Evening star., 1936-10-18
By Bernard Kohn.

N-~~
n National Park Service as the
II master Snowman of all time.
4 u Ten million travellers to
Americas natural and historic won
derlands were entertained by the Ma
tion's official outdoor host during the
past IL months. This is the great
est number of visitors to national
parks and monuments ever recorded
in one year and is more than one
sixth Of the total attendance since
1916.
Travellers from all parts of the world
we're thrilled by the colorful pageant
cf natures sublime spectacles and
the scenes of stirring historical events
as preserved in Americas parks and
monuments. Increasingly the Ma
tional Park Service has watched and
planned behind the scenes until to-
day vacationists enjoy an extensive
year-round program that presents the
Nations most popular Fairgrounds In
fullest glory.
Led by Arno B. Cammerer, director
of the National Park Service, an in
spired staff of workers from Maine
to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida
tolls diligently in the interest of
Americas sight-seers. The groups
mighty efforts have been rewarded
by endless cavalcades of nature-con-
ecious and history-loving tourists.
National parks originated in the
United States and have inspired park
creation in Canada, South America,
Europe, Asia and Africa. In no other
nation of the world has nature been
so lavish with her scenic charms
America Is celebrated for her fan
tastically carved canyons, kissing
geysers, roaring waterfalls, golden
deserts, lofty mountains, turbulent
volcanoes, mysterious caverns anc
majestic glaciers.
Every day in the year unending
professions Of automobiles tour scenic
highways. Hikers and horsemen ram
BILE along verdant forest trails. Ex-
ouisite wild-f1ower displays in their
seasons attract flower lovers. There
Is never a dull moment. Geology,
Indians, camp fires, wild animals,
museums and history-all are part
of the colossal pageant.
In 1920 Yosemite was the only ma
tional park where the Government
conducted tours and lecture programs.
Then, as now, highly skilled and
carefully chosen naturalists enter
tanned the visitors. Today, only 16
years later, this guide service is fur
nished free to tourists in all major
parks and monuments Of the country.
- Of the 1874 areas under jurisdic-
ton of the National Park Service he
embarks upon an exciting program
of recreation and enjoyment. The
programs stress the outstanding nat
ural or historical feature of each
park and monument. The high light
of each, however, is the guided trips.
These tours, whether taken on foot,
by automobile or on horseback, are
conducted by naturalists and ranger
historians. Where nature dominates
the scene the naturalist holds the
lecture hmelight. Where the trails
are replete with events of history the
ranger historian relates the story.
Guided trips vary in character. The
National Park Service offers delight
full strolls along flr-scented woodland
paths or strenuous climbs to the
peaks of lofty mountains. The fa-
NOUS Bright Angel Trail of Grand
Canyon, although only 8 miles long,
winds down the precipitous wall of
the south rim of the gorge. Over
confident tourists, full of vacation
vigor, often overlook warnings of OFF,
Gals and attempt the trail on foot.
The descent into the canyon is usu-
ally made at rapid pace. But on
the arduous return trip the tender
foot's endurance is short lived. The
National Park Service. however, has
provided for the hapless wayfarer.
The emergency service" Is called to
his rescue. Park officials send guides
and mules down the canyon to as
sist the weary hiker back up the
trail.
Yosemite National Park, with near
ly 10 miles of trails of unsurpassed
beauty, is favorite rendezvous fol
mixers and horsemen. During the
Summer months ranger naturalists
conduct seven-day hikes through the
picturesque High Sierra Mountain
region, halting each night at camp:
and lodges along the trail.
The auto caravan, which originated
at Mesa Verde. is one of the mos
popular among the guided trips spon.
sored by the National Park Service
Sight-seers driving their own car
are guided over modern, Government.
built highways rich in scenic de.
lights. In Hawaii National Park mo-
tor caravans proceed along the unique
Chain-of-Craters road, which passe!
by nine craters within distance o
2 miles. Another road leads motor.
lists to the very brink Of the seethine
fire pit Of Kilauea, the most accessible
and popular volcano in the world.
CELF-GUIDING nature trails have
been developed for visitors WIKI
prefer to observe nature at theil
leisure. Along these trails plans ane
rocks are easily identified by label
attached to the specimens. Here thu
wayside rambler halts and studies
botany and geology to his hearts
content. Self-guiding trails have
proved very successful in Noun
Rainier National Park, where more
than 600 metal labels are attached
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