round TRIP
Yosemite national Park
"Wow!" That is the first word we utter when we see Yosemite Valley. We park on a spot shortly after the tunnel entrance to the valley proper, and a breathtaking sight opens up before us that you couldn't paint more beautifully. To the left and right of the deep valley, imposing granite rocks pile up and enclose – as far as our view reaches – deep green coniferous trees. A silky haze hangs over the treetops, shrouding them in pastel blue and cloudy white. To our right, barely a stone's throw away, Bridalveil Fall plunges down a steep slope, leaving behind – true to its name – a broad sweeping veil that dissolves towards the ground into a delicate sea of mist. This sight lingers for a while as we continue our journey into the valley. Once there, the valley reveals all its beauty. Suddenly we feel very small and shrunken here in the middle of the valley and understand once more why exactly this is a spot of earth that should be protected at all costs. Lush green pastures with delightful groves, winding forest and hiking trails, ancient pines, enchanting mountain lakes and breathtakingly high waterfalls stretch out before us.
The next day we drive again from Oakhurst into Yosemite National Park. Today, however, we do not continue straight into the valley but turn right to the Mariposa Grove. Here, amidst other conifers, stand the Giant Sequoias individually or groups of them, and their reddish trunks towering above all others in height and width. It took hundreds of years for such giants to grow. And so several lovingly designed panels remind and dun us to be mindful of the forest and provide information about the significant life under our feet and above our heads. Stop, marvel, read, internalise and take with you (in spirit) on the long walk back to the car park.
The entire Yosemite National Park seems to us to have fallen out of time. Untouched and unadulterated. As if time had stood still here and saved everything – except for the dinosaurs – for the here and now. But the fact that Yosemite needs saving today more than ever does not go unnoticed. Forest fires raged before our arrival, destroying many ancient trees beyond repair. Storms uprooted even the strongest sequoias and made many trails impassable. Storms and fires that were not the last, and with every degree Celsius more on the world thermometer, the destruction continues to be fuelled. This means work. Work that the great rangers of the national park cannot possibly do alone. For as beautiful as Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove are, we all have to help out. And that doesn't mean the ticket fee that every visitor has to pay.
So what can we do to preserve the impressive sight of El Capitan, Sentinel Falls or the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for ourselves and future generations? We believe it is mainly small acts in everyday life that can make a big difference. Acts that each of us can implement without giving up hopelessly after a short time. For example, shopping according to the principle of 'quality instead of quantity'. Less of everything, but more of the good stuff. Less plastic, more glass. Less meat, fish and milk, but more regional and demonstrably healthy products. More sustainable fashion instead of disposable clothes. Less chasing after trends and more cultivating our own style. Less horsepower, more muscle power.
Above all, we should finally become aware again of how well we are doing. Appreciate experiences, moments and belongings. Being content again with what we have instead of always striving for something even bigger or faster.
Less talking, less debating. Instead, simply do something and set a good example. Dare to take the first small step. A little bit every day. In silence, for ourselves. Without pointing the finger at others, condemning or lecturing. Just as anyone can. So that we are not the next dinosaurs who wandered through the beautiful Yosemite National Park...
USA, May 2022. | All words and photos by The Sturgheons.
