rsg@cbscc.UUCP (07/15/83)
The best U.S. National Park: Mesa Verde I've been to all but 5 of them, and MV is the best. It has it all ...great scenery and human-made attractions. The cliff dwellings are incredible, but without the natural scenery, would just be another Aztec Ruins NM. The best U.S. National Monument: Lava Beds NM in N California Lava flows, hills to climb, Indian wars, caves to explore, petroglyphs ...why isn't this place a National Park. It sure is better than most of them. The worst U.S. National Park: Guadaloupe Mts. in Texas It has the highest point in Texas (1500') which you can climb in a wheelchair in 10 minutes. Besides that, there is nothing else there. Did Texas buy a national park???
kaz@inuxd.UUCP (07/19/83)
Personal opinions aside, the description of Gaudalupe NP posted in the original article is misleading at best. The park encompasses part of the Gaudalupe Mountains and includes Gaudalupe Peak which is 8751 feet high. The park contains some of the last remaining examples of the pine forests that used to cover much of western Texas and is an area where many different species of plants find there eastern, western, northern or southern most extensions. McKittrick Canyon provides an interesting wet contrast to the drier areas of the park. The author may not like Gaudalupe NP but to pass it off as having only the highest point in Texas (at 1500 ft) is a gross injustice. Ken Zabriskie ABI Indianapolis