Where Some Wild Things Are

Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks

Day 17 & 18

For this trip and especially in visiting the national parks, one of the themes we were asked to think about was the idea of wilderness and if this country still offered any “wilderness” these days. So as we drove on paved roads, used established campgrounds, and walked on cleared dirt paths through some of the most beautiful land I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, I wondered about this concept of wilderness. In my mind, the term evokes feelings of solitude, wonder, rawness, silence and freedom. Though I had an incredible experience seeing and being in Glacier National Park and what little of Yellowstone we could see, our experience really didn’t offer anything close to being in true wilderness.

In Glacier, we tried to arrange a cookout over a campfire at the campgrounds, but both the rain and other campers and rangers apparently concerned about a lack of a permit to use the fire pit put an end to that plan. (We had to settle for microwave hotdogs and s’mores, which was okay with us.) A few of us went on a scenic drive up the mountain in one of the rental vans and we saw some truly beautiful sights despite the cloudy and sometimes rainy cold weather. Seeing the areas where fire has ravaged the land but things have begun to grow again as they always do, nervously eyeing the wall of snow that borders the highway once you get to a certain altitude, the incredible view from the rest stop thousands of miles above sea level that looks out over the river, snow-capped mountains and gigantic evergreens – all of it does make you feel insignificant in the best way possible. Seeing the vastness of it all made me forget a little the irony of seeing all of this natural beauty from the comfort of our heated rental van. We weren’t alone and the occasional passing car periodically disturbed the silence, but the feelings of awe and wonder I associate with the notion of wilderness were certainly there for all of us. Even though it is government-owned and –protected land, I like to think there is still some wilderness out there, miles and miles where no one has yet walked and won’t ever walk.

On another random note, we had a great breakfast before we set out for the park at this cute little pancake diner. As someone with a fondness for small towns, I always love to go to those restaurants where you’re the only one who isn’t a regular, the waitress calls everyone else by name, and you can taste the years of the cook’s experience. Though we joked about definitely seeming out of place and getting a few strange looks from the locals, most of who were bearded men in flannel downing cups of coffee, I still immensely enjoyed the authenticity of the experience, as well as the delicious (and calorie-laden) food. It’s a privilege that this trip allows us not only to get a glimpse of the character of our destinations, but also momentarily observe all kinds of people’s daily lives.

For our day in Yellowstone, we actually didn’t set foot on the national park land but instead saw some of it from a river raft. We had arranged to go white water rafting from a town called Gardiner on the edge of the park. It was my first time going white water rafting (Mom, I survived!) and I had a fantastic time. We saw some beautiful landscapes and our raft guide told us some interesting stories about the area. After we finished our rafting adventure, we decided last minute to go to a nearby hot springs someone had told us about. Having never been to a hot springs, I was expecting some hot water in a hole in the ground, nature’s rough version of a hot tub. Instead we got a very crowded warm fresh water pool. But it was still nice to have some time to relax and make good use of their public showers.

All in all, I loved our trip to the national parks. I don’t think the touristy quality of our experiences lessens the value of spending time enjoying America’s natural beauty. This year, Ken Burns is set to release his new documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. After visiting the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone, I think I may agree- it’s certainly one of America’s greatest ideas. These parks and others are the most accessible way for most Americans to escape city life or suburban life and recreate that “traditional” American dream of exploration. I have lots of fond memories of going to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with my family, parking the car and hiking together. I think designating land to be preserved was one of the greatest foresights of our government, because as more and more land is getting developed- since I moved to Williamson County 10 years ago, I’ve witnessed an incredible amount of land bulldozed for suburban development- I think it’s so important for us to have a commitment to protecting our national parks from development. Not to get sentimental and cheesy, but I think we really do owe that to future generations, to ensure that there remains parts of our country that, despite paved roads and wildlife signs, largely appear untouched by man.

After a couple of days of (somewhat) relaxing in nature, we headed onward to one of America’s most recognizable tourist attractions- Mount Rushmore.