Yosemite Valley

One of my favorite classes from undergrad was “Picturesque Suburbia,” an art history course that traced philosophical and historical origins of modern-day suburbia. The aesthetic of The Sublime was a key influence in the early history of the suburban ideal.

The British philosopher Edmund Burke, in his Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful argued that the strongest emotion which humans could experience was caused by whatever excited ideas of pain and danger. A sublime landscape invoked fear; the thrill was to try and reduce that fear. Sublime landscapes were dangerous mountain passes, or ominous forests, perspectives that displayed nature’s power and unevenness.

In the Yosemite Valley, sublime is on full display. Painters from the Hudson River School such as Albert Bierstadt were able to capture the sense of awe that accompanies a visit to the valley. In seeing paintings and photographs from Yosemite over the years that have tried to convey the sublime, I have been curious to see whether I would feel the same.

Last weekend some friends and I spent a weekend in Yosemite. Here are some photos of our trip.

North Dome from Mirror Lake

Temperatures are a little cool and snow is on the ground in many areas. I was glad we went when we did. I can imagine the place becoming a zoo in the summer as thousands of vacationers pour into the park.

Half Dome

I was also reminded as to how car-centric most U.S. national parks are. Blacktop snakes around the entire valley floor, and it is tempting to hop in the comfort of a vehicle to visit attractions rather than hike around. It was encouraging to see a clean, efficient, and free bus service that ferried visitors to the most popular attractions. My guess is that it cuts down on significant traffic during the peak season.

Yosemite Valley

And while I know that the federal government is facing a budget crisis, and the national parks are a low priority, it would be worthwhile to use the more popular parks as demonstration sites for green buildings, renewable energy, and other sustainable initiatives. The national parks are one of the melting pots of American culture. With visitors from all political and socio-economic backgrounds, using places like Yosemite to showcase the latest in green technology would be an excellent way to introduce Americans to concepts in sustainability. For example, the campground bathrooms were heated (it was a nice feature) with a traditional furnace, and featured flush toilets. What better place to put some composting toilets and geothermal heating?

It does appear that some federal stimulus money and DOE financing is being used for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, but given the number and size of the parks system, more would be better. The initial proponents of the suburban ideal found inspiration in the sublime landscapes of the American west. That does not mean that the hallmarks of suburbia – inefficient land use and fossil fuel intensive automobile transportation – need to be featured in our national parks.

Looking out onto the valley floor

Upper Yosemite Falls