Evening star., 1939-12-10

one on the west side from December
IS to June Is, centering around
Bolton, Mont, and the other at
Glacier Park on the east, from No
vember 20 to June 20.
Rocky Mountain National Park,
famous for the Continental Divide
which goes through it, likewise for
years has attracted winter visitors
not particularly winter sports bent.
There is plenty of strenuous exercise
to be enjoyed by the hardy-and the
hardy are legion in most OF the
"wintry" parks-compensated for by
the splendor of the scenery.
For those on the Atlantic sea-
board there is Acadia National Park
in Maine, with a variety Of winter
sports, and overnight accommoda-
tions in nearby towns. Then there
is ever popular Shenandoah Ma
tional Park in the Blue Ridge Noun
tains of Virginia. There are no
overnight accommodations here, but
they can be secured in adjacent
villages and small towns, Some
times there is enough snow for
skiing, and If not the Skyline Drive
is intriguing.
Great Smoky Park
Easily Reached.
Further down, in North Carolina
and Tennessee, is the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. easily
reached both from the Middle At
lantic States and the deep South
and Mississippi Valley.
One need not know how to skate
or ski to enjoy the winter sports IN
these parks. Scenery that is mag
nificent in summer acquires an eerie
beauty when snow-covered. Then,
too. there is great enjoyment IN the
spectator part of winter sports, and
for gathering in the evening around
the roaring fires in the huge f1re-
places.
But winter sports, although OF
increasing importance in an ever
growing number Of mountainous
parks with favorable snow and ice
conditions, are but one phase OF the
general recreational use OF the areas
embraced in the Federal park sys-
tenn
The parks of the warmer climes
exert varied attractions during the
winter months Many OF the group
of 27 Southwestern monuments.
especially those of the desert. count
their heaviest travel during the
winter, when the brilliant sunshine
is somewhat more welcome than in
the summer. They lie in a land OF
fascination, rich with physical evi-
dences of habitation going back
many centuries into the mists OF an
tiquity and also seeped in the color
full customs of old Spain, a legacy
from those gallant pioneers who
trekked westward from early Florida
settlements and northWard from
Mexico 400 years ago-long before
the colonization of New England
and Virginia had been dreamed OF.
Preparations now are under way
throughout this colorful Southwest
for the celebration of the Coronado
Cuarto Centennial in 1910.
Death Valley, also although an all
year park. has its real season dur
ing the winter-from early Novenl-
ber to Easter. Here is the lowest
point in the United States, nearly
300 miles below the level of the sea.
Colorful mountains encircle the tre-
mendous many-hued valley, and
afford incompatible views. Roads
and trails lead across the valley and
to vantage points far above.
Carlsbad Caverns
Among Attractions.
Grand Canyon National Park and
Carlsbad Caverns National Parks
are also winter magnets.
Then there is Hot Springs National
Park, Americas spa, and its neigh
Dor, Platt Park, also with natural
springs high in the public favor
Far-off Hawaii National Park beck
ons the long distance traveller. with
promise of something quite different
from anything found on the main
land.
In the Southeast also are many
areas of interest to winter visitors
old moated forts OF unique interest,
such as those built by the Spanish in
Florida-now the Fort Marian and
Fort Matanzas National Monu-