Mount Rainier: The Sleeping Giant and How Communities Can Prepare

Mount Rainier ~ NPS

Mount Rainier, towering at 14,411 feet above sea level, is a majestic sight in Washington state, drawing
thousands of visitors annually. However, beneath its serene snow-capped peaks lies a dormant threat that could pose significant danger to surrounding communities. Recent studies and increased monitoring have heightened awareness of Mount Rainier's potential for volcanic activity, specifically the risk of lahars—devastating volcanic mudflows that could impact nearby towns and cities.

The Lahar Threat

A lahar is a mixture of volcanic ash, rock, and water that flows down the slopes of a volcano, often with the speed and force of a concrete-laden river. Mount Rainier is particularly prone to lahars due to its large volume of ice and snow, which could rapidly melt during an eruption or even due to geothermal activity.

The CNN article from June 23, 2024, highlights Mount Rainier's extensive history of lahars, with some flows reaching as far as the Puget Sound lowlands. The Osceola Mudflow, which occurred around 5,600 years ago, is a prime example of traveling over 50 miles from the volcano and reshaping the landscape.

Preparing for the Worst

Given the potential for disaster, communities around Mount Rainier must have robust preparedness plans. Here are some steps that residents and local authorities can take:

1. Early Warning Systems: Implementing and maintaining early warning systems that detect volcanic activity and potential lahars is vital. These systems can provide critical time for evacuations.
2. Evacuation Plans: Communities should develop and regularly update evacuation plans. Knowing the quickest routes to safety and having designated shelters can save lives.
3. Public Education: Continuous public education campaigns can help residents understand the risks and how to respond to an emergency. Schools, workplaces, and local organizations should all participate in these efforts.
4. Infrastructure Resilience: Strengthening infrastructure to withstand the impacts of lahars, such as reinforcing bridges and roads, can mitigate damage and ensure quicker recovery.
5. Community Drills: Regular community drills can ensure everyone knows their role and the actions to take when a real event occurs.

Natural Disasters in Other National Parks

Mount Rainier is not the only national park with potential natural disasters that could impact surrounding communities. Here are some other examples:

Yellowstone National Park: Supervolcano Eruption

Yellowstone is home to one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world. Though rare, an eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano could have catastrophic consequences, including widespread ash fallout, climate impacts, and disruptions to agriculture and transportation.

Preparation Tips:

• Implement extensive monitoring and research.
• Develop cross-state emergency response plans.
• Educate the public on the signs of an impending eruption and the necessary actions.

Yosemite National Park: Wildfires

Like many California parks, Yosemite is threatened by wildfires. These fires can rapidly spread, endangering lives, property, and natural resources.

Preparation Tips:

• Establish and maintain clear evacuation routes.
• Conduct controlled burns and forest management to reduce fuel loads.
• Equip communities with fire suppression tools and training.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Flooding

This park is prone to heavy rainfall and flash flooding, which can quickly become dangerous for nearby communities.

Preparation Tips:

• Improve flood warning systems.
• Enhance watershed management to reduce flood risk.
• Construct flood defenses such as levees and retention basins.

Conclusion

While the beauty and grandeur of national parks like Mount Rainier draw millions of visitors, it's essential to recognize and prepare for the natural threats they pose. Through early warning systems, robust planning, public education, and infrastructure resilience, communities can mitigate the risks and protect themselves from potential disasters. Awareness and preparedness are the keys to living safely in the shadow of these magnificent yet powerful natural wonders.

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Meet Sean Smith, the master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning conservationist and former National Park Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot, soaring through the skies like a bald eagle on a mission.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and at the included QR code. 

Revealing the Hazards: Investigating America's Ten Deadliest National Parks

NPS

In the vast expanse of America's wilderness, adventure beckons from every corner, offering a glimpse into the untamed beauty of nature. However, beneath the awe-inspiring vistas lies a sobering reality - some of our nation's national parks harbor hidden dangers that demand respect and caution from all who dare to explore. A recent study by KUHL, as reported by Men's Journal, has uncovered the top ten most deadly national parks, shedding light on the hazards that lurk within.

According to the KUHL, the following national parks have been identified as the most deadly, based on recorded fatalities:

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - Apparent Risk: Heat-related incidents & Falls

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska - Apparent Risk: Exposure to harsh weather conditions

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan - Apparent Risk: Drowning

North Cascades National Park, Washington - Apparent Risk: Falls

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida - Apparent Risk: Drowning

Big Bend National Park, Texas - Apparent Risk: Heat-related incidents

Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska - Apparent Risk: Exposure to extreme weather and terrain

Kings Canyon National Park, California - Apparent Risk: Falls

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas - Apparent Risk: Heat-related incidents

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington - Apparent Risk: Falls

Each of these parks presents its own unique set of challenges and potential hazards, ranging from treacherous terrain to extreme weather conditions. However, it's crucial to contextualize these risks when considering a visit to these natural wonders.

While the statistics may seem alarming, it's essential to remember that millions of visitors venture into national parks each year, and the vast majority do so without incident. In fact, statistically speaking, the likelihood of encountering a fatal situation in a national park remains relatively low compared to other daily activities. For instance, driving to the national park poses a greater risk of injury or death than most activities within the park itself. Similarly, common activities like household chores carry inherent risks that often outweigh those encountered in the great outdoors.

Moreover, many accidents that occur within national parks are preventable with proper preparation, awareness, and adherence to safety guidelines. Visitors can minimize risks by familiarizing themselves with park regulations, staying hydrated, staying on designated trails, and respecting wildlife habitats.

While the allure of adventure may tempt travelers to push their limits, it's essential to prioritize safety above all else. By exercising caution and respecting nature's power, visitors can fully enjoy the splendor of our national parks while minimizing the likelihood of accidents or mishaps.

While the KUHL study sheds light on the sobering reality of fatalities within national parks, it's crucial to view these statistics within the broader context of outdoor recreation. With proper precautions and a respectful attitude toward nature, visitors can continue to explore and experience the wonders of our nation's parks safely and responsibly. So, pack your bags, plan your trip, and embark on your next adventure with confidence. Happy trails!

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Meet Sean Smith, the master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning author and former National Park Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot, soaring through the skies like a bald eagle on a mission.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and at the included QR code. 

It's Past Time to Take our Parks Seriously

It's Mount Rainier's birthday today and my letter to the Tacoma News Tribune is running it the current edition.  It's time to take our park's seriously and set them on a path toward sustainability.

Mount Rainier: Anniversary gift from Congress?

By Sean Smith Covington           

March 2nd is Mount Rainier National Park’s 120th anniversary. The famed naturalist John Muir first visited the mountain in 1888, recommending it be preserved as a park.

In 1899 President McKinley signed legislation creating Mount Rainier National Park, the fifth national park designated by Congress.

We have 15 national parks in Washington. They provide history, recreation and economic opportunities and benefits. In 2017, more than 8 million visitors enjoyed them and spent $507.8 million in local communities.

However, the parks need help. There is an infrastructure repair backlog estimated at $11.6 billion nationally and $398 million in Washington ($175 million at Mount Rainier).

This includes crucial repairs to aging historical structures and miles of trails and roads, bridges, tunnels, sewers, drainage and other vital infrastructure.

There is momentum in Congress to fix our parks. The effort is led by Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, as sponsor of HR 1225 - Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act.

It would be a great anniversary gift if all other members of Washington’s congressional delegation would cosponsor this critical legislation.

Sean Smith, Covington

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Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Read more here: https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article227001889.html#storylink=cpy

National Park Talk: Interview with Park Ranger Kevin Bacher

On today’s episode of National Park Talk, we talk with Kevin Bacher, park ranger and volunteer program manager at Mount Rainier National Park.  Kevin tells us about how he came to love national parks, where he's worked for the park system, why it’s important to protect parks, and where they might be going in the future.  To listen to the interview, please click here.

Enjoy!

To learn more about how you can volunteer at Mount Rainier National Park please click here.  To find volunteer opportunities at other national parks, please visit here.

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Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington Washington.
He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Mount Rainier Book Reading

Thanks to everyone who turned up on August 25th for my book reading at Mount Rainier's Paradise Inn.  It was a great day with an engaged audience and thoughtful conversation.  The video of the event can be found here.

Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

 

 

 

Need to Know Book Reading: Join Me

On August 25th from 3:30 to 5:00pm, I'll be in the lobby of Mount Rainier's historic Paradise Inn reading from my latest thriller Need to Know.  JOIN ME!  Set in Mount Rainier, the thriller tells the gripping story of an object that's been buried high on the mountain's slopes for more than 70 years.  People will kill to keep it secret.

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Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Sean Smith Releases Need To Know

Sean Smith Releases Need to Know

 

Third novel in his National Park Series

Just in time for the New Year, Covington Resident Sean Smith released Need to Know his third national park thriller. The novel can be found here: http://bit.ly/NeedtoKnowKindle

 

Set at Mount Rainier National Park, Need To Know starts in 1947 when nine silver discs were spotted over Washington State's Mount Rainier National Park. Since then, buried high on its volcanic slopes is a secret government's would kill to protect.   In this thriller, Park Ranger Grayson Cole finds himself once again at the center of a worldwide conspiracy. Along with Aimee Crocker, the daughter of a disgraced Army Intelligence officer, the two risk avalanche, blizzards, and deadly agents in a race to uncover something that could shake the world to its foundation.

 

Need to know is the third thriller of Mr. Smith's Grayson Cole series. The first of this series is Unleashing Colter's Hell and is about a terrorist plot to ignite the Yellowstone super volcano. Sean followed up Colter's Hell with Lost Cause, a thriller about a search for a civil war artifact rumored to have the power to start a second civil war.

 

Mr. Smith's first two novels are award winners including a Reader's Favorite gold medal for Colter's Hell.  Lost Cause won a bronze medal in the Author's db cover contest.

 

Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Why protect national parks? | Sean Smith | TEDxSpokane This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In 2016, the National ...

 

Need to Know Now on Amazon!

Need to Know Sean Smith's latest national park thriller, is now available from Amazon. Kindle and
Paperback versions of Need to Know can be found here. 

Need to Know starts in 1947 when nine silver discs were spotted over Washington State's Mount Rainier National Park. Since then, buried high on its volcanic slopes is a secret government's would kill to protect.

In Need to Know, Park Ranger Grayson Cole finds himself once again at the center of a worldwide conspiracy.

Along with Aimee Crocker, the daughter of a disgraced Army Intelligence officer, the two risk avalanche, blizzards, and deadly agents in a race to uncover something that could shake the world to its foundation.

Need to Know is Sean Smith's third Grayson Cole thriller. The first is Unleashing Colter's Hell about a terrorist attack in Yellowstone. The second called Lost Cause is about a search for a Civil War relic that supposedly has the power to start a second Civil War.

Draft Need To Know Covers: What do you think?

Below are four draft covers for Need To Know, the next Grayson Cole Thriller. The novel is set at Washington's Mount Rainier National Park and is a cliff hanger about a secret that's been buried on the volcano's slopes for nearly seven decades. Once revealed, the secret will shake the world to its foundation.

The first cover is reminiscent of a Tom Clancy Thriller and promises Clancy intrigue and suspense. The second  plays on novel's conspiracy theories, while the third mirrors a poster that might accompany the book's movie tie-in. The last resembles a spy thriller and hints at the secret at the heart of the story.

So which cover to you like? Make sure to vote in the online poll to the right.

Need to Know Tom Clancy Cover



Need to Know Conspiracy Cover

Movie Poster Cover

Need to Know James Bond Cover

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

The Truth is Out There? National Parks and UFOs

Today is World UFO Day, a holiday for those interested in unexplained aerial  phenomenon to meet and look to the sky. The July 2 date was chosen because of its connections to the Roswell UFO crash.

My next National Park thriller is entitled Need to Know. It's due out this fall and centers on a UFOs and a world wide conspiracy to keep their true nature and purpose hidden from humanity.

UFOs have been spotted all over the world and on every continent. Not surprising the national parks are the location of some of the worlds most famous UFO sightingsse hidden from the world. What follows is a listing of the top five National Park/UFO sightings and connections.

5. Glacier National Park After World War II the United States in Operation Paperclip transferred thousands of ex-Nazi scientists to America to work on physics, chemistry, munitions, rockets, and advanced aviation programs. Some beleive these projects include super sonic aircraft that employ advanced pulse engines and light bending stealth technology. This stealth systems also allow them to fly in broad daylight without detection. Some believe these top secret craft have been tested and flown in Montana's Glaicer National Park.

According to these experts  Glaicer was chosen for a super secret advanced aircraft test facilities because it was the only park at the end of the war to be both remote and with railroad access. Nazi technology and materials were transferred to the park and stored in a two mile deep research facility, that according to some still exists today.


I've been to Glacier countless times, I've even been a ranger there having worked with the Park Service back in 1992.  I've driven the Going to the Sun road hundreds of times and at all hours of the day and night. If there is a secret base off the road (which is only two lanes), it is incredibly well hid. Moreover, in order to access the road without being seen, the CIA would have to close it (there is no other access across the park) causing huge traffic disruptions. People would notice the road being closed.

Finally, the Going to the Sun road is buried under dozens of feet of snow roughly 8 months out of the year. CIA and Nazi scientists would be either locked out or locked into their base for most of the year. If there ever was a secret Nazi test facility at the park, its likely been abandon for a more convenient place to conduct cutting edge research.

4. Yellowstone National Park It seems UFO, National Parks and top secret underground bases go together like pen and paper, peaches and cream, table and chairs. You get the point. Our next park on the list also involves top secret underground research bases.  Like Glacier, the federal government has supposedly excavated large subterranean caverns under the national park to conduct super secret research and tests. Strange lights and flying orbs have been reported, which some say proves the park is a secret base.  These UFO researchers believe that parks are actually cover and park regulations and restrictions on human movement are put in place to prevent visitors from stumbling on the truth.


Like Glacier, I've also been to Yellowstone countless times and as it just so happens I was also a ranger at our nation's first national park. I had the honor of working at the Grant Visitor center and leading hikes at the West Thumb geyser basin. On occasion I'd hear from visitors curious to learn about the secret tunnels and hidden bases under the park.

My standard answer was that I was a mere GS5 ranger and my security clearance was pretty low (okay actually non-existent). Therefore the park leadership didn't see fit to tell me everything about Yellowstone's management. However, what they did tell me is that Yellowstone is the site of the world's largest super volcano which is overdue for its next eruption. The super hot magma just a mere three miles below the surface, heats billions of gallons of groundwater to near the boiling point and spreads it throughout much of the park's acreage through many unmapped thermal vents, tubes, and fissures,  I seriously doubt there are massive underground installations in such a active geothermal and seismic place. This response was often met with a skeptical look and "oh, you must be one of them."


3. Devils Tower: According to scientists, Devils Tower is the neck of an extinct volcano.  The sides have eroded away through millions of years of wind and rain leaving the much harder volcanic rock which made up the volcanoes core. It is the nation's first national monument, having been established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906.

UFO researchers from all over the world have been drawn to Devils Tower not the least of which because of its prominent role in the 1977 hit movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The local Indians name for the site roughly translates as Bad God's Tower.

The site has become a mecca of sorts for UFO chasers. Locals even claim its some type of beacon or portal facilitating alien transport.

2. Washington Mall: In 1952, the United States was just entering the height of the Cold War. The
Russians and the Americans were in the initial phases of the space race. Americans were terrified they would fall behind the Soviet nemisis in what everyone knew would be the location of the next world war: Outer Space.

On July 19, 1952 Air Traffic Controllers spotted several objects on radar. There were no scheduled flights that evening. The objects came from the south and were seen over the national mall including over the national park units like the White House. Witnesses described the objects as oranges balls of fire trailing a tail.

The objects got the attention of the country including the president. President Truman asked the CIA to look into the objects. On July 29th, the Air Force held its largest press conference since World World II.  The Air Force claimed the objects were aerial phenomenon like meteors and radar hits were explained by temperature inversions.

While this was the official explanation, the CIA became concerned about the threat of UFO reports and how they could overwhelm defense resources, leading to a public panic, and facilitating a foreign invasion.

1. Mount Rainier: In 1947 Kenneth Arnold an executive, with the Great Western Fire Control Supply Company, was flying home from Chehalis Washington in a small two-seater private plane, when he spotted 9 objects racing down from Canada, past Mount Rainier and off past Mount Adams.  Mr. Arnold reported the sighting and is credited with the first modern era UFO sighting.

The Mount Rainier sighting is the starting point of my new thriller Need to Know which explores what would happen if an object had been buried in the mountain's snow and ice for nearly 70 years. The story delves into what its discovery would mean for the world and who might be willing to kill to keep it secret.


That's my list of the top UFO national parks. Did we get it right? Which parks did we miss? Tell us your UFO park stories in the comment section.

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

National Park and NFL Mashup: NFC West

We now turn to the NFC West in the third installment of the National Park and NFL mashup. In this division are teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco Forty Niners, the St. Louis Rams, and the Arizona Cardinals.

What do you think of the new teams?  Are they right? Are they wrong? What would you suggest?

San Francisco Redwoods, Park: Muir Woods National Monument

Seattle Rainiers, Park: Mount Rainier National Park

St. Louis Arch Park: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Arizona Grands, Park: Grand Canyon 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

Need To Know: National Park Thriller Draft Cover

Here is the next draft cover for Need to Know. What do you think?

This is the third Grayson Cole thriller. This time Grayson is at Mount Rainier National Park, the location of the world's first UFO sighting. Since then, buried high on its volcanic slopes is a secret, on world government's would kill to protect.

Look for Need to Know in 2016.  Until then check out the other Grayson Cole thrillers here.

What I learned visiting national parks with my Dad

My Dad and I sledding at Mount Rainier 1969

In honor of father's day, I thought I'd pull together a list of my favorite National Parks to visit with my dad.

Growing up my parents made it a priority to take my brother and I to national parks every summer. We trek across America from New York to California, from Alaska to Florida. On these trips we always stopped at national parks. I didn't always appreciate these trips, especially as a teenager. But as I've gotten older, I've realized how special these places and these family adventures truly are. So thanks dad (and mom) for taking me (sometimes kicking and screaming) to the following parks.

5. Gettysburg: Visiting this park with my dad, we learned that real people made real sacrifices in order for us to enjoy the country we have today.  A lot like my dad, sacrificed for our family.

My Dad, brother and I hiking in the foothills around Denali. 1972

4. Yellowstone: Standing in awe of Old Faithful, my father made sure to teach me that like our forefathers who set aside Yellowstone for us,  I too must think about the future. We are to set aside something for the days to come.

3. Denali: Gazing up at Denali with my father taught me to be humble. He made sure to instill within me that there are forces in this world greater than ourselves. This understanding can be overwhelming, but he also showed me it can be empowering as we are part of something grand.

My Dad, brother, and I climbing Rainier in 1989

2. Mount Rainier: Growing up in Washington our regular trips to Rainier revealed that places of wonder, places of majesty are all around us. We don't have to go far they can even be in our backyard, we just have to know where to look.

1. Glacier: Every summer my parents would load up our camper and head to Glacier. We hiked, climbed and camped in nearly every part of that park. Going to Glacier will always be a special place and whenever I stand on the shores of St. Mary's Lake or take in the view at Logan pass, I will think of my dad. Going to Glacier taught me you can go home again.

Happy fathers day Dad, I hope you know that every time I visit a national park, I will think of you.

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 conservation work and novels, follow him on twitter: @parkthrillers

Need to Know: 2000 words!

Started writing in Need to Know, the next Grayson Cole national park thriller.

Need to Know is a plot-twisting story set at Mount Rainier. The thriller's story harkens back to the cold war and explores the national security implications of Mount Rainier's connection to aliens.

Put 2,000 words into the first chapter the other day.

Book should be out in 2016!

Where should Grayson Cole go next?

Mount Rainier National Park

Lost Cause, the second Grayson Cole thriller, is just weeks away from publication! The novel is a page turning story about a search for a relic that once belonged to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Legend has it the relic was the source of General Lee’s power. Park Ranger Grayson Cole is in a bloody race to stop the Confederate League which is hell bent on acquiring the relic and using its power to start the second Civil War.

The thriller is set in numerous national park sites including well-known sites like Gettysburg and Antietam.  But it also visits lesser known sites like Fort Monroe, Wilson’s Creek, and Fort Pickens.

Lost Cause is the follow up to the bestselling thriller Unleashing Colter's Hell.  That story was set in Yellowstone national park and it about a terrorist attempt to detonate an atomic bomb in Yellowstone, igniting the world’s largest super volcano.

I love national parks because they protect some of America’s most iconic, historic, and beautiful places. The parks contain plenty of exotic and familiar places within which to set dramatic, nail-biting thrillers.

I’ve already begun writing Need to Know the next Grayson Cole thriller which is set in Mount Rainier national park. Mount Rainier is one of the oldest and best known national parks in the world.  But few people realize that while Roswell is believed to be the site of the first UFO sighting, it was actually Mount Rainier National Park in 1947. Presto, I have the theme and location for the next story.

That got me wondering about other park historical tidbits or coincidences that might make great stories, great settings for the next thriller.

So dear reader, where should Grayson go next? Please leave your selection and brief explanation why in the comment section.

Thanks!

Yellowstone Volcano Patiently Waits to Unleash Devastation

At the heart of Unleashing Colter's Hell, a new novel by Sean Smith, is the Yellowstone super volcano. A volcano that few know about, but when it erupts will destroy the United States as we know it. According to scientists, the volcano unleashing its destructive fury every 600,000 years. The next eruption is overdue!

The earth's core is a chaotic place, volcanoes grow and rattle nearly every day alerting us to pending danger. Yellowstone is no different. Fingers of molten rock thrust toward the surface patiently waiting for the right moment to spew hell on earth.

In Unleashing Colter's Hell, a lone terrorist has acquired the means to trigger an eruption. A park ranger and rookie FBI agent are all that stand between salvation and Armageddon.

Look for the book this winter.