I am glad to know someone with the Park Service is
concerned about preserving the night sky (HCN,
12/10/07). My husband and I have sat on the edge of Bryce Canyon as
well as Mesa Verde, both rims of the Grand Canyon and Zion at night
enjoying the starlit sky and seeing the Milky Way, which used to be
visible from our backyard. In addition to the amount of light
pollution from distant cities surrounding the parks, however, my
concern is the amount of light within the park that obstructs
nighttime viewing. When we stayed in the Far View Lodge at Mesa
Verde a couple of years ago, I was disappointed to step out of my
room on the very top of the mesa and be blinded by the lights in
the parking lot. After months of waiting for our rim-view cabin on
the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, I couldn’t believe the guests in
the cabin next to ours felt the need to leave the outdoor light on
the entire night! On the edge of the Grand Canyon! Please cap all
lights in the national parks and set an example for the rest of the
country!
Joanne Bergman
Lawrence,
Kansas
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Outen the lights.
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