NATIONAL FORESTS AS RECREATION GROUNDS 



645 



Launch on Klamath Lake. 



the crater national forest, oregon, fronts for a considerable distance on this lake which 

 is a delightful place for summer pleasure. 



Over all this enchanted isolation and 

 remoteness the strong protective arm 

 of the Government is thrown, quietly 

 and unobstrusively. The trails one 

 uses have been, quite likely, built at 

 government expense, primarily to en- 

 able the Forest Ranger to patrol the 

 extensive forests for fire protection. 

 To him you are indebted for the guide 

 signs at forks for trails and for the 

 posted information concerning dis- 

 tances and directions to choice camping 

 sites. Perhaps he rides to your camp. 

 If so, you will find him thoroughly 

 competent and willing to direct you to 

 the chief points of interest in the vicin- 

 ity. He wars against the predatory 

 animals in order to protect the deer, 

 elk, and mountain sheep, as well as the 

 domestic stock, and he keeps the 

 streams stocked with trout. Incidently, 

 he is also a game warden. 



Manv roads and bridges are built or 



repaired by him and miles of telephone 

 lines are strung to further protect the 

 great stands of timber which clothe the 

 mountain sides and add to the charms 

 of the region. The Forest officer is 

 proud of his district ; he welcomes visit- 

 ors, but courteously insists on the 

 proper use of the resourses. Without 

 him deterioration of much that is at- 

 tractive to the tourist would occur. In 

 reality this tendency appeared before 

 his advent. While the primary pur- 

 pose of the National Forests is the con- 

 servation of the timber and water re- 

 sources within them, in conjunction 

 with his duties, and often directly at- 

 tributable to them, the Forest officer be- 

 comes the guardian or custodian of the 

 greatest national playgrounds. The at- 

 tractions are here; they may be fully 

 enjoyed ; and the popularity of the Na- 

 tional Forests as recreation grounds is 

 rapidly increasing. 



