Yosemite
Today, CNN notes completion of the restoration around the base of Yosemite Falls.
I LOVE Yosemite. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful place on Earth. My parents spent their honeymoon there. I fell in love with photography there, at the age of 12.
But some environmental groups aren't happy with the restoration. CNN quotes Joyce Eden of Friends of Yosemite Valley, "This is way, way overdone. It degrades the natural environment as well as the visitor's experience -- the quieter experience that's more connected to nature."
The Friends of Yosemite Valley was founded by three climbers with the "specific purpose is the protection of the climbing heritage and the natural environment of Yosemite Valley on behalf of past, present and future climbers, and on behalf of the public generally" from a lawsuit filed by the group and its founders. From its website, “Yosemite is a living natural wonder, and it belongs to you and all Americans.” But, based on a news story from MetroActive, Eden and her friends think "that catering to the commercial needs of park visitors should be secondary to the park's primary mission of preserving the natural habitat."
Based on the 1980 Yosemite General Management Plan Eden is right in her assessment of the park's primary mission. The GMP goes even further, calling "to remove all automobiles from Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove and to redirect development to the periphery of the park and beyond..." which seems to be in direct conflict with the National Park Service's mission to run all national parks "in such manner and by such means as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
By removal of all automobiles from Yosemite, it will be impossible for all people to enjoy its wonders. The handicapped, children, the old, and the infirm will all be denied access if vehicle access is restricted. I love Yosemite; I believe that it should be protected...to an extent. We all have the right to see the wonders of Yosemite, we all pay taxes to support its operation. To limit access to only those who are able enough to hike in, or wealthy enough to be helicoptered in is unfair.
In the end, Mz. Eden and her friends feel that places like Yosemite should be their own taxpayer funded wilderness playgrounds. Over 1106 square miles of the 1189.5 square mile park is already wilderness, and thus inaccessable to anything but pack animals and foot traffic. Now the Friends of Yosemite Valley want more. They don't want normal people to have easy access to areas like these because they think their right to a "quieter experience that's more connected to nature" outweighs everyone elses right to share in the beauty that is Yosemite.
I LOVE Yosemite. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful place on Earth. My parents spent their honeymoon there. I fell in love with photography there, at the age of 12.
But some environmental groups aren't happy with the restoration. CNN quotes Joyce Eden of Friends of Yosemite Valley, "This is way, way overdone. It degrades the natural environment as well as the visitor's experience -- the quieter experience that's more connected to nature."
The Friends of Yosemite Valley was founded by three climbers with the "specific purpose is the protection of the climbing heritage and the natural environment of Yosemite Valley on behalf of past, present and future climbers, and on behalf of the public generally" from a lawsuit filed by the group and its founders. From its website, “Yosemite is a living natural wonder, and it belongs to you and all Americans.” But, based on a news story from MetroActive, Eden and her friends think "that catering to the commercial needs of park visitors should be secondary to the park's primary mission of preserving the natural habitat."
Based on the 1980 Yosemite General Management Plan Eden is right in her assessment of the park's primary mission. The GMP goes even further, calling "to remove all automobiles from Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove and to redirect development to the periphery of the park and beyond..." which seems to be in direct conflict with the National Park Service's mission to run all national parks "in such manner and by such means as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
By removal of all automobiles from Yosemite, it will be impossible for all people to enjoy its wonders. The handicapped, children, the old, and the infirm will all be denied access if vehicle access is restricted. I love Yosemite; I believe that it should be protected...to an extent. We all have the right to see the wonders of Yosemite, we all pay taxes to support its operation. To limit access to only those who are able enough to hike in, or wealthy enough to be helicoptered in is unfair.
In the end, Mz. Eden and her friends feel that places like Yosemite should be their own taxpayer funded wilderness playgrounds. Over 1106 square miles of the 1189.5 square mile park is already wilderness, and thus inaccessable to anything but pack animals and foot traffic. Now the Friends of Yosemite Valley want more. They don't want normal people to have easy access to areas like these because they think their right to a "quieter experience that's more connected to nature" outweighs everyone elses right to share in the beauty that is Yosemite.
posted by Charlie Brown at 19.4.05
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