The Alpine Connection Co.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Rattlesnake bites in Badlands National Park are rare, but they do occur. Even careful visitors can have close encounters. Here’s how to lower the risk and what to do if one happens.

• Walk mindfully and watch where you step and where you place your hands—snakes blend in extremely well with the rocks and grass.
• Give snakes plenty of space. If you see or hear one, pause, locate it, and slowly choose another route.
• Use a light if you’re out at dawn, dusk, or after dark.
• Wear closed‑toe footwear; avoid reaching into crevices or tall grass.
• If exploring off‑trail, be extra cautious near ledges, rock piles, and shaded spots where snakes may rest.

If a bite happens:

• Stay calm, move away from the snake, and seek medical care immediately (call 911).
• Limit movement and keep the bite area as still as possible.
• Remove rings, watches, or tight clothing near the bite in case of swelling.
• Do NOT apply ice, cut the wound, try to suck out venom, or use a tourniquet.
• Do NOT attempt to capture the snake; a simple description is helpful. The only venomous snake in the Badlands is the prairie rattlesnake.

NPS Photo/N. Wheeler: Close-up image of a coiled rattlesnake with its rattle tail raised sitting on a black asphalt road.

06/03/2026

🚨

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

A 67-million-year-old T. rex fossil found on a South Dakota cattle ranch nicknamed 'Gus' could sell for up to $30 million at auction in New York. https://bit.ly/3RLp1CD

06/03/2026

It's ! Cave Week is a celebration of all things caves and karst. It celebrates the importance, geology, history, biology, current research, exploration, and restoration of these fascinating underground worlds. All week, we'll be posting about the many caves here at Great Basin National Park. To kick off our celebration, we invite you to explore Lehman Caves on our virtual cave tour!

This three-part virtual tour was created by using LiDAR (three-dimensional laser imaging) and photogrammetry (high resolution pictures of the cave) and can be accessed by following the link on our website:

https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/photosmultimedia/virtual-cave-tour.htm

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

🚧 Construction alert! 🚧

Today, the Utah Department of Transportation is beginning a months-long project to install fiber optic cable along State Route 9, which includes the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. Work has begun near the East Entrance of the park and crews are expected to move west along the highway as work progresses.

Visitors traveling through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway should expect single-lane closures and short traffic stops Monday through Friday, 9 am to 2 am.

Please plan ahead, allow extra travel time, drive carefully through work zones, and follow all posted signs and traffic control. To learn more, visit udotinput.utah.gov/ziontechnology

06/03/2026

Yosemite National Park officials have announced the start of the 2026 fire season.

Warm and breezy conditions have begun to dry vegetation and timber litter in the park. As summer-time temperatures and humidities rise, afternoon thunderstorms at high elevations and increased visitor activities create a recipe for possible wildfires.

Fire restrictions are not yet in place at Yosemite, but we can always play a role in preventing human-caused wildfires:

🔥Avoid parking over dry grass. Hot vehicle parts can ignite vegetation.

🔥Follow all fire rules, regulations, and restrictions when they are put in place. Fire restrictions may change as the season progresses and are posted online at: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/firerestrictions.htm

🔥Use only designated fire rings and barbecue grills for wood and charcoal campfires. Portable stoves that use gas, liquid fuel, or propane are always permitted, even when fire restrictions are in place. Never leave campfires unattended and always keep ample water nearby in case you need to extinguish a fire quickly.

🔥Drown, stir, and feel. Campfires that aren’t fully extinguished can reignite on their own. Always douse your fire with water, stir the coals, and feel for lingering heat (from a safe distance) before leaving the area.

🔥Fireworks are always prohibited inside Yosemite National Park.

🔥Do not smoke on trails, in vegetated areas, or within 25 feet of any building. Smoke only in designated areas and dispose of cigarette butts in proper receptacles.

If you see smoke in the park that is not part of a planned prescribed burn, report it immediately. Call 911 and provide as many details as possible, including location, size, smoke color, and whether anyone is in danger.

06/03/2026

With all this talk of cave and karst week, you might be wondering: What is karst? Karst is a landscape where dissolved bedrock has formed caves, sinkholes, springs (like the one pictured here), and other hydrological features underground. This bedrock is usually made of more soluble rock types like limestone, dolostone and gypsum.

So what’s the deal with karst? Well, more than 40% of fresh groundwater used for drinking comes from karst aquifers – but these water sources are easily polluted, negatively affecting the people and wildlife that rely on them. Karst is also an important habitat for many rare and endemic species that can’t survive anywhere else.

Over 40,000 acres of Great Basin National Park consist of karst, and this landscape is an active area of research so that we can continue protecting our watersheds and underground ecosystems for all to enjoy.

Learn more about caves and karst this with the NPS by visiting go.nps.gov/caveweek.

Photo: NPS / O. Ford