In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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In this episode: National park entrance is about to get much more expensive for foreign visitors, plus digital passes are here, and more.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

This week: National parks reopen after the government shutdown — but not before one of them gets hit with a rash of graffiti. Winter closures are rolling in across the park system, including some big changes at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The Park Service is trying to hire 500 new law enforcement rangers with an eye-popping $70,000 bonus… while a new academic study shows national parks are still some of the safest places you can visit. We’ll also look at the Justice Department’s renewed crackdown on marijuana use on federal land, the controversy surrounding the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Plus — a presidential pardon for a record-setting trail runner, and the unbelievable moment a man walked straight toward a pack of wolves in Yellowstone.

The full video of the man approaching wolves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPfVXr4Ap4S/

The National Parks Traveler Article: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/11/national-parks-are-overwhelmingly-safe-spaces-says-study

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel: @RVMiles @RVMilesPodcast ​

00:00 National Parks Reopen After Shutdown 02:36 Winter Closures and Changes in Major Parks 04:53 Recruitment Drive for Law Enforcement Rangers 07:09 Safety in National Parks: New Study Insights 08:22 Federal Cannabis Law Enforcement in Parks 09:12 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management 10:30 Call for Restoration of National Park Funding 11:36 Presidential Pardon for Trail Runner 12:16 Man's Close Encounter with Wolves in Yellowstone 13:14 Conclusion and Thanksgiving Wishes