Adam's+Report

Have you ever been to a National Park? You are about to hear about three of the national parks. They are Haleakala, Lake Clark, and Wrangell- St. Elias.  History of NPS (National Park Service)

The NPS is a service for the luxury of present-day and future generations, which started with Yellowstone National Park. It was created in 1872 by an act of Congress, which was signed into law by president Ulysses S. Grant to protect the land for future generations. It was the first National Park in the world.

President Theodore Roosevelt proposed the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the president authority to create National Monuments. It also created Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, and Petrified Forest National Parks. The Department of the Interior had managed the National Parks and Monuments before the “Organic Act”, the act creating NPS, was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916.

Today there are over 390 sites in the National Park Service. They cover over 84 million acres in 49 states, Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas, Guam, The Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Washington DC. The oldest is Yellowstone, 1872, and the youngest is Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, 2004.

Haleakala

Haleakala became a national park a few decades before Hawaii even became a state. The main feature of this park is Haleakala Volcano, also known as “The Red Hill” or “House of the sun”.

The Kipahulu, or Coastal area, is sometimes very dangerous due to floods and heavy rain. In this area, you are responsible for your own safety. The floods are very common and very unpredictable.

In the Kipahulu area, there is plenty of wildlife, such as whales (humpback), fish, and turtles. The Hawaiian goose, the endangered state bird of Hawaii, can be found in all areas of the park.

There is 1 drive-up campground in Kipahulu. There is no water or electricity in this campground. The Hosmer Grove Campground in the Summit Area has running water, but no electricity. You can only go car camping here. There are also 2 wilderness campgrounds in the Wilderness Area which are only accessible by hiking trail.

The summit of Haleakala Volcano is very high – 10023 feet – so the weather is cold, windy and dry. Because it is a volcano, the summit has plenty of cinders on the ground. Cinders are tiny pieces of coal that come from a volcano. Ka Luu o ka oo, a cinder cone on Haleakala, is a famous ½ day hike.

This park has many natural wonders and is a place that is not crowded. Haleakala can be hot, cold, windy, or humid. People who have visited the park said it is very beautiful. They said the wonders of this park are so great that nothing can prepare you for Haleakala.

Lake Clark

Lake Clark is a park of Natural Wonders! It has a lot of area in the Alaskan Peninsula. Most of its 4000000 acres is vast expanses of remote wilderness.

The terrain includes mountains, lakes, and tundra. Lake Iliamna, The Largest Lake in Alaska, is partially in Lake Clark National Park. Lake Iliamna, at 1000 square miles is the size of Rhode Island. Lake Clark is part of The Pacific Ring of Fire (which reaches from Alaska to Antarctica), so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. The park has 2 active volcanoes – Mt. Iliamna & Mt. Redoubt. Mt. Redoubt is the highest mountain and most active volcano in Lake Clark. Wildlife in the park can vary. It includes Black and Grizzly bears, Moose, Dall’s sheep, and Wolves. Red fox and Lynx can be found in coniferous forests. Minks, martens, river otters, wolverines, weasels, beavers and hares can also be found in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. Marine mammals can include sea lions, porpoises, harbor seals, and beluga whales, which can be found in Tuxedni and Chitna Bays.

The 3 most dangerous hazards in the park are bears, mountains, & volcanoes. Bears are usually shy, but they can sometimes be aggressive. Be sure to keep food away from bears and stay away from cubs. Mountains can be a hazard because you can get stuck in cracks, catch altitude sickness, or get lost. ALWAYS bring topographic maps! You also need a compass, food, water, proper clothing, and to be fit. When it comes to volcanoes, check with the field headquarters if there will be eruptions.

Generally, safety is #1 in such a huge park. The field headquarters at Port Alsworth are always ready to plan your visit. After all, there is a lot see and do in Lake Clark.

Wrangell - St. Elias

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve is a huge park. It is 13,332,245 acres, making it the largest of all parks in the USA. It became a national monument in 1978 and a National Park in 1980. Because of its size and terrain, there are plenty of unexplored places. There are plenty of mountains, plains, and glaciers.

The terrain of the park varies greatly. The Wrangell, Chugach, and St. Elias Mountain Ranges converge in to what is known to many as the “Mountain Kingdom of America”. It also has the 3rd largest glacier in the world, The Bering glacier. The Malaspina glacier has the world’s largest terminal lobe.

The park has abundant wildlife. There are large populations of bears and Dall`s sheep. Small mammals, such as Lynx, foxes, coyotes, pikas, and Voles are common in the park or cut. The only listed endangered species of mammal is the Stellar’s sea lion.

Weather varies from the Coastal areas of Disenchantment Bay to Mt. Blackburn. This is caused by the huge barrier of mountain ranges that run throughout the park and by the elevations.

This park experiences all 4 seasons. Winter is long and dark, with daytime highs as high as 5-7° F and nighttime lows dipping to -50° F! The temperatures may remain below freezing for as much as 5 months. Snow, on average low depth, is 24” -28”. Highs can be 72”-78”. Springs are quite warm, with average highs of 40°-50°. Expect clear skies, long days, and comfortable tempartures. In the summer, wildflowers are very abundant, like mosquitoes are because of warm tempartures up to 80°F. June and July are the rainiest months. Autumn is very mild. It is very short; it lasts only from mid-August to early September.

Safety in the park can be a big concern. There is danger of avalanches, abandoned mine shafts, and hypothermia.

Isn’t it amazing how the USA has so many natural wonders that are preserved in national parks? The nearest one to Spring Grove is Gettysburg National Military Park. Since there are so many in the most unexpected places, go and visit one today!