www.upi.com On This Day, April 20: Deepwater Horizon explosion, oil spill kills 11 - UPI.com

On This Day, April 20: Deepwater Horizon explosion, oil spill kills 11 #UPI

The 2026 #ParkChat Book Club List. Feb/Mar Eager, Apr/May Ranger in Skirts, Jun/Jul Sea of Grass, Aug/Sep The Story of my Boyhood, Oct/Nov Our National Forests, Dec/Jan Wild Girls.

A book cover with the title: Ranger in Skirts with a watercolorish painting of Yosemite National Park. The author's name is below the title: Shirley Sargeant.

A12.2: #ParkChat Book Club is about to discuss the first half of Ranger in Skirts by Shirley Sargent. The fictional book focuses on the one of the first female rangers in Yosemite NP (Beatrice Babbitt). We meet twice on this book: Tues, Apr. 21st and Tues, May 19 at 5 PM Pacific. DM me for deets.

Biodiful Etude de la perception humaine de la biodiversité. Studying human perception of biodiversity.

A12.1: Contribute to research on how people perceive forests. Take this quick, anonymous 10-minute survey:

www.biodiful.org#/forest

This will help us explore how people perceive & experience forest biodiversity! 🌳🌲

Please share to help researchers reach more participants. #ParkChat

hahahah. #ParkChat

Good question! #ParkChat

A11: Show up when nature needs us. Speak up. Make calls. Engage with leaders. Fight for the Earth. #ParkChat

Q11 #parkchat “Meliorism” is the belief that we can contribute to positive change and improve the world through acts of love, creativity, compassion and kindness. What is one simple thing we can all do to contribute positively to the health, vitality, and longevity of our beloved parklands?

A10: Surrounded by trees, at the ocean, with the wind in my hair, asleep in a tent, looking at the stars, seeing the sunrise/sunset, watching a deer walk nearby.... etc., etc., etc. #ParkChat

Q10 #parkchat It goes without saying that everyone taking part in tonight’s chat has a deep appreciation for nature. But in what place are you most likely to experience “eutierria” - a good and positive feeling of oneness with the earth and it’s life forces?

A9: Comforting warmth sounds like a campfire to me... I'll be at my campsite enjoying the crackling. #ParkChat

Q9 #parkchat “Apricity” is the comforting warmth of sunlight on a wintry day. If you’re looking for comforting warm winter sunlight in a parkland are you outdoors skiing or snowshoeing, taking a snowcoach tour, sitting in a sunbeam at the lodge, or someplace else?

A8: I love sunsets through the trees---so any forested landscape will do and by foot or vehicle, it doesn't matter to me. #ParkChat

Q8 #parkchat An interesting wild word for a person who loves sunsets is “opacarophile” [oh-PAK-uh-roh-file]. Tell us about your favorite place for experiencing a beautiful sunset vista. Can you drive to this spot, or will it only be found after taking a long trail?

A7: Grand Canyon NP... those monsoon storms were incredible. What happened next was a front wind shield replacement as I learned the original glass didn't include a proper seal! #ParkChat

Q7 #parkchat The smell of rain on dry earth is called “petrichor”. The intense stillness and humidity before a storm breaks is known as “puthery”. Where in a parkland have you experienced the sensations of petrichor and puthery? What happened next?

A6: At Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierra. #ParkChat

Q6 #parkchat “Psithurism” is the sound of whispering or rustling, like wind whispering through trees. Poplar trees are especially known for their leaves creating this soothing affect. Where have you stood and simply listened to the trees?

A5: My favorite forested national forest is Inyo NF, but if we are talking shrublands and rocks--Cleveland NF wins hands down. #ParkChat

Q5 #parkchat Speaking of forests, did you know that a “nemophilist” is someone who loves forests and woodlands? Do you have a favorite National Forest you like to camp in, or a favorite parkland dedicated to the preservation of a woodland biome?

A4: One of my favorite spots was Yosemite NP on my way to Vernal Falls. Or there is also Redwoods NP... too many options. #ParkChat

Q4 #parkchat Let’s face it, forests are magical. Here is venerable old “Grandpa’s Biscuit” finding new beauty in “komorebi” ( sunlight filtered through trees, creating dappled light and shadow). Tell us about your favorite hike through a forest. Where were you? What made it special?

A3: Anywhere. If I manage to wake up in time for sunrise... that's my favorite spot. #ParkChat

Q3 #parkchat A “rutilant” sunrise (glowing or glittering with red or golden light) at West Thumb Geyser Basin, one of the best sunrise spots in Yellowstone, IMHO. Do you have a favorite parklands sunrise spot? Share a photo highlighting the rutilant beauty of a parklands sight.

A2: Gosh.... good question. Simple answer: I'd say where snow overlaps with a lake's edge ... is the only imbricate structure I can think of. #ParkChat

Q2 #parkchat When researchers plumbed Doublet Pool’s “imbricate” (having adjacent or overlapping edges) thermal depths, an entire bleached elk skeleton was discovered on a ledge about eight feet down. Where in our parklands have you seen an example of imbricate structure?

A1: I'd head to Alaska and knock off all Alaska parks. I could go either way on the companion. #ParkChat

Q1 #parkchat If you’re a “hodophile”, you are a lover of roads, someone who loves to travel. If you could drop everything and take a nice long road trip tomorrow, which parkland would you choose to go to and why? Would you want a companion on your journey?

I'm just sitting down for this, but better late than never. #ParkChat

Welcome to a special “Wild Words” edition of #ParkChat featuring @yellowstonenpgeek.bsky.social as our guest host (again!). I’m really looking forward to tonight’s chat. Who’s here with me? @naturetechfam.bsky.social

🥰 #ParkChat