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pieces of the majestic redwoods have forced the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway near Redwood National and State Parks, north of Orick, Calif., to close at night. ere is no escaping the fact that manmade travesties shadow the grandeur of our pristine parks. ENCOURAGING NEWS Despite the many challenge, there is some prog- ress to report. At Channel Islands National Park, where formerly thriving bald eagles faced near-extinction in the 1950s due to DDT contamination, regulation in the 1970s initiated a turnaround. "In 2002 we reintroduced the bald eagle to the islands; and in 2006, we witnessed the rst natural hatching in 50 years of a bald eagle chick," reports public information o cer Yvonne Menard. Since then, the bald eagle population has continued to grow. One of the smaller parks in terms of yearly visitation, Channel Islands, located approximately 60 miles o shore from Ventura, was established in 1980. e ve-island park, totaling nearly 250,000 acres, contains more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, 145 of which can be found only here. Bringing back the bald eagle is just one of the park's comprehensive e orts at restoration, and it's helped save the island's endangered Santa Cruz fox, Menard notes. When the number of bald eagles declined, the number of golden eagles grew. " e golden eagles fed on island foxes and the foxes became endangered," she explains. In 1999, the park relocated some of the golden eagles, controversially eliminated their food supply of destructive non-native feral pigs (see T.C. Boyle's 2011 novel, When the Killing's Done), and re-established the foxes, which continue to thrive. As Muir noted, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he nds it attached to the rest of the world." MUIR'S STOMPING GROUNDS Approximately 130 miles south of Yosemite are two parks close to the heart of John Muir—Sequoia and Kings Canyon. In the summer of 1875, the Si- erra Nevada naturalist wondered if groves of giant trees existed outside Yosemite, and journeyed here on foot. Discovering the massive sequoias, Muir ecstatically spread the word that helped turn the spectacular 404,063 acres into the country's second national park. "From free-roaming mountain lions, bears and big horn sheep to high mountains, deep canyons and some of the world's largest trees, our national parks o er incredible wilderness spaces to nd solitude, freedom in nature and adventure," notes Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks public a airs specialist Dana Dierkes, a 15- year veteran ranger. Dierkes encourages potential visitors to, "Hike, run, observe… nd your passion in your closest national parks. ere's something for everyone." She particularly enjoys watching visitors "view the giant sequoias and imagine what those trees have seen over the past 2,000 years," and sharing new information. For example, most visitors are aware of the stately sequoias but unaware there is a network of more than 250 underground caves. ree- mile-long Crystal Cave, open to the public, sparkles with delicate stalactites and massive stalagmites, underground streams and even a "fairy pool." Its nearly 2,000 feet of passage o er a remarkable view of life beneath the forest. Asked how we can help protect these enchanted treasures, Dier- kes recommends volunteering (www.volunteer.gov and www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm). Our national parks count on volunteers to help maintain trails, operate visitor centers and assist with wildlife conservancy. But most of all, concludes Dierkes, " e biggest way you can help maintain the parks is to visit." photo: Lori Berezin photos: (top/bottom) Lori Berezin, (inset middle) Albert Valle june/july 2014 25 WLT-JUN-JULY-26.indd 25 5/26/14 2:10 PM