Talk:Pisgah National Forest
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[edit] Highest terrain
The article states that Mount Pisgah (5721 ft) is the highest point in the forest, but then goes on to claim elevations in the forest reach over 6000 ft. Clearly these two points are contradictory, unless it simply means that Mount Pisgah is the highest mountain located entirely within the forest, in which case I suggest some clarification. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 168.215.132.137 (talk) 23:42, 5 February 2007 (UTC).
Agree with above. Cold Mountain's elevation is at 6,030 ft. 300 feet higher than mt. pisgah. Also there are many other peaks in the shining rock wilderness area that surpass even cold mtn. into the 6,400 ft. range. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.144.86.66 (talk) 06:50, 29 September 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Not the first national forest
I just made some edits to the page, mostly to the history section. It was claimed that Pisgah was the first national forest of the United States. I was skeptical and looked into it. From what I gather, and referenced in footnotes, Pisgah was not even close to the first. It was established in 1916, but a great many national forests were established in the west decades earlier. Terminology changed -- in 1905 the "Bureau of Forestry" was renamed the "Forest Service" and put under the USDA, and in 1907 the "national forest reserves" were renamed "national forests". One could thus argue that true national forests did not exist until 1907. But even if one buys that argument, quite a few national forests were created between 1907 and 1916 -- mostly in the west, but also including Nantahala (1907) and Ocala in Florida (1908, later joined to Osceola NF). Further, national forests were being created in the Ozark region as early as 1907. Often the names and delineations changed over time, but still, I don't think Pisgah can really claim to be the first -- not even the first in the east, the southeast, or the Appalachians. The history of national forest creation can be found in great (overwhelming) detail at National Forests of the U.S..
I can see how the Cradle of Forestry and the Biltmore lands, now part of Pisgah, could be seen as among the first forest lands reserved and later made into national forests. But still, they were not actually made into a national forest until 1916 as far as I can tell. Anyway, just explaining my edits. Sorry if I got anything wrong. Pfly (talk) 05:42, 8 December 2007 (UTC)
