America's National Parks

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

- Genesis 1:31

I agree with God.  I can see it as well, whenever I step outside.  But when I enter into one of the National Parks there is usually a sense of awe and wonder as I gaze upon the landscape. It gives me a true respect and appreciation for the wonders of nature and for the beauty of our world.  After my most recent National Park visit (to Yosemite), it seemed only fitting that I should dedicate some posts to my reflections of the Parks since I am always so euphoric after each visit.  But first I just want to mention some thoughts on the National Parks in general.

The first National Park I ever visited was the Great Smokey Mountains.  I'm not sure how old I was, but there were 2 lasting impressions that always stayed with me:

1. "Don't fed the bears".
2. "Only you can prevent forest fires".

With each visit to a National Park, I grow more of an appreciation for the education that they provide to both children and adults.  They teach us not only how to appreciate the environment, but also how to properly interact with it. I was glad I payed attention to these lessons because one day I did encounter a bear, and I knew how to react in such a way that we did not end up in the newspaper.  An early lesson learned is that bears, moose, bison, and pretty much all other animals always have the right of way.  Also, I am always impressed at the wonderful job the National Park Service does in promoting a respect for the park to the visitors. There are always many interpretive displays, educational programs, park ranger talks, and even night programs to attend.  The topics I have heard include: how to protect yourself from lightning storms; how animals live in an arctic tundra; how the American army won the Battle of Yorktown; and even how to distinguish a satellite from an airplane in the night sky.

One of the most difficult challenges of the park service is enabling visitors to experience all that the parks have to offer while protecting them at the same time.  And they seem to be able to execute this balancing act extremely well.  They encourage some very simple rules and by adhering to them we can help preserve the parks for the enjoyment of future generations, not to mention the fact that it could also keep you out of the newspapers (and from becoming a Darwin Award winner)

The parks can be very crowded, but for me that is another part of their appeal.  They draw people together from... well... everywhere.  I always appreciate the many random encounters that I experience in the parks... Families hiking together, parents introducing their children to incredible new sites, couples building memories together, and Europeans....   I always envy the Europeans because they are never here for merely a week or two.  They seem to spend many weeks here and probably see more parks in that time than most Americans do in several years.  They know how to use their vacation time!  One of the most memorable encounters I have had came at a plateau at the end of an exhausting hike which climbed over 2000 feet.  I met a 70 year old man who had just had knee surgery and was "trying out his new knees" [his words].  That conversation impressed upon me the fact that I still have many active years ahead of me, and I have no reason to limit myself in what I want to undertake.

I highly recommend watching the Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea. It gives a great history of the founding of the parks and some wonderful perspectives on how to enjoy them.