Parts of Guadalupe Mountains National Park have reopened, including the Guadalupe Peak Trail/NPS file
Guadalupe Mountains National Park has moved forward with a "soft" reopening of certain areas of the park located in far west Texas.
The following areas have been open to the public: Devil’s Hall Trail, Guadalupe Peak Trail, Smith Springs Trail (one-way traffic is permitted), and the Frijole Ranch area, although the Ranch House will remain closed.
The Guadalupe Peak Trail, which leads to the highest point in Texas, is among the trails open and one of the most popular in the park, according to Elizabeth Jackson the park's chief of interpretation, education, and visitor services.
“We are moving forward with our planned phased reopening, and are confident that we can open in Phase 1 with a few trails open, no access to buildings, camping or backcountry use,” said Jackson, despite both New Mexico and Texas counties' COVID-19 cases being on the rise after a short-lived decrease.
The National Park Service encourages visitors to the park to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and follow “Leave No Trace Principals,” when visiting.
The following areas of the Guadalupe Mountains will remain closed until further notice:
- Pine Springs Visitor Center
- Dog Canyon Contact Station and its trails
- McKittrick Canyon Contact Station and its trails
- Public restrooms (port-a-johns are available for visitor use at the trailheads)
- All overnight use, including campgrounds and backcountry use
- Williams Ranch
- Gypsum Sand Dunes
Comments
So, now that Texas, under GOP leadership of course, is absolutely filthy with a truly explosive surge of coronavirus, what passes for brains in that region think now is the time to "move forward" with a "soft" reopening of Guadalupe Mountains National Park? Are they in a coma? Never mind that question; they're straddling the Texas line, of course they're in a vegetative state. But, are they completely oblivious? Did they get a stern phone call from Carlsbad routed through DC telling them that Jesus is coming so look busy?
Absolutely now is the time! Full opening please!
Yes, indeed, and, for those park lovers who are still around in another month, be sure Freshair Seeker gets invited to all of the memorial services.
Humprey, while the cases may be up, primarily due to more testings and added catagories of test with a little border invasion on the side, the seven day moving average of the death rate in Texas is actually meaningfully below where it was in Mid may. Same is happening here in AZ were everyone is histerical about the rising "cases" but hospitalizations and deaths are declining. The people that are going to die aren't the ones going out. It will be the ones sniveling in their basements, eating unhealthy, drinking to much, not getting excercise, not strenghening their immune systems and not getting their routine health screenings. I read the other day that mamogram testing is down 30%. There are 250,000 to 300,000 diagnosed with breast cancer every year. What is going to happen to those 30% that don't get diagnosed? 150,000 are diagnosed with colon cancer. I am sure those test are down substantially as well. If you feel vulnerable, stay home. Let those than want to lead healthy, productive and happy lives do so.
" the seven day moving average of the death rate in Texas is actually meaningfully below "
Sounds like actuarial talk - you know, hiding real human misery behind a baffle of numbers and words.
Sorry - I spent too many years as a bedside nurse and a street medic.I only dealt with human beings, with real life bodily fluids, real life moans and screams of anguish, individual human beings who went from warm to cold in front of me.
A phrase similar to "the seven day moving average of the death rate in Texas is actually meaningfully below" means nothing, nothing at all, to the human beings involved.It only serves to enrage people to see their lover, their brother or sister, their child or parents --- reduced to a unnamed talking point for someone who would rather argue politics from a distance than wade in, glove up and help.
Probably not, but it means everything in the world to those that formulate public policy. We have to make decisions every day that trade off safety for the desire to lead a meaningful and productive life. Your choice may be to cower in your basement. Others choose to take the risk.
Well, Rick B., you may be irritated by his shallow, callous, and cavalier attitude toward the death rates; but, for me and perhaps Consuelo as well, it's the part about how "the cases may be up, primarily due to more testings and added catagories of test with a little border invasion on the side" that is, once again, just flat unbelievably offensive.
EC, did you wake up again this morning and decide it was time to ridicule someone: "Your choice may be to cower in your basement." Did you ever give thought that maybe, just maybe, some of us might be more vulnerable than others to the virus and choose to be more protective, of ourselves and our familes? That doesn't mean we're COWERING IN OUR BASEMENTS. As I said a few days ago: why do you keep saying stupid things and continue to antagonize almost everyone on this website? Please, EC, give everyone at NPT a break and move your comments over to Breitbart or FOX where they will be much more appreciated.