p- 831 F;Ic: Nf'S Gen- INDIVIDUAL REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS IN NATIONAL PARKS Ric NP5 Gen. Individual Reports of Members of the Committee on Educational Problems in National Parks, Together with Minutes of Early Meetings of Committee HE specific recommendations resulting from studies of the Committee on Educational Problems Tin National Parks have already been presented to the Secretary of the Interior through reports of the Committee under date of January 9, 1929, and November 27, 1929. These results were based upon extensive studies by members of the Committee working individually and in groups through a period of approximately two years. In the course of these investigations much material of value was accumulated by individual members. Each of these reports was transmitted at the earliest possible moment to National Park Service for use in development of various aspects of the educational pro- gram. In order that the data in these separate reports, and the expressions of opinion of the Com- mittee in the earlier minutes, may be of record with the office of the Park Service, it was decided by the Committee to have these documents put into permanent form by means of gathered proof sheets. The following pages representing work of the seven members of the Committee on Educational Problems in National Parks, while not approved by the Committee as a whole, have the authority of confidential expression by the individual members. It is believed that much of importance will be developed in use of the material. The reports are arranged in alphabetical order according to authors, and in general alphabetically by subjects touched by the authors. The table of contents for the document as a whole is given below. JOHN C. MERRIAM, Chairman. HAROLD C. BRYANT, Secretary. Contents PACE #F PAGE Atwood, Wallace W., Reports: .................... 2 Yosemite National Park . ... 25 Glacier National Park ...................... 2 Granite Areas in Yosemite National Park.... '26 General Considerations . 3 Biological Features ........................... 27 Grand Teton National Park ................. 3 Geological Sciences. : . ... 28 Yellowstone National Park . 5 Oastler, F. R., Reports: ............................ 30 Bryant, H. C., Reports : . 7 Bryce Canyon National Park ................. 30 Lassen National Park ....................... 7 Grand Teton National Park .................. 33 Sequoia National Park ....................... 8 Isle Royale, Lake Superior ................... 33 McKinley National Park . 39 Bumpus, Hermon C., Reports: .. .. .. .. .. ... 10 Mesa Verde National Park ................... 39 Acadia National Park ....................... 10 The National Monuments . 40 Yellowstone National Park . 11 Never Summer Range of Mountains.......... 41 Kellogg, Vernon, Report: ........................... 16 Mount Rainier ............................. 42 Rocky Mountain National Park .............. 16 Rocky Mountain National Park .............. 44 Zion National Park ...........:...:.......... 45 Merriam, John C., Reports: ....................... 17 Crater Lake National Park ................... 17 Wissler, Clark, Report: ............................ 48 Everglades of Florida ........................ 19 National Parks and Monuments of Historical Grand Canyon ............. ............... 19 and Archaeological Interests ............... 48 Mount Lassen Park ...... .. ................. 23 Rainier National Park ....................... 24 Mifiutes of Meetings of Committee on Educational Sequoia National Park ........................ 25 Problems in Nationgl Parks ............... ^,51 • Reports of Dr. Walla6e W. Atwood on Studies Made in 1929 on Glacier Park, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park THE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK park where trails may some day be or made virtually dustless by some needed. The region referred to is method. The next most important Highways along the continental divide and ex- routes for oiling are from Lake Mc- tends from West Flat Top Mountain Dermott to Granite Park and the HE completion of the automobile to T Trapper Peak and northwestward trail from Lake McDermott to the highway along the south margin of through a series of basins to the vi- this park is provided for by contracts cinity of head of St. Mary's Lake. From the Mount Carter. head'of St. Mary's Lake to Lake Mc- which have been let. The road The ]3lackfeet glacier I found to should be opened for traffic next July Donald by way of Gunsight Pass be exceedingly interesting, but the should also receive attention. and with this new road across the trail from Gunsight Lake to that gla- All cier who care to become well Rocky Mountains a large increase in would need considerable work acquainted the number of visitors to Glacier Na- with Glacier National done on it if tourist parties were Park must follow the trails. It is in tional Park should be anticipated guided in that direction. The gla- the mountains rather than at their and provided for. cier has been melting away rapidly margins where one can appreciate The proposed automobile highway during the last few decades and the their through the midst of the park when workshop thus uncovered is exceed- magnitude, their beauty, their geologic history, and the larger prob- completed will be one of the most ingly instructive. There one finds il- lems associated with the plant and attractive scenic routes in our west- lustrated most of the phases of ice ern country. work. animal life of this mountain environ- The section from Lake ment. McDonald to Logan Pass, which has Similar phenomena are illustrated been completed, was used during the along the margin of Sperry glacier, past season by thousands of auto- and since that glacier is now easily A Science Hall and Demonstration mobile parties even though it is neces- reached there is no immediate need Laboratory sary to turn around at Logan Pass of making the Blackfeet glacier avail- and retrace the route to the south able for the general public. During the past season the educa- tional margin of the park. The trails in the park that are used work in this park has been The unfinished portion which will most present a very serious problem carried on in certain of the hotels follow the canon of Reynolds Creek which demands solution. These routes and on the trails. The hotel man- agers have cooperated and been very and the north margin of St. Mary's are so dusty that it is exceedingly helpful Lake will be wonderfully attractive unpleasant to follow them even in a but the conditions at the from a scenic standpoint. small party. The experience with a hotels are not at all satisfactory for Facilities for automobile campers large party from one of the hotels the conduct of serious educational is almost unbearable. work. Although there may be occa- must be provided along this road and Over two thou- sions the hotel accommodations must be sand people have followed the route when popular lectures might enlarged. I anticipate that this road, from Lake McDermott to Iceberg well be given at the park hotels by when completed, will soon double the Lake during the past summer. The officers of the National Park Educa- number of visitors to the park. Pro- round trip is made in a day, but one tional Staff, the regular work of the visions for the educational work rides in a cloud of dust much of the staff demands other facilities. The along this route should be improved time. That dust is very irritating to absence of a suitable room and of and recommendations will appear the eyes and nose, and undoubtedly demonstration material makes it vir- later in this report. most unwholesome for the visitors. tually impossible to put clearly before It is impossible to avoid the great an audience the larger and more sig- clouds of dust for the parties are nificant lessons in the natural history Trails of Glacier kept crowded together and they fre- National Park. I recom- The trails already completed and quently meet other parties that bring mend that, as soon as possible, all those under construction during the with them additional clouds of dust systematic educational work of the past summer constitute a wonder- just as automobiles did in the days National Park Staff be removed from the hotels. fully good net-work for hikers and before our highways were well sur- At least three buildings horseback riders through this range. faced. should be erected and equipped as scientific laboratories As the number of visitors increase Even a party of half a dozen who and centers and especially as more come who elect to take the North Circle or where this work can be conducted. enjoy going into the heart of the One should be at McDermott Lake, South Circle route through the park one near the upper end of St. Mary range on foot or in the saddle, the find that the horses stir up so much northwestern portion of the park Lake, and the other near the upper dust that the pleasure of going end of Lake McDonald. The need should be made more easily acces- through the mountains is almost sible. Wonderfully interesting routes of additional centers may develop at ruined. This condition is due to the Sperry Glacier and at Logan Pass. could be laid out from the south end fact that the rocks of this park are of Watertown Lake into the region of composed largely of shales and the Brown Pass and the Kintla Lakes. I frequent passing of large numbers of The McDermott Lake Station anticipate that a visit to Agassiz and shod horses is certain to reduce this Kintla Glaciers would be fascinating The site for a science hall or demon- material to an impalpable dust. stration laboratory on the shore of to those who like the high mountains. I would strongly recommend that McDermott Lake was selected in There is another very fascinating the trails to Iceberg Lake, Grinnell • and rather inaccessible portion of the company with Dr. Ruhle and Super- Glacier, and Cracker Lake be oiled intendent Eakin; later this site was [ Page 2 1 Reports on National Parks carefully examined with Mr. Kit- the-Sun Chalets and the neighboring nent scientists in the Parks, engaged ridge of the National Park Service.