Embedded Files
george bird grinnell
george bird grinnell
Before heading out on our planned hike to Grinnell Glacier, I stopped in the gift shop at Many Glacier Hotel and spotted this book which intrigued me. It was costly at $35, so I told myself I could buy it WHEN I finished the "extremely strenuous" rated hike to the glacier bearing his namesake. I EARNED every page of this book on that hike! ;)
I read the 600+ pages the entire way home when it wasn't my turn to drive. It is not only about Grinnell and the glacier/lake/mountain named for him in Glacier National Park, but it covers the history of the handful of first US National Parks, monuments, and forests and the advocacy Grinnell and other notable Americans tirelessly exhibited for preservation and conservation of not only these lands but of the wildlife upon them. There are also many troubling details of the conflicts and broken treaties between white settlers and Native American tribes across the West that are important to hear and recognize.
A MUST-READ for any U.S. NATIONAL PARK LOVER!
My TEMPORARY notes on compare/contrast of both US and Canadian NP in the Rockies:
USA parks felt more like full total complete parks as they were all in one enclosed bordered area with ranger posts at each entrance. Canadian parks had a Trans Can 1 hwy running through, and each feature was off at different exits making it feel disjointed. there were pull off the hwy ranger posts to buy passes, but there was not formal way to enter the park and show your pass.
Canada did a better job of recognizing with signage the First Nations land owners.
Hiking in both parks was comparable.
Both had day use and long term fees to enter parks, though Canada was free for 3 months this year during the time we went.
US NP have to show passes at the gates before you can enter. Canadian parks must leave it in your car as there are not official park entrance stations - just exits off the highway.
US NP have a wooden more rustic parky feel sign to get photos before entering whereas Canada's were more like road signs except for Banff which interestingly was the only one crowded for photos.
Canada had more stop and picnic spots with tables than most US parks we have been to.
US Parks have more lookout and viewing animal locations. Because Canadian parks in the area have a hwy through, they use wildlife corridors and over/under passes for animals, but there were no specific larger cleared/open areas for wildlife viewing. It was just if the animals happened to be roadside.
Both had plaques and descriptions. Both involved significant scenic roads. Both experienced wildfires present and historic. Both had park rangers, but US has them more visible within the park. Canada had info tents and rangers at some trailheads.
We observed poor visitor behavior in both parks.
Other classroom applications and resources not yet available - check back!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse