News Taffy

My family and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Yosemite National Park. We love to explore, hike, see some wildlife and enjoy nature. Yosemite was the first area in the U.S. to be placed under state protection by an act of Congress and signed by President Lincoln in 1864. A few years later, Yellowstone became the first national park established and protected by the federal government. I hope you visit one of the 450 parks around our beautiful country. I also hope you will use some common sense and follow the rules posted in these parks to ensure your safety and health.

Remember, park rules are posted to keep you safe, not curtail your enjoyment. Please follow safety guidelines concerning park wildlife. Deer in parks may be habituated to humans and therefore seem approachable but you should keep a safe distance. They may charge or kick humans if they feel threatened, particularly if they have young. The same goes for buffalo or elk.

Follow all rules for storing food when camping in areas where there are bears. Food is not safe even when locked in your car as bears literally can peel the door open. Never, ever, try to feed a bear or approach one in the wild.

While at Glacier Point in Yosemite, I watched a man climb onto a rock and lean way over the edge to get the picture he apparently couldn’t get standing behind the safety rail. Nothing happened but one slip and search and rescue would have had a difficult time getting his body. Not only that, he was setting a dangerous example for the many children in the area. One of the park guides told us they have problems with people swimming too close to the falls even though no swimming signs are posted. Don’t be a fool or a showoff. Stay in designated areas so others don’t have to risk their life rescuing you.

When you are planning a vacation to a national park, do your homework. Many national parks are extremely large or have changes in elevation so if you plan to hike, you need to be in decent shape to do so. We did one hike that only lasted 3 hours or so but changed elevation by 1000 feet. Make sure to wear proper footwear to protect your feet and check weather conditions in order to have the right clothes. Take plenty of water so you don’t become dehydrated. If you aren’t able to walk far, check to see that there are sites you can easily visit from your car. Be considerate; take out your trash but leave rocks, flowers and trees the way you found them.

We are often tempted to try new things on vacation like rock climbing, but if you aren’t in good physical condition, you can end up hurt. If you are trying a new sport, make sure you have a good teacher or guide; don’t go it alone.

Planning and preparation will ensure a fun vacation for all. Visit the park website for more information or find a guide book.