Nurtured Nature

Chris Beltz is getting a Masters degree in twigs and berries, as my friend Dan Neumann says. Actually, it's a mix of biology, ecology and education. He's an incredible guy and while exploring the region around Old Faithful in Yellowstone, we had this discussion:

Should nature be so accessible and convenient that its experience is no longer natural?

The consummate example of this is Mt Washington in New Hampshire . Here is an incredible nature experience. You hike, climb and scramble over rocks for many hours to get to the peak of a beautiful mountain. Then, next to you, you see a family who just made it to the summit in their car (Mt Washington Auto Road). Can the summit experience for both parties be equally fulfilling?

The obvious answer is no. When you work hard for something, the attainment is always more gratifying. That line of thinking naturally leads to the conclusion that we should leave nature relatively untouched. 100 people climbing to the summit of Mt Washington will appreciate it more than 100 people driving.

But wait, there's more to consider. Not everyone is going to climb a mountain. Some people simply aren't healthy enough (the old or disabled) and a large majority of us are just too preoccupied or lazy (myself included in the latter group). So given that many more will see the top of the mountain if we build a road and that the summit is still amazing even if not earned, is it better to make it accessible? Having more people experience natural scenery is going to make preservation and the environment larger issues. Also, it would be a little unfair to deprive the disabled of nature's treasures given their impairment. Maybe we should nurture nature and make it easier to see.

There isn't an easy or clear answer to this balance, but I'm proud to say our National Parks Service does an admirable job. They make many major attractions available to all (e.g. scenic turn-offs or the lodge right next to Old Faithful) while keeping a large portion of our parks untouched. I hope you get a chance to visit one soon.