The mountain will always be
by Mark ~ October 24th, 2009. Filed under: environment, landscape, nature photography, philosophy.
Mt. McKinley
Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature’s sources never fail. – John Muir, Our National Parks, 1901
I read this quote from Muir recently and was thinking about the cleansing one gets from fresh air, wilderness, and simply being in nature. Then I thought, what if the quote were reversed? From nature’s perspective, the energy and cleansing would not be in enjoying the company of human beings, but probably to be rid of us all together. As I stare at this image of Mt. McKinley, so majestic and grand, I feel quite insignificant. This mountain doesn’t need me, or does any place like it – from the forests to the streams to the ocean. They don’t need my appreciation of their beauty or for anyone to photograph them. Such trivial things only become important in trying to protect what we do not want to destroy.
Even if we were to obliterate ourselves, and wreak havoc on our environment, I have a feeling this mountain would still be there.
October 24th, 2009 at
I think your sentiment is the one thing that gives me hope. I have little faith in the human race, but I know that even if we do our worst, Earth’s nature will long outlast & surpass us.
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Mark Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at
Thanks Lana.
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October 24th, 2009 at
I’ve never read that from Muir before and I like it!
The History Channel aired a program called Life After People showing what this world would look like if man were to just disappear. I saw parts of it and amazed at what they predict could happen. Nature will claim back what has been taken from it. I agree, whole heartily with you.
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Mark Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at
Thanks Monte. I am fascinated by those types of predictions as well. Although I have to admit that moss growing on my camera equipment someday gives me nightmares.
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October 24th, 2009 at
What a grand sight! And yup, the mountain would remain I’m sure
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October 24th, 2009 at
Great thoughts, Mark!
To put it in further perspective, Denali is less than 60 million years old – pretty young in geologic time. Yet, our race had barely been around long enough to even register as a blip on that scale. I remember having the same thoughts sitting by a piece of gneiss almost 2 billion years old at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Take another step back and you’ll realize our little planet is but a minuscule dot of almost insignificant dimensions in the entirety of the universe and will be consumed whole by our rather small sun in a couple billion more.
Time to drop the ego and appreciate what little we can learn and admire during our quite insignificant lifespans in the grand scheme of things.
Guy
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Mark Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at
All so true Guy. With every one of those steps, it would seem that there is always something larger to make what we once thought significant to have so little meaning. This planet, this solar system, this galaxy for that matter…
It makes you wonder what is it that really matters anyway.
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October 24th, 2009 at
Mark, this is just lovely. I was in Denali in 1976 and have had the good luck, as have you, of seeing and photographng her in all of her majesty, without clouds.
On the Ken Burns series recently, they talked about the naming of this mountain, and it was the WASPy guys who chose the name of the president. Can we all call her by her proper Indian name of Denali? So much more appropos.
Wonderful shot! And, yes, she will survive long, long after we are all gone.
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Mark Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at
Thanks Barbara. I saw most of the series.
The wikipedia site on Denali describes much of the saga of the naming also. But, in the spirit of this post – perhaps she doesn’t care what her name is.
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October 25th, 2009 at
Mark, what a beautiful choice of words to accompany the photo. Ansel Adams would have been proud at your treatment of this in B&W. It is awe inspiring to be near such a presence. I’ve never been there but when I was in Colorado and looking at the Rockies, I felt pretty small and insignificant, too.
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Mark Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at
Thank you Paul. I wish I could claim using good ol’ Kodak T-MAX for it.
Being a midwesterner doesn’t expose me to many mountains like this, maybe that was part of the impression. Perhaps to them Alaskans – it is just another hill. 
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October 25th, 2009 at
Hello Mark.
That is right.
Our future (read: present) negligence, ego and greed has been predicted long time ago, again and again.
Now the facts are laid on the table, but still some of those who really can do something about it “cannot believe it`s actually happening”.
It`s very frightening.
Now, the first reason why I chose to write a comment; the photograph is stunning. Really gives the impression of the powerful, yet humble nature.
Nature is zen. It just is. Not beautiful, not ugly, not good or bad.
These human ways of explaining physical objects and feelings are totally meaningless to any mountain, to any wave that crushes against the shore. That`s the magic of our nature.
I think we should start to demand of our governments instead of listening quietly.
Now, is the time to wake up.
Have a wonderful sunday.
Seung Kye
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October 25th, 2009 at
Seung Kye – thank you for taking time to comment – and the thoughtful remarks. Unfortunately there are so many within my own government that would rather dismiss such actions as some radical conspiracy versus listening to what nature is already telling us in many ways.
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October 25th, 2009 at
We have existed here on earth for but a brief moment compared to the history or evolution of the planet. That we will exist forever, or as long as the planet seems foolish thinking to me. What a wonderful dramatic image you’ve created!
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October 26th, 2009 at
[...] just visited my friend Mark Graf’s great blog, and read with interest his commentary on mountains and the import and grandeur of nature, the role it can play in our lives. Mark prefaces his post with the legendary John Muir, so I’ll do the same: “Walk away [...]
October 26th, 2009 at
Hey Mark,
Very dramatic photo – nice work.
I present a slightly different view in my own blog – I think it’s a 2 way deal. I do fully understand your point here, but I think it misses a broader view of the world, which is reciprocity. For me, anyway.
Cheers
Carl
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Mark Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at
Hey Carl – Yes, reciprocity would strike an ideal balance. But I wonder – is it for the mountain’s benefit or for our own desires to be at peace in our surroundings? I certainly don’t see anything wrong with that perspective, I just perhaps am a bit too cynical about peaceful coexistence with us as a whole. If we can’t get along with the species we place highest on the list of importance, how can we achieve ultimate balance with “objects” some people label as secondary?
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October 26th, 2009 at
Woah…this just takes my breath away. What an impact. POW! Very cool.
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Mark Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at
Thank you Laurie!
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October 28th, 2009 at
Quite a profound reflection… and one that is likely true. Beautiful photo. I really like the high contrast nature of it.
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October 28th, 2009 at
Wonderful quote and absolutely stunning image, Mark.
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October 29th, 2009 at
Ed, Jim – thanks.
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October 29th, 2009 at
Beautiful black and white image…I really love it! Great quote and thoughts too.
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October 30th, 2009 at
That last sentence in the quotation hit me solidly. It’s interesting to me that when I am out enjoying nature, I feel quite small, yet somehow expanded by the wholeness nature brings me.
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October 31st, 2009 at
Howard, Anita – thank you. I am glad you like it.
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November 1st, 2009 at
Very powerful image Mark.
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November 2nd, 2009 at
Stunning photo Mark and interesting thoughts! I can imagine the photo as a big print, at least 2×3 meters.
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November 8th, 2009 at
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