On December 19, 2014, President Obama signed the Defense Authorization Bill creating the Manhattan Project National Historic Site. This park includes the Hanford B reactor, and sites at Los Alamos New Mexico, and Oak Ridge Tennessee. And tells the story of the Manhattan Project work that likely shortened the war, but also the incredible economic, social, environmental, and human cost. A cost we are still paying today.

I've sat at the reactor control panel. I've stood at the base of the Hanford B reactor pile. Staring up at the pile one is struck by the magnitude of the task the Manhattan scientists, soldiers, engineers, and politicians faced to beat the Nazis.  One can only imagine the decisions, stress, conflicts, compromises, that were made. The ghosts of those decisions still permeate the site.

Fort Vancouver ~ NPS

4. The bones and tools of Fort Vancouver In Southwestern Washington is the site of one of the West Coasts oldest settlements. It was the site of the Hudson Bay company's western operations. It was the site of the first multi cultural settlement on America's west coast. It was eventually transferred to the US Army and saw soldiers like US Grant and George Marshal walk its grounds. Today the Fort has been transferred to the National Park Service. Besides the physical grounds and buildings, the Park Service is responsible for the curation of artifacts, remains, and tools from across the northwest. The Park Service's collection includes tools used by native Americans more than 8,000 years ago. The site is also riddle with native American burial sites, making the site sacred to several tribes. These unmarked gravesites give the Fort an unworldly feel to it.

5. Pickett's March In July of 1863, the United State's was at the height of a bloody civil war. At its


Pickett's Charge ~ NPS

end between 600,000 and 800,000 soldiers and civilians would be killed in the conflict. Many historians believe the Gettysburg was the turning point of the war, and Pickett's march was the turning point of the battle. This march saw nearly the entirety of Confederate General George Pickett's division wiped out in just a few hours. The men in Pickett's division were required to march miles across an exposed field under constant Union cannon and rifle fire. The end result was more than 3,000 men in Pickett's division alone killed, wounded or captured.

Standing on both Seminary and Cemetery ridges, the starting locations of the Confederate and Union forces respectfully, one is struck by the gravity of the battle that took place on these grounds. One is left wondering where the courage comes from to step out onto a field where one is likely to be killed.

Like the Hanford B reactor and Fort Vancouver, Gettysburg has a surreal feel to it.  A place haunted by the sacrifice and loss of life that took place on these grounds. And even though the battle was more than 150 years ago, the echoes of those lost lives can still be heard today.

That's it. These are my list of the National Park's spookiest places. What are your thoughts?

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

National Park Posters: Check them out!

I recently met Rob Decker, a photographer and graphic artist who studied under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19. He has been photographing our National Parks for the past 35 years and now he's creating original WPA-style posters for each of our national parks -- and hopes to have all 59 completed in time for the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

 

Check out his posters (and postcards), which are printed on "Conservation" -- a 100% recycled paper stock with soy-based inks and the greenest printing standards. From start to finish, every poster is 100% American Made.

 

http://www.national-park-posters.com/

 

 

National Park and NFL Mashup: AFC South

It's now the AFC South's turn for the National Park/NFL mashup.  Teams in this division include the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Tennessee Titans.  What do you think of their makeovers.

Houston Grandes, Park: Big Bend National Park

Indianapolis Aviators, Park: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park

Jacksonville Astronauts, Park; Canaveral National Seashore

Tennessee Smoke, Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

National Park and NFL Mashup: AFC North

Next up in the National Park/NFL mashup is the AFC north. This division includes the Baltimore Ravens remade into the Baltimore Banners. The Cincinnati Bengals are now the Firsts, the Browns become the Soldiers and finally the Pittsburgh Steelers are transformed into the Continentals.

Baltimore Banners, Park: Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Cincinnati Firsts, Park: First Ladies National Historic Site

Cleveland Soldiers, Park: Buffalo Soldiers Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Pittsburgh Continentals, Park: Valley Forge National Historic Park

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

National Park and NFL Mashup: AFC East

We now turn to the AFC and its eastern division. This division is made up of the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots, and the New York Jets.  The Mash up teams are below and recognize parks like Women's Rights, the Everglades, Salem Maritime, and Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace.



Buffalo Suffragettes, Park: Women's Rights National Historical Park

Miami Palms, Park: Everglades National Park

New England Sailors, Park: Salem Maritime National Historic Site

New York Rough Riders, Park: Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

Happy Birthday National Parks! You get the Prize!

Follow us on twitter to claim your present!

Happy Birthday to the National Park Service! August 25th marks the service's 99th birthday and starts the countdown to its centennial.  The next 365 days will be filled with countless events, celebrations, and parties to mark the coming 100th birthday.

To celebrate, National Park Thrillers is giving away a free digital copy of Lost Cause, the best selling national park thriller.  All one has to do to claim your copy is to follow Park Thrillers on Twitter. We can be found on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/parkthrillers

or search for us

@parkthrillers

The free give away begins at 11:59pm August 24th 2015 and ends 12:01am on the 26th. Any new Twitter followers to Park Thrillers during that time will receive a free digital copy of the thriller.

Happy Birthday to the National Parks! Time to celebrate!

National Park and NFL Mashup: NFC South

We now turn to the the NFC South for the National Parks/NFL mashup.  Teams include the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Atlanta Kings: Park, Martin Luther King Jr, National Historic Site

Carolina Flyers, Park: Wright Brothers National Memorial

New Orleans Jazz, Park: New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park

Tampa Bay Conquistadors, Park: De Soto National Memorial

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

National Parks are Everywhere

I recently traveled to Southern California for a work training.  On a lark I decided to keep an eye out for national park images, references, and items on my trip. Over the four days I found references to Arches, Grand Teton, Alcatraz, Crater Lake, John Day Fossil Bed, Mount Rainier, the National Park Service, World War II Valor in the Pacific, and Yosemite for a total 10 national parks. 

This is the first time I've paid attention to the park images around me, but I'm not surprised at the number I spotted.  On previous trips, I've been struck by how prevalent park images are in ads, stories, products, movies, and in the news. So this time I decide to count them.

At the end of my adventure I found parks appear to be everywhere. The question is why?

While many may not be aware of it, National Parks are physical manifestations of what Americans most sacred places, and most important ideas, values, and history.  As such governments, advertisers, writers, entrepreneurs, and many others use the park image to connect to the values parks represent.

On your next trip or vacation pay attention to spot national park images. Perhaps a kind of park bingo can be played.

How many can you spot?

License Plate, Arches National Park

Presentation, Grand Teton National Park

Star Trek Movie, Alcatraz National Monument

Travel Magazine, Crater Lake National Park

News Story, Grand Teton National Park

Travel Magazine, John Day Fossil Bed National Monument

Mug, Mount Rainier National Park

News Article, National Park Service

Travel Magazine, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument

Mug, Yosemite National Park

Sean Smith is a former Yellowstone Ranger, and an award winning conservationist, TEDx speaker, and author. He writes national park thrillers from his home in the shadow of Mount Rainier National Park. To learn more about his thrillers click here or follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers