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Thoughts on the National Parks

Crossposted from Prairie Traveler's Guide

Ever since I watched The National Parks I’ve been trying to express my feelings about “America’s Greatest Idea”. This desire became even greater after my brother and I experienced several of our greatest parks in a trip last October. Every time I’ve attempted to write about it, I’ve just been unable to put fingers to the keys to say what I really want to say.

Sometimes I’ve wanted it to be a grandiose and all-encompassing tribute to the parks. Other times I have tried to just tell what happened. A few times I’ve even tried to create parallels between my experiences, and those of explorers like Lewis and Clark, or the Powell Expedition down the Colorado. Each time ended the same. If I even got something written down, it was nothing more than an incomplete document taking up space on my computer.

Then one day it hit me. What better way to show my appreciation than to share memories of trips to the various National Parks, National Historic Sites, and the other various entities ran by the National Park Service. After all it has the virtue of being the most genuine representation of my how I feel about our great park system.

What our National Parks mean to me

What does our National Park system mean to me? It means many things, all related to the cherished memories of my travels. Some are more cherished than others, while some are more clearly remembered than others, especially those more recent versus those from my childhood. All are fondly recalled, and gather together in a special place in my heart.

Its sitting outside of a concession stand/gift shop at Mesa Verde drinking an awful pineapple milkshake telling my Dad’s camera what I wanted to be when I grew up, and minutes later marvelling at the wonders of ancient cliff dwellings.

Driving down the road in the early morning mist of Yellowstone as a bison materializes in front of you, quietly moving on his way as you pass him.

Going back to Old Faithful several years after my first trip there, wondering if I could skip it, as I had a long day ahead of me and I didn’t remember it being all that great and there it goes eh that’s not so great oh wait here it goes man this is a pretty neat site oh look its going higher man I’m glad I decided to stay and wait for it to go off man what a spectacle I am very glad I added the extra day at Yellowstone.

Starting most visits at the visitor’s center, the place where many adventures of both newbies and old trail hands begin.

Marveling at the vistas of Pima Point at the Grand Canyon, Glacier Point, or along the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone...but not too close to the edge.

Being inspired by the gentle and wise visage of Father Abraham on the National Mall.

Being just as inspired by the unassumng “A. Lincoln” on the door of his modest home at Jackson and 8th in Springfield.

Luxuriating in the refreshing coolness of the entrance to Mammoth Cave, a welcome respite to the triple digit heat of central Kentucky.

Retracing the steps across those tranquil fields and ridges outside of Gettysburg, pondering how terrible it must have been during those three crucial days in July, 1863.

Contemplating how many bullets it took to cut that tree down at Spotsylvania, while also taking care to not slip on the icy snow cover.

Standing amazed at the site of the giant boulders at the alluvial fan in Rocky Mountain National Park, an amazing site amongst the great mountains of the Colorado Rockies, something that was almost alien to a grade schooler from the prairies of Illinois.

Going back to that same alluvial fan several times, and still marveling at the power of nature, and the fragility of the balance of nature that seems deceptively constant.

Standing on the banks of a cold clear lake shrouded in slowly lifting fog at the western end of the Going to the Sun Road at Glacier National Park.

Driving through snow flurries in July along the summit of Trail Ridge Road where marmots dare to tread.

Experiencing an explosion of life in a vast stretch of southern Florida that isn’t quite land and isn’t quite water. Even if most of that life consists of mosquitoes and palmetto bugs.

Sharing the land with the grizzlies and bison of Yellowstone, the elk of Rocky Mountain, the deer in Yosemite, and the black bears at Sequoia.

Sweating through a walk at the end of a tiring day at Yosemite that ended with a glorious view of the lower Yosemite falls that for an instance made me see what John Muir saw at Yosemite.

Walking along the rocky beaches covered with the wood of wrecked ships at Pictured Rocks, and the dunes and lighthouses of Cape Hatteras.

Hiking through the trees of Sequoia that made myself and my brother look small, a very rare feat indeed.

Gazing at the peaks of the Tetons, jutting violently into the sky out of the valley floor just to the south of the wonderland of Yellowstone.

Visiting the island on the James River where the journey towards American Independence arguably began, and then driving the twenty three mile parkway to the banks of the York River where where the journey was finally realized.

Sitting in a parking lot at Badlands, enjoying the setting sun as a giant bison comes walking up an incredibly steep cliff mere yards from our van.

Stopping quickly at a rest area on the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a short stop at a tranquil territory much like it was when Teddy Roosevelt walked those North Dakota badlands.

Smelling the delightful mixture of sulfurous mud pots and pine trees at Yellowstone.

Thinking about one of the best logos ever designed, the iconic shield with the bison on it.

Listening to a ranger in her iconic iconic uniform and hat which said she knew what she was talking about, for she was a National Park Ranger.

Finding to my everlasting joy that Dinosaur National Monument is oh so much more than just some dinosaur bones in the high desert.

Walking through the tangled trees on a muggy July morning at Shiloh, locating rarely seen monuments and “lost” confederate mass graves.

Making two aborted trips to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, one because my vehicle was very close to overheating, and the other because the road was closed because of “snow” when the temperature was in the 70s.

Taking in the eerie breezes at Little Round Top at Gettysburg, Snodgrass Hill at Chickamauga, and the hills above the Little Bighorn.

Viewing the Grand Canyon, which is just...I mean those colors...And the scale...wow...yeah, I can’t do it justice, you’ll just have to see it yourself. Sorry.

Doing everything in my power to not give in to the temptation to take an exit on the Interstate to go to some as yet unvisited park, despite the fact that I have other places to go, and the trip would be way out of the way.

Trying to keep my car heading in the right direction as I leave a park, knowing that I can’t turn around, but also knowing that if I were to go back tomorrow it wouldn’t be soon enough.

My Favorite Movie of the Year (So Far), Part II

Almost a month ago, I wrote about How to Train Your Dragon, a film from Dreamworks Animation. In the post, I extolled the virtues of the film, and raised doubts about how Toy Story 3 would fare in comparison. After seeing the latest film by Pixar yesterday, I most willingly submit that I was a jackass for doubting them.

Toy Story 3 is as every bit as good as the first two, and in some ways possibly better. Obviously the animation is much better, considering it has been a decade since the last one came out. But beyond the colors being richer, the motions more fluid, and the scale being even bigger, it was more emotionally resonant.

For me, all eleven Pixar films have had moments which just elevate the film and stick in my memory. In most of the films, those moments go even further, affecting me on a deep level. Through the first ten movies I was certainly affected, but rarely to the point of tears. I keep it together through "When Somebody Loved Me" and "Kitty!". It got a bit dusty when Wall-E reboots and when Ellie and Carl live their lives together in the span of a few minutes. Through them all I kept it together.

Then came the end of Toy Story 3. I don't know exactly what it was, but I just couldn't keep it together completely. In fact, I had to struggle just to keep from bawling, something I'd rather not do in a public venue. Maybe it was just release after the roller coaster ride that ended just a few minutes before. Maybe it was because the "boy" who was now a man was named Andy. Hell, maybe it was just the work of very good emotional manipulators. Whatever it was, it was powerful stuff.

After thinking about it, and discussing it with my sister who also saw the film, I think I came up with a reason. Without giving too much away, I figure the end of the movie marked a passing of the torch, the first real one our generation had. True, I wasn't exactly a kid when Toy Story came out in 1995, but I wasn't too far off from those days, and many of those in their 20s and late teens today were Andy's age at the time of either of the films. There may be more films about Buzz and Woody and the gang, but they won't be our films. Sure, they might still be entertaining, and we might still get some connections to them, especially if we view it through the eyes of our children or other young relatives. But it will be their adventures, and we will be living them vicariously at best.

As for Pixar, they haven't faltered yet. Unfortunately, the next film to be released by Disney and Pixar will be Cars 2. Suffice it to say I have doubts about that film, considering its the sequel to a film that is easily the weakest one Pixar has done. However, they have earned proven until otherwise status, and more. So this next year I'll be sitting here, enjoying what they've already done, and eagerly looking forward to what they might bring us in the future. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

My Favorite Movie of the Year (So Far)

Yesterday I saw my favorite movie of the year (so far). It was charming, it was beautifully made, and was just a plain entertaining film. Amazingly, it was a film from Dreamworks Animation.

No, I'm not talking about the latest installment in the Shrek franchise, which was decent if not memorable. I'm referring to the other Dreamworks film to come out, How to Train Your Dragon. I know, I know its been out for two months, but this was the first chance I had to see it. Had I not been a block away from the theater, and not had a free weekend afternoon, it might not have happened. I am very glad I took the time to see it.

My feelings towards Dreamworks Animation is no secret. Pixar is the king of computer animation, without a doubt. I prefer A Bug's Life over Antz, Monsters, Inc. over Shrek, and Wall-E over anything Dreamworks has ever put out. Pixar films can be just as "hip" as Dreamwork's films, but does it seamlessly and with better care. Until Kung-Fu Panda, there wasn't a Dreamworks film I would have preferred over even Cars.

However, I believe Dreamworks might be starting to get it, and might be working to up their game. How to Train Your Dragon was light on the usual Dreamworks pop culture tripe, and heavy on story. It put characters and strong voice acting over stunt casting and flatulent donkeys singing pop songs. Had I been shown this movie without knowing who did, my first guess probably would have been Pixar.

With Kung-Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and in some respect even Shrek: The Final Chapter, Dreamworks has shown they aren't completely hopeless. This will hopefully put pressure on Pixar to not get lethargic and go the way other animation studios have gone in the past. With Pixar's next two films being sequels, one being of its least "Pixar" film (Cars), I am worried they might finally hit a dry spell. I suppose these easily marketable sequels of their most merchadisable franchises are the price paid for Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Up, but this might the start of a trend now that they are fully under the umbrella of the Mouse. Pixar has gained "proven until disproven" status with me, but we'll have to see after Toy Story 3.

But back to the film at hand. If you haven't seen it yet, being turned off by the not so great commercials and that annoying crap during the Olympics, try to get to the theater. If its out of your area, put it on your Netflix list, or buy it when it comes out. I guarantee you will enjoy this film, or money back on this post. *

*Not valid if for some reason you actually paid me to view this post.

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