Appreciating Conservation: One Road Scholar’s Story in Yosemite
Below, Road Scholar Toshiko W. shares her experiences in Yosemite National Park, exploring its magnificent natural wonders and learning more about the park’s past and present conservation initiatives.
Although my husband and I live in Northern California, we didn’t know much about the famous Yosemite National Park, so we set out to explore it. I wanted to take a leisurely trip to Yosemite National Park, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1984, as part of my must-do list. Yosemite’s charm lies in its vast untouched natural blessings. Yosemite Valley, where most tourists are concentrated, accounts for less than 1% of the total area, and even if all manmade structures such as roads, buildings and trails are included, 90% of the total area is a place where the forest is completely untouched and is protected as it is.
Yosemite Falls
On our program, we traveled with 27 people from all over the United States. I was the only Asian among the participants. All of them were friendly and had inquisitive minds. It was our first time visiting a national park as part of a group. The staff, Steve and Mino, used to work as officers at Yosemite National Park and other parks. Steve had also served as a firefighter and national park police officer, and both were very caring. They made it so I was able to travel with peace of mind.
Steve knew everything about Yosemite and had endless stories to tell about his involvement in forest fires and other incidents. We learned about the history of Yosemite as we traveled by bus from place to place. Among the names mentioned over and over again were John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt. These men worked hard for nature conservation and helped to create five national parks. We learned that both men were sickly when they were young, and I realized that, because of this, they deeply felt the value of nature.
We also learned about conservation, and how it focuses on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats and protecting biodiversity. From this perspective that the natural world belongs to all people, not for personal profit, conservationists are working around Yosemite to solve problems that include excessive grazing of grasslands, logging of giant sequoias and complex issues with Indigenous peoples.
Half Dome
Our program included a stop at Glacier Point, which is located over 3,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley, so the view from it was amazing. From here, I could look at Half Dome, an iconic rock formation, and I could also see Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls beautifully. You could even see the mountains in the distance.
We also stopped at Olmsted Point, where we saw Half Dome from the back. The area around us was covered in sparkling white granite rock, littered with round stones that were left behind by glaciers. On the granite rocky mountains, pine trees broke through the rock and took root, creating a unique landscape.
Our journey continued to Tenaya Lake, located in the upper Tenaya Valley. Since it is behind Yosemite, there are only a few tourists, and the water is crystal clear and quiet. We had lunch by the lakeside, and the air was so refreshing and the sandwiches were so delicious that I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something so good. I couldn’t help but cry out, “I’m glad I’m alive!” It was a moment when I realized the value of clean air and nature.
Tuolumne Meadows
Yosemite Falls was a major highlight. There is a trail to one of the three tiers of the waterfall that took 10 minutes to walk from where we were staying. While listening to the majestic sound of the waterfall’s spray, I couldn’t help but meditate in the indescribably sacred atmosphere.
Even though we were strangers from different states, we felt a sense of kinship because we were all seniors and we all had in common a lifelong pursuit of exploring nature. Through this trip, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for those involved in nature conservation. I was able to proudly continue to explore America’s natural blessings while living my life with pride as a Japanese American citizen with a healthy body and a healthy mind.
See Road Scholar’s collection of learning adventures in Yosemite.