On a foggy day in June, Wildland Trekking guide Jesse Hafener was leading a backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park when he noticed smoke along the rim of a canyon near Glacier Point. did. When she arrived on the scene, flames ignited from the smoldering remains of her campfire. She called in her fellow guides and guests and responded quickly, but the fire grew to the size of a one-car garage. A team of 12 hikers, including two teenagers on their first backpacking trip, trekked half a mile and 200 vertical feet to the nearest stream and back, carrying bear cans full of water to put out the fire. did.
Decades of declining snowpack and rising temperatures have increased the duration, frequency, and intensity of Yosemite wildfires. If Hafener had missed the smoke, the perfect conditions (wind, dry ground, and a few remaining embers) might have turned into something else. Climate change is hitting the American West particularly hard, but Yosemite isn’t the only national park affected. According to a recent report from the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA), climate change is a significant concern for 80% of U.S. parks.
NPCA Clean Air Program Director Ulla Reeves says this shouldn’t deter people from vacationing in national parks, but proper preparation is more important than ever. “There are a lot of tools on the internet that can help you take precautions before you go,” she says. Reeves said the most comprehensive site is the National Park Service’s website, which updates park-by-park information on trail and road closures, major changes in weather, and other hazards. While traveling, you can refer to apps like her AllTrails, where hikers can publish the latest trail reports, and her natural medicine app Goes Health, which also provides her local UV index and air quality. Additionally, you can call the park ranger station before or during your trip to ask specific questions.
Each park has a unique climate and topography that requires a customized strategy, but in general, planning is key. If you’re hiking in a wildfire-prone area, consult maps to find emergency evacuation routes. David Quinlan, his manager for Wildland Trekking’s Pacific Northwest operations, recommends he consider two questions before a hiking trip. First, is the air quality safe for strenuous activity? Second, are there any fires that could affect your route? Other parks, including the Grand Canyon, are at risk from excessive heat. is increasing. (Heat-related illnesses are already common there, and are expected to increase by up to 137 percent by 2100.) The once-permanent springs have been wiped out by the ongoing drought in the West. Water sources are becoming depleted and unreliable. Understand the weather forecast, wear sunscreen clothing, and carry more water than you think you’ll need.
Each park has a unique climate and topography that requires a customized strategy, but in general, planning is key.
It is also important to always be aware of your surroundings. Iconic tourist destinations like Yosemite’s El Capitan and Rocky Mountain National Park’s Chaos Canyon experience frequent rockfalls because rapid temperature changes cause water between rocks to melt and refreeze quickly, reducing stability. It is occurring in Other parks have high tree-fall rates as trees die and drought weakens soil structure. Always look up before setting up your tent to make sure you’re not camping under dead trees or branches, Quinlan says.
Even in the past three years, Quinlan has seen an increase in accidents such as rock falls, flooding, and road-destroying mudslides. “It has a huge impact on our travels,” he says. Last year, they canceled a remote traverse over Whatcom Pass in Washington state’s North Cascades National Park after a massive wildfire scorched the land and knocked down dozens of trees across the trail. Each season, his team adjusts strategies to ensure guest safety. Wildland His Treks has established evacuation routes and air quality limits on all hikes he routes. His staff is available 24/7 to communicate with local guides about the current situation.
As climate threats to national parks increase, the National Park Service is committed to understanding, adapting, and mitigating risks through climate change response programs. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides the NPS with much-needed funding for projects that increase resilience to climate change, while organizations like NPCA focus on climate-related research and advocacy. “We have the right tools in our toolbox,” Reeves said. “When people show concern and love, when they pay attention to these issues, when they ask decision-makers to defend our national parks, that gives me hope.”
