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Tales From the MoJo Road –
By Glynn Wilson –
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. – In spite of everything you hear on sensational news channels about climate change, the draught in the West and packed national parks in summer, the waterfalls and rivers are flowing in the Sierras and the crowd was light on Monday when another opportunity arose to visit this cathedral of American parks.
The Mariposa Arts Council, led by Executive Director Cara Goger, put out the call with an invite for me as Station Manager and News Director of Yosemite Radio from Erica Wolfsen at the Northern Mariposa County History Center, to visit the park for a history outing led by National Park Service Ranger Scott Gediman. He’s the Public Affairs Officer for Yosemite who has been with the park service for more than 30 years.
Also on the guest list were members of the Smithsonian’s staff, including Director of Rural Initiatives Andy Mink. There is a collaborative effort underway with many partners to fund and enhance community-centered storytelling and cultural preservation in this Motherlode Gold Rush area with such an important story to tell about the early history of creating what came to be called “America’s Best Idea,” preserving national forests and parks, a conservation idea that seems to be under attack by politicians in Washington, D.C. these days.
Smithsonian Institution Officials to Meet With Mariposa County Residents on Rural Initiatives
But far from the nation’s capital, about 2,700 miles in fact, on a spectacular Spring day with highs in the 70s with clear blue skies and a few puffy white clouds, a group of about 25 interested parties met up with Ranger Scott at the administration building then toured the Yosemite Museum next door, built as a “fireproof” vault to protect the valuable collection from wildfires.
Next the group hiked to Lower Yosemite Falls for a ranger talk, then visited Camp 4, a historic walk-in climbers’ camp. After that the group ventured over to Wahhoga, the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Village in the park, and met with Tara Fouch-Moore, Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Tribal Council Secretary and Director of Stewardship.
Sad but glad to say, due to a couple of glitches in arranging our transportation from Coulterville to the event, we were running a bit late. But my friends and Yosemite Radio advisory board members Wolf and Raven Littlewing came through on deadline, and while we missed the main group hike, Wolf and I did the hike to Lower Yosemite Falls and then we all hooked up with the group for cocktails and appetizers at the famed Ahwahnee lodge, with a spectacular view of Half Dome.
For our purposes at the Operation New Earth non-profit in Coulterville and YosemiteRadio.Org, meeting in person with the ranger in charge of park public affairs was a critical step in establishing close relations with the park, as information out of Washington is sometimes hard to come by these days.
After spending the better part of the past decade dealing with the National Park Service in Washington and covering news about the parks, as well as photographing parks in Washington, Maryland and Virginia, this disconnect has been disconcerting to say the least. We must have factual communications with the American public.
Also meeting in person with members of the Mariposa Arts Council was critical and rewarding, as well as interacting with Smithsonian staff.
We are all going to have to work together for the good of this community, this state, the country and the world, whether the politicians are on board with this mission or not.
As they old saying goes, “Freedom grows when neighbors help neighbors.”
“Stronger communities build a stronger nation,” is also a sentiment that comes to mind.
And with Memorial Day and events coming up soon, let us all remember this: “A nation is strongest when its people stand together in service, sacrifice, and hope.”
We are planning our own Memorial Day weekend events here in Coulterville. Detailed plans will be announced soon in a news story on this news website and shared on our new Facebook page, which is growing every day.
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