Martin Luther King day celebrated by National Parks with free admission

Selma  to Montgomery Nat. Historic Trail

All 397  national  parks  across  the  country will offer free admission from January 14 through 16 to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

You  can literally walk in Dr. King's footsteps at Martin Luther King, Jr. National  Historic  Site   in  Georgia, the  Selma  to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, or the Lincoln Memorial  in Washington, DC -- just  a few of the many national parks that have direct ties to Dr. King or the Civil Rights movement.

Other parks that will hold special events honoring Dr. King that weekend include the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Tennessee, and Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, DC.

“Dr. King led the fight to realize his dream of a nation free of discrimination, where every citizen was able to enjoy the inalienable rights promised to all Americans,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.  “Dr. King’s story and those of so many others whose efforts changed our country are preserved in the national parks, places where history happened.  I hope every American can take advantage of the upcoming fee free weekend and visit their parks to experience their history firsthand.”

Your nearest national park can also help you keep that New Year’s resolution, whether it is to get more exercise, spend quality time with family and friends, try a new sport, learn some history, expand your horizons, or enjoy the natural world. There’s something for everyone at a national park, even in the middle of winter. Choices include snow shoe hikes, canoe trips, campfire programs, film festivals, battle reenactments, and music jams. It is also a great time of year to view wildlife such as bison in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming or grey whales at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. A list of activities can be on the National Park website.

Park ranger killed at Washington's Mount Rainier National Park

Even the beauty and remoteness of Washington State's beautiful Mt. Rainier National Park is not immune to the crime that plagues urban areas.

Park Ranger Margaret Anderson, 34, was fatally shot after a motorist failed to pull over during a routine traffic stop.

When Anderson intercepted the driver on the road to Paradise , the assailant allegedly jumped from his car and opened fire with a shotgun. He then fled on foot into the woods.

Law enforcement officers closed the park road, evacuated visitors from Longmire, locked down Paradise, and took refuge in the Jackson Visitor Center.

The search for the killer continued into the night. His body was discovered the next day, apparently the victim of exposure to the elements.

Free National Park entry days for 2012

Visit the National Park system on several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.

Mark your calendar for these fee-free dates in 2012:

* Jan. 14-16: Martin Luther King Jr. weekend

* April 21-29: National Park Week

* June 9: Get Outdoors Day

* Sept. 29: National Public Lands Day

* Nov. 10-12: Veterans Day weekend

Here's a tip: many of your 397 national parks never charge an entrance fee, So start planning your visit!

Be careful while driving an RV over steep mountain roads

A motor home or truck pulling a good-size trailer can run great in most areas of the United States, but it can be a different story once you start traversing mountain ranges in some of America's national parks.

Driving down mountain roads can be dangerous.

Before leaving home be sure brakes are in good working order. Many mountain highways and roads have six percent or greater downgrades that require the RVer to maintain a safe speed while perilously driving down a grade at ever increasing speed.

The air gets thinner at higher elevations and an RV's engine loses its ability to produce maximum power. This also results in a corresponding drop in generator output wattage. Different engines react in varying ways.

Diesel engines are able to handle the fuel injection requirements at higher altitudes while gasoline engines do not have that luxury.

Use lower gears and your exhaust brake to save your regular brakes. Don’t wait until you are going too fast to engage the exhaust brake. Turn it on at the top of the grade. Allow plenty of room between you and guy ahead of you. Passing trucks while going uphill is a chore since you are both going slow. Allow plenty of time and distance to pass a truck going uphill.

In an attempt to make mountain driving  safer R&R Publishing Inc. has been collecting information about mountain passes and steep grades since 1993. Over 85,000 copies of Mountain Directory West and Mountain Directory East have been sold. The books have been expanded and upgraded periodically and contain the locations and descriptions of over 700 mountain passes and steep grades in 22 states.

The books are available at www.RVbookstorecom