Trailspace Blog November 2009

Get the popcorn ready. Ken Burns's much anticipated The National Parks: America's Best Idea premieres tonight — Sunday, September 27 — at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on PBS. The 12-hour, six-episode series will run nightly through Friday, October 2.

Directed by Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of the most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska to Mount Rainier (above). It's not only a story of nature, but also of people, rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved.

If you can't watch episodes during PBS's nightly 8-10 p.m. time slot, don't worry. Full episodes of The National Parks: America's Best Idea will be available online beginning September 28, and will remain available online through October 9.

PBS site: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

I like maps. Here’s a nice one of scenic and historic National Trails in the United States.

The original PDF version is much bigger (23" x 16.4"). I’d love to print it out and put it on my wall. You can download the PDF from the U.S. Forest Service website or by clicking on the map above.

Unfortunately, I can’t recall where I came across this map, but thanks to whomever pointed it out first.

If you want to help protect National Scenic Trails, read about the American Hiking Society’s support of a new bill, HR 1912, the Complete America’s Great Trails Act.

A grizzly bear fishes for salmon at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, in another great shot from The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Ken Burns’s upcoming documentary debuts September 27 on PBS.

The above photo is by Craig Mellish of Florentine Films. You can download it and other inspiring images to use as wallpaper on the PBS site.

Ken Burns’s new documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, debuts September 27 on PBS. In the meantime you can preview video clips or download stunning images for your computer like the one of Yosemite Valley in winter above.

Trailspace article: The National Parks: America's Best Idea

PBS site: www.pbs.org/nationalparks

Watch the Star Trek V: The Final Frontier opener with Captain Kirk free soloing El Capitan and William Shatner’s full explanation of why Kirk climbs the mountain at the American Alpine Institute’s blog.

Now that I know why Captain Kirk climbed mountains I’m giving Star Trek a second look.

Thanks to wickedoutdoorsy for this excellent find.